Note: Dhaka city was first lit up on December 7, 1901. It was a gift of Nawab Ahsanullah to his native town. It was a fulfillment of the promise he made in 1888 on the occasion of his father Nawab Abdul Gani being invested with Order of the KCSI.  The Englishman published a detailed account of the first electric light festival in Dhaka on December 12, 1901. Here we publish the account verbatim.

DACCA FESTIVITIES

ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS

DACCA, DEC 8, 1901

Though it was much regretted that His Honor The Lieutenant-Governor was unable to visit Dacca to start the installation of the electric light so generously presented by the Nawab Sir Ahsanullah Bahadur, Mr. C. W. Bolton was warmly welcomed; he came as His Honor’s representative for the occasion. Mr. Bolton was met at Naraianganj by Mr. Savage, Mr. Rankin and Mr Edward, who all travelled with him to Dhaka. The Nawab had asked all the European and native residents to be at home at his palace, the Ahsan Manzil, and there the arrival of Mr Bolton was awaited. He was received by the Nawab and Mr. Garth. A Dais had been prepared in the south verandah of the palace, in the gallery of which all those who had been invited were seated. Mr. Savage welcomed Mr. Bolton in the name of the Electric Light Trustees, and addressed him as follows:

Mr. Bolton made an interesting reply bringing the prominent, humane, and improving benefactions of Nawab Ahsanullah Bahadur again before his hearers. At the close of his speech Mr. Garth asked him to press a handle, which was on a table before him . Immediately the city of Daca was lighted as it never had been before. The handle with which the light was permanently installed and opened consisted of a gold-mounted pen and pencil, which the Nawab asked Mr. Bolton to accept as a souvenir of the occasion. In evening Sir Ahsanullah was the host  to a large number of guests to dinner at the palace which was brilliantly lighted, of course, with electricity. The Royal toast was proposed by the Nawab, and then Mr. Bolton asked the guests to drink to their host. This was enthusiastically received. Mr. Girth, in an excellent speech as the Honorary Secretary of the Electric Light Trustees, asked the company to toast the firm who had in such a thorough and efficent way established the undertaking. He connected the name of the Hon. Mr. Elworthy, of the firm of Messrs Osler and Co. who was a guest at the dinner, with the toast and also paid a great tribute to the firm’s representative, Mr Harry P. Allison, who had had the work in hand from the beginning, and who had won the confidence and esteem and respect of all. Mr Elworthy acknowledged the special mention of his firm in this connection, and alluded to the generous munificence of the Nawab. After dinner there were songs from Mrs, Garth, Mrs. Wake and Mr. Connell.