Chittagong

Chittagong is a port city in Chattogram District in southeastern Bangladesh, spreading along the Karnafuli River across gentle hills and waterways. Neighborhoods and commercial zones climb up the green slopes while ships load and unload along the shoreline.

Traders from the Arab world founded a trading post here in the 9th century, which gradually grew into a key hub for goods between Asia and the Middle East. The settlement expanded steadily until it became the largest port facility in the country.

Calls to prayer echo through neighborhoods while temples and churches stand quietly among the streets, and worshipers of different faiths share daily routines. Markets and tea stalls stay busy throughout the day, where locals buy snacks and gather for conversation.

Shah Amanat International Airport links the settlement with regional and international destinations, while buses, rickshaws, and taxis operate throughout the urban area. Visitors should expect steep streets in the hill neighborhoods and allow extra time for journeys.

The local tea auction has operated since 1949 and still brings together traders who negotiate prices for harvests from surrounding plantations in a historic hall. Visitors can often watch as samples are tasted and bids called out loudly.