ARAKAN CONQUEST OF SHAISTHA KHAN Mirza Abu Talib, titled as Shaista Khan was a subadarand general in the army

of the Mughal Empire. He was Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688, and was a key figure during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The city of Dhaka and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights. Shaista Khan was the Mughal Viceroy assigned with the overwhelming task of defeating the Maratha rebels. Arakan Conquest As Governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan immediately put down the rebellions of hill tribes. Foreseeing a potent threat from the Arakan kingdom, he developed its military and naval strength. He developed the Mughal navy, increasing its fleet to as many as 300 ships within a year. With Dutch military support, Shaista Khan led Mughal forces on an assault on the island of Sandwip, which lay in Arakanese control. Mughal forces captured the island in November, 1665. In December 1665 Shaista Khan launched a major military campaign against Chittagong, which was the mainstay of the Arakenese kingdom. The imperial fleet consisted of 288 vessels of their own and about 40 vessels of the Ferinigis (Portuguese) as auxiliaries. The imperial force was led by Buzurg Ummed Khan, a son of Shaista Khan.[2] The Mughals and the Portugese held sway in the following naval battle. The conquered territory was placed under direct imperial administration. The name of Chittagong was changed to Islamabad and it became the headquarters of a Mughal faujdar Upon his victory against the Arakanese, he ordered the release of thousands of Bengali peasants being held captive by the Arakanese forces. As governor, Shaista Khan encouraged trade with Europe, Southeast Asia and other parts of India. He consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers. Despite his powerful position he remained loyal to Aurangzeb. Often mediating trade disputes and rivalries, Shaista Khan banned the British East India Company from Bengal after the British demanding greater trading rights and hostile military exchanges erupted between Mughal and British forces.