Chittagong is the second largest city in Bangladesh. It is located in the eastern portion of the country near Myanmar (Burma). The city was built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River. Chittagong has a population of over 3.5 million.
Chittagong is the largest sea port of Bangladesh. It is the main route for most of the exports and imports, and generate a huge amount of revenue each year.
It is home to Chittagong University, which was established in 1966. The other notable institutions include Chittagong College and Chittagong Collegiate School. The historical riverfront is an important part of the city due to the historical status of Chittagong as an important port city. A good number of Christians continue to live in the old Portuguese enclave of Paterghatta.
It is the nearest of Bangladesh's major cities to Cox's Bazar, the longest natural beach in the world and a popular tourist attraction.
History
The city was described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century A.D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water". It first gained prominence with the arrival of the Portuguese for whom it was an important harbor city. In the 18th century, the British East India Company took control of it. Chittagong used to be a possession of the Kingdom of Arakan. Later it was claimed by the king of Burma and this led to a conflict between the Burma and the United Kingdom in 1824. From there, it was roundly under control of the British. With the withdrawal of the British from the Indian subcontinent in 1947, Chittagong became part of East Pakistan. In 1971 it became part of Bangladesh after it won its independence from Pakistan.