This Envisat ASAR image, acquired during May 2004, shows Dhaka (or Dacca) city, capital of Bangladesh, in the Dhaka Division. It is located on an arm of the Dhaleswari River in the populous and flood-prone Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and is a major commercial, cultural, and manufacturing centre served by the nearby port of Narayanganj. Products include jute, silk, and cotton textiles; carpets; processed food; chemicals; jewellery; and rubber goods. The city's old section, a maze of crowded bazaars and narrow streets, is in marked contrast to Ramna Maidan, a modern well-planned area to the north, where most of the government buildings and educational institutions are located.

More than 700 mosques in the city attest to the importance of Islam as the predominant religion. Other landmarks include Lal Bagh Fort and the tomb of Pari Bibi (the wife of a governor of Bengal), both built in the late 17th century, and the large Parliament building (dedicated 1982), designed by Louis I. Kahn. The University of Dhaka (1921), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (1962), and Jahangirnagar University (1970) are located in Dhaka.

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