Chittagong Halal Travel Guide
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.
Introduction to Chittagong
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 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
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
Fly to Chittagong
- Shah Amanat International Airport is served by most major domestic and many international air carriers as the second largest and busiest international airport in Bangladesh. It has flights from Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Bangkok, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Kuwait. Domestic services include several daily flights with Dhaka.
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.
Travel by train to Chittagong
- 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 Road area.
- Shohagh Paribahan, Zakir Hossain Road. Daily services with Dhaka, Sylhet, Khulna, Cox’s Bazaar, Jessore and Kolkata.
- Green Line Paribahan, Zakir Hossain Road. Daily services with Dhaka, Kolkata, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazaar, Khulna and Bogra.
- Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Station Road. BRTC operates the International Bus Service twice daily with Kolkata and scheduled services with Agartala
- Chittagong Bus Depot, +031 683423. Station Road at Batali Road, across from the Old Railway Terminal.
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 Road. Barisal is the main destination, from where you can continue to Dhaka.
Get around
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 Road and Jubilee Road. 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:
- Public Bus Fare Chart of Chittagong Metro Area at BRTA.
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 from 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
- BNS Issa Khan. A naval base of the Bangladeshi Navy.
- Chandanpura Mosque. Situated in the old city, the multi-domed mosque is an architectural sight to behold.
- Chatteshwari Temple, Chatteshwari Road. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali. It was built in the 18th century.
- 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 around three kilometers north-east of the city. Major exhibits are Indian lion, Asian black bear, Indian muntjac, Chital.
- 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.
Architectures
- Central Railway Building. Completed in 1872, it is one of the oldest buildings of the port city.
- Cheragi Pahar, Cheragi Pahar Circle, Jamal Khan. Cultural and historical place whwre most of the cultural activities of Chittagong and related business were established.
- 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 instantly 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.
- Jamuna Bhaban, Sheikh Mujib Road. Oldest building at Agrabad
- Kadurkhil High School Mrith Bhaban & Parbati Charan Dhigi.
Beaches and river sides
- Aananda Bazar Beach, Chittagong Coastal Road, Halishahar. 24 hours. A coastal area is situated at the Karnafuli river channel.
- Avoy Mitra Ghat, Sadar Ghat. 24 hours. A river side of the Karnaphuli River.
- Banglabazar Lake (Near Fouzdarhat Cadet College.). Beside the lake there is Mangrove forest which is just before Bay of Bengal.
- Bhatiary Lake, Bhatiary.
- Dakshin Kattali Beach, Dakshin Kattali. Natural beach with mangrove forest west of Halishahar and south of Kattali.
- Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches. About 16 km from Chittagong.
- 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.
- 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.
- Khejur Tola Beach, Muslimabad Road.
- , Patenga Road (Beside the Shah Amanat International Airport.). A river side at the meeting place of the roaring sea and the river Karnaphuli.
- 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.
- Parki Beach, Parki Beach, Anowara upazilla. About 16-17 km away from Chittagong the beach is situated at the Karnafuli river channel.
Cemeteries, memorials and sculptures
- Buddhijibi Smriti Stambh, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari.
- Central Shaheed Minar, University of Chittagong, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari.
- Central Shaheed Minar, KC Dey Road. A divisional martyr monument
- 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.
- Swadhinata Smrity Mural, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari.
- Swaran, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari.
- 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.
- 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
Parks
- Biplob Uddan, 2 No. Gate (Beside Moshjid Goli). The park was created on remembrance of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
- Butterfly Park Bangladesh, 15 Naval Academy Road (beside airport). The first and only tropical garden within the natural forest environment there are plenty of genus and over 4,000 live butterflies.
- DC Hill Park, Nandan Kanan Road (Besides Nandan Kanan Buddist Temple.). A length of 1.02 km natural park.
- Jamboree Park, SM Morshed Road, Jamboree Field, Agrabad (Besids Karnaphuli Shishu Park.).
- 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.
- United Nations Park, Panchlaish.
- Shadhinata Complex. A complex within the country’s popular architectures in miniature form.
Archives and Libraries
- Abdul Karim Sahityavisharad Reference Library, Chittagong University Museum, Chittagong University Campus, University of Chittagong, Hathazari, , fax: +88 031 2606014. A reference library which contents books to support research about iconography, epigraphy, numismatics, architecture, small and folk art and other cultural resources.
- Chittagong University Library, Chittagong University Road, Hathazari. Sa-W 10:00-18:00. The largest subscription library in Chittagong.
- Divisional Govt. Public Library, Chittagong, KC Dey Road. Nondon Kanan, , ✉ dgplchittagong@gmail.com. Sa-W 09:00-17:00 (except Thursday, Friday & Govt. holidays). This library has a collection of over 95,244 books.
Museums
- Bangladesh Maritime Museum, Bangladesh Marine Academy. A museum in a small room at the old seamanship class building in Bangladesh Marine Academy.
- Bangladesh Railway Museum, Ambagan Road.
- Chittagong University Museum, Chittagong University Campus, University of Chittagong, Hathazari, , fax: +88 031 2606014.
- 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.
- 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.
- Zia Memorial Museum, Circuit house, Shahid Saifuddin Khaled Road.
Elsewhere
- Banshkhali Eco Park, Banshkhali Upazila. 09:00–21:00.
- 36 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.
- 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 from 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.
What to do in Chittagong
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.
Fishing
Go fishing for Anabas, Cat fish, Ruhi, Tilapia etc.
- Agrabad Deba, Agrabad.
- Bhatiary Lake, Bhatiary-Hathazari Link Road.
Rides
- Foy’s Lake Amusement World, Foy’s Lake, Khulshi.. 10:00-07:30. ৳300.
- Karnaphuli Shishu Park, Jamboree Field Road, Agrabad. 03:00-20:00. ৳40/pp entry.
- Chittagong Shishu Park, Circuit House. 03:00-20:00. ৳40/pp entry.
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.
- 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.
Theaters
- Almas Cinema Hall, Chatteshwery Road.
- BGB Hall, Block #H, Halishahar R/A.
Events
Chittagong continues to grow with annual events and festivals held throughout the city.
Shopping in Chittagong
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:
- 1 Afmi Plaza, Baizid Bostami Road, Panchlaish, East Nasirabad. Tu-Sa 10:00-21:00, M 02:00-21:00.
- 2 Akhtaruzzaman Centre, Sheikh Mujib Road. M-Sa 10:00-22:00.
- 3 Ameen Center, 320 CDA Avenue, Lalkhan Bazar. M-Sa 10:00-21:00.
- 4 Banani Complex Shopping Centre, 942/A, Sheikh Mujib Road. 24 hours.
- 5 Central Shopping Complex, 561 OR Nizam Road. Sa-Tu 10:00-22:00.
- 6 Finlay Square, 2 CDA Avenue, East Nasirabad. 10:00-21:00.
- 7 Keari Elysium Shopping Complex, Rashik Hajari Lane. Sa-Th 10:00-22:00.
- 8 Lucky Plaza, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad. Su-Th 09:00-21:00, Sa 02:00-21:00.
- 9 Mimi Super Market, O R Nizam Road. Tu-Sa 10:00-21:00, M 02:00-21:00.
- 10 Sanmar Ocean City, CDA Avenue, Nasirabad. W-M 10:00-22:00.
- 11 Singapore Bangkok Market, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad. Monday to Friday 10:00-21:00.
- 12 South Land Center, Agrabad Access Road, Agrabad. M-Sa 09:00-21:00.
- 13 VIP Tower, Chatteswari Road. Monday to Friday 10:00-21:00.
Outlet malls
- 14 Agora Super Shop, Afmi Plaza, 1/A, Baizid Bostami Road, Panchlaish.
- 15 Aarong Sholoshahar, Biman Bhaban (first floor), 1/2, CDA Avenue, Sholoshahar, Nasirabad. M-Sa 10:00–23:00.
- 16 Aarong Halishahar, Lane #1, Road #1, House #1, Block #L, Halishahar H/A. Su-F 10:00–23:00.
- 17 Thami Afmi Plaza Outlet, Shop #248, Afmi Plaza, Probortok Circle. Tu-Sa 10:00–21:00, M 02:30–21:00.
Individual stores
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.
- 18 Current Book Center, Jalsha Market, Jubilee Road. 10:00-23:00.
- 19 Baatighar, Press Club Bhaban, Ground Floor, 146/151 Jamal Khan Road. 10:00-22:00. Largest books shop in the city.
- 20 Nandan Book Library, 5 Lusai Bhaban, Cheragi Pahar.
- 21 Prothoma, Sanmar Spring Garden, 64 Jamal Khan Road. 10:00-22:00.
Where to stay in Chittagong
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | under ৳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. 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
- Asian SR Hotel, 291 Station Road. 3-star international hotel
- Ambassador Residency, Road #2, House#23 O.R Nizam Road R/A, , ✉ ambassador.residency@gmail.com. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. All children are welcome. One child under 5 years stays free of charge when using existing beds. One further child under 5 years is charged US$15 pp/night in an extra bed. One extra bed or children’s cot is permitted in a room. Pets are not allowed.
- Executive Residence, Jiban Bima Bhaban (2nd floor), 1053, Sheikh Mujib Road, Agrabad. Check-in: 11:00-12:00, check-out: 12:00-12:30. Children cannot be accommodated at the hotel. There is no capacity for extra beds in the room. Pets are not allowed. This property only accepts cash payments.
- Hotel Al-Faisal, 1050 Nur Ahmed Road. Check-out: 12:00. This is a good option, mostly because it’s far enough away from Station Road. Tk 350-1200.
- Hotel Bandargaon, 875 Nur Ahmed Road. Check-out: noon. Near Hotel Al-Faisal, it’s also a good choice. Rooms around Tk 600.
- Hotel Eastern View, 225/A, Sheikh Mujib Road, Chowmuhony, Agrabad. 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 Golden Inn, 36 Station Road. Check-out: 12:00. Across the street from Sylhet Super, it’s another decent choice. Tk 400-1000.
- Hotel Saint Martin, 25, Sheikh Mujib Road, Agrabad C/A, , fax: +88 031 710659, ✉ hsml@hotelsaintmartin.com.bd. 3-star hotel situated in the commercial district of Chittagong.
- Hotel Sylhet Super, 16 Station Road. Check-out: 12:00. This is a very large hotel west of the train station. Tk 300-1000.
- Hotel Tower Inn, Jubilee Road. Typical large 3-star hotel. Wireless internet throughout.
- Landmark Hotel & Restaurant, Sheikh Mujib Road, Agrabad.
- Orchid Business Hotel, 1739, Sheikh Mujib Road, Agrabad.
- Well Park Residence, Road # 1, Plot # 2, O.R. Nizam Road (near the G.E.C Circle). 4-star hotel. Roof top restaurant have trendy with the touch of nature. US$100-500.
Splurge
- Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View, SS Khaled Road, Lalkhan Bazar (Stay within walking distance of M.A. Aziz Stadium and Chittagong Club Limited in this commercial capital.), , ✉ reservation.ctg@radisson.com. A 5-star business hotel US$101.25, €85.92 (pp/night).
- Hotel Agrabad, Sabder Ali Road, Agrabad Commercial Area, , fax: +88 031 710572. A 4-star business hotel in the commercial district; restaurants and a swimming pool. Online booking available. US$165-700 (pp/night).
- The Peninsula Chittagong Limited, 486/B, OR Nizam Road, CDA Avenue (near the G.E.C Circle), , fax: +880 31-624385. 4-star hotel. The roof of the building has a swimming pool and offers a view of the entire city. US$100-150.
Telecommunications in Chittagong
Internet Cafe’s in Chittagong
Most hotel charge a separate fee for WiFi usage. Internet cafes can be found around the intersection of Station Road and Jubilee Road and around GEC Circle and Agrabad. Price around ৳40-60/hr.
- Dot Com, 41/42 Central Shopping Complex, 3rd Floor, OR Nizam Road, GEC Circle. Maximum speed 512 kbps+ per PC ৳40/hr.
Telephone
The country code for Bangladesh is 880. Add 31 to make a call for Chittagong.
Postal and courier services
- Government courier
- General Post Office, Abdur Rahman Road (Besides New market and Bangladesh Bank). Su-Th 10:00-05:00.
- Private courier companies
- DHL Agrabad, Shafi Bhaban, Plot #6 Sheikh Mujib Road. Su-We 09:00-21:00.
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
- Chittagong Diabetic General Hospital, Zakir Hossain Road. 24 hours.
- Centre for Specialized Care & Reaseach (CSCR), 1675/A O.R. Nizam Road. 24 hours.
- Chittagong Medical College, 57, K.B. Fazlul Kader Road, Panchlaish, Chawkbazar..
- Chittagong Maa-O-Shishu General Hospital & Medical College, Agrabad, , fax: +880 31 2525409.
- Chattagram Metropolitan Haspatal Limited, OR Nizam Road. 24 hours.
- Memon Maternity Hospital, 291 Strand Road, , fax: +880 31 2525409. Sa-Th 09:00-18:00, Friday closed.
- National Hospital (Pvt.) Ltd., Mehdibag. 24 hours.
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
Germany, c/o M.M. Ispahani Ltd., Ispahani Building, Sk. Mujib Road, Agrabad, , fax: +880 31 710471. 9:00-17:00.
India, Assistant High Commision of India, Zakir Hossain Road, Khulshi, , fax: +880 31-654 147.- Indonesia, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Chittagong, A.K. Khan & Company Ltd., Batali Hills, , fax: +880 31 610596.
- Italy, Ispahani Building, Sheikh Mujib Road, Agrabad.
- Japan, Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Chittagong, Osman Court (2nd floor), 70, Agrabad C/A (Oposits the Ethnological Museum), , fax: +880 31 714848.
Malaysia, Eastern Overseas Shiooing Lines Ltd. (MISC), 5, Agrabad C/A, South Lane Center (8th & 9th Floor),.- Maltese Honorary Consulate in Chittagong, Makkah Madina Trade Centre (15th Floor), 78, Agrabad Commercial Area, , fax: +880 31 710 9341. Mr Syed Mahmudul Huq, Honorary Consul. The Maltese consulate in Chittagong is one of 217 Maltese diplomatic and consular representations abroad.
- Myanmar, Suite 200, Hotel Agrabad, Agrabad Commercial Area.
- Philippines, No. 77 Lalkhan Bazar.
- Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chittagong, Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chittagong, House 1, Road 6, Khulshi R/A, 1001, , fax: +88031654157.
- South Africa, South African Honorary Consulate, Mr 2293/A, Zakir Hossain Road, East Nasirabad, Khulshi, , fax: +8803 652226.
- South Korea, Hotel Agrabad, 8th Floor, Agrabad C/A.
- Sri Lanka, Hony. Consul of Sri Lanka, Seatex Limited, Plot No. 8 & 9, Section 6, CEPZ.
- Thai Honorary Consulate in Chittagong, Progati House (4th Floor), 1070, Sk. Mujib Road, Agrabad.
- Turkish Honorary Consulate General in Chittagong, Farhatbagh, Batali Hills, 4000, , fax: +88031225596. Mr Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Honorary Consul General
Go next
Chittagong is also a great base for exploration of the famous hill districts.
- Chittagong Hill Tracts –
- Bandarban District – 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
- Saint Martins Island – an island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.
- Comilla – World War Cemetery, Kotbari Baddha Bihar, BIRD, Salban Bihar
