The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE city of Dhaka has a glorious past. It has passed four hundred years, since its inception in the seventeenth century. The location of the city, beside the river Buriganga, has been selected by local leaders. The facilities for the urban zones of Dhaka were set up and expanded over the centuries. As such, the city expanded to meet the demand of people. The people living in Dhaka were from the beginning of different religious faiths, mainly Hindus and the Muslims. Roads and highways plus river channels were used for movement of goods and passengers with the use of horse-driven carts and boats and ships.

During the rule of the Mughal emperors upto 1757 AD, Dhaka remained under an autonomous administration. After the defeat of Nawab Sirajud Daulah by the British East India Company, the city of Dhaka started losing its importance as the British made Kolkata their capital and about a century later transferred the capital to Delhi.

In 1905, when the province of Bengal was partitioned, Dhaka City was again made the capital of East Bengal and Assam. The partition, however, was annulled in 1911 and Dhaka no longer remained the capital. However, the city's cultural life was enriched with the establishment in 1921 of the University of Dhaka. Following the 1947 partition Dhaka became the capital of erstwhile East Pakistan. Now it is the capital of independent and sovereign Bangladesh.

The reported move of the Dhaka City Corporation to celebrate the four hundred years of the city is commendable. The residents of Dhaka who are already celebrating this can only welcome the move of the DCC. It is hoped that DCC would organise the celebrations with pomp and grandeur.