Misplaced Pages

#606393

74-467: Bangladeshi lawyer Dr. Mohiuddin Farooque established BELA in 1992 and was the first Chief Executive of the organization. From the very beginning BELA monitored compliance with Bangladesh's environmental Laws, took initiatives to increase environmental awareness and sought to ensure the development of proper environmental jurisprudence. BELA faced a serious shock after the death of Dr. Farooque in 1997 and

148-829: A market capitalisation of US$ 32 billion in June 2015. The city is home to many of the country's oldest and largest corporations. The Port of Chittagong handled US$ 60 billion in annual trade in 2011, ranking 3rd in South Asia after the Port of Mumbai and the Port of Colombo . The port is part of the Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean and on to

222-582: A $ 640 million steel plant, a $ 2.6 billion power plant and a $ 3 billion renewable energy plant. It is investing 580 billion BDT in two industrial zones in Chittagong. S Alam also has substantial offshore assets, including a billion dollars worth of real estate in Singapore . Its portfolio in Singapore includes the city-state's Hilton Garden Inn Serangoon hotel. The S Alam Group enjoys close ties with

296-587: A consulate general of Russia. The city also has honorary consulates of Turkey, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Malaysia, Italy, and the Philippines. A substantial share of Bangladesh's national GDP is attributed to Chittagong. As of the early 2000s, the port city contributed 12% of the nation's economy. Chittagong generates for 40% of Bangladesh's industrial output , 80% of its international trade and 50% of its governmental revenue . The Chittagong Stock Exchange has more than 700 listed companies, with

370-693: A daughter, Nehla Siddique and two sons, Ahmed Zarir Siddique and Ahmed Zeedan Siddique. In April 2014, her husband Siddique, managing director of a garment factory owned by Nasrul Hamid Bipu , was briefly abducted by unknown individuals. Her first cousin Syed Liaquat Hasan is the current Upazila Chairman of Chunarughat Upazila , Habiganj . Chittagong Chittagong ( / ˈ tʃ ɪ t ə ɡ ɒ ŋ / CHIT -ə-gong ), officially Chattogram ( Bengali : চট্টগ্রাম , romanized :  Côṭṭôgrām [ˈtʃɔʈːoɡram] , Chittagonian: চাটগাঁও/চিটাং romanized: Sāṭgão/Siṭāṅ ),

444-711: A frontline city in the Southeast Asian Theater . It was a critical air, naval and military base for Allied Forces during the Burma Campaign against Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force carried out air raids on Chittagong in April and May 1942, in the run-up to the aborted Japanese invasion of Bengal. After the Battle of Imphal , the tide turned in favor of the Allied Forces. Units of

518-606: A member of BELA, advocate Ms. Rizwana Hasan took over the direction of BELA. In 1994, election candidates for the Dhaka City Corporation were unlawfully campaigning in Old Dhaka in violation of the 1860s Environmental Law of Bangladesh. Rizwana Hasan brought suit in court and the Court judged it an unlawful act. Thereafter, Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) took initiatives to stop election campaigning that

592-705: A narrow strip of land along the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal which was under strong Bengali influence for 350 years. During the 16th century, the port became a Portuguese trading post and João de Barros described it as "the most famous and wealthy city of the Kingdom of Bengal". The Mughal Empire expelled the Portuguese and Arakanese in 1666. The Nawab of Bengal ceded the port to the British East India Company in 1793. The Port of Chittagong

666-578: A part of Sultanate of Bengal. It was the principal maritime gateway to the kingdom, which was reputed as one of the wealthiest states in the Indian subcontinent . Medieval Chittagong was a hub for maritime trade with China, Sumatra , the Maldives , Sri Lanka , the Middle East, and East Africa. It was notable for its medieval trades in pearls, silk, muslin, rice, bullion, horses, and gunpowder. The port

740-460: A population of more than 8.2 million in 2022. In 2020, the city area had a population of more than 5.2 million. The city is home to many large local businesses and plays an important role in the Bangladeshi economy . One of the world's oldest ports with a functional natural harbor for centuries, Chittagong appeared on ancient Greek and Roman maps, including on Ptolemy's world map . It

814-651: A very large Buddhist population before Islam. The city was renamed Islamabad (City of Islam) during the Mughal era. The name continues to be used in the old city. In April 2018, the Cabinet Division of the Government of Bangladesh decided to change the city's name to Chattogram, based on its Bengali spelling and pronunciation; the move was criticized in the Bangladeshi media. One explanation credits

SECTION 10

#1732772801607

888-589: Is an ancient port city, with a recorded history dating back to the 4th century BC. Its harbour was mentioned in Ptolemy's world map in the 2nd century as one of the most impressive ports in the East . The region was part of the ancient Bengali Samatata and Harikela kingdoms. The Chandra dynasty once dominated the area and was followed by the Varman dynasty and Deva dynasty . Chinese traveller Xuanzang described

962-852: Is based in Chittagong Cantonment , and the Bangladesh Air Force maintains the BAF Zahurul Haq Air Base in Chittagong. The city is also home to the Bangladesh Military Academy , the premier training institute for the country's armed forces . In the 1860s, the American consulate-general in the Bengal Presidency included a consular agency in Chittagong. Today, Chittagong hosts an assistant high commission of India and

1036-535: Is harmful to the environment. Under the supervision of Rizwana Hasan, BELA started its war against the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh. On behalf of BELA, Rizwana brought the first suit against the shipbreaking industry, accusing it of creating an unsafe work environment and producing environmentally unsafe waste. Bela then brought another three suits demanding rights for the workers and the banning in Bangladesh of ships carrying poisonous substances. And in 2003

1110-844: Is home to many of the oldest and largest companies in the country. The Port of Chittagong is one of the busiest ports in South Asia . The largest base of the Bangladesh Navy is located in Chittagong, along with an air base of the Bangladesh Air Force , garrisons of the Bangladesh Army and the main base of the Bangladesh Coast Guard . The eastern zone of the Bangladesh Railway is based in Chittagong. The Chittagong Stock Exchange

1184-414: Is located in Chittagong. The city is the hometown of prominent economists, a Nobel laureate, scientists, freedom fighters and entrepreneurs. Chittagong has a high degree of religious and ethnic diversity among Bangladeshi cities, despite having a great Muslim majority. Minorities include Hindus , Christians , Buddhists , Chakmas , Marmas , Tripuris , Garos and others. The etymology of Chittagong

1258-512: Is located in the colonial-era Chittagong Court Building. Chittagong is a strategically important military port on the Bay of Bengal. The Chittagong Naval Area is the principal base of the Bangladesh Navy and the home port of most Bangladeshi warships . The Bangladesh Naval Academy and the navy's elite special force- Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) are also based in the city. The Bangladesh Army 's 24th Infantry Division

1332-647: Is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission . Allied soldiers constitute the bulk of burials in the cemetery. A few Japanese soldiers are also buried. Remembrance Day services are held each year at the cemetery, with diplomats from Commonwealth countries like the UK, Bangladesh, Australia, India and Pakistan, as well as the United States and Japan, usually in attendance. The Partition of British India in 1947 made Chittagong

1406-604: Is often called Bangladesh's commercial capital due to its diversified industrial base and seaport. The port city has ambitions to develop as a global financial center and regional transshipment hub, given its proximity to North East India , Burma , Nepal , Bhutan and Southwest China. By 2024, the Chittagong-based S Alam Group emerged as one of Bangladesh's most powerful conglomerates, with interests in energy, commodities , infrastructure, economic zones, healthcare, textiles and fintech . S Alam's projects include

1480-441: Is one of the twin stock markets of Bangladesh with over 700 listed companies. The Chittagong Tea Auction is a commodity exchange dealing with Bangladeshi tea . The CEPZ and KEPZ are key industrial zones with foreign direct investments. The city is served by Shah Amanat International Airport for domestic and external flights. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel , the first and only underwater road tunnel of South Asia,

1554-673: Is responsible for governing municipal areas in the Chittagong Metropolitan Area. It is headed by the mayor of Chittagong. The mayor and ward councillors are elected every five years. The mayor is Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, as of August 2023. The city corporation's mandate is limited to basic civic services, however, the CCC is credited for keeping Chittagong one of the cleaner and most eco-friendly cities in Bangladesh. Its principal sources of revenue are municipal taxes and conservancy charges. The Chittagong Development Authority

SECTION 20

#1732772801607

1628-733: Is responsible for implementing the city's urban planning. The deputy commissioner and district magistrate are the chiefs of local administration as part of the Government of Bangladesh. Law enforcement is provided by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police and the Rapid Action Battalion -7. The district and sessions judges are the heads of the local judiciary on behalf of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh . The Divisional Special Judge's Court

1702-670: Is the second-largest city in Bangladesh . Home to the Port of Chittagong , it is the busiest port in Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal . The city is also known as business capital of Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat of an eponymous division and district . The city is located on the banks of the Karnaphuli River between the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bay of Bengal. The Greater Chittagong Area had

1776-521: Is uncertain. The port city has been known by various names in history, including Chatigaon , Chatigam , Chattagrama , Islamabad , Chattala , Chaityabhumi and Porto Grande De Bengala . The Bengali word for Chittagong, Chattogram (চট্টগ্রাম) , has the suffix "-gram" (গ্রাম) meaning village in Standard Bengali . The earliest records, before Islam reached the region, state that it was a place of chaitya or Buddhist monasteries. The city had

1850-639: The Assam Bengal Railway and Pakistan Eastern Railway . During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Chittagong was the site of the Bangladeshi declaration of independence . The port city has benefited from the growth of heavy industry , logistics, and manufacturing in Bangladesh. Trade unionism was strong during the 1990s. Chittagong accounts for 12% of Bangladesh's GDP, including 40% of industrial output, 80% of international trade , and 50% of tax revenue. The port city

1924-870: The Bangladesh Air Force and the Indian Air Force carried out the heavy bombing of facilities occupied by the Pakistani military. A naval blockade was also enforced. After the war, the Soviet Union offer to clear mines in Chittagong Port at free of cost, while Sweden offered to clear mines in Mongla port. 22 vessels of the Soviet Pacific Fleet sailed from Vladivostok to Chittagong in May 1972. The process of clearing mines in

1998-641: The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, which was waged under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , Chittagong witnessed heavy fighting between rebel Bengali military regiments and the Pakistan Army. It covered Sector 1 in the Mukti Bahini chain of command. Major Ziaur Rahman was the sector commander. The Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence was broadcast from Kalurghat Radio Station and transmitted internationally through foreign ships in Chittagong Port. Ziaur Rahman and M A Hannan announced

2072-717: The Eastern Refinery was started in 1963; and was partly funded by the last Shah of Iran . The Agrabad Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1963. It later became the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh. The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) was created by the government to promote urban planning; while wealthy families like the Ispahanis contributed to social welfare by setting up schools and hospitals. The lawyer and industrialist A K Khan , who set up A K Khan & Company in

2146-818: The Global 500 Roll of Honor in 2003 by the United Nations Environment Program. She herself won: She has also been dubbed as a Hero of Environment by the American news magazine TIME . In 2022, Hasan received the International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State . Hasan was born in Habiganj to the parents Syed Mahibul Hasan and Suraiya Hasan. She married her classmate lawyer-entrepreneur Abu Bakar Siddique, and has

2220-1077: The T. K. Group of Industries . Major state-owned firms headquartered there include Pragati Industries, the Jamuna Oil Company, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation , and the Padma Oil Company. The Chittagong Export Processing Zone was ranked by the UK-based magazine, Foreign Direct Investment , as one of the leading special economic zones in the world, in 2010. Other SEZs include the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone and Korean EPZ. The city's key industrial sectors include petroleum , steel , shipbuilding , chemicals, pharmaceuticals , textiles , jute , leather goods , vegetable oil refineries, glass manufacturing, electronics and motor vehicles . The Chittagong Tea Auction sets

2294-568: The University of Dhaka for her bachelor's and master's degree in law. Hasan got involved in the shipbreaking industry, first suing the breaking yards in Chittagong in 2003 for, among other reasons, bringing health hazards to the workers, poor working conditions, and improper waste disposal. In response, in March 2003 the court declared shipbreaking without an environmental clearance from

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-596: The interim government of Bangladesh and as Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change . As an environmentalist, her work is focused on regulations for the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, and was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009. She was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012 for her "uncompromising courage and impassioned leadership in a campaign of judicial activism in Bangladesh that affirms

2442-636: The tea and jute producing regions of Assam and Bengal, as well as Assam's oil industry . Chittagong was also linked to the crucial oil and gas industry in Burma . Chittagong was a major center of trade with British Burma . It hosted many prominent companies of the British Empire. The Chittagong armoury raid by Bengali revolutionaries in 1930 was a major event in British India's anti-colonial history. During World War II, Chittagong became

2516-474: The 'Global 500 Roll of Honour' under United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in 2003. BELA, along with Dejusticia: The Center for Law, Justice and Society from Colombia and The Legal Agenda from Lebanon are joint winners of the 2020 Tang Prize in Rule of Law. Rizwana Hasan Syeda Rizwana Hasan (born 15 January 1968) is a Bangladeshi lawyer and environmentalist. She is currently an adviser to

2590-689: The 17th century Portuguese presence is Darul Adalat in the premises of Government Hazi Mohammad Mohsin College, Chittagong . The Kadam Mubarak Mosque in Jamal Khan was built in 1723 by a faujdar during the reign of the Nawabs of Bengal . During British rule , colonial officials lived in hilltop bungalows, which would feature a spacious balcony or verandah , chimneys, fireplaces and big gardens. The Firingi Bazaar has many colonial houses which belonged to rich local residents. The well-known buildings from

2664-404: The Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In free market reforms launched by President Ziaur Rahman in the late 1970s, the city became home to the first export processing zones in Bangladesh. Zia was assassinated during an attempted military coup in Chittagong in 1981. The 1991 Bangladesh cyclone inflicted heavy damage on the city. The Japanese government financed

2738-402: The British colonial period include the Battali Railway Station, Central Railway Building , Chittagong Circuit House and Chittagong Court Building . The old Circuit House was originally built in the style of Tudor revival architecture . The Chittagong Court Building exhibits influence of neoclassical architecture from the late 19th century. JM Sen Hall was a town hall built in 1920. One of

2812-449: The Chittagong Division, is the only coral island in the country. The fishing port of Cox's Bazar is home to one of the world's longest natural beaches. In the east, there are the three hill districts of Bandarban , Rangamati , and Khagrachari , home to the highest mountains in Bangladesh . The region has numerous protected areas, including the Teknaf Game Reserve and the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco Park . Patenga beach in

2886-479: The Chittagonian language and writing scripts. It has been affirmed that much of the Muslim population in Chittagong are descendants of the Arab and Persian settlers. Two decades after Vasco Da Gama 's landing in Calicut , the Bengal Sultanate permitted the Portuguese settlement in Chittagong to be established in 1528. It became the first European colonial enclave in Bengal. The Bengal Sultanate lost control of Chittagong in 1531 after Arakan declared independence and

2960-468: The Mughal rule. In 1924, an engineering team of the Assam Bengal Railway established the Foy's Lake . Major sediment outflows from the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers form tidal flats around the city. The Chittagong Division is known for its rich biodiversity . Over 2000 of Bangladesh's 6000 flowering plants grow in the region. Its hills and jungles are laden with waterfalls , fast flowing river streams and elephant reserves. St. Martin's Island , within

3034-433: The United States Army Air Forces' 4th Combat Cargo Group were stationed in Chittagong Airfield in 1945 . Commonwealth forces included troops from Britain, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The war had major negative impacts on the city, including the growth of refugees and the Great Famine of 1943 . Many wealthy Chittagonians profited from wartime commerce. 715 soldiers are buried at the Chittagong War Cemetery , which

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-445: The Upper Adriatic region of Trieste with rail connections to Central and Eastern Europe . The Agrabad area is the main central business district of the city. Major Bangladeshi conglomerates headquartered in Chittagong include M. M. Ispahani Limited , BSRM , A K Khan & Company , PHP Group, James Finlay Bangladesh , the Habib Group , the S. Alam Group of Industries , Seamark Group , KDS Group , Abul Khair Group and

3182-417: The aftermath of World War II, represented Chittagong in the federal cabinet of East and West Pakistan. However, East Pakistanis complained of a lack of investment in Chittagong in comparison to Karachi in West Pakistan , even though East Pakistan generated more exports and had a larger population. The Awami League demanded that the country's naval headquarters be shifted from Karachi to Chittagong. During

3256-408: The appropriate department illegal. Hasan continues to strive for more labour rights and a safer working environment in the industry. She has also successfully sued organizations involved in filling lakes to build real estate, the improper use of polythene , hill cutting, deforestation , shrimp farming, and building illegal establishments on St. Martin's Island . Under Hasan's leadership, BELA won

3330-435: The architecture of the area, including the building of Fort Ander and many mosques. Chittagong was integrated into the prosperous Bengali economy, which also included Orissa and Bihar . Shipbuilding increased dramatically under the Mughal rule, and the Ottoman Sultans had many Ottoman warships built in Chittagong during this period. In 1685, the British East India Company sent out an expedition under Admiral Nicholson with

3404-484: The area as "a sleeping beauty rising from mist and water" in the 7th century. Arab Muslim traders frequented Chittagong from the 9th century. In 1154, Al-Idrisi wrote of a busy shipping route between Basra and Chittagong, connecting it with the Abbasid capital of Baghdad . Many Sufi missionaries settled in Chittagong and played an instrumental role in the spread of Islam . Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah of Sonargaon conquered Chittagong in 1340, making it

3478-490: The chief port of East Pakistan . By March 1948, the Chittagong harbour became a bustling port for international shipping. The Chittagong Tea Auction was set up in 1949. The port city had branches of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China , Burmah Oil (known locally as Burmah Eastern ), and the James Finlay shipping business . Wealthy Muslim families from British India and British Burma shifted their corporate headquarters to Chittagong. The Ispahani family shifted

3552-400: The city's jail. In a backlash, the rebels were suppressed by the Sylhet Light Infantry . Arakan was annexed in 1829 and incorporated into the Bengal Presidency . Agriculturalists from Chittagong played a key role in the development of the rice economy in Arakan. The economy of northern Arakan was integrated with the Chittagong economy. During this period, Arakan Division became one of

3626-430: The city. Many British -owned businesses in East Pakistan were based in Chittagong. Britain's former flag carrier BOAC operated flights to the city. The Agrabad area emerged as the central business district in the 1950s and 1960s, with many corporate offices. The Ispahani Building and Jamuna Bhaban are some of the corporate buildings from this period. The Karnaphuli Paper Mills were built in 1959. The project to build

3700-454: The construction of several heavy industries and an international airport in the 1980s and 1990s. Bangladeshi private sector investments increased since 1991, especially with the formation of the Chittagong Stock Exchange in 1995. A new airport opened in 2000. The port city has been the pivot of Bangladesh's emerging economy in recent years, with the country's rising GDP growth rate. Chittagong has seen several infrastructure projects taken up by

3774-460: The court ruled that no ship will be allowed for shipbreaking without 'Environmental Clearance'. BELA also took other initiatives where the environment is under threat, including housing covering wetlands, unnecessary usage of polythene, cutting of hills, deforestation, shrimp cultivation, and unlawful construction in St. Martin's Island . In recent days, BELA opened a regular section in their headquarters where they receive legal complaints regarding

SECTION 50

#1732772801607

3848-464: The dense water harbor took nearly a year and claimed the life of Soviet marine Yuri V Redkin. Chittagong soon regained its status as a major port, with cargo tonnage surpassing pre-war levels in 1973. In the immediate aftermath of 1971, many industries were nationalized. But in Chittagong, factories and business properties were given back to their private owners. The Ispahani family had to write only one letter in order to get back all their properties from

3922-421: The environment. BELA also sought judicial compensation from Naiko after the Tengratila Exploitation" in 2006. BELA published many books on Environmental Preservation and Law Enforcement for Environment. Some of the notables are: Beside that, BELA published "BELA Newsletter" in English and "Bela Barta" ( বেলা বার্তা ) in Bangla, two weekly supplements of their recent activities and timeline. BELA achieved

3996-450: The established Kingdom of Mrauk U. This altered geopolitical landscape allowed the Portuguese unhindered control of Chittagong for over a century. Portuguese ships from Goa and Malacca began frequenting the port city in the 16th century. The cartaz system was introduced and required all ships in the area to purchase naval trading licenses from the Portuguese settlement. Slave trade and piracy flourished. The nearby island of Sandwip

4070-481: The first Arab traders for shatt ghangh ( Arabic : شط غنغ ) where shatt means "delta" and ghangh stood for the Ganges. The Arakanese chronicle that a king named Tsu-la-taing Tsandaya (Sula Taing Chandra), after conquering Bengal, set up a stone pillar as a trophy/memorial at the place since called Tst-ta-gaung as the limit of conquest. Stone Age fossils and tools unearthed in the region indicate that Chittagong has been inhabited since Neolithic times. It

4144-469: The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , including the Chittagong Elevated Expressway, the first underwater tunnel in South Asia, the expansion of its port, and new parks, power plants and flyovers. Chittagong lies at 22°20′06″N 91°49′57″E  /  22.33500°N 91.83250°E  / 22.33500; 91.83250 . It straddles the coastal foothills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in southeastern Bangladesh. The Karnaphuli River runs along

4218-402: The grand old mansions of Chittagong is the PK Sen Bhaban. The First Karnaphuli Bridge, which was a steel bridge, was built in 1930. The Kalurghat Bridge was completed in 1931. Stripped Classicism and elements of art deco can be seen in Agrabad . M. M. Ispahani Limited relocated its head office to Chittagong from Calcutta after the partition of India ; the Ispahani building in Agrabad

4292-472: The head office of M. M. Ispahani Limited from Calcutta to Chittagong. The Ispahanis also relocated the Eastern Federal Insurance Company from Calcutta to Chittagong. The Ispahanis set up the Victory Jute Mills, the Chittagong Jute Manufacturing Company, and the Pahartali Textile Mills. The Africawala brothers set up the first steel re-rolling mills in Chittagong in 1952, which eventually became BSRM . Banks, shipping companies and insurance firms proliferated

4366-476: The independence declaration from Chittagong. A K Khan drafted the English version of Zia's broadcast. These radio broadcasts began the journey of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra , which contributed heavily towards the Liberation. The Pakistani military, and supporting Razakar militias, carried out widespread atrocities against civilians in the city. Mukti Bahini naval commandos drowned several Pakistani warships during Operation Jackpot in August 1971. In December 1971,

4440-455: The instructions to seize and fortify Chittagong on behalf of the English; however, the expedition proved abortive. Two years later, the company's Court of Directors decided to make Chittagong the headquarters of their Bengal trade and sent out a fleet of ten or eleven ships to seize it under Captain Heath. However, after reaching Chittagong in early 1689, the fleet found the city too strongly held and abandoned their attempt at capturing it. The city

4514-456: The main seafront of Chittagong, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) west of the city. Under the Köppen climate classification , Chittagong has a tropical monsoon climate (Am). Chittagong is vulnerable to North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones . The deadliest tropical cyclone to strike Chittagong was the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone , which killed 138,000 people and left as many as 10 million homeless. The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC)

SECTION 60

#1732772801607

4588-440: The people's right to a good environment as nothing less than their right to dignity and life." Syeda Rizwana Hasan was born on 15 January 1968, into a Bengali Muslim Zamindar family called Narapati Haveli in Habiganj District , Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan ). She studied in Viqarunnisa Noon School and College for her secondary education and Holy Cross College for her higher secondary education, before attending

4662-526: The price of Bangladesh Tea. The Eastern Refinery is Bangladesh's largest oil refinery . GlaxoSmithKline has had operations in Chittagong since 1967. Western Marine Shipyard is a leading Bangladeshi shipbuilder and exporter of medium-sized ocean-going vessels. In 2011–12, Chittagong exported approximately US$ 4.5  billion in ready-made garments . The Karnaphuli Paper Mills were established in 1953. International banks operating in Chittagong include HSBC , Standard Chartered and Citibank NA . Chittagong

4736-416: The ruling Awami League party in Bangladesh. The group has been subjected to intense media scrutiny. The Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque is a well-known Mughal property in Chittagong. Anderkilla means "inner fort". The mosque was built in 1667 by Umed Khan, the son of Shaista Khan , after the Mughal conquest of Chittagong . The mosque is the only surviving part of a hilltop Mughal fort. A surviving remnant of

4810-434: The southern banks of the city, including its central business district. The river enters the Bay of Bengal in an estuary located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of downtown Chittagong. Mount Sitakunda is the highest peak in Chittagong District, with an elevation of 351 metres (1,152 ft). Within the city itself, the highest peak is Batali Hill at 85.3 metres (280 ft). Chittagong has many lakes that were created under

4884-472: The territories lost. But the following year Dhaniya Manikya again conquered Chittagong. Chittagong featured prominently in the military history of the Bengal Sultanate, including during the Reconquest of Arakan and the Bengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516 . During the 13th and 16th centuries, Arabs and Persians heavily colonized the port city of Chittagong, initially arriving for trade and to spread Islam . Most Arab settlers arrived from

4958-426: The top rice exporters in the world. Bengalis from Chittagong were vital to the success of Arakan's rice industry. Railways were introduced in 1865, beginning with the Eastern Bengal Railway connecting Chittagong to Dacca and Calcutta . Chittagong became the main gateway to Eastern Bengal and Assam . In the 1890s, Chittagong became the terminus of Assam Bengal Railway . The hinterland of Chittagong Port covered

5032-435: The trade route between Iraq and Chittagong and were perhaps the prime reason for the spread of Islam to Bangladesh . The first Persian settlers also arrived for trade and religious purposes, with the possible goal of Persianisation as well. Persians and other Iranic peoples have deeply affected the history of the Bengal Sultanate, with Persian being one of the main languages of the Muslim state, as well as also influencing

5106-431: Was also a major shipbuilding hub. Ibn Battuta visited the port city in 1345. Niccolò de' Conti , from Venice, also visited around the same time as Battuta. Chinese admiral Zheng He 's treasure fleet anchored in Chittagong during imperial missions to the Sultanate of Bengal. Dhaniya Manikya conquered Chittagong in 1513. Hossain Shah sent his noble commander Gorai Mallik to attack Tripura. Gorai Mallik recaptured

5180-416: Was conquered in 1602. In 1615, the Portuguese Navy defeated a joint Dutch East India Company and Arakanese fleet near the coast of Chittagong. In 1666, the Mughal government of Bengal led by viceroy Shaista Khan moved to retake Chittagong from Portuguese and Arakanese control by launching the Mughal conquest of Chittagong. The Mughals attacked the Arakanese from the jungle with a 6,500-strong army, which

5254-562: Was further supported by 288 Mughal naval ships blockading the Chittagong harbor. After three days of battle, the Arakanese surrendered. The Mughals expelled the Portuguese from Chittagong. Mughal rule ushered a new era in the history of Chittagong territory to the southern bank of Kashyapnadi (Kaladan River). The port city was renamed Islamabad. The Grand Trunk Road connected it with North India and Central Asia. Economic growth increased due to an efficient system of land grants for clearing hinterlands for cultivation. The Mughals also contributed to

5328-768: Was located on the southern branch of the Silk Road . In the 9th century, merchants from the Abbasid Caliphate established a trading post in Chittagong. The port fell to the Muslim conquest of Bengal during the 14th century. It was the site of a royal mint under the Delhi Sultanate , Bengal Sultanate and Mughal Empire . Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Chittagong was also a center of administrative, literary, commercial and maritime activities in Arakan ,

5402-542: Was possessed by the Nawab of Bengal until 1793 when East India Company took complete control of the former Mughal province of Bengal. The First Anglo-Burmese War in 1823 threatened the British hold on Chittagong. There were several rebellions against British rule, notably during the Indian rebellion of 1857 , when the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th companies of the 34th Bengal Infantry Regiment revolted and released all prisoners from

5476-461: Was re-organized in 1887 and its busiest shipping links were with British Burma . In 1928, Chittagong was declared a "Major Port" of British India . During World War II , Chittagong was a base for Allied Forces engaged in the Burma Campaign . The port city began to expand and industrialize during the 1940s, particularly after the Partition of British India . The city was the historic terminus of

#606393