Recent archaeological excavations in Dhaka’s old jail compound on Nazimuddin Road, led by Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, have uncovered colored pottery and artifacts dating back nearly two thousand years. These discoveries suggest that Dhaka was connected to international trade networks, including the Silk Route, long before the Mughal period. The findings also indicate that the city’s history extends far beyond the commonly held view that it began during the Mughal era.

Historical records and inscriptions reveal that during the Bengal Sultanate, Dhaka was part of a region known as Iqlim Mubarakabad, named after Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah. Two key inscriptions from the 15th century—one from the Bibi Bakht Binot Mosque in Narinda and another from Naswalagali Mosque near the present central jail—confirm the presence of a growing Muslim community. The first mosque was built privately by a merchant named Arkan Ali, while the second was a state-sponsored construction under Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah.

These inscriptions and mosque constructions demonstrate the gradual expansion of Muslim society in Dhaka during the Sultanate period, reflecting both religious and commercial development along the Buriganga River.