Bengali muslin

Timeline

1. 1400–1530Sonargaon · Dhaka DivisionUnder the independent Bengal Sultanate, weavers in the Ganges Delta produced extremely fine muslin on handspinning wheels and narrow looms, exporting it through ports such as Chittagong to Arab and Southeast Asian markets.
2. c. 1531–1540Dhaka · Dhaka DivisionIn the 1530s, Mughal forces in northern India coexisted with local Bengal sultans; muslin was carried north overland and by port to places like Agra, becoming a high-value commodity in court dress and diplomatic gifts.
3. c. 1576–1757Hooghly River port area · West BengalAfter Bengal was formally incorporated into the Mughal realm, muslin production was integrated into provincial taxation and the karkhana supply system; European companies purchased through Hooghly, and Dhaka muslin became an international trade brand.