| Uttara উত্তরা |
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|---|---|
| — Thana — | |
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Uttara
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Dhaka Division |
| District | Dhaka District |
| Government | |
| • Ward Commissioner | Dr. Hafizul Islam Kusum[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.91 km2 (14.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 345,097 |
| • Density | 9,350/km2 (24,216.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
| Postal code | 1230 |
| Website | Official Map of the Uttara Thana |
Uttara (Bengali: উত্তরা) is a Thana of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The name derives from the Bengali word "ut'tar" meaning "north". It lies on the road to Gazipur, and adjoins Shahjalal International Airport.
Uttara is primarily planned square grid residential suburb, geographically elevated from southern Dhaka saving it from floods, and is divided into several "sectors". The residents are generally from an (higher-middle-class) or middle-class background, who favor its distance from the congestion and pollution of Dhaka city. Indeed, well into the 1990s, Uttara retained its quiet, leafy suburban character. In recent years, with the increasing influx of people moving in from the city, Uttara has evolved into a bustling town, similar to other areas of Dhaka such as Gulshan, Mohakhali, Banani, Mirpur, Mohammadpur or Dhanmondi. The suburb is well-served by a proliferation of shopping complexes, shops, and schools & colleges.
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The middle class demography has attracted the establishment of market complexes like Rajlaxmi Complex, Amir Complex, RAJUK Commercial Complex, and the likes. The increase in the upper middle class population gave rise to demand for posher shopping outlets, giving rise to shopping centres like North Tower, Polwel Carnation, Mascot Plaza and RAK Tower.
United Airways has its head office in the Uttara Tower in Uttara Thana.[2] RAK Tower & ABC Tower of ABC Developer Company are at Jashimuddin Avenue in Uttara Thana. Local super market chains such as Agora, Shop 'n Save, Nandan Megashop and Family Needs operate in Uttara. Also, the leading American car manufacturer Ford has it's showroom situated in Abdullahpur.
Aarong has it's State of the art, 36,000 square feet (3,300 m2) flagship outlet on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
Uttara hosts an array of food outlets and educational institutions to cater to the residents. International fast food,ice cream and coffee chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn, Coffee World, Barista Lavazza, Mövenpick, Chicken King and Mainland China are in Uttara, to add to local chains such as Kabab Factory, Shikara, La-Bamba, Sangam, Helvetia, Captain's World, Best Fried Chicken, Fire on Ice, Dhakai Khabar, Aroma, Xinziang, and American Burger.
Being in close proximity to the international airport, Uttara has a few hotels and bed-and-breakfasts as well.
Just like any other residential area in Dhaka, Uttara too has a high number of educational institutions. They are:[3]
Uttara is also home to Uttara University, Shanta Mariam University of Creative Technology, Asian University and Daffodil International University.
The Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, the largest highway in the city is a north-south highway pierces Uttara through its middle, and is the only highway that connects Uttara to the rest of the nation.
Being the northernmost thana of the Dhaka metropolitan area, Uttara serves as one of the few exits of Dhaka city.[4] Travelers exiting Uttara to outside the city will use any local buses or even taxis for short distance travels to neighboring Tongi and Gazipur northbound on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway; long-haul travelers to northern Bangladesh will take coaches and exit northbound as well. Travelers entering the city centre can take buses, taxis or CNG-driven three-wheelers southbound on the highway. Travelers coming towards Uttara from within the city must travel on any bus that travels through Khilkhet and the airport to Uttara. Travelers coming to Uttara from northern Bangladesh must board a coach that enters Dhaka via Abdullahpur/Tongi, as most buses enter Dhaka city from the Gabtoli entry. Travelers coming from southern Bangladesh to Uttara must disembark at their designated stops and board a local bus to Uttara.
The nearest train station from Uttara is located opposite to the airport, and is called the Airport Rail Station.
Travel within Uttara is possible on rickshaws, although rickshaws are not allowed to cross the highway. Travelers intending to travel from one side of the highway to the other must use one of the four overpasses located across Scholastica school, Rajlaxmi Complex, Amir Complex and the Syed Grand Centre, or run across the highway through the heavy traffic.
Streets in sectors 1 and 4 get submerged under water during light rainfall. Streets in sectors 3, 4, 6, 10 and 14 are mostly in bad shape owing to work-in-progress renovation. All streets in Uttara are wide enough for two cars to pass. Walkways exist on broader roads; alleyways do not have any walkways.
As of the 2001 Bangladesh census, Uttara had a population of 345,097.[5] According to 1991 figures, males constitute 54.41% of the population and females 45.59%, and about 60% of the thana's population are adults. Uttara has an average literacy rate of 61% (7+ years).[6]
