Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • City

Dhaka

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, and the principal city of Dhaka Division.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, located on the Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta. It is a major political, economic, and cultural centre in South Asia.

What it is

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, and the principal city of Dhaka Division. It sits in south-central Bangladesh on the Buriganga River, within the vast Ganges Delta. The city proper has an estimated population of 10.3 million (2022), while the wider metropolitan area is among the largest in South Asia, with a 2025 estimate of 36.6 million people.

Why it matters

Dhaka is the seat of Bangladesh’s government and a leading centre for commerce, education, and culture. It is widely described as one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas, reflecting intense urban concentration. The city has long historical importance as a Mughal provincial capital and later as the capital of independent Bangladesh from 1971.

Key details

Dhaka lies in a low-lying riverine setting bounded by the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, and Shitalakshya rivers. Its history spans centuries, rising to prominence under Mughal rule and later as East Pakistan’s administrative capital. Today, Dhaka is the country’s main hub for administration, business, transport, and industry, and is often called the cultural heart of Bangladesh.

In short

  • Dhaka is Bangladesh’s capital and largest city.
  • It is one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas.
  • The city has a long history as a regional capital and commercial centre.
  • Dhaka is central to the Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
Canadian angle

Dhaka is relevant to Canadian readers through Bangladesh-Canada migration, trade, development cooperation, and the Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, particularly in major urban centres such as Toronto and Vancouver.

Quick questions

What is Dhaka?
Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, and the main political, economic, and cultural centre of the country.
Where is Dhaka located?
Dhaka is in south-central Bangladesh, on the eastern banks of the Buriganga River in the Ganges Delta.
Is Dhaka a densely populated city?
Yes. It is widely described as one of the most densely populated large urban areas in the world.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhaka
    Supports: Location, status as capital and largest city, geographic setting, and population estimates.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Dhaka
    Supports: Dhaka as capital of Bangladesh, location near the Buriganga River, and city importance.
  3. University of Tokyo — https://www.urban.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/asianmetropolis/Dhaka.pdf
    Supports: Historical development, administrative role after 1947 and 1971, and metropolitan context.
  4. Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Dhaka/273984
    Supports: Dhaka as capital, largest city, commercial center, and population growth context.