Barisal (Beng. বরিশাল) is one of the largest cities in Bangladesh. It is located in the district of the same name in the south of Bangladesh, near the Bay of Bengal. The population of the municipality is approx. 210,374 people (2008 est.). The area is 19.99 km². Barisal became a municipality in 2003. The city is called the “Venice of the East”.

Geography
Barisal occupies an area of ​​2790.51 km2 bounded by the districts of Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Lashmipur in the north, Patuakhali, Barghuna and Jalokati in the south, Bhola and Lashmipur in the east, Jalokati, Pirozhpur and Gopalgani in the west. While the area of ​​the city is 16.37 km2.

Climate
Barisal has a tropical monsoon climate with hot and rainy summers and dry winters. January is the coldest month with an average annual temperature of around 26°C (78°F) and May is the warmest with temperatures ranging from 33 to 36°C (91 to 96 degrees F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world. The city receives more than 1525 mm of precipitation per year, while areas near the mountains receive 5080 mm). Most rain occurs during the passage of the monsoons (June-September) and a little during the winter (November-February). Bangladesh has a fairly warm climate throughout the year, with relatively little change from month to month. Cyclones emanating from the Bay of Bengal pass through Bangladesh from April to May and from September to November. They are often accompanied by large waves, often leading to destruction and loss of life. The cyclone in November 1970, which killed about 500,000 people, was one of the worst natural disasters in the country in the 20th century.

History
Entered Bengal and British India, and then was transferred to Bangladesh.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh became a province of Pakistan, originally known as East Bengal and then from 1955 as East Pakistan. The people of the province of East Pakistan declared their independence as the people of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971. Separation from Pakistan occurred on December 16, 1971 as a result of the third Indo-Pakistani war. Bangladesh was soon recognized by most other countries, although Pakistan withheld diplomatic recognition until 1974 and China did not until 1976. Bangladesh was admitted to the United Nations in 1974.

The city became the capital of the region with the same name Barisal. It is one of the largest river ports in Bangladesh. It is a city with a population of 380,000 and is home to a medical school, a cadet college, some pharmaceutical and textile industries, and the head office of the Bangladesh Transportation Authority. Barisal is a fast growing city on the Kirtanhola River. Barisal has an airport and private airlines of Bengal.
The city is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the East” or the “Venice of Bengal”.

Religion
The majority of Barisal’s population (90.64 percent) is Muslim. In addition, Hindus (8.38 percent) and Christians (0.98 percent). There are about 3941 mosques, 805 temples, 44 churches and 5 tombs in the city.