Barisal

Barisal
বরিশাল
Barishal
From top: Barisal Launch Terminal,
University of Barisal, Guthia Mosque,
Oxford Mission Church,
Brojomohun College, Barisal Museum
Nickname: 
Venice of the East
Barisal
Location of Barisal in Bangladesh
Barisal
Barisal (Bangladesh)
Coordinates: 22°42′36″N 90°21′47″E / 22.710°N 90.363°E / 22.710; 90.363
CountryBangladesh
DivisionBarisal Division
DistrictBarisal District
Municipality established1876 (1876)
City Corporation2002 (2002)
Granted city status19 April 2001
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyBarishal City Corporation
 • AdministratorBilkis Akhtar Jahan Shirin
 • City Council30 constituencies
 • Parliament1 constituencies
Area
 • Urban
58 km2 (22 sq mi)
 • Metro
69.61 km2 (26.88 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2022)
 • Urban
419,484
 • Urban density7,200/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
448,152
 • Metro density6,438/km2 (16,670/sq mi)
 • Rank
10th in Bangladesh
Demonym(s)Barishali, Barishailla
Languages
 • OfficialBengali • English
 • RegionalEastern Bengali dialects
Time zoneUTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
Postal code
8200
Websitebarishalcity.gov.bd

Barisal (/ˌbʌr əˈsɑːl/ or /ˈbær əˌsɔːl/; Bengali: বরিশাল, pronounced [boɾiʃal] ), 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.

Barisal municipality was established in 1876 during the British rule in India and upgraded to City Corporation on 25 July 2002. Barisal is Bangladesh's third largest financial hub after Dhaka and Chittagong. The city consists of 30 wards and 50 mahallas with a population of 533,000, according to the 2023 national census, and about 250,000 voters, according to the 2018 voter list of city election. The area of the city is 58 km2.