Chittagong
The port city

Bangladesh-The Golden Bengal

Bangladesh


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Sunset in Cox's Bazar
Chittagong is the chief port of Bangladesh and has extensively developed port facilities for ocean steamers. Situated on the Karnaphuli River some 19 km (12 mi) from its mouth at the Bay of Bengal, Chittagong is the commercial and manufacturing center of the nation, with a population of over 2 millions(est.1991). The city's many industries, powered by a hydroelectric plant up the river, use the products of the area--jute, cotton, rice, tea, petroleum (from offshore installations), and bamboo. The bamboo is harvested chiefly from the Chittagong Hill tracts, 13,191 sq km (5,093 sq mi) of rugged, thickly forested land along the Bay of Bengal that is inhabited by primitive mountain tribes who have opposed recent Bengali settlement in the area. Chittagong's setting is picturesque: it is surrounded by the bay, the river, and hills that culminate in mountains up to 1,200 m (4,000 ft) high. Rainfall averages 2,870 mm (113 in) annually, and the average annual temperature is 26 deg C (78 deg F).

An ancient city, Chittagong passed from Tippera (Buddhist) dominance to Arakan (Hindu), Mogul (Muslim) rule and British with periods of reconquest and recontrol. The Portuguese made inroads in the 16th century, and the British gained control in 1760.In 1991 a cyclone (hurricane) severely damaged the city and its harbor.

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