Bandarban, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh

🇧🇩 Bandarban is a small town in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. It is the headquarters of Bandarban District. It is located on the Sangu River.

Demographics According to the 2022 Bangladesh census, Bandarban city had a population of 54,450 and a literacy rate of 85.99%.

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Bandarban city had 8,699 households and a population of 41,434. 8,561 (20.66%) were under 10 years of age. Bandarban had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 67.11%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 787 females per 1000 males. Ethnic population was 8,610 (20.78%), of which Marma were 5,494 and Tripura 880.

Geography Bandarban Sadar is located at 22.2333°N 92.1917°E. It has a total area of 501.98 km².

Religion Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban Upazila. Islam is being followed by about 46% of the population. Buddhists form the second-largest religious minority. According to the 2022 census Buddhists form 36% of the total population.

Administration Bandarban Sadar Upazila is divided into Bandarban Municipality and five union parishads: Bandarban, Kuhalong, Rajbila, Suwalak, and Tankabati. The union parishads are subdivided into 16 mauzas and 225 villages.

Bandarban Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 69 mahallas.

Economy: Tourist Industry The India – Myanmar Sabroom – Cox's Bazar railway link has been proposed to connect Sabroom – Khargachari – Rangamati – Bandarban – Satkania – Cox's Bazar and another rail link connecting Bandarban to Tuipang, India.

Bandarban lies, by bus, eight hours away from Dhaka, two hours from Chittagong and three hours from Cox's Bazar. It is also possible to get there by a six-hour bus ride from Rangamati. The Buddha Dhatu Jadi, the Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, located in Balaghata, 4 km from the town. This place attracts many tourists every year. This Theravada Buddhist temple is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and houses the second largest statue of the Buddha in Bangladesh. The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchari is another place tourists like to visit. The numerous Buddhist temples, known as kyang in local tongue, and bhihars in the town include the highly notable the Rajvihar (royal vihar) at Jadipara and the Ujanipara Bhihar. Bawm villages around Chimbuk, and Mru villages a little further off, are also lie within a day's journey from the town. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more places of interest. Boat ride on the river Shangu is one of the main attractions here for tourists.

Starting on January 7, 2015 the Home Ministry has enforced the provision of "no free passes" for foreigners visiting the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts – Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. As a result, foreigners need to submit an application to the Home Ministry a month ahead for their scheduled visit.