Dhaka’s Buried Truth: A 2,500-Year-Old History That Challenges Conventional Narratives

Recent discoveries have revealed that Dhaka has been a center of local and international trade for approximately 2,500 years. This revelation is nothing short of revolutionary, as it forces us to reimagine the city not just as a Mughal capital but as an ancient, bustling hub of commerce and civilization that predates many prominent historical centers of the world.

After shifting the Central Jail to Keraniganj from Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka, a significant opportunity emerged to rediscover the hidden layers of the city’s past. The Department of Security Services under the Ministry of Home Affairs launched a project called 'Ensuring the Best Use of Unused and Abandoned Land of Old Dhaka Central Jail'. This initiative, while aimed at urban redevelopment, unintentionally paved the way for one of the most astonishing archaeological revelations in Bangladesh’s history.

In this case, the Archaeology Department of Jahangirnagar University was given the responsibility of excavation. These scholars and researchers took up the challenge with academic rigor and historical curiosity, seeking to unearth whatever remnants of the past might still lie beneath the soil. Their careful excavation and analysis would soon provide evidence that could reshape our understanding of Dhaka's origins.

Excavations have found some artifacts, from which archaeologists speculate that human settlement in Dhaka city began even before the birth of Jesus Christ — between the fifth and second centuries BC. These findings suggest that Dhaka’s history does not begin in the Mughal era as we’ve been taught for generations. Instead, it is a city that has witnessed millennia of evolution, conflict, trade, and culture. As a result, the age of this town is more than two and a half thousand years — a fact that elevates Dhaka to the ranks of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

A historical truth, unearthed in 2016-17, has the potential to change textbooks and educational syllabi across the nation. However, the pro-Awami researcher Muntasir Mamun suppressed these findings to maintain his established historical narrative. This deliberate silencing of history, if proven true, represents a grave disservice to academic integrity and the right of the public to access the truth about their heritage.

Historical writings demonstrate that true history cannot be suppressed. History is not something that can be lost or hidden. No force can conceal historical facts. As long as human civilization exists, there will always be those who seek and uncover the truth. The sands of time may bury monuments, but they cannot bury facts. Truth always finds a way to rise to the surface.

It is good to say that Professor Muntasir Mamun of Dhaka University has a series on the history of Dhaka called Dhaka Samgra. The history of Dhaka city is only 400 years old in the books written by him. While these books have long been considered authoritative sources, the recent archaeological evidence casts doubt on their completeness. By limiting Dhaka’s historical significance to merely four centuries, a vast and critical portion of its past has been ignored or, worse, deliberately excluded.

He suppressed the matter at all costs, thinking that the discovery of the archaeologists would stop his book sales. If true, this is deeply unfortunate. The pursuit of knowledge should never be sacrificed at the altar of personal gain. The idea that historical truth might be buried — not by time or nature, but by deliberate human intervention — is a betrayal of both scholarship and society.

It is questionable whether this individual, often hailed as a leading intellectual, truly possesses the depth of knowledge expected of such a title. Those who genuinely understand knowledge recognize its vastness, and this person has deprived the public of a comprehensive historical understanding. His book, once used as a reference by archaeologists, now appears to be a distorted representation of the past. The implications are profound: if Dhaka’s history was intentionally misrepresented, then generations of students, researchers, and citizens have been deprived of a key piece of their identity.

If the Awami League was in power, the history of two and a half thousand years would have been imprisoned as an unknown history. The politicization of history has always been a dangerous trend in many countries, and Bangladesh appears to be no exception. When governments or their supporters manipulate historical narratives for their convenience, the people lose access to their roots, and a nation’s collective memory becomes fragmented and distorted.

Until today, we've been reading a 400-year history of Dhaka, largely shaped by the ideas and information of figures like Muntasir Mamun. It's widely known that Subedar Islam Khan made Dhaka the capital of Suba Bengal in 1610. According to conventional information, Dhaka has received the status of capital five times since 1610 till today. However, according to a recent study, Dhaka, as a prosperous city, received the status of the capital seven times, which is a very rare event in the history of the world. This revelation, if validated further, repositions Dhaka not just as a regional city of note, but as a global historical marvel. Few cities can claim to have been designated a capital seven times across such an extended timeline — this underscores its unmatched significance.

Prof. Muntasir Mamun played various negative roles to cover up the real history. He was obstructed by political influence in various ways. Because the results of this excavation work will change the 400-year history of Dhaka. And the appeal of his book Dhakar Itihisa Samgar to history lovers, will no longer be used as a reference book in colleges and universities so he does such a despicable thing. This deeply unethical behavior, if true, underscores the danger of allowing personal or political motivations to override the pursuit of academic truth. Textbooks and reference materials should reflect the most accurate and updated knowledge available — not outdated narratives crafted to suit particular ideologies.

Truth is truth, truth can never be hidden. So we cannot ignore the truth for one's personal interest. Prof. Muntasir Mamun is just a person, we cannot keep such a big truth buried under the ground by considering him as the master of history. No single individual, no matter how respected or influential, should be allowed to monopolize the interpretation of history. Our past belongs to all of us, and its accurate documentation is a collective responsibility that transcends personal ego or political affiliation.

Recent archaeological discoveries have significantly enriched our understanding of Dhaka's history. These findings challenge traditional historical narratives and offer new insights into the region's complex past and global trade connections. As further research continues, we can expect to uncover more fascinating details about Dhaka's ancient past. This is just the beginning. With continued scholarly effort and public support, the real history of Dhaka — vibrant, ancient, and globally connected — will come to light, and future generations will inherit a truer, richer sense of their heritage.