Barishal

Barishal is an administrative city in south-central Bangladesh that spreads along the banks of the Kirtankhola River. The built-up area includes residential neighborhoods, commercial streets and a central port from which ferries depart in all directions.

The site developed from a trading post called Bakla before the British colonial administration elevated it to an administrative seat in 1876. It later became the center of an entire administrative division covering the southern part of the river plain.

The city takes its name from the historical region of Bakerganj, now known among locals as Barisal. Visitors hear Bengali as the everyday and commercial language in shops, markets and along the riverfront, while many residents maintain the regional cuisine centered on rice and fish.

A small airport connects the city to Dhaka through regular domestic flights, while the river port sends boats to surrounding communities. Visitors arrive most comfortably during the dry season when roads and pathways are easier to navigate.

The area generates unexplained sounds first documented in the 19th century and known locally as Barisal Guns. These noises appear to originate from the water and have yet to receive a scientifically confirmed explanation.