List of cities and towns in Bangladesh

This article presents a list of cities and towns in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives of Bangladesh, there are 532 urban centres in Bangladesh.

Dhaka

Chittagong

Sylhet

Rangpur

Mymensingh

Rajshahi

Khulna

Barisal

Narayanganj

Gazipur

Comilla

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Location of major cities in Bangladesh

The bureau defines an urban centre with a population of 100,000 or more as a "city". Altogether, there are 42 such cities in Bangladesh. 11 of these cities can be considered major cities as these are governed by City Corporations. All of the City Corporation-governed cities currently have a population of more than 200,000 (which is not a criterion for the status). Besides the 11 major cities, there are 31 other cities in Bangladesh that are not governed by "City Corporations", rather by "Municipal Corporations". A city with a population of more than 10,000,000 is defined by the bureau as a megacity. Dhaka is the only megacity in Bangladesh according to this definition. Together, Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong account for 48% of the country's urban population.

An urban centre with a population of less than 100,000 is defined as a "town". In total, there are 490 such towns in Bangladesh. Among these, 287 towns are governed by "Municipal Corporations". These are called "Paurashava"s in the local Bengali language. Altogether, including the ones governing 31 non-major cities, there are 318 Municipal Corporations.

In addition, there are another 203 towns which are Upazila centres (and other urban centres) and not governed by any Municipal Corporation or "Paurashava". These are the non-Municipal Corporation or "non-Paurashava" towns.

In 1951, Bangladesh was mostly a rural country and only 4% of the population lived in urban centres. The urban population rose to 20% in 1991 and to 24% by 2001. As of 2011, Bangladesh has an urban population of 28%. The rate of urban population growth is estimated at 2.8%. At this growth rate, Bangladesh's urban population will reach 79 million or 42% of the population by 2035. The urban centers of Bangladesh have a combined area of about 10600 square kilometers, which is 7% of the total area of Bangladesh. As such, Bangladesh has a very high urban population density: 4028 persons per square kilometer (2011), whereas the rural density is significantly lower: 790 persons per square kilometer (2011). The number of municipalities have tripled from 104 municipalities in 1991 to 318 municipalities in 2011.

Major cities and metropolitan areas

There are eleven major cities in Bangladesh that are governed by twelve city corporations, which include Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Gazipur, and Narayanganj. Among these, Dhaka is a megacity, governed by two city corporations, and has a population of more than 10 million. It was formerly governed by the Dhaka City Corporation, until it was split into North and South in 2011. Eight of the aforementioned major cities are designated as metropolitan areas: Dhaka, Chattogram,, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur and Gazipur. Metropolitan areas can be loosely defined as a major city combined with some of its adjacent municipalities and peri-urban areas. The populations of the cities are from the 2011 census.

Rank	City	Area(km2)	Population (2011)	District	Division	Photos
1.	Dhaka	316	10,278,882	Dhaka	Dhaka Division
2.	Chattogram	155	2,592,439	Chattogram	Chattogram Division
3.	Khulna	51	763,580	Khulna	Khulna Division
4.	Sylhet	49	664,728	Sylhet	Sylhet Division
5.	Rajshahi	42	531,663	Rajshahi	Rajshahi Division
6.	Rangpur	51	407,000	Rangpur	Rangpur Division
7.	Mymensingh	71	389,918	Mymensingh	Mymensingh Division
8.	Barishal	69	339,308	Barishal	Barishal Division
9.	Cumilla	23	5, 09,133	Cumilla	Chattogram Division
10.	Narayanganj	13	286,330	Narayanganj	Dhaka Division
11.	Gazipur	47	213,061	Gazipur	Dhaka Division

Cities

In addition to the 11 major cities governed by City Corporations, there are 32 other cities which are governed by Municipal Corporations. These are given below in alphabetical order.

City	Area (km2)	Population (2011 census)	District	Division	Image
Bhairab	15.71	118,992	Kishoreganj	Dhaka Division
Bogura	68.63	400,983	Bogura	Rajshahi Division
Brahmanbaria	22.49	193,814	Brahmanbaria	Chattogram Division
Chandpur	26.82	171,065	Chandpur	Chattogram Division
Chowmuhani	35.50	132,948	Noakhali	Chattogram Division
Chuadanga	38.00	128,865	Chuadanga	Khulna Division
Cumilla Sadar Dakshin	31.01	111,891	Comilla	Chattogram Division
Cox's Bazar	24.45	223,522	Cox's Bazar	Chattogram Division
Dinajpur	22.00	191,329	Dinajpur	Rangpur Division
Faridpur	19.78	122,425	Faridpur	Dhaka Division
Feni	22.00	156,971	Feni	Chattogram Division
Jamalpur	55.25	150,172	Jamalpur	Mymensingh Division
Jashore	28.56	237,478	Jashore	Khulna Division
Jhenaidah	44.33	110,541	Jhenaidah	Khulna Division
Kadam Rasul (Bandar)	11.28	166,291	Narayanganj	Dhaka Division
Kaliakair	27.16	163,498	Gazipur	Dhaka Division
Kishoreganj	11.30	103,798	Kishoreganj	Dhaka Division
Kushtia	66.00	2,67,066	Kushtia	Khulna Division
Maijdee	23.79	130,842	Noakhali	Chattogram Division
Naogaon	37.08	150,549	Naogaon	Rajshahi Division
Narsingdi	20.95	185,128	Narsingdi	Dhaka Division
Nawabganj	32.90	180,731	Chapai Nawabganj	Rajshahi Division
Pabna	27.27	144,442	Pabna	Rajshahi Division
Saidpur	30.04	133,433	Nilphamari	Rangpur Division
Satkhira	32.39	113,322	Satkhira	Khulna Division
Savar	13.54	296,851	Dhaka	Dhaka Division
Siddhirganj	22.71	256,760	Narayanganj	Dhaka Division
Sirajganj	31.27	167,200	Sirajganj	Rajshahi Division
Sreepur	46.90	126,249	Gazipur	Dhaka Division
Tangail	33.80	167,412	Tangail	Dhaka Division
Tarabo	19.39	150,709	Narayanganj	Dhaka Division
Tongi	32.07	406,420	Gazipur	Dhaka Division

Source: 2011 Bangladesh census

Towns

The following is a list of towns in Bangladesh governed by Municipal Corporations.

Division	Number	Towns
Dhaka Division	23	Ghorashal Monohardi Shibpur Raipura Madhabdi Mirzapur Dhanbari Madhupur Gopalpur Ghatail Kalihati Sakhipur Bhuapur Elenga Karatia Aricha Basail Bhairab Kishoreganj Pakundia Manikganj Munshiganj Gopalganj Shariatpur Madaripur Rajbari Baliakandi Pangsha
Chattogram Division	27	Chhagalnaiya Daganbhuiyan Parshuram Sonagazi Bandarban Khagrachhari Rangamati Rangunia Sandwip Fatikchhari Nazir Hat Baroiyarhat Mirsharai Sitakunda Hathazari Raozan Patiya Brahmanpara Upazila Chandanaish Satkania Boalkhali Akhaura Sarail Chowmuhani Laksam Hatiya Maijdee Lakshmipur Burichong
Khulna Division	21	Bagerhat Alamdanga Darshana Meherpur Magura Narail Satkhira Mongla Noapara Paikgacha Benapole Bheramara Mujibnagar Lohagara Kaliganj Sharsha Maheshpur Chalna Shalikha Sreepur
Barishal Division	23	Bhola Patuakhali Pirojpur Jhalokati Barguna Amtali Bakerganj Char Fasson Gournadi Swarupkati Kuakata Muwallad Bhandaria Mathbaria Lalmohan Borhanuddin Daulatkhan Banaripara Mehendiganj Nalchity Patharghata Kalapara Betagi
Mymensingh Division	13	Shambhuganj Muktagachha Bhaluka Gouripur Phulpur Trishal Nandail Gaffargaon Ishwarganj Haluaghat Fulbaria Netrokona Sherpur
Rajshahi Division	15	Joypurhat Rahanpur Kalai Khetlal Akkelpur Panchbibi Mundumala Naogaon Natore Shahjadpur Ullapara Iswardi Santhia Dhunat Sherpur, Bogra Tanore
Rangpur Division	14	Gaibandha Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Panchagarh Thakurgaon Saidpur Ulipur Nageshwari Parbatipur Badarganj Pirganj Patgram Fulbari
Sylhet Division	9	Maulvibazar Habiganj Sunamganj Maulvibazar Sreemangal Kulaura Beanibazar Barlekha Zakiganj Chhatak Balagonj Osmaninogor Joggonathpur Bisawanth

Urban areas by population

See also: Demographics of Bangladesh

Dhaka is by far the largest urban area as well as the largest metropolitan area in Bangladesh. Chittagong is the second largest city and urban area in Bangladesh as well as the second largest metropolitan in Bangladesh.

Khulna is the third largest city and second largest port city of the country after Chittagong. Also, the adjoining areas of Khulna are abided by port-related business, industry, governmental foreign investment, and some well-known mega projects. This city also has a rich history of industrialization through the British period. Khulna has also a significant number of tourism industries centered on the largest mangrove forest of the world, the Sundarbans. Sylhet city is also the third developed city within Khulna and Rajshahi. Sylhet is also marked as an economically stronger city compared to other cities after Dhaka and Chittagong. Sylhet city also got a richer regional economy for remittances and the tourism industry. Rajshahi is also a big city and is known as the educational city of Bangladesh due to its well-marked educational institutions with better results and better educational performances. So we can say that the best 5 cities in Bangladesh are Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi. Other major cities with a stronger economy and developer infrastructure after these five best cities are Mymensingh, Cumilla, Bogra, Rangpur, Faridpur, Barishal, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Jessore, Kushtia, Patuakhali, Feni, Cox's Bazar, Dinajpur, Pabna, Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, Bholo, Gopalganj, Thakurgao, Chuadanga, Madaripur, etc.

The following table shows the largest populated area within a local government area.

See also

• List of City Corporations of Bangladesh
• List of Municipal Corporations of Bangladesh
• List of villages in Bangladesh
• List of cities in Asia

External links

• Principal cities and municipalities in Bangladesh
• International city telephone codes for Bangladesh
• Bangladesh postal codes
• List of Bangladesh cities
• The Paurashava Ordinance 1977