Chittagong, the place widely known for muslim saints is situated on the bank of river Karnaphuli. Chittagong, officially named as Chattogram is also known as Chatga, Chottola, Chatgram and so on. It is the second largest city of Bangladesh located in the south eastern region. It was established in 1340 and later granted city status in 1863. Total area of Chittagong is about 5,282.92 square kilometers with the population of 7,616,352 as per the census in 2011. There are in total 15 upazilas and 15 thanas in Chittagong district.
Chittagong being the urban part of the hilly regions that branched off from the Himalayas, is very different in terms of topography from the rest of Bangladesh. The largest seaport of the country is located at the mouth of the Karnaphuli River in Patenga, near the city of Chittagong. For this reason, Chittagong is known as the port city of Bangladesh. It has been the prime route for majority of the country’s import and export. Chittagong can be termed as the financial centre of the south-eastern Bangladesh.
Chittagong has been known to the outer world since ancient times. It drew the attention of Arab traders since early 9th century due to the advantage of natural harbour. Later, the Arakan kings ruled Chittagong in the 16th and 17th centuries. After that, Chittagong was conquered by the mughal army under the command of Shaista Khan. During that period, this region was attacked by the Portuguese pirates frequently. Chittagong was mentioned by the earlier group of Portuguese chorniclers as “the most famous and wealthy city of the kingdom of Bengal, serving as a port meeting traffic of all surrounding eastern region.” The famous Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsung described Chittagong as “a sleeping beauty emerging from mist and water.” Chittagong has repeatedly resisted the anti-British movement, one of which was the looting of the British arsenal led by Surya Sen.
Chittagong is known as the origin of many famous muslim saints. A good number of mosques, tombs and shrines still uphold that history earnestly. Chittagong has been a safe home of variety of religions for a long time. Chittagong district has 13,148 mosques, 1025 Hindu temples, 535 Buddhist temples and 192 churches in total. The people of the city are diverse and multi ethnic, and the native Bengali and Tibeto-Burman populations have had significant influence from Arab, Afghan, and Mughal in the city after arriving on its shores many hundreds of years ago. The descendents of Portuguese settlers, known as the Firingi, also continue to live in Chittagong, as Catholic Christians.
People from different parts of the country and abroad continue to visit Chittagong to enjoy enormous beauty of nature. Patenga Beach, Foy’s lake, Batali Hill, Shrine of Bayazid Bostami, Heritage Park, Commonwealth War Cemetry, Parki Beach are some famous tourist spot within Chittagong.
An inhabitant of Chittagong is called Chittagonian in English. For centuries, the city has been an attractive pot for people from all over the world. Its historic and wealthy trade networks have left a lasting impact on its language, culture and cuisine. The Chittagonian language has many Arabic, Persian, English and Portuguese loanwords. The immensely popular and melting traditional feast of “Mezban” features the serving of hot beef dish with white rice. The cultivation of pink pearls is a historic activity in Chittagong. Its Mughal-era name, Islamabad (City of Islam), continues to be used in the old city. It was called by that due to the city’s history as a gateway for early Islamic saints in Bengal. Notable Islamic architecture in Chittagong can be seen in the historic Bengal Sultanate-era Hammadyar Mosque and the Mughal fort of Anderkilla. Chittagong is known as the Land of the Twelve Saints due to the prevalence of major Sufi Muslim shrines in the district. Historically, Sufism played an important role in the spread of Islam in the region. Prominent dargahs include the mausoleum of Shah Amanat and the shrine of Bayazid Bastami. The Bastami shrine hosts a pond of black softshell turtles.
When it was part of the Bengal Sultanate during the medieval period, many poets thrived in the region. Kabindra Parameshvar wrote his Pandabbijay, a Bengali adaptation of the Mahabharata in that time. Daulat Qazi, the famous writer, lived in the region during the 17th century reign of the Kingdom of Mrauk U. Chittagong is home to several important Hindu temples, including the Chandranath Temple on the outskirts of the city, which is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sita. The city also hosts the country’s largest Buddhist monastery and council of monks. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chittagong is the oldest catholic mission in Bengal.
Major cultural organisations in the city include the Theatre Institute Chittagong and the Chittagong Performing Arts Academy. The city has a vibrant contemporary art scene.The pioneering rock bands in the country like Souls and LRB born in the port city. Chittagong is featured as the “birthplace of Bangladeshi rock music”.
| At a glance Chittagong | ||
| 01 | Area | 5,282.92 km2
(2,039.75 sq mi) |
| 02 | Population | 7,616,352 |
| 03 | Founding Year | 1666 |
| 04 | Density | 1,400/km2
(3,700/sq mi) |
| 05 | Literacy Rate | 43.2% |
| 06 | Seats in the Parliament | 16 |
Upazilas
- Anwara Upazila
- Banshkhali Upazila
- Boalkhali Upazila
- Chandanaish Upazila
- Fatikchhari Upazila
- Hathazari Upazila
- Karnaphuli Upazila[8]
- Lohagara Upazila
- Mirsharai Upazila
- Patiya Upazila
- Rangunia Upazila
- Raozan Upazila
- Sandwip Upazila
- Satkania Upazila
- Sitakunda Upazila
Thanas
- Akbar Shah Thana
- Bakalia Thana
- Bandar Thana
- Bayazid Bostami Thana
- Chandgaon Thana
- Chawkbazar Thana
- Chittagong Kotwali Thana
- Double Mooring Thana
- EPZ Thana
- Halishahar Thana
- Khulshi Thana
- Pahartali Thana
- Panchlaish Thana
- Patenga Thana
- Sadarghat Thana
Interested Places
- Patenga Sea Beach
- Neval Academy
- Shrine of Baizid Bostami (R)
- Foy’s Lake
- Parki Sea Beach
- Halda River
- Andarkilla Jame Mosque
- Biplob Udyaan.
- Chandranth Hill
- Shitakundu Hill
- Commonwealth War Cemetry
- Karnaphuli River
- Kaptai Lake
- Maizbhandariya Darbar Sharif
Foods
- Shutki (Dried Fish)
- Bela biscuit
- Kala Bhuna
Famous Personalities
- Surya Sen
- Pritilota Waddeder
- Muhammad Yunus
- Jamal Najrul Islam
- Abdul Karim Sahittyo Bisharod
- Ahmed Shorif
- Ayub Bacchu
- Akram Khan
- Tamim Iqbal Khan
- Shaym Sundar Baishnab
- Shefali Gosh
Written & Edited by Shaima Akter Sethu.