Dhaka Cantonment

Coordinates: 23°49′N 90°24′E / 23.82°N 90.40°E / 23.82; 90.40
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Dhaka Cantonment
ঢাকা সেনানিবাস
Dhaka
Front View of Bir Shrestho Shaheed Jahangir Gate, Dhaka Cantonment.
Coordinates23°49′N 90°24′E / 23.82°N 90.40°E / 23.82; 90.40
TypeMilitary base
Site information
Controlled by Bangladesh Armed Forces
Site history
Built1874

Dhaka Cantonment (Bengali: ঢাকা সেনানিবাস) is a cantonment located in the northern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Army,[1] and Air Force are situated within the cantonment which combined form the Armed Forces of Bangladesh. The Cantonment is located on the north-east end of the Dhaka Metropolis.[2]

History[edit]

British India[edit]

Due to major military engagements affecting Bengal, the then Parliament of the United Kingdom passed a bill within the Government of India Act 1858 to build new fortifications apart from Fort William across the region, the British often converted Mughal forts into military bases, such as in Lalbagh and Idrakpur. However, in 1874 Dhaka Cantonment laid its foundation at the outcome of Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1853. This cantonment played a pivotal role of logistics during Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885 and again in Burma campaign in Second World War where it served as the initial headquarters of fourteenth army before shifting to Cumilla Cantonment.

Pakistan[edit]

Muhammad Ali Jinnah (left) confers the Military Cross on a solider for his services in Burma during World War II at Dacca Cantonment, 20 March 1948

On 14 August 1947, the cantonment became an installation of the Pakistan Armed Forces with headquarters of 14th Infantry Division of Pakistan Army stationed in here as the sole army division of East Pakistan. In 23 August 1969, the Pakistan Eastern Command, its headquarters was inaugurated with Lt. Gen. Sahabzada Yaqub Khan being appointed as its first commander.[3]Dacca Cantonment also became one of the major scheming place for Operation Searchlight under Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan with major political leaders of Awami league and intellectuals were detained as well as tormented in the cantonment. Pakistan army eventually withdrew from its installation on 16 December 1971 according to their instrument of surrender, after the outcome of Bangladesh Liberation War.

Bangladesh[edit]

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Airforce personnel at the cantonment parade ground

After the independence of Bangladesh, the newly formed Bangladesh Army shifted their headquarters from Sreemangal to Dacca cantonment on 20 December, 1971. Under chief of staff Maj. Gen. M. A Rab, the cantonment was restructured with new infantry brigade, engineers brigade, signals brigade and a para commando regiment were inaugurated. Dhaka cantonment initially headquartered the 9th Infantry Division before being moved to Savar on 31 May, 1984. The cantonment once again became one of the main scheming hotspot during 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis under Gen. Moeen U Ahmed and acting prime minister Fakhruddin Ahmed. Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's family had been living for 38 years in the 2.72-acre plot house at 6 Shaheed Mainul Road house in Dhaka Cantonment.[4] It was the official residence of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, when he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS) of the Bangladesh Army.[5] After he became the President of Bangladesh, he kept the house as his residence. Following his assassination in 1981, the acting President Abdus Sattar, leased the house "for life" to Zia, for a nominal ৳101. When the army took over the government in 1983, former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad confirmed this arrangement.

On 20 April 2009, the Directorate of Military Lands and Cantonments handed a notice asking Zia to vacate the cantonment residence.[6][7] Several allegations and irregularities mentioned in the notice - first, Zia had been carrying out political activities from the house – which went against a condition of the allotment; second, one cannot get an allotment of two government houses in the capital; third, a civilian cannot get a resident lease within a cantonment.[7] Zia vacated the house on 13 November 2010.[8] She then moved to the residence of her brother, Sayeed Iskandar, at Gulshan.[9]

Command Installations[edit]

Formation Under Army Headquarters[edit]

Administrations and Limited Companies

Areas under the Defense Officers Housing Schemes (DOHS) also fall under the Dhaka Cantonment Area.

Command Structure

Formation Under Air Headquarters[edit]

Command Structure

Formation Under Bangladesh Navy[edit]

Comand Structure

Formation Under Bangladesh Railway[edit]

Establishments[edit]

Education[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Modernisation of army to continue". The Daily Star. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Cantonment Thana". Banglapedia. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  3. ^ §The Man of Honor and Integrity: Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, Unified Commander of Pakistan Armed Forces in East Pakistan." (in English), Witness to Surrender., Inter Services Public Relations, Siddique Salik,, pp. 60–90, ISBN 984-05-1374-5.
  4. ^ "Govt cancels lease of Khaleda's Cantt house". The Daily Star. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Quiet day at Gulshan". The Daily Star. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Eviction notice for Khaleda Zia". 8 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Tearful Khaleda reaches Gulshan office". bdnews24.com. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  8. ^ "I am evicted". The Daily Star. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Dozens hurt in Bangladesh clashes". BBC. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Proposal to cut PC's power irks planning minister". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  11. ^ "LIVE: Gulshan hostage crisis". The Daily Star. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  12. ^ "PM inaugurates new facilities in Dhaka Cantonment". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Japanese firms tighten security measures after Dhaka attack". The Daily Star. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. ^ "EBR holds parade". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. ^ "President urges people to get united against terrorism". The Daily Star. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Customs suspects duty leaks thru luggage loads". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  17. ^ "Attack at Dhaka airport kills 1, injures 4". WION. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  18. ^ "Military Police Week 2016 begins in city | Dhaka Tribune". Dhaka Tribune. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  19. ^ "The foxes of Dhaka". The Daily Star. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  20. ^ Rahman, Anisur (4 July 2016). "Bangladesh pays homage to Dhaka terror attack victims". Mint. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Museums in Bangladesh: A brief introduction". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. ^ "Reshuffle in 15 key army posts". The Daily Star. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Low turnout, violence mar polls". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  24. ^ "EC starts 2nd phase smart NID distribution in Dhaka". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  25. ^ "History of BISC". Bangladesh International School & College.
  26. ^ "Welcome to Dhaka Cantt Girls' Public School & College". Dhaka Cantonment Girls' Public School & College.
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