Chittagong

Chittagong  is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 2.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.

Located between the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bay of Bengal, Chittagong is a major commercial and industrial center as much of Bangladesh's export and import passes through the Port of Chittagong. The port has extensive facilities which are undergoing further development as Bangladesh prepares to serve as a transit country between North East India, Nepal, Bhutan, Southwest China and parts of Burma. According to a report released by International Institute for Environment and Development, Chittagong is among the ten fastest growing cities in the world. Much of the city is surrounded by hilly terrains, and is experiencing rapid urban growth along with increased congestion.

During the early part of the twentieth century, when a terrorist movement was gaining ground, one group of Hindu youths led by surya sen formed a secret party known as the Republican Army. In the Hindu areas of the town secret centres were opened where youths received physical training, got initiated into terrorism and continued their activities against the British for several years. On the night of 18 April 1930, 700 youths divided themselves into several groups and at a fixed time attacked the Armoury and the Magazine House of the Auxiliary Corps, occupied the telephone and telegraph offices and removed Railway fish plates at Dhoom, disconnecting all communications. The movement, however, failed and the subsequent arrest and hanging of Surya Sen on 20 February 1933 put an end to terrorist activities in Chittagong.

During the Second World War, the British used Chittagong as an important military base. Consequently it became the target of Japanese attacks. The aerodrome at Patenga was bombarded for two successive days in April 1942 and again on the 20 and 24 December 1942. As a result Chittagong was declared a non-family area and the head-quarters of the Divisional Commissioner was shifted to Comilla, and that of the Assam Bengal Railway to Dhaka. All valuable government documents were shifted to Mymensingh.
Hill city of Chittagong is fairly big and spread out, just like the capital city Dhaka the streets are messed up and filled with traffic, motorbikes and rickshaws. Although it does feel the local government puts more efforts in keeping the sidewalks clean. Travelers will notice a increase of beggars and con artists than in other parts of the country. The busiest part of town is the area around Station Road and Jubilee Road, while 2 miles north you find yourself center of the middle to upper class life, with gigantic shopping malls and fancy restaurants.

When visiting Chittagong there’s several tourism within city limits worth going by including; Patenga Beach, Foy’s Lake, Adventure Land & Paradise Valley, Shrine of Baizid Bostami, World War II Cemetery, Ethnological Museum, Chittagong Zoo, Baitul Falah, Chandanpura Mosque, Chittagong College, Mohsin College, Court Building and the Red-light district. Not all sightseeing’s are free or charge, some may require entrance fees or a guided tour.
United States citizens do not need a visa, you will receive a three months visa upon arrival after showing your valid passport and return ticket at immigration. In case you would need a visa for your country there’s visa on arrival offices available throughout the Dhaka International Airport for 30-day up to 90-days stay.

Sultan Fakruddin Mubarak Shah of Sonargaon conquered Chittagong in 1340. Sultan Giasuddin Mubarak Shah constructed a highway from Chittagong to Chandpur and ordered the construction of many lavish mosques and tombs. After the defeat of Mahmud Shah in the hands of Sher Shah in 1538, the Arakanese regained Chittagong. From this time onward, until its conquest by the Mughals, this region was under the control of the Portuguese and the Magh pirates (a notorious name for Arakanese) for 128 years.

The Mughal Commandar Shayesta Khan and his son Buzurg Umed Khan expelled the Arakanese from the area in 1666 and established Mughal rule there. They renamed Chittagong as Islamabad. The city was occupied by Burmese troops shortly in First Anglo- Burmese War in 1884 and the British increasingly grew active in the region and it fell under the British Empire. The people of Chittagong made several attempts to gain independence from the British, notably on November 18, 1857 when the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th companies of the 34th Bengal Infantry Regiment stationed at Chittagong rose in rebellion and released all the prisoners from jail but were suppressed by the Kuki scouts and the Sylhet Light Infantry (10th Gurkha Rifles).

Chittaong grew at the beginning of the twentieth century after the partition of Bengal and the creation of the province of Estern Bengal And Assam. The construction of the Assam Bengal Railway to Chittagong facilitated further development of economic growth in the city. However, revolutionaries and opposition movements grew during this time. Many people in Chittagong supported Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements

The City Corporation has a rather limited mandate and budget for carrying out the responsibilities of managing some basic civic services like street-lighting, conservancy, sewerage, city beautification, maintenance of city roads and mosquito eradication, etc. The City Corporation collects municipal taxes and conservancy charges, which provide the principal source of finance for the Corporation.
Maintenance of Law and order in the city is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The Home Ministry performs the function of control and coordination of both these institutions.
The office of the Deputy Commissioner maintains Land Records and collects Land Revenue. If land is to be acquired for any public use then it is the office of the Deputy Commissioner which carries out the procedural operations.
The District and Sessions Judge is the head of the judicial administration at the City Level. Trials relating to serious public offences and all the civil offences are carried out in the court of the District and Sessions Judge. The Supreme Court controls and coordinates the functions of the District and Sessions Judge.

Court building

The Chittagong city areas are divided into several wards and mahallas, under the jurisdiction of the  Chittagong City Corporation is governed by the city mayor, who is an elected representative for a 5 years term along with 41 male general ward councilors and 14 female ward councilors. The 41 male ward councilors are elected from the 41 general wards in the city where the residents vote and elect their ward councilor as their elected representatives for a 5 year period. Moreover, 14 female ward councilors are also elected by only the female voters of the 14 female wards to represent the city's female dwellers.

Railway The necessity of connecting the Port of Chittagong to the tea gardens of Assam led to the construction of railways in Chittagong. The Assam Bengal Railway Company was formed in London in 1891 with a capital of £150,000. The railway line was built on the metre gauge of 3' 33/8''. The first railway line connecting the Port to Assam was opened in 1895. Thereafter other lines were laid connecting the city and the district to the rest of Bangladesh. Chittagong Railway Station is situated near the Bipani Bitan, known also as the New Market, and Reazuddin Bazar. Besides the inter-district trains there are local trains connecting the city with Dohazari, Nazirhat and Chittagong University.

Airways The Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport is situated on the bank of the river Karnafuli and is about eleven kilometres from the city centre. Most of the other districts of Bangladesh are connected to Chittagong by air. There is a good road connection between the city centre and the airport and passengers can reach it by car, bus and auto-rickshaw.

Tourism

Chittagong Hill Tracts, one of the tourist attractions of Bangladesh

The city of Chittagong is a major tourist attraction in Bangladesh. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century AD) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and given the title of "Porto Grande" by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers. Chittagong is filled with dense green forests, endless rolling hills, a moderate climate and breathtaking beaches. Since the 7th century, Chittagong has been mentioned in many documents as a seaport of mystical beauty and magnificent charm. The bustling harbor stands in stark contrast to the tranquility and peaceful surroundings of the city.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) comprising an area of 13,180 km² in south-eastern Bangladesh, is the only hill intensive area of Bangladesh. CHT consisting Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban districts is home to country's largest concentration of at least 11 different ethnic groups and is a unique part of the country both in terms of landscape and its people. The ethnic groups are bound together by a shared history, years of peaceful cohabitation, and a common future. They differ from the majority Bengali population of Bangladesh in their physical features, culture and religion. However, nearly all the indigenous peoples also include traditional indigenous elements in their formal religious beliefs and practices.

Education

Cheragi Pahar Circle

Educational facilities in the city are substantially provided by the Ministry of Education, supplemented by the service provided by the City Corporation, NGOs and the private sector. Chittagong University, Chittagong Medical College and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology are totally funded by the government. Chittagong is home to two of the nation's most prominent public universities, and is the site of one of Bangladesh's largest universities, the University of Chittagong, established in 1966. The university is located in a remote place from the city (22 km north) of Chittagong. Therefore, it has free shuttle trains service from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. for students. There are bus services for the faculties and other staffs. With a modest beginning of 4 departments in 1966, the University of Chitta'''Bold text'''gong has grown to 8 individual faculties, 35 departments, 3 institutes and 3 research centers. It has 3 affiliated Medical colleges under the Faculty of Medicine and 1 Veterinary Medicine College under the faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The veterinary medical college has recently been upgraded into a separate University. As such the number of faculties at present is 7. Current student enrollment is more than 15,000.The other public university is Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology

History Of Chandpur

Chandpur (Bengali: চাঁদপুর)is a district in east-central Bangladesh. It is located at the mouth of the Meghna River. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. The town of Chandpur is boundary of a metre gauge branch of Bangladesh Railways. It also has a water terminal located here.

Chandpur district has a total area of 1704.06 square kilometers. It is surrounded by Munshiganj District and Comilla District on the north, Noakhali District, Lakshmipur District and Barisal District on the south, Comilla District on the east, and Meghna River, Shariatpur District and Munshiganj District on the west.

Chandpur is the flowing together of two of the mightiest rivers of Bangladesh .. the Padma River and the Meghna River, which meet near Chandpur Town. Important tributaries of the Meghna River flowing from first to last Chandpur are Dakatia River, Dhanagoda River, Matlab River and Udhamdi River.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 37.8%; male 42.7%, female 33%. Educational institutions: university college 1, government college 2, non-government college 36, primary teacher's training institute 1, government high school 6, non-government high school 224, madrasa 1157, government primary school 786, non-government primary school 684, accumulation education school 76, BRAC school 28, community school 61, satellite school 37, kindergarten school 11, government hearing-impaired and dump school 1.

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 213, most noted of which are Puran Bazar, Natun Bazar, Baburhat, Kachua, Faridganj, Fatehpur, Suchipara, Begum Bazar, Hajiganj, Warukh, Matlab, Shahtali, Satnal; noted fairs are Austami Snan Mela (Chandpur), Meher Kali Mela (Shahrasti), Paush Samkranti Mela, Bijoy Mela, Asutami Mela (Aliganj, Hajiganj), Beltali Mela (Matlab) and Boi (book) Mela.

Chandpur has 6 municipalities, 60 wards, 195 mahallas, 7 upazilas, 1 thana, 87 union parishads and 1226 villages. The municipalities are Chandpur Sadar, Shahrasti, Matlab, Changer Char and Hajiganj. The administrative subdivisions called upazilas are:

1. Chandpur Sadar Upazilla
2. Haziganj Upazila
3. Shahrasti Upazilla
4. Faridganj Upazilla
5. Kachua Upazilla
6. Matlab Upazilla
7. Haimchar Upazilla

Main exports Hilsa fish, shrimp, betel nut and potato.
NGO activities Operationally significant NGOs are brac, asa, CARE, grameen bank, Autta Nibedita, Aman, DPHE, BAVS, VOSD, Save Our Life.
Health centres Zila sadar hospital 1, satellite clinic 20, health and family welfare centre 76, maternity centre 3, charitable dispensary 1, upazila health complex 7eye hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1, red crescent hospital 1, tuberculosis hospital 1, private clinic 6, railway hospital

Rangamati

Rangamati is a district in South-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the town of Rangamati serves as the headquarters of the district. Area-wise, Rangamati is the largest district of the country.


The beautiful landscape fill the eye view of Rangamati, as you can imagine there’s one main lake where you can go hiking and bathing enjoy nature at its finest, of course its recommended to spend an afternoon picnicking at the lake other than visiting any of the restaurants downtown. In this area of Rangamati certain tribes still make their day to day living, prime examples include the Chakma and Marma which make their living of homespun textile products and ivory jewelery made by the women while the tribal men are fishing for tonight’s dinner.

The total population is 5,08,182 according to 2005 census of which tribal 52% and non-tribal 48%. The number of males is 2,87,060 and the females are 2,38,043 (Census 2001). The density of population is 83 per square kilometer (Census 2001). The number of household is 1,03,974 having the household size 4.8 (Census 2001). The total population is divided into Bangalees and eleven tribes (ethnic minorities): Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya, Tripura, Pankua, Lushi, Khiang, Murang, Rakhain, Chak, Bowm,Khumi.
Tribal population : (as per census of 2005 ):
Chakma-1,86,395, Marma-44,727, Tanchanga-18,607, Tripura-6,697, Pankho- 2,118, Bowm-1,053, khyang- 791, Lusai- 217, Chak- 177, Rakhain-70, Khumi-50,Gurkha-03,Etc-174. As per 1991 census, the religious break up of the population of the district were: Buddhist 53.83%,Muslim 39.28%, Hindu 5.62% and Christian 1.12%. Genderwise, male constituted 53.59% and female constituted 46.41% of the population.

Pedatingting, 5 km from Rangamati town at the mouth of the Shuvolong Channel, is an enchanting island resort located in the middle of the magnificent Kaptai Lake; with a beach frontage all around. The restaurant is clean and quiet, with an adjacent leisure park where tourists may enjoy the blue waters of the lake and the lush green of the hills. The restaurant has some delicious tribal-style dishes to offer.
This is the only place to visit through out the year. Rangamati expresses her full beauty in rainy season. Trees becoming greener, waterfalls are in full tide, the river Karnaphuli in her full wave in this season. If you already visited Rangamati in winter, we advice to go there again in Monsoon you will feel the difference of nature yourself.

Parjatan holiday complex is the best place to stay in Rangamati. There are other hotels in Rangamati where you can stay. Boating is the prime attraction in Rangamati. You can go to Kaptai and also by Karnaphuli River you can go deep in side the hill areas where on the way you will find lots of natural waterfalls. If you wish you can take shower in the waterfall or you can swim in the river. By boat you can visit the tribal villages, King Chakma's (tribal) Palace that is called Chakma Rajbari Rajbonbihar pagoda, Tribal museum etc. You can also enjoy the tribal handmaid crafts if you go for shopping in the local market.

Tourists will also enjoy traversing the hanging bridge over the Kaptai lake, which affords a convenient vantage point for taking in the beauty of the lake. This bridge leads to another hill over the canal close to the Parjatan motel. The man-made Kaptai lake, spreading over 680 km of crystal-clear water was formed by damming the Karnaphuli river, and has a picturesque hinterland of large hills and panoramic forests. A cruise on the calm waters of the lake can be a memorable experience.

History Of Lalbag Kella

Lalbagh Fort
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Coordinates: 23°43.16′N 90°23.26′E / 23.71933°N 90.38767°E / 23.71933; 90.38767
The Lalbagh Fort was developed by Shaista Khan.

Lalbagh Fort (Bengali: লালবাগ দূর্গ) (also known as "Fort Aurangabad") is an unfinished Mughal palace stronghold at the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. building was commenced in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam throughout his 15-month long vice-royalty of Bengal, but before the work could complete, he was recalled by Aurangzeb. His successor, Shaista Khan, did not complete the work, though he stayed in Dhaka up to 1688. His daughter Iran Dukht nick named pari bibi (Fairy Lady) died here in 1684 also this led him to consider the fort to be ominous.

Lalbagh Fort is also the observer of the revolution of the native soldiers beside the British during the Great Rebellion of 1857. As in the Red Fort in India, they were overcome by the force led by the East India Company. They as well as the soldiers who fled from Meerat were hanged to death at the Victoria Park. In 1858 the statement of Queen Victoria of taking over the organizational control of India from the Company was read out at the Victoria park, latter renamed Bahadur Shah Park after the name of the last Mughal Emperor who led that greatest rebellion beside then British domain.


Contents

    * 1 Layout of fort
          o 1.1 Gateways
          o 1.2 Southern fortification wall
          o 1.3 Central area
          o 1.4 Diwan-i-Aam
          o 1.5 Tomb of Bibi Pari
    * 2 Gallery
    * 3 References
    * 4 External links

[edit] Layout of fort
Lalbagh fort along with the Tomb of Pari Bibi

The fort was long considered to be a grouping of three buildings:

    * the mosque;
    * the tomb of Bibi Pari; and
    * the Diwan-i-Aam, comprising two gateways and a portion of the partly damaged defense wall.

•    Recent excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh, however, they have revealed the existence of other structures, and it is now possible to have a more or less complete picture of the fort.

In the in attendance fort area of 18 acres (73,000 m²), excavations have revealed the remains of either 26 or 27 structures, with elaborate arrangements for water supply, sewerage, roof gardens, and fountains. restoration work by the Archaeology Department has now put Lalbagh Fort in a much-improved shape, and it has now become an interesting spot for tourists and visitors.
[edit] Gateways
1814 painting by Charles D'Oyly showing the South wall, beside the Buriganga River. Now, the river flows at least a mile to the south.

Of the three surviving gateways, the southern one is the most impressive. Seen from the front, it is a three-storeyed arrangement with a front-on, bordered with slender minarets. From inside, it gives the impression of a two-storeyed structure. The gateway on the northeast is a much smaller and simpler structure. Structural evidence indicates that the fort extended to the eastern side, beyond the present Shaista Khan Road. The third gate, now in the centre of the northern boundary wall, was left incomplete. The present one is a recent building.
Southern fortification wall

The southern defense wall, running westward from the South Gateway, stretches up to the huge bastion in the southwestern corner of the fort. It runs northward for a distance, and is then lost. The boundary wall on the eastern side, connecting the southern and northern gateways, is a modern wall, and it is now unspecified that the fort originally embraced areas further east, beyond the present Shaista Khan Road. h

On the northern side of the southern defense are placed utility buildings, such as the stable, the administrative block, and its western part accommodates a beautiful roof-garden, with arrangements for fountains and a water reservoir. The residential part is located on the eastern side of the western defense, mainly to the south-west of the mosque, where the remains of a sewerage line have been found.

The southern defense is a twin wall:

    * the outer one is about 6.10 m high and 1.37 m thick; and
    * the inner one is 13.7 m high with same thickness.

The two are solid up to a height of 6.10 m, and there are regular openings in the upper part of the inner wall.

The original defense wall on the south has five bastions at regular intervals, and the western wall has two. Among the seven bastions, the biggest one is near the main southern gate at the back of the stable, which occupies the area to the west of the gateway. The bastion has an subversive tunnel. Among the five bastions of the southern fortification, the central one is single-storeyed, while the rest are double-storeyed structures. The central one contains an subversive room with verandahs on three sides, and it can be approached either from the waterside or from its roof. The double-storeyed bastion at the southwestern corner of the fort is possibly a Hawakhana, with a water reservoir on its roof.

Two lines of earth pipes have been found that connect all the establishments of the fort with the reservoir. An extra-strong terracotta pipe line, made with double pipes (one inside the other), has been exposed in the area between the Hammam and the tomb of Bibi Pari.
Rooftop garden

The area westwards from the stable, parallel to the southern fortification, once had a beautiful roof garden with fountain, rose, flower beds (marked with star designs), and a water reservoir. The buildings below contains the administrative blocks, with the residential part on the western side. Central area
Exhibit at the museum inside Lalbagh Fort.

The central area of the fort is occupied by three buildings:

    * the Diwan-i-Aam and the Hammam on its east;
    * the mosque on the west; and
    * the tomb of Pari Bibi in among the two (in one line, but not at equal distance).

The mosque is a three-domed mosque, with a water tank in face (on the eastern side) for ablution.

A water channel, with fountains at regular interval, connects the three buildings from east to west, and two similar channels run from south to north:

    * one through the middle of the ground, in between the Diwan-i-Aam and the tomb, forming a square tank, with fountains at the intersection with the east-west channel; and
    * the other, from the water reservoir, passing through the bottom of the tomb.

The water channels and the fountains, a very common aspect of Mughal architecture, create an feeling, not unlike those of the north Indian Mughal forts. A big square water tank (71.63 m each side), placed in face of and to the east of the Diwan-i-Aam, between the southern along with northern gateways, adds to the beauty of the building. There are four corner stairs to tumble into the tank.
 Diwan-i-Ajam

The double-storeyed Diwan-i-Aam, attached with a single-storeyed Hammam on its west, is an imposing building. The Hammam complex includes an open platform, a small kitchen, an oven, water storage area, a masonry brick bath-tub, a toilet, a dressing room and an extra room. The Hammam section has an underground room for boiling water, and a passage for sweepers. A long screen wall runs north-south along the western frontage of the Hammam, dividing the whole fort area into two divisions.
Tomb of Bibi Pari

The tomb of Bibi Pari, located in the center, is the most remarkable of the surviving buildings of the fort. Eight rooms surround a central square room that contains the mortal remains of Bibi Pari. The central room is sheltered by a false octagonal-shaped dome, wrapped by a bronze plate.

The entire inner wall of the central room is enclosed with white marble, while the four rooms at the sides had stone skirting up to a altitude of one metre. The walls in the rooms at the four corners are skirted with beautifully-glazed floral tiles. The tiles have recently been restored; two of the original tiles have been retained. The room at the south eastern corner contains a small grave, popularly known to be of that of Shamsad Begum, possibly a relative of Bibi Pari.

The archaeological excavations have also revealed strata of the Sultanate, as well as of the pre-Muslim periods, from where terracotta heads and plaques have been found. Thus, it is now justified to say that though the Mughals founded Dhaka, it was definitely occupied long before the Muslims came to Bengal.



   

  
  
   

   



Incomplete Fortress near Lalbagh Fort
   

Inside Lalbagh Fort
   

Building at Lalbagh Fort
   

Mosque at Lalbagh Fort

Inside Lalbagh Fort-2.jpg
[edit] References

    * Taifoor, S.M. Glimpses of Old Dacca. Dhaka, 1956.

    * Ahmed, Nazimuddin. Discover The Monuments of Bangladesh Dhaka: University Press Limited.1984
    * Hasan, Syed Mahmudul Muslim Monuments of Bangladesh Dhaka: Anjuman Printing Press.1980
    External links
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lalbagh Kella (Lalbagh Fort)

    * A picture gallery and a brief history of Lalbagh Fort.
    * A brief history and explanation of Lalbagh Fort.
    * Lalbagh, Bangalore