City in Bangladesh
About Barisal
Barisal, officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola River in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal District and Barisal Division. It is one of the oldest municipalities and river ports of the country. The city was once called the Venice of the East or the Venice of Bengal. Barishal is known for its extensive network of rivers and waterways, which play a crucial role in local transportation.
Etymology
The toponym Barisal is etymologically derived from the Perso-Arabic phrase "Bahr-e-Sawal," translating to "the ship of questions". This appellation is rooted in the interactions of Semitic Arab maritime traders, who, in their nautical endeavours, referred to their sea-bound merchant vessels as bahr, which has endured as a term in the lexicon of the Bengali language to this day. The perilous and turbulent waters of Bengal's southern seacoast, notorious for their treacherous waves, presented a hazardous maritime route. As such, upon encountering this tempestuous stretch of coastline, the Arab traders would often be prompted to pose various queries (sawal) regarding the safety, conditions, and navigability of the route. Over time, this word was corrupted to the name Barisal.
History
The Barisal region, situated within the Bengal delta, originated from the long-term sediment deposition of the Padma (Ganges), Jamuna (Brahmaputra), and Meghna rivers. These rivers transported vast quantities of sediment from the Himalayas, gradually forming fertile alluvial soil over millennia through the processes of fluvial aggradation and tidal action. This geological process, which began distinctly in the post-Miocene epoch amid the collision of the Indo-Eurasian plate, rendered the region suitable for early agrarian settlements reliant on monsoon rain-fed rice cultivation and floodplain fisheries. Evidence of settlement in this region dates back to prehistoric times, with mound-based villages (known locally as 'basal' or 'chal') indicating organized societies from the late Holocene epoch. …
Geography
Barisal city occupies an area of 58 km2. Barisal District, with an area of 2790.51 km2, is bounded by Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur, and Lakshmipur districts on the north; Patuakhali, Barguna, and Jhalokati District on the south; Bhola and Lakshmipur districts on the east; and Jhalokati, Pirojpur, and Gopalganj districts on the west. Several rivers flow across Barisal, including the Kirtankhola, Arial Khan, Khoyrabad, Kalijira, and Sandha.
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