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BDR proposed to be renamed as Border Guards Bangladesh

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) is going to be renamed ‘Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)' as the proposal came in a presentation made to Prime Minister..........More

Flood situation starts improving in greater Rangpur and N-dists

The overall flood situation started improving in greater Rangpur and adjoining northern districts as the water level in most of the major rivers have dropped significantly during the last 24 hours till this morning.......More

About Chittagong

Chittagong is the second largest city in Bangladesh. It is the Commercial Capital City of Bangladesh. The surrounding mountains and rivers make the city attractive. Karnaphuli River falls in Chittagong. The largest land port of the country, "Chittagong Port", situated in Chittagong. That's why Chittagong is the city for export and import. Most of the large industries of Bangladesh are situated in Chittagong.

Chittagong, is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-makers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century A D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and given the title of "Porto Grande" by the 16th both the descriptions even today. It combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the soothing quiet of a charming hill town. Chittagong is the country's chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery are also located in Chittagong.

• Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R):

Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) (capital R is used to show respect) 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 recieved 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*Patenga Beach: Sandy beach at the meeting place of the roaring sea and the river Karnaphuli. It looks more beautiful from Naval Academy Road which is just beside the Shah Amanat International Airport.

• Foy's Lake: Set amidst panoramic surroundings, this ideal spot for outings and picnics is thronged by thousands of visitors. This Lake has been created in the natural environment in 1924 by the initiative of the then Assam-Bengal Railway. This lake has been created by building a dam based on a plan by an English engineer Mr. Foy. Now an amusement park is established there. The zoo is next door.
• 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.
• World War II Cemetery: In this well-preserved cemetery at 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 eight acres, which is protected and supervised by the Commonwealth Graves Commission.
• Ethnological Museum: Shows a mix of tribal artifacts. The Ethnological Museum of Chittagong was established in the first half of nineteen sixties. 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'.
• Baitul Falah The largest mosque in Chittagong.
• Chandanpura Mosque: Situated in the old city, the multi-domed mosque is an architectural sight to behold.
• Chittagong College: Situated in the old city, is one of the oldest colleges in Bangladesh (estd 1869) and also one of the prestigious academies.
• Mohsin College:Situated beside Chittagong college. The College area covers almost 31 acres of land decked with beautiful landscape. The college Campus wears a garb of natural panoramic beauty. It is housed in eight metalled/pucca buildings on an extensive beautiful campus in the lap of nature. A beautiful play ground a stretches to the south of college gate, supplying the students a great scope to participate in different games and sports. The college campus upholds the ancient architectural beauty in the shape of a building built by the Portuguese.
• Court Building: 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 thousand square feet and has hundreds of rooms.

Nearby

• 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. Green Peace is actively campaigning against them and trying to bring this issue further into the light. Tourists are not usually welcome, but some travelers 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.

Do

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

• Karnafully Sishu Park (Agrabad,Chittagong)
• Zia Sishu Park (Circuit House,Chittagong)
• Mini Bangladesh (Chandgaon,Chittagong)
• Biplobi Uddan (2 number gate,Chittagong)
• Jatisongho Park (Panchlaish, Chittagong)

Buy

• Aarong Handicrafts has a large branch on CDA Ave just north of GEC Circle. It is well stocked with men's and women's clothing and housewares at medium to expensive prices.

Eat

The people of Bangladesh love oily 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 salad which comes with your meal as you will not know if it has been washed in pure water. All but a couple of restaurants in town use tap water to wash salad and this is a recipe for explosive diarrhoea.

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. NB: one room stores also have signboards advertising themselves as 'Department stores'.

• Ambrosia, Jiban Bima Bhaban (Ground Floor), 1053, Sk. Mujib Road (Next to Radio Station & Opposite to Standard Chartered Chittagong Main Branch), ☎ +880 31 2513576 (fax: +880 31 2513460), . Buffet Lunch: 12-4PM; Dinner: 6-11PM. 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.

• Bonanza, Above Aarong and opposite to the Meridian (GEC circle). The best restaurant in town which is of international standard. Bonanza has a huge menu. Recommended for foreigners who need a break from an upset stomach. Mains Tk 300.
• The Meridian, Opposite to Bonanza (GEC circle), ☎ Don't know. The Meridian has an excellent lunch buffet for around 350 taka. The rest of the menu used to be pretty good but as of late it is better to stick to the buffet. Mains Tk 300.
• Shaad Snacks, Station Road, across the street from New Market. A friendly place serving the usual fast food snacks - rolls and buns filled with chicken, beef or vegetables, microwaved to a spongy perfection as you order. They've got a good range of sweets as well. (the food at these snack places is not healthy for foreigners) ~Tk 10.
• Shangri-La Chinese Restaurant, 39, Agrabad, ☎ 810210. Smart air-conditioned Chinese restaurant. But the place has nose dived recently and other restaurants have opened. ~Tk 300-400 per person.
• Baskin Robbins, just east of GEC Circle. One of the city's greatest redeeming qualities.
• 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.
• Pizza Hut, GEC circle up the hill towards Welmart. Pizza hut only arrived in Chittagong in 2006. Before that people had to go all the way to Dhaka for pizza. ~Tk 230-500 per medium pizza.
• Zaman Hotel (there are 13 Zaman hotels in Chittagong), just north of GEC Circle, on west side of street, ☎ 0189 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.
• Zaman Hotel (Agrabad), On the Agrabad circle, ☎ Don't know. The Zaman hotel at the Agrabad circle has the best food of the Zaman hotels. The Chicken Biriyani is particularly good coming with a large piece of chicken, an egg, rice, and a delicious sauce. The environment is more worn than hotel Zaman at the GEC circle. But the food is better. Since there are virtually no good places to eat on a budget in Agrabad it is worth checking this place out. Tk 50-100 for a meal.

Drink

Alcoholic beverages are available at five-star hotels in Bangladesh as well as a number of private clubs. Three hotels in Chittagong have a drinks license; the Agrabad hotel, the Silmoon hotel and the Peninsula hotel. While all the hotels are expensive for drinks the Peninsula is the most expensive by far.

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 drinks license and serves foreign alcohol in addition to local gin, vodka and whisky. 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 (I think during December). It maintains a small bar serving local drinks.

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 area. Deaths have been reported from consumption of adulterated liquor. Headaches and illness are more common. Smuggled booze is sometimes available from the sea beach.

Readers should note that the 'Expats Inn' has closed it's doors. So no more pub nights!

Budget

• Hotel Miskha, 95 Station Road, ☎ +880 (0) 31 610923. checkout: 12PM. 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

• Asian SR Hotel: The Asian SR Hotel is a 3 star international hotel situated on 291 Station Road, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Phone : +880-31-636383, Mobile: 01711889555, Website: www.asiansrhotel.com, Email: info@asiansrhotel.com
• Hotel Al-Faisal, 1050 Nur Ahmed Road, ☎ +880 (0) 31 710048. checkout: 12PM. This is a good option, mostly because it's far enough away from Station Rd. Tk 350-1200.
• Hotel Bandargaon, 875 Nur Ahmed Road, ☎ +880 (0) 31 637686. checkout: 12PM. Near Hotel Al-Faisal, it's also a good choice. Rooms around Tk 600.
• Hotel Eastern View, 225/A, Sk. Mujib Road, (Chowmuhony) Agrabad, Phone: 00880-031-2510567,2514935, Hot Line: 00880 01727-739 839,01710-914 448, 01811-227 888, E-mail: easternview@ctgtel.net. The newest hotel in Chittagong. It is well equipped, 24 hours service, lift, standby generator, all kinds of food in room, Internet, hot & cold water, secretarial service. It's run by ex-managers of renowned hotels & staff are really good, whole atmosphere is quiet & clean.
• Hotel Sylhet Super, 16 Station Road, ☎ +880 (0) 31 632265. checkout: 12PM. This is a very large hotel west of the train station, good if you need to be in this area. Tk 300-1000.
• Hotel Golden Inn, 36 Station Road, ☎ +880 (0) 31 611004. checkout: 12PM. Across the street from Sylhet Super, it's another decent choice. Tk 400-1000.
• Hotel Golden Inn, Station Road. A 2-star hotel situated on.
• Hotel Saint Martin: Hotel Saint Martin is a 3-star hotel situated in the commercial district of Chittagong on Sheik Mujib road.

Splurge

• Hotel Agrabad, Agrabad Commercial Area, +880-31-713311, info@agrabadhotels.com]. Online Booking Accepted. A business hotel in the heart of the commercial area, easy airport access, restaurants and a swimming pool. $154-581. Hotel Agrabad is 4-star hotel situated in the commercial district of Chittagong.

• The Peninsula Chittagong, Best Business Hotel in Town, 486/B, OR Nizam Road, CDA Avenue,Chittagong, BANGLADESH, PABX: +88-031-285-0860-69 (10 lines), Tel: +88-031-616722 or 619850, Fax: +88-031-624385 or 632506 reservation@peninsulactg.com, www.peninsulactg.com. Situated in the prestigious GEC circle of the Port City, The Peninsula Chittagong provides superior services combining western sophistication and Chittagonian hospitality in a scenic and convenient location. Discover this unique retreat for business or pleasure just minutes from the commercial center surrounded by famous retail shops, restaurants and corporate offices. Tariff: $100-$150. The Peninsula Chittagong is a 4-Star Hotel situated in the center of the city near the G.E.C Circle. The roof of the building contains a swimming pool and offers a view of the entire city.

From: http://wikitravel.org