Chittagong

Chittagong (officially Chattogram) is Bangladesh's second-largest city and main seaport, built along the Karnaphuli River near the Bay of Bengal. Its working harbour, shipyards and busy commercial districts define a city that has long been the country's gateway for maritime trade.

The city's history stretches back more than two millennia as a trading port with links to Arab, Persian, Portuguese and Mughal merchants. Chittagong became a major British Indian port in the 19th century and was an important Allied base during World War II; in 1971 it was among the first places where Bangladesh's independence was declared. This layered past survives in landmarks such as the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, Chandanpura Mosque, the Commonwealth War Cemetery and the old port quarter.

Modern Chittagong spreads from the dense old city and port to commercial Agrabad, GEC Circle and Nasirabad, and toward residential and industrial areas around Halishahar, Pahartali and Patenga. Visitors come for Patenga Beach, Foy's Lake, the Ethnological Museum, the Zia Memorial Museum and views of the river, while nearby hills and Cox's Bazar extend the region's appeal.

As Bangladesh's busiest seaport and a centre of trade, logistics, shipbuilding, manufacturing and the Chittagong Stock Exchange, the city is equally relevant to business travellers. Its mix of port heritage, seafood-focused cuisine, diverse communities and access to the Chittagong Hill Tracts makes it a distinctive and practical destination for both work and leisure.