Lesson 1/34 min
Dhaka, capital five times
In 1610, in the reign of Emperor Jahangir, Islam Khan Chishti was the Subahdar of Bengal. He moved the capital of Bengal from Rajmahal to Dhaka. He named the city Jahangirnagar, after the emperor.
The five times Dhaka was a capital
| Time | Year | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1610 | Subahdar Islam Khan makes Dhaka the capital of the Subah of Bengal |
| Second | 1660 | Mir Jumla becomes Subahdar and makes Dhaka the capital again |
| Third | 1905 | After the Partition of Bengal, Dhaka becomes a provincial capital |
| Fourth | 1947 | Capital of East Pakistan (the second time as a provincial capital) |
| Fifth | 1971 | Capital of independent Bangladesh |
- Dhaka has been a capital 5 times: in 1610, 1660, 1905, 1947 and 1971
- It has been the capital of Bangladesh once (1971); Article 5 of the Constitution names Dhaka the capital
- In 1639 Subahdar Shah Shuja moved the capital from Dhaka to Rajmahal
- In the early 18th century Murshid Quli Khan moved the capital to Murshidabad; after that Mughal rule in Dhaka was run by a deputy governor (Naib Nazim)
Watch out: One book's table heading says ‘4 times’, but its table and text list 5. The answer is 5. One book gives 1650 for Shah Shuja's move to Rajmahal; Banglapedia gives 1639.
More facts about Dhaka
- The books trace the name Dhaka to the Dhakeshwari Temple; the origin of the name is debated
- Lalbagh Fort: begun in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam; left unfinished after the death of Pari Bibi (1684)
- Ahsan Manzil is the palace of the Dhaka Nawab family
Check yourself
When was Bengal's first capital established at Dhaka?
At a glance
- 1
Islam Khan Chishti moved the capital from Rajmahal to Dhaka in 1610 and named it Jahangirnagar.
- 2
Dhaka was a capital 5 times: 1610, 1660 (Mir Jumla), 1905, 1947 and 1971.
- 3
Dhaka has been the capital of Bangladesh once, in 1971.
- 4
In 1639 Shah Shuja moved the capital to Rajmahal.