Chowkbazar Thana

Summary

Chowkbazar (Bengali: চকবাজার), also called Chawkbazar Model Thana, is a Thana of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was formed in August 2009 from parts of Lalbagh Thana and Kotwali Thana, and has an area of 2.07 km2.[2] It includes the Chowk Bazaar and was the site of the February 2019 Dhaka fire.

Chowkbazar
চকবাজার
Map
Expandable map of vicinity of Chowkbazar Thana
Chowkbazar is located in Dhaka
Chowkbazar
Chowkbazar
Location of Chowkbazar within Dhaka
Chowkbazar is located in Dhaka division
Chowkbazar
Chowkbazar
Location of Chowkbazar within Dhaka Division
Chowkbazar is located in Bangladesh
Chowkbazar
Chowkbazar
Location of Chowkbazar within Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°43′01″N 90°23′47″E / 23.717036°N 90.396322°E / 23.717036; 90.396322
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka Division
DistrictDhaka District
Area
 • Total2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total156,147
 • Density75,433/km2 (195,370/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal Code
1211

History edit

 
General view of the market place, 1885. Picture shows the Bibi Mariam Cannon

Chowkbazar (also spelled, Chawk Bazaar) is known as a sprawling market area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with hundreds of shops, market stalls and vendors.[3][4] In 1702, Murshid Quli Khan established the market, naming it Badshahi Bazar, which was later renamed as Chawk Bazaar.[5]

Later, James Taylor in his 1840 book, "A Sketch of the Topography & Statistics of Dacca" left a description of Chowkbazar: "It is a square of pretty large dimensions, and is surrounded chiefly by mosques and shops. The open space, in which the bazar is held, is enclosed by a low wall, with a carriage road around it..."[6]

Notable landmarks edit

 
The Chawk Mosque is a notable landmark of Chowkbazar Thana.[7]

Beside the market square is Chawk Mosque, built by Shaista Khan in 1676. It is 94 feet long, 80 feet wide and has three domes. Other notable landmarks include: Hussaini Dalan (1642), Bara Katra (1641), Choto Katra (1663) and Dhakeshwari Temple (1890).[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2011). "Population & Housing Census" (PDF). Bangladesh Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b Lilyma Ahmed (2012). "Chawkbazar Model Thana". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ^ "Chawk Bazar, the heart of the old city". Dhaka Calling: A Monthly Tourist Guide. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  4. ^ Mould, David (13 June 2019). "Spotlight on Bangladesh: Exploring Old Dhaka". Newsweek. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ^ Mamoon, M. (2017). ঢাকা : স্মৃতি বিস্মৃতির নগরী. Vol. 1. Anannya. ISBN 9849055839.
  6. ^ "Chawk Bazar of the olden times". The Daily Star. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  7. ^ MA Bari (2012). "Chawk Mosque, Dhaka". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.