(Clockwise - Dhakeshwari Mandir in Lalbagh area, Satmasjid in Mohammadpur, Ruins of a temple on BUET campus and Burdwan House at Bangla Academy. Photos: The Daily Star)
The 400th anniversary of Dhaka as the capital city will be celebrated amid massive festivity and colourful activities.
A three-year state-level celebration titled 'Dhaka Amar Dhaka,' will be launched on November 28 followed by a daylong programme on the next day.
Chief adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed will officially inaugurate the programmes on the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad at 3 pm, releasing 400 balloons and pigeons.
The grand celebration will include state-level arrangements and events organised by different private bodies presenting the past and present of Dhaka. Various groups and performers have chalked out spectacular shows to mark the occasion.
Committees and sub-committees have been formed to organise and manage the anniversary programmes expected to run till 2010.
The celebration events include firing of cannon, grand rally with horses and elephants, fireworks show and releasing of fanush (lantern) on the opening day.
Among other special arrangements there will be traditional Kawali concert, dances, poetry recitals and performance by Dhaka's famous traditional comic acts.
To recollect the lost heritage of the city the celebration will also include 'Dhakaiya' food festival, boat race, kite festival and display of Dhaka's world famous fabricsthe Muslin and Jamdani.
The organisers will also arrange fashion show, painting competition for children, festival of 'Dhakaya' sports for the school children.
During the three-year celebration special arrangements will made to put up shows at historical places and heritage sites like Bahadur Shah park, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Hosaini Dalan, Curzon Hall, Shankhari Bazaar and other such places to reintroduce the histories and legends of the city to the new generation.
Booklets, postcards, stamps and souvenir coins will be released presenting the past glory and significance.
Distinguished personalities of the city will also be honoured during the celebration.
Dhaka City Corporation, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka University, Asiatic Society, Dhaka Club, Dakabashi and many other bodies will assist in organising the celebration besides putting up own programmes.
Some social and environmental issues will also be in the spotlight. Special attention will be given to river Buriganga, which is now in appalling state being widely encroached at many points and choked up by severe water pollution.
The authorities will be pressed to make an effort of reclaim the encroached areas of Buriganga and carry out dredging operation in the river to salvage its navigability.
There are several views of historians on the 400 years of Dhaka as a capital.
According to the most popular version Dhaka was founded in 1608 A.D. as the capital of the Province ruled by Islam Khan during the regime of Mughal Emperor Zahangir and it was at that time renamed Zahangirnagar.
However, the history of Dhaka as a prosperous settlement can be traced all the way back to the 7th century.
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