ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores various socio-economic dimensions of Dhaka city. The primacy of Dhaka among Bangladeshi cities is not confined to population growth alone. Administrative functions, civil employment, financial and banking services, international commerce and business activities and much of the industrial production activities are concentrated in this city. Dhaka city attracted more people when it acquired the status of provincial capital in 1905. The present concentration of manufacturing activities in and around Dhaka city can be explained by the fact that much of the nation's scarce managerial talent, skilled and experienced workers and industrial support services are located here. Thus while there has been expansion in the number of industrial units and the number of people employed, the composition of the industries has not changed much over the two decades.
