Dhanmondi Thana

Dhanmondi
ধানমন্ডি
Thana
Dhanmondi

Location in Bangladesh

Coordinates: 23°44.3′N 90°23.1′E / 23.7383°N 90.3850°E / 23.7383; 90.3850Coordinates: 23°44.3′N 90°23.1′E / 23.7383°N 90.3850°E / 23.7383; 90.3850
Country  Bangladesh
Division Dhaka Division
District Dhaka District
Area
 • Total 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)
Population (1991)
 • Total 201,529
 • Density 20,691/km2 (53,590/sq mi)
Time zone BST (UTC+6)
Website Official Map of the Dhanmondi Upazila

Dhanmondi (Bengali: ধানমন্ডি) is one of the most affluent residential areas in Dhaka city. Its origins can be traced back to the late 1950s, beginning as the residential area for the city's elite, and over the decades evolving into a miniature city, where one can find everything from hospitals to malls, schools, banks, offices and universities.

Geography

Dhanmondi is located in the Dhaka District of Bangladesh. It has 33451 houses and a total area of 4.34 km².[1]

History

Dhanmondi has been traditionally known as an upmarket, affluent residential area. After the liberation war, it primarily consisted of two storied houses and fostered a quiet neighborhood environment. More recently, migration issues, aggressive real estate business policies, and increasing numbers of schools and shopping malls have transformed its quiet residential status to that of a more cosmopolitan, commercial area.

It is in Dhanmondi where the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, lived and was assassinated, along with most of his family, in 1975.

Features

Although there is a growing number of apartment complexes replacing the original two-storied houses of Dhanmondi, there are several non-residential establishments on almost every street, most of which are schools, universities, hospitals, restaurants and shopping centers.

International stores
Food: Al Baik • Baskin-Robbins • Coffee World * KFC • Pizza Corner • Pizza Hut • Nandos
Clothes: Levi's • Dockers • Nike
Others: Bata •Archies Ltd. • Hallmark • Nokia Care
Local Stores
Food: American Burger • BFC • Helvatia • Dhanshiri • Dominous Pizza • Midnight Sun • VOOT • Kasturi
Clothes: Aarong • Khan Brother's • Kay Kraft • Grameen Check
Others: Boi Bichitra •Hyankosh • Ecstasy ltd. • Time Zone (Watches)

Dhanmondi is well known for its lake. The lakeside walkway is one of the most popular destinations in Dhaka and is usually crowded with people during the evenings. One of the more prominent features of the lakeside walkway is the Rabindra Sharabar, an open-air amphitheater near the Road 8 bridge, where dramas, concerts, and various cultural programs are held from time to time by both amateur and well-known artistes, especially during major festivals and holidays.

Snack stalls along the lakeside, particularly on Road 2 (opposite the entrance to Bangladesh Rifles), Road 5 (on an island accessible only by foot bridges from two sides), Road 8 (near the amphitheater) and Road 32 (opposite the residence of Sheikh Mujibir Rahman), offer a variety of tasty snacks and beverages, and attract thousands of city dwellers every day.

During festivals such as Pohela Baishakh, Independence Day and Eid, moving around Dhanmondi turns out to be nearly impossible as scores of people crowd the area.

Banks

Almost every bank operating in the country has an outlet in Dhanmondi. Foreign banks such as Citi, HSBC and Standard Chartered also have branches here, with HSBC and Standard Chartered having multiple ATM booths within the area.

Real estate

Real estate in Dhanmondi has seen a tornado of soaring prices over the last 20 years. The growth rate of the price is 331%, the highest in Dhaka since 1995. An average acre of land in Dhanmondi will cost about 340 crore taka (USD $45 million), according to the 2010 property records and public records information provided by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh.

Education

Over the last fifteen years, a large number of schools, colleges and private universities have been developed around the area.

Many well-known English medium schools in the country, such as Scholastica (Junior Section), South Breeze, Sunbeams, Oxford International School Main Campus and Junior Dhanmondi Campus,[2] Mastermind, Maple Leaf, Marie Curie, Dhanmondi Tutorial, Sunnydale, and European Standard School (ESS), and English version schools like Scholar's School and College are located in Dhanmondi.

Colleges like Dhaka City College are located here. Among the universities, International Islamic University Chittagong, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, United International University, Eastern University, The People's University Of Bangladesh, Stamford University, the University of Asia Pacific and Best Link Future Development Foundation (Head Campus) (Computer Education) are the most well known.

Restaurants

There are restaurants and cafes all over the locality. As of recently, hookah bars or shisha lounges are being attached to most restaurants to draw in young crowds. Some prominent restaurants which include hookah bars are Decagon Cafe, B151 Leisure Lounge, D Pavement, H2O, and TEKIYA Japanese Cuisine(Shimanto Square). All established local and international fast food chains in the country have outlets in Dhanmondi.

Gallery

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhanmondi.
  1. ↑ Ahmed, Syed Shabbir (2012). "Dhanmondi Thana". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ↑ "Contact Details." Oxford International School. Retrieved on September 20, 2015. "Main Campus (Attached Centre of Cambridge International Examination for CIPP, CLSP, Check Point, O Level and A Level examinations) House # 34, Road # 27 (old), New 16, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209, "
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