Puran Dhaka's Islampur and a tale of names

What comes to mind when you hear of Islampur? It is home to a huge wholesale market of clothes and fabrics — that sums it up, right? Indeed, the area's commercial importance oftentimes overshadows its history, which, ironically, stares down from the signboards of those very shops: the name of the locality itself.

Islampur is named after Islam Khan Chisti, a legendary Mughal figure of Bengal.

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Why legendary? Because in the pages of history, he holds accolades no other subahdar does. He effectively conquered Bengal and brought it under the Mughal Empire. And he was the man who took the milestone move of turning Dhaka into a capital city.

He also changed our city's name to Jahangirnagar — in honour of Emperor Jahangir — but that name did not stick.

Speaking of names (and names that did not stick), we mostly know this ruler as Nawab Islam Khan, but his actual name was Sheikh Alauddin Chisti. There was also another area in Dhaka which was named after him: Mahalla Chistia, but that name has waned away.

On the other hand, Islampur still carries his legacy today.

The locality holds a special importance. Many believe that when Nawab Islam Khan arrived in Dhaka through waterways around 400 years ago, he first landed here; and hence, to mark this pivotal event, place, and ruler in our city's history, the name Islampur was given.

Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

Sources: Glimpses of Old Dhaka by Syed Muhammed Taifoor; Kingbodontir Dhaka by Nazir Hossain