Dhaka or Dacca,capital of Bangladesh, in Dhaka Division. The romanized spelling of the Bengali name was changed from Dacca to Dhaka in 1982.

No one really knows when Dhaka was founded, the official date is 1610, when it was turned into a capital of the Bengal province by Mughal rulers who once controlled most of what is modern-day India. The city declined after the capital was moved to Murshidabad in 1704, and it came under British control in 1765.At the beginning of the twentieth century, Dhaka became the capital of the newly formed province of East Bengal and Assam, ushering in a new beginning for the city. In 1971, Dhaka emerged as the capital of an independent country -- Bangladesh.

Dhaka is located in a monsoon climate zone, the average January temperature is about 19°C(66°F), and the average May temperature is about 29°C (84°F). Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 1,854 mm (73 in) occurs between May and September.

Dhaka is the centre of industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and political activities for Bangladesh. Its industries include textiles (jute, muslin, cotton) and food processing, especially rice milling. Many skilled workers are employed in the businesses and industries located in the Dhaka metropolitan area. The city has historically attracted large number of migrant workers.

Biman Bangladesh airlines connects Dhaka with 27 major cities of the world. An efficient railway network connects Dhaka to most major towns in Bangladesh and the rates are inexpensive. Railway expansion and development work is often restricted and limited due to the annual flooding caused by the overflow of surrounding rivers. Taxis and buses are the most popular ways to travel and see the sights and sounds of the city, with fares being amongst the cheapest in the world. The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) also maintains a countrywide network of bus services. The bus services have also introduced a special Dhaka-Calcutta-Dhaka direct daily bus service via Benapole, Jessore. Rickshaws are an efficient, non-polluting way to move around, and for many people without job skills, pulling a rickshaw is the only option other than begging or crime.

Dhaka has the largest number of schools, colleges and universities of any Bangladeshi city.Public education in Bangladesh generally follows the model established by the British prior to 1947. The education system is divided into 4 levels: Primary (from grades 1 to 5), Secondary (from grades 6 to 10), Higher Secondary (from grades 11 to 12) and tertiary. Elementary education is free, but at least one-third of all children are not enrolled in school. Bangladesh has several universities, the largest of which is the University of Dhaka (1921). Others include Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (1962) and Jahangirnagar University (1970), both in Dhaka.

The city's old section, a maze of crowded bazaars and narrow streets, is in marked contrast to Ramna Maidan, a modern well-planned area to the north, where most of the government buildings and educational institutions are located.

National Museum contains a large number of interesting collections including sculptures and paintings of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods as well as inscriptions of the Holy Quran in Arabic and Persian letters and Bengali works in the Arabic script. The Museum also has a rich collection of old coins metal images, books on art, ivory and silver filigree works.

The National Martyrs Memorial is composed of seven isosceles triangular planes each varying in size in its height and base. The highest one has the smallest base while the broadest base has the lowest height. The planes are folded at the middle and placed one after another. The highest point of the structure reaches 150 feet. This unique arrangement of the planes has created a structure that seems to change its configuration when viewed from different angles. The main monument is composed of seven isosceles triangular planes each varying in size in its height and base. The highest one has the smallest base while the broadest base has the lowest height. The planes are folded at the middle and placed one after another. The highest point of the structure reaches 150 feet. This unique arrangement of the planes has created a structure that seems to change its configuration when viewed from different angles.

Satgumbad Mosque located in the Muhammadpur area of Dhaka city, the building exhibits seven domes - three over the prayer chamber and four over the corner towers. The inscription tablet of the mosque is now lost, so its exact date is not known. But in plan and other constructional details, save the hollow and massive domed corner towers, the mosque has the strongest similarities with some late 17th century mosques of Dhaka. The mihrab arches have beautiful cuspings on their faces. The rectangular frame, which encloses the central mihrab, is topped by a frieze of blind crestings. All the domes are crowned with lotus and kalasa finials and internally marked with a basal course of petals. The apex of the central dome has a large medallion decorated with a five-tiered rosette.

As the most populous city of the nation, Dhaka has a vibrant cultural life. Annual celebrations for Independence Day (March 26), Language Martyrs' Day (February 21) and Victory Day (December 16) are prominently celebrated across the city.