Timeline of Dhaka

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Prior to 19th century

 * 8th century CE – Dhaka part of Pala Empire.
 * 1095 – Senas in power.
 * 1457 – Binat Bibi Mosque constructed.
 * 1459 – Gate built.
 * 1580s – Portuguese merchants open the first European trading post in Dhaka.
 * 1610 – City renamed Jahangirnagar; becomes capital of Bengal; Mughal Islam Khan in power.
 * 1639 – Capital relocated from Dhaka to Rajmahal.
 * 1640 – Mughal Eidgah mosque built.
 * 1642 – Hussaini Dalan (mosque) built.
 * 1645 – Bara Katra (caravansary) built.
 * 1646 – Navaratna temple built (approximate date).
 * 1649 – Lalbagh Fort mosque built.
 * 1659 – Capital relocated to Dhaka from Rajmahal.
 * 1660 – Pagla bridge built on Dacca-Narayangaj road (approximate date).
 * 1682 – 25 October: William Hedges, the first Agent and Governor of East India Company in the Bay of Bengal, arrived Dhaka.
 * 1663 – Choto Katra (caravansary) built.
 * 1668 – English Factory built.
 * 1676 – Chowk Bazaar Shai Mosque built.
 * 1677 – Holy Rosary Church built by Portuguese.
 * 1678 – Lalbagh palace construction begins.
 * 1679 – Shahbaz Khan Mosque and Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque built.
 * 1696
 * Mosque of Haji Kahjeh Shahabag built in Ramne (approximate date).
 * Jayakali temple and Siva temple built in Thatari Bazar (approximate date).
 * 1704 – Murshid Quli Khan residence relocates from Dhaka to Murshidabad.
 * 1717 – Khan Muhammad Ali Khan becomes deputy governor.
 * 1723 – Itisam Khan becomes deputy governor.
 * 1728 – Mirza Lutfullah becomes deputy governor.
 * 1756 – Jasarat Khan becomes deputy governor.
 * 1765
 * British East India Company in power.
 * Population: 450,000 (estimate).
 * 1781 – Armenian Church built.
 * 1793 – Laxmi Narayan Mandir (temple) built.
 * 1800 – Population: 200,000 (estimate).

19th century

 * 1815
 * Catholic church built.
 * Lunatic Asylum founded.
 * 1819 – St. Thomas Church built.
 * 1825 – Population: 150,000 (approximate).
 * 1830
 * Iron suspension bridge constructed across Dullye Creek.
 * Gurdwara Nanak Shahi built.
 * Population: 66,989.
 * 1834 – Ghaziuddin Haider becomes deputy governor.
 * 1835 – Dhaka Collegiate School established.
 * 1840 – Population bottoms out at 50,000.
 * 1846 – Union School is established to give the poor an English education.
 * 1850 – Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Bengal established.
 * 1857 – Uprising of sepoys.
 * 1858
 * City becomes part of British Raj.
 * Mitford Hospital established.
 * 1864 – 1 August: Dacca Municipality established.
 * 1866 – Langar Khana (almshouse) founded.
 * 1872 – Population: 69,212.
 * 1874 – Madrasa established.
 * 1875 – Medical school established.
 * 1876 – Dhaka Survey School is established to teach surveying and road building in the vernacular.
 * 1878
 * Water-works in operation.
 * Eden Girls' College established.
 * 1880 – Northbrook Hall built.
 * 1881 – Population: 79,076.
 * 1882 – St Gregory's School founded.
 * 1883 – Jagannth College founded. (Now Jagannath University)
 * 1885 – Revenue service begins on the Narayanganj-Dhaka portion of the Dacca State Railway.
 * 1886 – Mymensingh-Dhaka railway opens.
 * 1888
 * April: Tornado.
 * Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace) rebuilt.
 * 1892 – 16 March: Jeanette Rummary (as Jeanette Van Tassell) makes the first balloon ascension and parachute jump in Dhaka's history as a member of a travelling aerial exhibition led by Park Van Tassel.
 * 1897 – 12 June: Earthquake.

1900s–1960s

 * 1901 – Population: 90,542; district of Dacca: 2,649,522.
 * 1902 – April: Tornado.
 * 1904 – Curzon Hall built.
 * 1905 – City becomes capital of newly formed East Bengal and Assam province.
 * 1906 – December: All India Muhammadan Educational Conference held.
 * 1909 – Baldha Garden laid out.
 * 1911 – Dhaka Club organized.
 * 1918 – Influenza outbreak.
 * 1921 – University of Dhaka established.
 * 1946 – Dhaka Medical College established.
 * 1947 – City becomes capital of East Bengal, a province of newly independent Pakistan.
 * 1949 – All Pakistan Women's Association East Pakistan Branch organized.
 * 1951
 * Habib Productions theatre troupe active.
 * Area of city: 85 square kilometers.
 * Population: 411,279.
 * 1952 – Asiatic Society organized.
 * 1953 – Holy Family Hospital built.
 * 1954
 * Dhaka Stock Exchange incorporated.
 * Dacca Stadium and New Market built.
 * 1955
 * City becomes capital of East Pakistan.
 * Bangla Academy established.
 * 1956
 * Drama Circle active.
 * RAJUK Bhaban built.
 * 1959 – Alliance Française de Dhaka founded.
 * 1960 – Islamia Eye Hospital and Cholera Research Hospital founded.
 * 1961 – Tejgaon College established.
 * 1964 – Bangabhaban reconstructed.
 * 1965 – Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research and Jinnah College founded.
 * 1967 – Officers' Club established.
 * 1968
 * Protests against Ayub Khan regime.
 * Baitul Mukarram (mosque) built.

1970s–1990s

 * 1970
 * November: Bhola cyclone.
 * Jiraz Art Gallery in business.
 * 1971
 * 7 March: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman speaks at Ramna Race Course Maidan.
 * 25 March: Bangladesh Liberation War begins; Dhaka University massacre.
 * 27 March: Ramna Kali Mandir (temple) razed.
 * 16 December: Instrument of Surrender signed.
 * City becomes capital of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
 * The Bangladesh Observer newspaper in publication.
 * 1972
 * Ekushey Book Fair begins.
 * Dhaka Shishu Hospital established.
 * Abahani Limited sports club formed.
 * Shaheed Minar (monument) rebuilt.
 * 1973 – Dhaka Theatre established.
 * 1974
 * Abul Hasnat becomes mayor.
 * Dhaka Zoo established.
 * Saju Art Gallery in business.
 * Population: 1,730,253 urban agglomeration.
 * 1975
 * Islamic Foundation Bangladesh formed.
 * 15 August: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is assassinated.
 * 3 November: Awami League leaders killed in Dhaka Central Jail.
 * 1976 – Dhaka Metropolitan Police department established.
 * 1977 – 2 October: Coup attempt.
 * 1980 – School of the Society for Education in Theatre established.
 * 1981
 * Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation organized.
 * Area of city: 510 square kilometers.
 * Population: 3,440,147.
 * 1982
 * Mahamudul Hassan becomes mayor.
 * Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban (parliament building) constructed.
 * Mirpur and Gulshan become part of Dhaka municipality.
 * 1983 – Bangladesh Shilpa Bank Bhaban built.
 * 1985
 * December: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit held.
 * Bangladesh Bank Building and Janata Bank Bhaban constructed.
 * The National Library of Bangladesh moves into a new, purpose-built facility.
 * 1986 – Bangladesh Medical College established.
 * 1989
 * Maziur Rhaman becomes mayor.
 * Dhaka Pantomime group formed.
 * 1990 – Abul Hasnat becomes mayor.
 * 1991
 * Mirza Abbas becomes mayor.
 * Daily Star newspaper begins publication.
 * Area of city: 1,353 square kilometers.
 * Population: 6,887,459.
 * 1993
 * Independent University, Bangladesh was established.
 * 1994
 * Mohammad Hanif becomes mayor.
 * Puppet Development Centre opens.
 * 1995
 * Pantapath road and Dhaka Nagar Bhaban constructed.
 * Dhaka Imperial College established.
 * 1996 – East West University established.
 * 1998 – Prothom Alo newspaper begins publication.
 * 1999 – March: D-8 summit held.
 * 2000
 * Chobi Mela International Photography Festival begins.
 * Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts opens.

21st century

 * 2001
 * BRAC University established.
 * Area of city: 1,530 square kilometers.
 * 2002
 * Sadeque Hossain Khoka becomes mayor.
 * China Bangladesh Friendship Center built.
 * 2004 – Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre and Bashundhara City (shopping mall) open.
 * 2005
 * Jagannath College transformed into Jagannath University
 * Concord Grand built.
 * 2008 – Population: 7,000,940.
 * 2011
 * Hay Festival begins.
 * Population: 8,906,035.
 * 2012
 * April: Demonstration.
 * Dhaka Gladiators cricket team formed.
 * City Centre (building) constructed.
 * City designated a Capital of Islamic Culture.
 * 2013
 * Protests in Shahbag.
 * 2013 Savar building collapse.
 * 2014 – Air pollution in Dhaka reaches annual mean of 85 PM2.5 and 150 PM10, much higher than recommended.
 * 2016 – 1 July: Gulshan attack.
 * 2019 – 20 February: Chowk Bazaar fire.