Chittagong (Chittagonian, Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম, Chôţţogram) is the main seaport and second largest city of Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Karnaphuli River.
A trading post since the 9th century, Chittagong has a multicultural heritage of Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The modern city developed during British rule as a railway, oil and tea trading hub. The city also became a focal point for revolutionary activities against the British, notably the armed uprising led by Surya Sen in 1930. It was also an important military base and supply point for Allied forces during the Burma Campaign in World War II. After the partition of India in 1947, Chittagong became part of East Pakistan. In 1971, as East Pakistanis rebelled against West Pakistan’s refusal to accept results of democratic elections, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence was announced in Chittagong. The city went onto witness atrocities, war crimes and naval blockades during the liberation war that followed.
Today, Chittagong is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. A major commercial and industrial centre, the city also has a globally competitive special economic zone. With the major infrastructure projects being undertaken for the city, including a deep sea port, regional neighbors of Bangladesh, including India and China, have eyed Chittagong as a future regional transit hub. The port city is seen as crucial to the economic development of landlocked southern Asia, including Northeast India, Bhutan, Nepal and parts of Southern China.
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