Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and one of the major cities of South Asia. Along with its metropolitan area, Dhaka has a population of over 12 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh, the 9th largest city in the world and also among the most densely populated cities in the world. Dhaka is known as the City of Mosques, the Rickshaw Capital and renowned for producing the world's finest muslin.

Under Mughal rule in the 17th century, the city was known as Jahangir Nagar. It was a provincial capital and a center of the worldwide muslin trade. The modern city, however, was developed chiefly under British rule in the 19th century. In 1971, Dhaka became the capital of an independent Bangladesh. Today it serves as one of the prime centers for culture, education and business in the region.

Although Dhaka has the most developed urban infrastructure in the country, it still suffers from urban problems due to the rising population. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation, this has made Dhaka the fastest growing city in the world.