Dhaka District
ঢাকা
Dhaka is one of the 64 districts of Bangladesh and sits in Dhaka division. It covers 1,463.6 km² and is home to roughly 12,043,977 people. It is best known for capital city, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, muslin heritage.
History of Dhaka
Founded as the Mughal provincial capital "Jahangir Nagar" by Subahdar Islam Khan in 1608, Dhaka has over four centuries of continuous urban history visible in its old-town mosques and forts. It briefly served as capital of Bengal and Assam under British rule (1905-1911), and has been the capital of independent Bangladesh since 1971.
Sunrise and sunset in Dhaka today
Friday, 16 October 2026
About Dhaka
📋 District profile
⭐ Known for
Capital city, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, muslin heritage
Top attractions
Economy & culture
💼 Economy
Bangladesh's garment (RMG) export industry is headquartered here alongside national banking, government administration, and dense wholesale trade in Old Dhaka.
🎭 Culture & cuisine
Known for Old Dhaka kacchi biryani and street food, the Pohela Boishakh Mangal Shobhajatra procession, and a long Nawabi and rickshaw-art heritage.
Places to visit in Dhaka
Lalbagh Fort
An unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort complex with the tomb of Pari Bibi at its heart.
Best: All yearAhsan Manzil
The pink palace on the Buriganga - residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka, now a museum.
Best: All yearJatiya Sangsad Bhaban
Louis Kahn’s National Parliament House - one of the largest and most admired legislative complexes in the world.
Best: All yearNational Martyrs’ Memorial, Savar
Jatiyo Smriti Soudho - seven soaring planes honouring the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.
Best: All yearStar Mosque (Tara Masjid)
A 19th-century Armanitola mosque encrusted with star-motif Japanese and English chinaware mosaic.
Best: All yearCurzon Hall
Dhaka University’s red-brick Indo-Saracenic showpiece, opened in 1904 and named for a viceroy who opposed it.
Best: All yearOther districts in Dhaka
Frequently asked questions about Dhaka
Which division is Dhaka in?
Dhaka district belongs to Dhaka division, one of the eight divisions of Bangladesh.
What is the population of Dhaka?
Dhaka has a population of roughly 12,043,977, across an area of 1,463.6 square kilometres.
What is Dhaka famous for?
Capital city, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, muslin heritage
What time is sunrise and sunset in Dhaka?
The sun rises at 05:56 and sets at 17:32 today in Dhaka, giving 11:36 of daylight.
What is the main industry in Dhaka?
Bangladesh's garment (RMG) export industry is headquartered here alongside national banking, government administration, and dense wholesale trade in Old Dhaka.