Chittagong

Chittagong (officially Chattogram) is the main international seaport and second largest city in Bangladesh. Located on the Bay of Bengal, the city is the headquarters of many Bangladeshi companies, including the Chittagong Stock Exchange. According to the British newspaper the Telegraph, Chittagong is one of the ten fastest growing cities in the world.

Understand
Patenga sea beach
Karnaphuli River at night

Chittagong is one of the great port cities of Asia. It flourished on the Maritime Silk Road and was the eastern terminus of the Grand Trunk Road. It was visited by famous medieval explorers like the Venetians Niccolo de Conti and Caeser Frederick; the Arab traveller Ibn Battuta; and the Chinese admiral Zheng He. The Portuguese, Mughals and British controlled the port in successive periods until the 20th century. It became a major financial center and the largest port in modern-day Bangladesh after the Partition of British India.

Today, Chittagong is a fairly large metropolitan area with a population of about 6.5 million. As in Dhaka, its streets are filled with masses of rickshaws. Rolling hills and greenery dot the landscape. The Karnaphuli River is a burgeoning hub of shipping. Chittagong puts in a little more effort than other Bangladeshi cities to keep its streets and sidewalks clean. The city's residents are called Chittagonians. Foreigners will notice a distinct increase in nuisance from beggars in certain intersections, like the Central Railway Station. Beggars come from different parts of Bangladesh because Chittagonians are more prone to charity than people in other parts of the country.

The old quarter of the city is home to several historic mosques and Sufi shrines. The Anderkilla Imperial Jame Mosque was built by the Mughals after they conquered Chittagong in 1666. It once formed part of a large hilltop fort. The Sufi Shrine of Bayazid Bostami has a pond full of turtles. The former Portuguese settlement is located in Patherghatta. It is home to the descendants of Portuguese traders, who are known locally as Firingis. The area has several churches, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chittagong. Chittagong is also the seat of the Bengali Buddhist priesthood.

The busiest parts of the city are Station Road, Strand Road, GEC Circle and O.R. Nizam Road. The affluent neighborhoods of Khulshi and Nasirabad are home to the city's middle and upper classes. Chittagong has many influential business families.

The city is home to prominent gentlemen's clubs, restaurants and golf courses.

The Chittagonian enthusiasm for inviting people to massive feasts is a bit of legend both locally and elsewhere. Known as mezbani these feasts feature a tremendously hot curry, usually of beef. If you're not used to it, approach with caution. You might also be able to find some of the world's best lobsters here, as Chittagong is the center of the Bangladeshi seafood industry.

Climate
Chittagong
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
5
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
0.2
 
 
81
59
 
 
 
1.1
 
 
84
63
 
 
 
2.5
 
 
90
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5.9
 
 
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8.6
 
 
90
77
 
 
 
2.6
 
 
86
68
 
 
 
0.6
 
 
81
61
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March). The city is vulnerable to North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones.

Get in
Chittagong International Airport
Shah Amanat International Airport road
Battali Railway Station
Shah Amanat Bridge

By plane

For departing flights:

  • Allow plenty of time for security screening, especially on those days when major conventions end. Or if possible schedule your flight at another day/time.

To travel between the airport and your Strip hotel:

  • Taxis costs ৳200–500 from the airport to a Strip location.
  • Autos costs ৳100–250 from the airport to a Strip location.
  • Buses costs ৳10 each way and departs every 10–20 minutes.

By train
  • 🌍 Chittagong Railway Station Trains run to Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh and other cities. The main route out of Chittagong runs north to Comilla and Akhaura, from where the routes to Dhaka and Sylhet diverge. The train station is on Station Road just west of Jubilee Road. Chittagong is a terminal station on the metre gauge eastern section of the Bangladeshi Railway. The headquarters of this railway are located here. Train journeys are, in general, cheaper than bus journeys. Best bet for a tourist is to make reservations at the station or a travel agency. Trains are popular so book in advance.

By bus

There are 2 spots in the city where the major private companies operate from and have offices - just to the south of GEC Circle on CDA Ave, and on Station Road near Hotel Golden Inn. Greenline, Silkline and Shohag are the nicest and have frequent services to Dhaka (৳1200, 6-8 hours) and Cox's Bazar (3-4 hours). Greenline also offers the only direct bus to Sylhet (৳550, 7-8 hours).

Local buses to Cox's Bazar (৳140, 3-4 hours) run frequently throughout the day from Cinema Palace Bus Station, about 1 km north of the Station Rd area.

Chittagong is the eastern terminus of the Grand Trunk Road, a historic highway that runs through parts of four countries — Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan — all the way to Kabul at the western end.

By car

Chittagong is the focal point of the national highway system in Bangladesh. Cars can be used to travel from the Indian border; but the border with Myanmar remains closed.

By boat
  • BIWTC has an office and launches its ferries from Sadarghat, about 1 km south of the train station down Sadarghat Rd. Barisal is the main destination, from where you can continue to Dhaka.

Get around
Sheikh Mujib Road
Cycle rickshaws
Auto rickshaw (aks tempoo)

Getting around in Chittagong is always an adventure. Traffic is, by and large, horribly congested and many drivers will think nothing of quoting ten times the going price to a tourist. Agree on prices before setting off. Transport in Chittagong is similar to that of the country's capital Dhaka. There are various bus systems with different routes, taxis, and smaller 'CNG' taxis which are basically tricycle-structured motor vehicles. Also, the traditional manual rickshaws are very common.

By foot

Walking is also a possibility as the town isn't too confusing, but keep an eye out as the streets can be very busy, especially around Station Rd and Jubilee Rd. If travelling along the Strip, walking is a reasonable option as the hotel-casinos are close to each other. However, note that what may look to be a short walk of only a couple hotel-casinos away may be farther than you expected as the resorts often look closer than they are due to their large size.

By bicycle

Many locals of lower-classes often use bicycles as a primary form of transport. They can be useful in their ability to squeeze through tight situations, where traffic may prevent a large vehicle from moving. Some newer roads in the capital have dual bike/rickshaw lanes. Although, there is little opportunity to buy or rent a bike, plus the roads and traffic are in such bad condition that the chance of an accident is high.

By cycle rickshaws

Cycle rickshaws are three-wheeled, pedal-powered rickshaws with seats in the back to seat passengers and a driver in the front. They are good for short distances, or places which are too far to walk but too short for taking a bus/taxi/auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws don't use meters, so establish a price before getting on. Tk 20-100 is reasonable for most journeys of a few kilometres.

By bus

All parts of Chittagong are well connected by buses and with tickets ranging from Tk 5-20, are very cheap; but also quite crowded most of the time. Some buses are provided air-conditioned service. As bus stops do not have bus routes written properly, it can be difficult to find your way. Asking other people at the bus stop is often the best way to find out about bus routes to your destination. However, the buses are pretty frequent, running every 15-20 min or so on most routes. There is one kind of buses in Chittagong:

Route 1: runs from 🌍 New Bridge Bus Stop to 🌍 New Market Bus Stand.

Route 2: runs from 🌍 Kalurghat Bus Station to New Market Bus Stand

Route 3: runs from 🌍 Fatehabad Bus Station to New Market Bus Stand.

Route 4: runs from New Market Bus Stand to 🌍 Bhatiyari.

Route 5: runs from New Market Bus Stand to 🌍 Airport.

Route 6: runs from 🌍 Laldighir Par to 🌍 Patenga Sea Beach Road.

Route 7: runs from 🌍 Kotwali Bus Stop to Bhatiyari.

Route 8: runs from New Market Bus Stand to Oxygen Circle.

Route 10: runs from Kalurghat Bus Station to Patenga Sea Beach Road.

By taxi

Taxi (usually with driver) is required to see many of the far-flung sites within and around Chittagong. Taxis ply the roads, some yellow and some black, all with or without meters. Black taxis start the meter at Tk 15 while yellow taxis have slightly higher standards in terms of comfort, and start at Tk 20. Black taxis are typically in notoriously poor condition and lack air conditioning. Yellow taxis are required to have air conditioning; the fleet consists mostly of Toyota Corollas, with some Mitsubishis and Hondas. The yellow taxis are also considered far safer, in comparison to black taxis and auto-rickshaws.

By auto rickshaws

Auto rickshaws (also called CNG taxi, or simply CNG) are good for shorter trips. Always in a distinctive green livery, auto rickshaws are three-wheeled partially enclosed contraptions that run on CNG and can seat three-four people in the back. In general, they are much cheaper than taxis and can be hailed from the street easily.

By local train

There are limited demo services on Chittagong's railways, but the facilities are a far cry from the user-friendly railway stations. For the most part, train stations are inconveniently located. There is no passenger service on the Chittagong Railway Station outside rush hour.

The Bangladesh Railways website does not accept foreign credit cards.

See

Downtown
The Mughal era Chandanpura Mosque
Asiatic lion (female) at Chittagong Zoo
Holy Rosary Church, also known as the Portuguese Church
  • 🌍 BNS Issa Khan. A naval base of the Bangladeshi Navy. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chandanpura Mosque. Situated in the old city, the multi-domed mosque is an architectural sight to behold. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chatteshwari Temple, Chatteshwari Road. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali. It was built in the 18th century. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong Zoo, Foy's Lake, South Khulshi (At the entrance of Foy's lake, opposite the foothills of the mountains of USTC Medical College.). With an area of 6 acres of land the zoo is located about three kilometers north-east of the city. Major exhibits are Indian lion, Asian black bear, Indian muntjac, Chital. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 J M Sen Hall, K B Abdus Sattar Road. Jatra Mohon Sen Hall is related to the history in 1930, when an armoury in Chittagong was raided. The hall is named after Bengali politician Jatra Mohan Sengupta. (updated Jul 2017)

Architectures
Central Railway Building
Cheragi Pahar Circle chittagong (4)
Court Building
  • 🌍 Central Railway Building. Completed in 1872, it is one of the oldest buildings of the port city. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Cheragi Pahar, Cheragi Pahar Circle, Jamal Khan. Cultural and historical place whwre most of the cultural activities of Chittagong and related business were established. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong Court Building, Porir Pahar. Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a magnificent bird's eye view of Chittagong city, particularly at night. The Court building was built immediately after the East India Company conquered and declared Chittagong as a separate administrative area in 1773. The building is huge, over 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) and has hundreds of rooms. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Jamuna Bhaban, Sheikh Mujib Road. Oldest building at Agrabad (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Kadurkhil High School Mrith Bhaban & Parbati Charan Dhigi. (updated Jul 2017)

Beaches and river sides
  • 🌍 Aananda Bazar Beach, Chittagong Coastal Road, Halishahar. 24 hours. A coastal area is situated at the Karnafuli river channel. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Avoy Mitra Ghat, Sadar Ghat. 24 hours. A river side of the Karnaphuli River. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Banglabazar Lake (Near Fouzdarhat Cadet College.). Beside the lake there is Mangrove forest which is just before Bay of Bengal. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Bhatiary Lake, Bhatiary. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Dakshin Kattali Beach, Dakshin Kattali. Natural beach with mangrove forest west of Halishahar and south of Kattali. (updated Jul 2017)
  • Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches. About 16 km from Chittagong. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Foy's Lake, South Khulshi. Created in 1924, by building a dam, planned by an English engineer Mr. Foy and built on the initiative of the then Assam-Bengal Railway, amidst panoramic surroundings, this is an ideal spot for outings and picnics, thronged by thousands of visitors. It has been developed into an entertainment and amusement zone. There is an amusement theme park, a lake resort, and a sea world (aquatic theme) park in the lake area. The zoo is next door. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Karnaphuli River. The largest and most important river in Chittagong and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, is a 667-metre (2,188-ft) wide river in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Khejur Tola Beach, Muslimabad Road. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Naval Road, Patenga Road (Beside the Shah Amanat International Airport.). A river side at the meeting place of the roaring sea and the river Karnaphuli. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Patenga Beach, Patenga. Sandy beach at the meeting place of the roaring sea and the river Karnaphuli. It looks more beautiful from Naval Academy Road which is beside the Shah Amanat International Airport. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Parki Beach, Parki Beach, Anowara upazilla. About 16-17 km away from Chittagong the beach is situated at the Karnafuli river channel. (updated Jul 2017)

Cemeteries, memorials and sculptures
Martyred Intellectuals Memorial, University of Chittagong
Commonwealth War Cemetery
  • 🌍 Buddhijibi Smriti Stambh, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Central Shaheed Minar, University of Chittagong, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Central Shaheed Minar, KC Dey Road. A divisional martyr monument (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong Commonwealth War Cemetery, 19 Basha Mia Chowdhury Road. A well-preserved World War II cemetery in a quiet and picturesque place lie buried over 700 soldiers from Commonwealth countries and Japan. The War Cemetery is located in a hillside sloping place, in the south-western corner of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, beside the Badshah Mia Road of the city. The total area of this cemetery is 8 acres (3.2 ha), which is protected and supervised by the Commonwealth Graves Commission. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Swadhinata Smrity Mural, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari. (updated Jul 2017)
  • Swaran, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Shrine of Baizid Bostami. This holy shrine attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims. At its base there is a large pond with several hundred tortoises floating in the water. According to tradition, these turtles are descendants of evil spirits (djinns) who were cast into this shape because they incurred the wrath of the great saint who visited the place about 1100 years ago. (updated Apr 2015)
  • Shrine of Shah Amanat. A very famous saint of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) came from Bihar Sharif, India. At Chittagong he lived in a cottage and accepted service as a pankha wala (hanging fan puller) in the Judge's Court. From the circumstantial evidence it appears that he was a great man of the late 18th century. The family that lives in the compound of Hazrat Shah Amanat Khan's (R) mausoleum and looks after it are Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan's descendants. They have got in their possession a Persian waqfnama (deed of endowment) of Anwar Khan, the son of Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R). Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) lived a very simple life. His daily routine was to attend to his duties in the Court and to engage in prayers. No one knew that he was spiritually endowed nor did he pose to be such. His spiritual greatness was revealed through a Karamat (spiritual power with magical elements received from The Almighty Allah) which brought him to the limelight and people came to know that he was a Wali (saint) of the highest rank. When his spiritual attainments became known, he resigned from his job and remained busy with spiritual religious act and meditation. He is ranked among the greatest saints of Chittagong. People visit his mausoleum specially to seek blessings in matters of litigation. Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) lies buried in a mausoleum to the east of the Laldighi of Chittagong (updated Apr 2015)

Parks
Bugs Bunny statue in Butterfly Park Bangladesh
Shadhinata Complex
  • 🌍 Biplob Uddan, 2 No. Gate (Beside Moshjid Goli). The park was created on remembrance of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Butterfly Park Bangladesh, 15 Naval Academy Road (beside airport), ☎ +880 1811 444270. The first and only tropical garden within the natural forest environment there are plenty of genus and over 4,000 live butterflies. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 DC Hill Park, Nandan Kanan Road (Besides Nandan Kanan Buddist Temple.). A length of 1.02 km natural park. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Jamboree Park, SM Morshed Road, Jamboree Field, Agrabad (Besids Karnaphuli Shishu Park.). (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Lal Dighi Park, Lal Dighi, Kotwali. A historical place situated near the Lalkuthi (now headquarters of the Metropolitan Police) and Lalghar (now District Jail). It was converted into a large pond during the initial stage of British rule. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 United Nations Park, Panchlaish. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Shadhinata Complex, ☎ +880 1711 379293. A complex within the country's popular architectures in miniature form. (updated Jul 2017)

Archives and Libraries
Chittagong University Library

Museums
Chittagong University Museum
Ethnological Museum
  • 🌍 Bangladesh Maritime Museum, Bangladesh Marine Academy. A museum in a small room at the old seamanship class building in Bangladesh Marine Academy. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Bangladesh Railway Museum, Ambagan Road. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong University Museum, Chittagong University Campus, University of Chittagong, Hathazari, ☎ +88 031 726311-14 (PABX Extn. - 4370), fax: +88 031 2606014, e-mail: . (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Court Building Museum, Chittagong Court Building, Fairy's Hill. Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a panoramic bird’s eye view of Chittagong. This had been the sight of passionate activity during the independence War in 1971. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Ethnological Museum, Sabdar Ali Road, Agrabad. Shows a mix of tribal artifacts. The Ethnological Museum of Chittagong was established in the first half of 1960s. The museum contains four galleries and a small hall. It is a little dark. Some sections contain mock ups of 'village life' for the different tribal areas with life size dolls. These are reminiscent of the museum in the film Planet of the Apes. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Zia Memorial Museum, Circuit house, Shahid Saifuddin Khaled Road. (updated Jul 2017)

Elsewhere
Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard
  • 🌍 Banshkhali Eco Park, Banshkhali Upazila. 09:00–21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Botanical Garden and Eco-Park, Sitakunda Upazila (Along the Dhaka–Chittagong Highway). The area of Eco Park is about 996 acres (403 ha) which is established at forest side of Chandranath Hills of Sitakunda. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard, Faujdarhat, Sitakunda Upazila. The shipbreaking yards near the Indian Ocean are Chittagong's international claim to fame, but for the wrong reasons; these are considered one of the most polluted places on Earth with highly dangerous practices and hazardous working conditions. Greenpeace is actively campaigning against them and trying to bring this issue further into the light. Tourists are not usually welcome, but some travellers have been able to sweet-talk the gate-keeper and get amazing photos of massive ships being dismantled for parts and steel. There are many breaking yards stretching for miles, so start at one end and try your luck until you have success. Keep your wits about you, safety practices leave something to be desired. It's also wise to keep your camera hidden until you're out of view of the officials, lest you be mistaken for a journalist out to do them harm. Bus #6 runs from Station Road, or you could hire an auto-rickshaw.  
  • 🌍 Chandraghona, Kaptai Road. Forty-eight kilometer from Chittagong on the Kaptai Road is one of the biggest paper mills in Asia. (updated Jul 2017)

Do

There are a few amusement parks and public parks in Chittagong:

  • 🌍 Batali Hill, Tigerpass (about 1 km from the center of the city). If you want to ride the highest hill within the metropolitan area, go to Batali Hill, near the Tiger Pass crossing. (updated Jul 2017)

Fishing

Go fishing for Anabas, Cat fish, Ruhi, Tilapia etc.

  • 🌍 Agrabad Deba, Agrabad. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Bhatiary Lake, Bhatiary-Hathazari Link Road. (updated Jul 2017)

Rides
Foy's Lake
  • 🌍 Foy's Lake Amusement World, Foy's Lake, Khulshi., ☎ +880 312566080. 10:00-07:30. ৳300. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Karnaphuli Shishu Park, Jamboree Field Road, Agrabad. 03:00-20:00. ৳40/pp entry. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Chittagong Shishu Park, Circuit House. 03:00-20:00. ৳40/pp entry. (updated Jul 2017)

Shows

There are places where you can buy show tickets, but generally not for the really popular shows on the same day of the performance. Most where only cash accepted.

Performing arts
  • 🌍 Theatre Institute Chattagram, K. C. Dey Road. TIC is a cultural Performing art center in Chittagong. It is the theater hall of fine and performing arts. The institute is organized and controlled by the City Corporation of the district. ৳50-200. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Zilla Shilpakala Academy, MM Ali Road, Dampara. Zilla Shilpakala Academy is the principal state-sponsored Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy affiliated and controlled district cultural center. It is the district academy of fine and performing arts. ৳50-200. (updated Jul 2017)

Theaters
  • 🌍 Almas Cinema Hall, Chatteshwery Road, ☎ +880 31-610137. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 BGB Hall, Block #H, Halishahar R/A. 

Events

Chittagong continues to grow with annual events and festivals held throughout the city.

Buy
Banani Complex

Sales tax

The local sales tax is 15%. Only groceries and prescription drugs are exempt.

Like most of the city, Chittagong has not implemented a tax refund mechanism for international travelers. The only retailers that can sell tax-free items to international travelers are the duty-free shops at Shah Amanat International Airport.

Basics

Most hotel/casino resort complexes in Chittagong have a gift shop open 24/7 that offers basic traveler supplies and sundries. Hotel gift shops are outrageously expensive and should be avoided except for emergencies.

Shopping malls

There are a handful of shopping malls:

  • 🌍 Afmi Plaza, Baizid Bostami Road, Panchlaish, East Nasirabad. Tu-Sa 10:00-21:00, M 02:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Akhtaruzzaman Centre, Sheikh Mujib Road. M-Sa 10:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Ameen Center, 320 CDA Avenue, Lalkhan Bazar. M-Sa 10:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Banani Complex Shopping Centre, 942/A, Sheikh Mujib Road, ☎ +880 31 711435. 24 hours. 
  • 🌍 Central Shopping Complex, 561 OR Nizam Road. Sa-Tu 10:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Finlay Square, 2 CDA Avenue, East Nasirabad. 10:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Keari Elysium Shopping Complex, Rashik Hajari Lane, ☎ +880 1820 058320. Sa-Th 10:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Lucky Plaza, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad. Su-Th 09:00-21:00, Sa 02:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Mimi Super Market, O R Nizam Road. Tu-Sa 10:00-21:00, M 02:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Sanmar Ocean City, CDA Avenue, Nasirabad. W-M 10:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Singapore Bangkok Market, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad, ☎ +880 1818 269935. M-F 10:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 South Land Center, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad. M-Sa 09:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 VIP Tower, Chatteswari Road. M-F 10:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)

Outlet malls

Individual stores
Baatighar, Press Club Building, Jamal Khan.

The Bangladeshi book industry is huge, producing annually about thousand of books in English, and obviously far more in Bengali and other native languages. Chittagong is the hub of this industry, so small, specialist bookstores abound. Locally produced books can be very inexpensive and many popular Western titles are published and available here for a fraction of their original cost.

In general, good places to buy books are in Cheragi Pahar, Andarkilla, Station Road, GEC circle, plus shopping malls in the city.

  • 🌍 Current Book Center, Jalsha Market, Jubilee Road, ☎ +880 31-614473. 10:00-23:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Baatighar, Press Club Bhaban, Ground Floor, 146/151 Jamal Khan Rd, ☎ +880 1733 067005. 10:00-22:00. Largest books shop in the city. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Nandan Book Library, 5 Lusai Bhaban, Cheragi Pahar. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Prothoma, Sanmar Spring Garden, 64 Jamal Khan Road. 10:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)

Eat
Shangri-La, Agrabad

The people of Chittagong love oily and spicy food. This can be a problem for foreigners and lead to upset stomachs. If you are a foreigner you should consider sticking with better restaurants and eating in large hotels. Never eat green salad which comes with your meal as you will not know if it has been washed in sanitized water. Just a handful of restaurants in town use sanitized water to wash salad and this is a recipe for explosive diarrhea.

One oddity in Bangladesh is that restaurants advertise themselves as, for example, "Zaman Hotel and Restaurant" but do not operate a hotel. Where you eat at one of these establishments you can tease them by demanding a room. One-room stores also have signboards advertising themselves as 'department stores'.

  • 🌍 Ambrosia Restaurant Ltd, Jiban Bima Bhaban (Ground Floor), 1053, Sk. Mujib Road (Next to Radio Station and Opposite to Standard Chartered Bank Branch), ☎ +880 31 2513576, fax: +880 31 2513460. Buffet lunch 12:00-16:00; dinner 18:00-23:00. The largest and the latest international standard restaurant in town with a Karaoke corner, seats up to 500 people across 2 floors. Has a huge menu of Continental, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian and Bangladeshi dishes. Fully air conditioned and tiptop. 
  • 🌍 Barcode Cafe, Bayazid Bostami Road, East Nasirabad, ☎ +88 031-2558551, +88 031-653558, fax: +880 31 650153, e-mail: . Tue-Sat 9AM-11:30PM. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Baskin Robbins (Agrabad), Agrabad. 08:00-23:00. Ice cream parlor (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Baskin Robbins (CDA Aveneu), CDA Aveneu. 08:00-23:00. Ice cream parlor (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Basmati Restaurant, CDA Ave, GEC Circle, ☎ +880 31 651201. 10:00-22:00. It provides Bangladeshi and Indian food with a classy environment. 
  • 🌍 Bonanza, 1692 N1, GEC circle, ☎ +880 31-652079. 10:00-23:00. International standard, large menu and recommended for foreigners who need a break from an upset stomach. Mains Tk 600. 
  • 🌍 Burgwich town, Mehedibag Road, ☎ +880 1720 576425. 11:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2015)
  • 🌍 Cafe Milano, c/Alameda de Mazarredo 17, ☎ +880 1912-345721. 11:00-22:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Cocoloco, 137/B K.B. Fazlul Kader Road, ☎ +880 1969-554040. 12:00-23:00. Mexican cuisine (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Handi Indian Bistro, 2nd Floor D, 805 CDA Avenue, ☎ +880 1730-341181. 12:00-23:00. (updated Jul 2017)
  • The Meridian, Opposite to Bonanza (GEC circle). The Meridian has an excellent lunch buffet for around Tk 350. The rest of the menu used to be pretty good but as of late it is better to stick to the buffet. Mains Tk 450. 
  • 🌍 Pizza Hut, 805/B CDA Avenue, JB Complex, GEC Circle, Dampara, ☎ +880 31-632733, +880 31-614656, +880 31-623516, +880 31-623565. 11:00-23:00. Tk 230-500 per medium pizza. 
  • 🌍 Royal Hut, Shahid Saifuddin Khaled Road, ☎ +880 1817-203257. 03:00-22:00. Populer for Chicken Tikka and Paratha (updated Jul 2017)
  • 🌍 Shangri-La Chinese Restaurant, 39, Sabdar Ali Road, Agrabad C/A, ☎ +880 31 810210. 11:00-24:00. Smart air-conditioned chinese restaurant. Tk 300-400 per person. 
  • Sugarbun (Well food), GEC circle. Fast food place from the international chain of the same name. Selling pizza, burgers, fries plus a variety of dishes to Asian tastes in a fast food format. Sugarbun also sells coffee, cakes, bread and other snacks. ~Tk 175-250 per person. 
  • Zaman Hotel (there are 13 Zaman hotels in Chittagong), just north of GEC Circle, on west side of street, ☎ +880 189 649 138. The menu contains no foreign dishes and this is not a place where foreigners typically eat, though it falls at the top end of middle class Bangladeshi restaurants. The place is clean, the food is OK, the service is good. You can ponder the wisdom in the quote on the menu: "For super disk with quality food to avoid cooking please step with whose family at Zaman Hotel." There are two restaurants of the same name on the same block - this one is the most southerly, with the huge neon sign on the roof. Mains Tk 40-100. 

Drink

Tea and coffee

The teahouses and coffee houses in Chittagong are mostly large, heavily standardized chains. The most common location for various kind of tea is Dalla, besides Agrabad Access Rd. The most common coffee house is Rio Coffee, found in multiple locations across the city, most notably around Naval Avenue Rd.

Hookah/sheesha

Bangladeshi bar food, hookah, and an amazing lounge experience. The crowd that frequents these two places is young, hip and trendy.

Bars and nightclubs
Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View

Alcoholic beverages are available at five-star hotels in Chittagong as well as a number of private clubs. Four hotels in Chittagong have bar license; Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View, Hotel Agrabad, Silmoon Hotel, Saint Martin Hotel Limited and The Peninsula Chittagong. While all the hotels are expensive for drinks. Like the Peninsula is expensive by far (more than Tk 550 for a large can of Heineken).

Here you can buy Bangladeshi local branded (Karrew and Co, Darshona) alcohol (vodka, rum, malted, whiskey, gin) from licensed ware houses situated in Shadar Ghat (Kazi & Co.), BRTC, near the railway station (foreign liqueur) and from Dewan Hat.

If you want to go to a bar, then you can go Hotel Shahjahan at Shadarghat, a well-furnished bar, or there is also a bar at BRTC bus stand adjacent to the foreign liqueur shop.

It is possible to buy alcoholic beverages, ranging from local brews to smuggled beer and counterfeit brand alcohol. Local booze is available legally at government licensed shops. There is one in Agrabad on Sheik Mujib Rahman road. It is tucked into an alley way a short distance from the first floor "Siemens" showroom.

Counterfeit branded alcohol is available from illegal traders in Kulshie and other areas. But beware: deaths have been reported from consumption of adulterated liquor, and headaches and illness are more common. Smuggled booze is sometimes available on the sea beach.

Nightclubs and dancing

There are three private clubs in Chittagong. The premiere club is the Chittagong Club which is located at number one Empress Road. The Chittagong club has a bar license and serves foreign alcohol in addition to local gin, vodka, and whiskey. Chittagong Club membership is closed but foreigners can apply for "temporary membership" for up to two years.

The Chittagong Institute is a far smaller club but it does maintain a bar. It is located in Jamal Khan road.

The Catholic club opens membership to all persons for a small fee but membership applications are only accepted once a year (during December?) It maintains a small bar serving local drinks.

Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budgetunder ৳5000
Mid-range৳5000-10000
Splurge৳10000 and over
Note: With some exceptions, hotels and other sleeping establishments will not allow anyone under age 18 to reserve a room. It is highly recommended to research and reserve in advance of arrival.

Budget
  • 🌍 Hotel Miskha, 95 Station Road, ☎ +880 31 610923. Check-out: 12:00. One of the better of the Station Road cheapies, rooms are large, fairly clean and more atmospheric than others in the area with faded old wooden furniture. Prices are a little high but don't even think of asking the stubborn manager for a discount or to throw in a TV. There's a decent restaurant behind the reception desk. Tk 200-300. 

Mid-range

Splurge
Hotel Agrabad, Agrabad

Stay safe

Connect

Internet

Most hotel charge a separate fee for WiFi usage. Internet cafes can be found around the intersection of Station Rd and Jubilee Rd and around GEC Circle and Agrabad. Price around ৳40-60/hr.

Telephone

The country code for Bangladesh is 880. Add 31 to make a call for Chittagong.

Postal and courier services
  • Government courier
  • Private courier companies
  • 🌍 DHL Agrabad, Shafi Bhaban, Plot #6 Sheikh Mujib Road. Su-We 09:00-21:00. (updated Jul 2017)

Chittagong emergency numbers

Here are the Chittagong emergency contact numbers

  • Police Commissioner, ☎ +880 31 624100
  • Agrabad Fire Station, ☎ +880 31 716326

Cope

ATMs

If you need cash, it's a good idea to get it before going inside bar or club. American Express, Master Card, VISA Card have accepted almost all the ATMs booth in the city. Check ahead to see if your bank has locations in Chittagong. On the Strip, the following ATMs are safer bets:

  • For the 🌍 Citibank N.A customers, there are ATMs inside the branch at Agrabad Commercial Area.
  • For 🌍 HSBC customers, there are ATMs inside the district main branch at Sheikh Mujib Road and different places of the city.

Major hospitals

Smoking

In the public places and stand-alone bars, smoking is permitted. However, there are some areas which are smoke-free but may be very close to smoking areas. Nightclubs and lounges may allow smoking if they do not serve food. For all other standalone restaurants, bars, convenience stores, grocery stores and airport facilities smoking is prohibited.

Others
  • Laundry service is offered in most laundry shops and hotels, even in budget accommodations. If you would rather save the money and do it yourself, buckets are found in almost all public bathrooms - but perhaps wash it out well first.
  • Exercising outdoors is not recommended due to the level of pollution and swimming in rivers is also not recommended. Instead, look for a hotel with a gym or a pool since many offer day passes. You can always try a morning or evening walk in the parks.

Foreign missions and High Commissions

Go next

Chittagong is also a great base for exploration of the famous hill districts.

  • Chittagong Hill Tracts -
  • Bandarban - a hill district two hours by bus
  • Rangamati - a popular town in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
  • Cox's Bazar - The country's premier beach resort, about 3 hours south by bus.
  • Teknaf
  • St. Martin's Island - an island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.
  • Comilla - World War Cemetery, Kotbari Baddha Bihar, BIRD, Salban Bihar

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