Chattogram, the commercial capital of Bangladesh, enjoys cultural heritage that goes back thousands of years. Chattogram is also known by many such names as Baro Aulia Punyabhumi, Queen of the East, Land of heroes, Spiritual Capital, Port City, International Tourism City and Welfare City.

Naming History:

It is said that many years ago Chattogram was surrounded by forests. It was the home to ferocious wild animals and supernatural spirits. Hazrat Badar Aulia came here from the Arab state floating on stone and lighted a chati or lamp. His spiritual effort drove away evil spirits from this region. He defended the whole region from all adversity by lighting a chati or lamp. So the name of this place has been changed from Chatigaon to Chatgaon, later Chattogram. The memorial landmark of Badar Aulia is still present in Jamalkhan area which is known as Cheragi Hill. Chati means cherag. So the name of this hill is Cheragi Hill.

There is another history of naming Chattogram. According to historians, the name of Chattogram has Dravidian link. Chatto, Chati or Chadi are Dravidian language expression. It is believed that the name of Chattogram has been come almost five thousand years ago from this word. From the written descriptions and maps of the tourists, travelers and scholars of different countries, we find several names of Chattogram. For example, Chet-t-Gang, Shatgang, Chaitogram, Chattol, Chatigram, Chatigaon, Chaturgram, Sodakawan, Chatikiang, Shatajam, Jetigaon, Devgaon etc. There has been a series of historic events since the beginning of the human settlement in this area. Movements against the British government started from this region of Bengal.

History of Ancient Mosques:

Anderkilla is related with the Mughal conquest of Chattogram. This killa or fort belonged to the Arakanese Maghs and Portuguese pirates. The Mughals claimed victory over the Maghs and Portuguese pirates. Umed Khan, son of Nawab Shaista Khan, set up the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque in 1667 by the order of Emperor Aurangzeb. This mosque has become a place of pilgrimage to Muslims of Chattogram since its construction. Awlade Rasul (SA) of the holy Medina were appointed as Imams and Khatibs of this mosque. As a result, this mosque became popular within a short time. It is noteworthy that, devotees also came in this mosque from Chattogram and its adjoining remote areas for every Jummah prayer; and there is an example of the presence of people from Cox's Bazar and Chattogram Hill Tracts in the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. The mosque's verdict about fasting, fitra and moon-sighting for Eids, is obeyed by the people of all walks of Chattogram. Mughal custom is followed in the architecture and structure of Anderkilla Jame Mosque. The construction strategy of the mosque is a close reflection of Delhi's historic Jame Mosque. This introduced new dimensions in the development of Muslim architecture in the Chattogram region. This mosque is notable not only for architectural patterns, but also for its artistic aspects. The inscriptions on the Andarkilla Jami Mosque remind us the Muslim conquest of Chattogram. Its founder name is also found in the inscriptions. All the inscriptions found in this mosque match with the architecture of Rakkah in Syria.

Hashimi Dynasty:

Quraish was the best family of Arab at the time of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM). It was divided into two groups- Hashemi tribe and Umayya tribe. The Hashemi tribe was pious and righteous. Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) was born in this Hashimi tribe. Allama Kazi Muhammad Nurul Islam Hashemi was born in Jalalabad under Panchlaish of Chattogram district in a noble Muslim Qazi family of Hashemi dynasty. His ancestors was the descendant of Imam Hussein (RA). His father's ancestor migrated from Medina Sharif to Baghdad. He came to Delhi from Baghdad as Chief Justice during the time of Aurangzeb. During the Nawabi period, he came to Chattogram taking the responsibility of Qazi at the request of Islam Khan. He preached Islam in this area.

Structures of the Colonial Period:

The beautiful buildings, mosques and shrines of Chattogram bear witness to its history from the ancient times to the present. Most of the old and new buildings of the city are built on top of low hills and hillocks and also along the valleys and plains. The beautiful buildings, mosques and holy monuments of Chattogram bear testimony to its history since the past. Most of the old and new buildings in the city are built on low hills and hill tops and in valley and plains. The massive Court Buildings, which accommodate the Civil Courts, Criminal Courts and the offices of the Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and the District and Session Judges, are on top of Parir Pahar (Fairy Hill). The top of this hill, offers a panoramic view of the town below. One can see the Karnaphuli River up to its mouth and the Port area along its bank, the Deang and Banskhali Ranges to the south and the Hill Tracts to the east. The General Post Office, the Municipal High School, New Market, and the Chattogram Development Authority Building are situated at the foothills. The General Hospital stands on top of the Rangmahal Hill. The Telegraph Office, Divisional Forest Office, residences of the Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner are situated on top of a hill range known as the Tempest Hills.

Chattogram is the headquarters of the Eastern Zone of Bangladesh Railway. Established in 1891 as the Assam Bengal Railway, it later came to be known as Eastern Bengal Railway and then after 1947 as Pakistan Eastern Railway. The railway authorities developed the area from the Chattogram railway station up to Pahartali and the foothills through which the railway track runs to the north. This area is known as the Railway Colony and is one of the most attractive localities in the city. Beautiful bungalows were built on every vantage point on the hills. The Railway Club, the staff quarters, the General Office of the Railways, the Railway Hospital, the Pahartali workshop and other institutions are located in this area.

The British built the Chattogram Circuit house in 1913 on a beautiful location in the city. Later it was turned into a palatial building and used as a temporary residential accommodation for visiting Government high officials. 

The War Cemetery on Badshah Mia Road is another place of historic interest. It contains the graves of 731 soldiers of the Allied Forces who laid down their lives on the Indo-Burmese front during World War II. Most of the soldiers buried there were from Australia, Britain, Canada, East and West Africa, British India and New Zealand. The total area of the cemetery is 6 acres and it is protected and maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission.  

A historic fort known as the Andar Killa stood on top of a mound in the city centre. Today no trace of the fort remains except the name, as it was utterly destroyed by the Mughals.

Another famous place for the wholesale and retail trade in the city is Chaktai. It is actually the old and abandoned bed of the river Karnaphuli. Local merchants bring in their goods by boats and sampans through a canal that is known as the Chaktai Canal. Most of the offices of the wealthy businessmen, banks and insurance companies are located here.

Chattogram during the Liberation War of 1971:

On the eve of the Liberation War of 1971, porters and longshoremen of Chattogram made a huge contribution by looting arms from MV Swat ship. Kalurghat radio station played an important role in broadcasting the announcement of the Great War of Liberation.

Tradition and Culture of Chattogram:

Chattogram has its own unique tradition and culture, its history stretches back thousands of years. Chattogram is a unique historical place in the subcontinent for its own language, culture and heritage. It is to be noted that, the Chattogram Association was formed in 1875 to defend the literature and culture of local people. One and a half years later a similar kind of association was formed at Kolkata. The expansion of female education, the protection of domestic industry, the establishment of the first printing equipment and the publication of the newspaper, all these constructive activities were started at this time.
At the end of the 19^th century, Nalini Kanta Sen took initiative for the establishment of an association for protecting national arts. He put his efforts to set up a library named 'Adhoyoni Sammilani' at that time. This is the first public library in Chattogram. In 1926, our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam came to Chattogram with Hemanta Kumar Sarkar for the first time. Hemanta Kumar was the Chief Whip of Swaraj Party of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and a close friend of Netaji Subhas Bose. In 1929, he came to Chattogram for the second time and attended the 30th founding anniversary of Muslim Education Society held at the Victoria Islami Hostel. Kattali Union Club accorded Nazrul a grand reception which was attended by thousands of people from both the Muslim and Hindu communities. In 1933, Nazrul came to Chattogram for the third time to attend the Chattogram District Literary Conference as the chief guest which was held at Raozan. Nazrul’s visits to Chattogram was inspirational for expanding the literary and cultural activities at this region.

Many songs have been composed in the local language of Chattogram; which has been recognized at the world stage. Music, dance, drama, Jatra, Kavigan, folk music have always been practiced in this region. Chattogram region is not only famous for art, literature, culture, heritage in Bangladesh and subcontinent; this region is well known in the political arena. Natural beauty is also one of the features of this region. This region is unique. Chattogram has numerous small and big forests, including mountains, rivers, natural fountains. There are several large dighis of the Sultanate and Mughal periods in Chattogram. Among them, Paragal Khan Dighi, Chuti Khan Dighi, Nasrat Badshah Dighi, Alaol Dighi, Majlish Bibi Dighi, Askar Khan Dighi, Hammadyar Dighi are significant. These natural rare resources have increased the beauty of Chattogram by hundred times.