Khulna

Khulna is Bangladesh's third-largest city and the main gateway to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in the southwest, it is a busy industrial, port and trading centre shaped by its river connections.

The city grew from a 19th-century trading centre into a divisional headquarters, and its economy still leans on jute processing, shrimp exports, shipbuilding and riverside trade. Colonial-era buildings sit alongside modern institutions such as Khulna University, Khulna Medical College and the Gollamari Martyrs' Memorial.

Khulna is best known as a base for the Sundarbans and for nearby Bagerhat, where the 15th-century Sixty Dome Mosque complex reflects the legacy of the saint and administrator Khan Jahan Ali. Boat trips from the city or nearby Mongla reach mangrove channels, tidal waterways and wildlife.

Neighbourhoods such as Sonadanga, Daulatpur and Khalishpur range from lively markets and transport hubs to industrial and residential areas. The Khan Jahan Ali Bridge across the Rupsha and the Khulna Divisional Museum are among the city's familiar landmarks.

For travellers, Khulna combines practical business connections in southwest Bangladesh with access to some of the country's most distinctive natural and heritage sites, making it useful for both work and leisure visits.