Dhaka Cantonment is a cantonment located in the northern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The headquarters of the Bangladesh Army and Air Force are situated within the cantonment. The cantonment is located on the north-east end of Dhaka.

History

British India

Due to major military engagements affecting Bengal, the then Parliament of the United Kingdom passed a bill within the Government of India Act 1858 to build new fortifications apart from Fort William across the region, the British often converted Mughal forts into military bases, such as in Lalbagh and Idrakpur. However, in 1874, Dacca Cantonment laid its foundation at the outcome of Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1853. This cantonment played a pivotal role of logistics during Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885 and, again in Burma campaign in Second World War where it served as the initial headquarters of fourteenth army before shifting to Comilla Cantonment.

Pakistan

On 14 August 1947, the cantonment became an installation of the Pakistan Armed Forces, and in 1952, it was fully ameliorated, with the headquarters of 14th Infantry Division of Pakistan Army stationed here as the sole army division of East Pakistan. On 23 August 1969, the Pakistan Eastern Command's headquarters here was inaugurated with Lt. Gen. Sahabzada Yaqub Khan being appointed as its first commander. Dacca Cantonment also became one of the major scheming place for Operation Searchlight under Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan with major political leaders of Awami league and intellectuals detained as well as tormented in the cantonment. The Pakistan Army eventually withdrew from its installation on 16 December 1971, according to their instrument of surrender, after the outcome of Bangladesh Liberation War.

Bangladesh

After the independence of Bangladesh, the newly formed Bangladesh Army shifted their headquarters from Sreemangal to Dacca Cantonment on 20 December 1971. Under Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. M. A Rab, the cantonment was restructured with new infantry brigade, engineers brigade, signals brigade and a para commando regiment were inaugurated. Dhaka Cantonment initially headquartered the 9th Infantry Division, before being moved to Savar on 31 May 1984. The cantonment once again became one of the main scheming hotspot during 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis under Gen. Moeen U Ahmed and acting prime minister Fakhruddin Ahmed. Former prime minister Khaleda Zia's family had been living for 38 years in the 2.72-acre plot house at 6 Shaheed Mainul Road house in Dhaka Cantonment. It was the official residence of her husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, when he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS) of the Bangladesh Army. After he became the President of Bangladesh, he kept the house as his residence. Following his assassination in 1981, the acting President Abdus Sattar, leased the house "for life" to Zia, for a nominal ৳101. When the army took over the government in 1983, former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad confirmed this arrangement. On 20 April 2009, the Directorate of Military Lands and Cantonments handed a notice asking Zia to vacate the cantonment residence. Several allegations and irregularities mentioned in the notice - first, Zia had been carrying out political activities from the house – which went against a condition of the allotment; second, one cannot get an allotment of two government houses in the capital; third, a civilian cannot get a resident lease within a cantonment. Zia vacated the house on 13 November 2010. She then moved to the residence of her brother, Sayeed Iskandar, at Gulshan.

Command installations

Formations under Army Headquarters

Administrations and Limited Companies Areas under the Defense Officers Housing Schemes (DOHS) also fall under the Dhaka Cantonment Area. Command structure

Formations under Air Headquarters

** Command structure**

Formations under Bangladesh Navy

Command structure

Formations under Bangladesh Railway

Establishments

Education