Barisal
বরিশাল
Metropolis
Barishal
From top: Barisal Launch Terminal,
University of Barisal, Guthia Mosque,
Oxford Mission Church,
Brojomohun College, Barisal Museum
Nickname: 
Venice of the East
Barisal is located in Barisal division
Barisal
Barisal
Location of Barisal in Bangladesh
Barisal is located in Bangladesh
Barisal
Barisal
Barisal (Bangladesh)
Coordinates: 22°42′36″N 90°21′47″E / 22.710°N 90.363°E / 22.710; 90.363
CountryBangladesh
DivisionBarisal Division
DistrictBarisal District
Municipality established1876 (1876)
City Corporation2002 (2002)
Granted city status19 April 2001[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyBarishal City Corporation
 • MayorAbul Khair Abdullah
 • Police commissionerMd. Saiful Islam, BPM(Bar)
Area
[2]
 • Urban
58 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation
1 m (4 ft)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Metropolis328,278
 • Density10,524/km2 (27,260/sq mi)
 • Metro
385,093
DemonymBarisailla/Borishailla
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
8200
Calling code0431
National calling code+880
PoliceBarisal Metropolitan Police
Domestic airportBarisal Airport
Websitewww.barisal.gov.bd

Barisal (/ˌbʌr əˈsɑːl/ or /ˈbær əˌsɔːl/; Bengali: বরিশাল, pronounced [boɾiʃal]),[lower-alpha 1] officially known as Barishal,[4] is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal District[lower-alpha 2] and Barisal Division. It is one of the oldest municipalities and river ports of the country. The city was once called the Venice of the East or the Venice of Bengal.[6]

Barisal municipality was established in 1876 during the British rule in India and upgraded to City Corporation on 25 July 2002.[7] Barisal is Bangladesh's third largest financial hub after Dhaka and Chittagong.[8][9] The city consists of 30 wards and 50 mahallas with a population of 533,000 according to the 2023 national census and with the voter of about 250,000 according to the 2018 voter list of city election.[10] The area of the city is 58 km2.[11]

History

Barisal was conquered by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji and was later a significant territory of the Delhi Sultanate and Bengal Sultanate. After the decline of the Suri Empire, the territory became a semi-independent area in the Mughal period because of heavy fighting between the Muslims and Hindu chiefs, although most parts of the city were totally under the control of the governors of the proto-industrialised Bengal Subah. In course of time, it fell under the Bengal Nawabs. Raja Ramranjan Chakravarty was put as a de jure king during the Bengal Presidency of the British, later passed to East Pakistan at independence and finally Bangladesh.

In ancient times, it was called Chandradwip (চন্দ্রদ্বীপ), while furing the Medieval Islamic times it was also known as Ismailpur & Bacola (বাকলা) in Europe. Ralph Fitch, the first ever Englishman, a leather merchant, known to have visited Bengal in the mid 1580s, described Barisal in his journal as, "From Chatigan in Bengal, I came to Bacola; the king whereof is a Gentile, a man very well disposed and delighted much to shoot in a gun. His country is very great and fruitful, and hath store of rice, much cotton cloth, and cloth of silk. The houses are very fair and high built, the streets large, and people naked, except a little cloth about their waist. The women wear a great store of silver hoops about their necks and arms, and their legs are ringed with silver and copper, and rings made from elephants' teeth."[12]

The central city of this region is the city of Barisal. It is one of the biggest river ports in Bangladesh. It is a city with nearly 0.38 million people and a divisional headquarters, medical college, cadet college, some pharmaceutical industries, textile industries and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's head office. Barisal is fast growing city of the country stands on the Kirtankhola River. Country's first short landing and take off airport has been completed in Barisal and a private Airlines named Air Bengal has begun its regular air flight between Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal Airport and Barisal.

"Barisal guns" is a natural phenomenon named after Barisal; it is kind of a booming sound heard near lakes and rivers which is due to seismic activity under water, first heard in this region by the British in the 19th century.

Population

Demographics

According to provisional results of the 2011 national census, the population of Barisal (areas under the jurisdiction of the Barisal city corporation) stands at 328,278.[3] By gender, the population was 51.63% male and 48.37% female.[11]

The literacy rate among the urban people of Barisal is 75.3%,[13] which is significantly higher than the national average of 56.5%.

Most people in Barisal are Bengalis. The long-standing inhabitants of the city are known as Barisaliya and the most spoken Bengali dialect of this region is known as Barisali. Apart from them, the city population is composed of people from neighboring upazilas and districts (Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Barguna).

Religion

Religion in Barisal City (2011)[14]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 89.30%
Hinduism
 
 9.70%
Christianity
 
 0.98%
Other or not stated
 
 0.02%

The majority of Barisal's people are Muslims (89.30%), mainly Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school. Other religious groups include Hindus (9.7%), and very few numbers of other religions, mainly Christians (0.98%) and Buddhists (0.01%).[14]

Since 2015, the Catholic minority has its own Roman Catholic Diocese of Barisal.

Geography

Barisal City Areal view
Barisal Cityscape, 2015
Barisal Cityscape, 2015

Barisal city occupies an area of 58 km2.

Barisal District, with an area of 2790.51 km2, is bounded by Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Lakshmipur districts on the north, Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati District on the south, Bhola and Lakshmipur districts on the east, Jhalokati, Pirojpur and Gopalganj districts on the west. Several rivers flow across Barisal including the Kirtankhola, Arial Khan, Khoyrabad, Kalijira and Sandha.

Climate

Barisal has a climate on the border between a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen (Cwa) and a tropical savanna climate (Aw).

Climate data for Barisal (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25.5
(77.9)		 28.5
(83.3)		 32.4
(90.3)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.4
(92.1)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.2
(88.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.7
(89.1)		 31.7
(89.1)		 29.8
(85.6)		 26.8
(80.2)		 30.7
(87.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.9
(64.2)		 21.5
(70.7)		 25.9
(78.6)		 28.3
(82.9)		 28.9
(84.0)		 28.7
(83.7)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28.4
(83.1)		 28.2
(82.8)		 27.2
(81.0)		 23.6
(74.5)		 19.2
(66.6)		 25.5
(77.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)		 15.4
(59.7)		 20.5
(68.9)		 23.8
(74.8)		 24.9
(76.8)		 25.8
(78.4)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.8
(78.4)		 25.4
(77.7)		 23.7
(74.7)		 18.9
(66.0)		 13.6
(56.5)		 21.3
(70.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 10.3
(0.41)		 26.1
(1.03)		 52.4
(2.06)		 103.7
(4.08)		 199.0
(7.83)		 401.7
(15.81)		 409.9
(16.14)		 342.6
(13.49)		 284.4
(11.20)		 185.5
(7.30)		 48.5
(1.91)		 5.9
(0.23)		 2,070
(81.50)
Average rainy days 2 4 4 8 12 16 20 19 13 7 3 1 109
Average relative humidity (%) 81 78 76 80 83 88 90 89 89 87 84 83 84
Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department[15][16][17]

Points of interest

Durga Sagar: with an area of about 2,500 hectare, is the largest pond or dighi of southern Bangladesh. It is located at Madhabpasa village of babuganj upazila, about 11 km away from Barisal town. Locally it is known as Madhabpasha Dighi. According to a desire of Rani Durgavati, mother of Raja Joynarayan, the dighi was dug in 1780 (1187 BS). There are coconut trees around the dighi which together with the dighi are bounded by brick-walls. In the middle of the dighi, there is an island with bushes. Migratory birds usually come here during winter. The surrounding areas of the dighi has now been turned into a picnic spot. Madhabpasha was a capital of the kingdom of Chandradvipa.

Lakhutia: located approximately 8km from Barisal’s central business district, the Roy family estate is known as ‘Lakhutia’ (note: there are several variations of the spelling of this word, including ‘Lakutia’ and ‘Lakhotia’). The Lakhutia zamindar estate was founded by Roop Chandra Roy in the late 17th century. Apart from the main mansion itself, the estate has several Shiva temples and large ponds on the vast property. The Lakhutia mansion – including the Roy family’s personal property, was effectively destroyed during the extraordinary violence of the 1950 East Pakistan Riots, and then again later during the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. While most of Lakhutia was destroyed during the 1950 and 1971 riots and genocide, the historical site and sparse remains of the mansion remain one of Barisal’s main tourist attractions.

Lakhutia Zamindar Bari
Lakhutia Shiva Temples


  • Durga Sagar
  • Baitul Aman Jame Masjid Complex
  • Oxford Mission Church
  • Bell's Park aka Bangubandhu Udyan
  • Rupatoli area
  • 30 Godown
  • Planet Park
  • Muktijoddha Park
  • Narikel Bagan & Horticulture (Agriculture Training Institute)
  • Lakhutia Zamindar Bari
  • Korapur Miah Bari Masjid
  • Shankar Math
  • Town Hall
  • Sher-e-Bangla Memorial Museum
  • Bir Sreshtho Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Library and Museum
  • Jibanananda Das Museum
  • Dapdapia Bridge
  • Bibir Pukur[18][19]
  • Shahid Shukkur-Gafur Memorial Park, Amanatganj
  • Taltali Bridge, Amanatganj
  • Padma Pukur (Pond of Lotus)
  • Kali Mandir founded by the Poet Mukunda Das
  • BadhyaBhumi Monument (বধ্যভূমি স্মৃতিসৌধ)
  • Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Regional Centre (Coconut Garden)

Architecture

Miah Bari Mosque in Karapur, Barisal

Barisal's buildings are too diverse to be characterised by any particular architectural style, and have been built over a long period of time.

Some well known heritage buildings are:

  • Guthia Baitul Aman Jame Mashjid Complex
  • Kamalapur Mosque
  • Rammohan Samadhi Mandir
  • Sujabad Kella
  • Sangram Kella
  • Sharkal Fort
  • Girja Mahalla
  • Bangabondhu Uddyan
  • Ebadullah Mosque
  • Kasai Mosque
  • Oxford Mission Church
  • Shankar Math
  • Kali Bari of Mukunda Das
  • Joint Mosque at Bhatikhana
  • Aswini kumar town hall
  • Charkella
  • Durgasagar Dighi
  • One domed Qasba Mosque
  • Fakir Bari Jame Mosjid
  • Housing Estate Jame Mosjid
  • Barisal Zilla School Building

Sports

Cricket and football are the two most popular sports in Barisal while tennis and kabaddi are also popular. There is a national stadium in the city known as Barisal Divisional Stadium (also known as Abdur Rab Serniabad Stadium). It is a multi-purpose stadium and has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. It is also used for football and other sports. Besides different organization share to stage a show there occasionally. Notable players from Barisal who have played for the national team include Shahriar Nafees, Sohag Gazi, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Fazle Mahmud.

There is a regional sports training centre under Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan (BKSP) situated at Rahamatpur in Barisal[20] Barisal is also home to the Bangladesh Premier League franchise Fortune Barishal.

Transport

Air

Barisal Airport is a domestic airport. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair and US-Bangla Airlines use this port. Active air-route is Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal.

River port

Barisal River Port is the second largest river port of Bangladesh. It is the most popular way of communication for the people of Barisal to Dhaka, the capital city. It is also a popular transport system with other districts like Bhola, Barguna, Lakshmipur.

Road

Barisal is connected to most other regions of the country via the N8 national highway. There are two bus terminals in Barisal, Nathullabad Central Bus terminal and Rupatali Bus Terminal, which connect Barisal to other districts.

Education

Cotton Spinning Shed of Shaheed Abdur Rab Serniabat Textile Engineering College Barisal.

Barisal is home to many educational institutions. Govt. Brojomohan College is the oldest institution of higher education in the city, founded in 1889. There is a public university University of Barisal and two private universities, a government medical college Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC), a textile engineering college Shaheed Abdur Rab Serniabat Textile Engineering College and an engineering college Barisal Engineering College. There are also educational institutions like Barisal Zilla School, Barisal Cadet College, Govt. Syed Hatem Ali College, Government Women's College, Govt. Barisal College, Amrita Lal Dey College, Barisal Govt. Girls High School, Barisal Model School and College and Barisal Asmat Ali Khan Institution (A.K. School). Besides these there are three teacher training colleges, a Government Polytechnic institute, two technical institutes, a homeopathic college and a social welfare training centre.

Major institutions include:

Media

Barisal is a center for the newspaper, periodical and book publishers. Some locally published newspapers and periodicals are:

Newspapers

  • Daily Ajker Barisal
  • Daily Ajker Barta
  • Daily Ajker Poribartan
  • Daily Banglar Bone
  • Daily Barisal Barta
  • Daily Barisal Bhorer Alo
  • Daily Barisal Pratidin
  • Daily Bhorer Angikar
  • Daily Biplobi Bangladesh
  • Daily Dakkhinanchal
  • Daily Motobad
  • Daily Satya Songbad
  • Daily Shahnama

Source:[21]

Periodicals

  • Bakerganj Parikrama
  • Chirantan Bangla
  • Upakul
  • Gournadi Parikrama
  • Khadem
  • Jago Nare

Notable people

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Transcribed bôrishal, or transliterated ISO 15919: bariśāl. Pronounced [boɾiʃal] or [bɔɾiʃal].
  2. ↑ Spelling of the district name in Latin script was officially changed from Barisal to Barishal in April 2018.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Barisal City Master Plan". Urban Development Directorate - Government of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Barisal City Corporation, Bangladesh" (PDF). ICLEI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Population & Housing Census-2011" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Bangladesh changes English spellings of five districts". Bdnews24.com. Dhaka. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Mahadi Al Hasnat (2 April 2018). "Mixed reactions as govt changes English spellings of 5 district names". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Our Cities: Beyond the Capital". 15th Anniversary Special. The Daily Star. 10 February 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Tapan Palit (2012). "Barisal City Corporation". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  8. ↑ "Padma Bridge injects fresh blood in southern economy". The Business Standard. 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  9. ↑ "Padma Bridge biggest shot in economy's arm". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  10. ↑ "Barisal, Bangladesh Metro Area Population 1950-2023". www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  11. 1 2 "Barisal City Corporation". Barisal City Corporation. Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
  12. ↑ Ryley, J. Horton (1998). Ralph Fitch, England's pioneer to India and Burma : his companions and contemporaries ; with his remarkable narrative told in his own words (Reprint [der Ausg.] London, Fisher Unwin, 1899. ed.). New Delhi [u.a.]: Asian Educational Services. p. 118. ISBN 9788120613249.
  13. ↑ "Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Region Census 2011 page 30" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  14. 1 2 "Community Tables: Barisal" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  15. ↑ "Climate of Bangladesh" (PDF). Bangladesh Meteorological Department. pp. 19–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  16. ↑ "Normal Monthly Rainy Day" (PDF). Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  17. ↑ "Normal Monthly Humidity" (PDF). Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "Barisal Bibir Pukur needs attention". New Age. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  19. ↑ Ghosh, Sushanta (8 July 2017). "Bibir Pukur lies neglected". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  20. ↑ "BKSP-Banglapedia". Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  21. ↑ পত্র-পত্রিকা [Newspapers]. Barisal (in Bengali). Bangladesh National Portal. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Barisal".

22°42′N 90°22′E / 22.700°N 90.367°E / 22.700; 90.367

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