Paltan was made a thana in 2005 by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

[7] The name was derived from the English word platoon, but in reality a size of battalion or regiment.

After the First war of Indian Independence (sepoy mutiny according to the British Raj) in 1857 the Cantonment was shifted to Mill Barrack.

Meanwhile, in 1895, due to the growth of football among Bengalis in the Bengal Presidency, the Dhaka Sporting Association (DSA) was formed in a small tin house on an unoccupied field.

Buddhadeva Bose's novella 'Moner Moto Meye' is evocative of this period; the character Bikash says “When I was 17 years old, I came to a house in Paltan.

The road is named so because it's the pathway for all VIP's starting from the Prime minister and President of the country to most business tycoons.

This road is Adjacent to Motijheel, the countries business capital area which includes principal branches of nearly all the banks and other financial organizations along with the corporate offices of most of the companies.

Siddheshwari Kali Mandir, one of the major sacred places for the Hindus is also situated near this area apart from many others.

Starting from the British period till today numerous noted individuals have lived in the greater Paltan.

Amongst them Great Political and social reformer; Philanthropist Alhajj Abdul Halim Chowdhury, Noted Industrialist Mr. Nurunnabi Gazi, Printing and Packaging pioneer Mr. Mohammed Hussain, Aga Khani industrialist Mr. Mohammad Bhai, Veteran Politician Gazi Golam Mostafa, Central Commerce Minister of Pakistan Mr. Wahiduzzaman, Lawyer Adv.

Ashraf Ali Chowdhury, Adv Golam Morshed, Pakistan's Hilal-i-Quaid, first editor of Dawn (newspaper) and Central Industry Minister of Pakistan back in 1965 Altaf Husain's brother Censor Board Chairman Anwar Husain and his wife Media personality and daughter of renowned Bollywood Actor Pahari Sanyal.

In the next day he grounded all his five giant trees along his property line and released 6 feet of his side.

Under British rule, the Government maintained a regiment of soldiers here and hence it got the name Purana Paltan.

During 1956 there were fewer buildings in Purana Paltan and it was surrounded by villages on the east and north, and a vast empty space to the south.

Recently it got popularity for large number of travel agency being shifted to Purana Paltan.