There is an area in Old Dhaka which is referred to as Chandnighat. How did it get such a romantic name?

Chandni (Moonlight) was in fact the name of a royal Mughal barge, and the ghat it was kept moored at came to be known as Chandni-ghat, hence the locality's name. 

This was no ordinary boat! Chandni was one of the favourites of the iconic Mughal subahdar in Dhaka, Nawab Islam Khan. So much so, Chandni and another barge by the name of Fath-e-dariya were his residences. 

One can imagine the barges basking in all its glory. It is believed that they boasted the Mughal sun-and-lion flag in the masthead and the prestigious Mughal golden fish insignia on the prow. 

If the subahdar indeed stayed in these barges, we can comprehend the status of these two vessels. In fact, Islam Khan reportedly did not allow any common boats within a 12-mile radius of his beloved barges! 

Sources: Glimpses of Old Dhaka by Syed Muhammed Taifoor; Dacca: History and Romance in Place Names by Azimusshan Haider