The origin of the name Savar is thought to be an evolved version of the ancient 7th–8th-century township of সর্বেশ্বর Shôrbeshshôr ("Lord of everything") or সম্ভার Shômbhar situated on the banks of the river known today as the Bangshi.

Local legends as well as archaeological finds indicate a king by the name of Harishchandra, said to be of the Pala dynasty, ruled over Shôrbeshshôr.

There is an old shloka that goes বংশাবতী-পূর্বতীরে সর্বেশ্বর নগরী, বৈসে রাজা হরিশচন্দ্র জিনি সূরপুরী Bôngshaboti-purbotire shôrbeshshôr nôgori, boishe raja Horishchôndro jini shurpuri ("On the East banks of the Bangsabati is the city of Sharbeshvar, lives there King Harishchandra conquering Heaven").

In any case, local legend holds that the childless Harishchandra was succeeded to the throne by his sister Rajeswari's son, Damodar.

[citation needed] During the 1971 war, Savar Cantonment (then Ansar Camp) and the then-newly founded Jahangirnagar University were some of the first targets of military swoop outside the capital following Operation Searchlight of 25 March.

In December of that year, Savar was the last obstacle before the freedom fighters (led by Kader Siddiqui and others) entered the capital, and the Pakistan army conceded defeat.

Days before the end of the war, teenager Golam Dastagir Titu was killed in a direct encounter between the Pakistani Army and the freedom fighters.

The compatriots buried him near the main gate of the Central Cattle Breeding & Dairy Farm, Savar.

Savar had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 68.0%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 876 females per 1000 males.

[9][10] The religious breakdown was Muslim 93.86%, Hindu 5.35%, Christian 0.58%, Buddhist 0.20%, others 0.01%, and ethnic minority group nationals numbered 319 including Buno, Garo, Chakma (Sangma), and Burman.

The main crops grown here are Paddy, Jute, peanut, onion, garlic, chili, and other vegetables.

The main fruits cultivated here are Jackfruit, mango, olive, papaya, guava, kamranga, berry, and banana.

The main exports are Jackfruit, papaya, flower, sapling, dairy products, meat, transformer, fabrics, dye, medicine, ready-made garments, electronics and electric goods, shoe, brick, sweetmeat, etc.