Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna City. The population of the city, under the jurisdiction of the City Corporation, was 855,650 in 2007. The wider Statistical Metropolitan Area had at the same time an estimated population of 1,388,425.
The city is 333 km southwest of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, to which it is connected by air, road, train and water transportation. The steamer fleet for this route includes the ancient ships Tern (1912), Osrich and Lepcha.
Khulna is located in south-western Bangladesh with a total area of 59.57 km², while the district itself is about 4394.46 km². It lies south of Jessore and Narail, East of Satkhira, West of Bagerhat and North of the Bay of Bengal. It is part of the largest delta in the world. In the southern part of the delta lies the Sundarban, the world's largest mangrove forest. The city of Khulna is in the northern part of the district, and is mainly an expansion of trade centers close to the Rupsha and Bhairob rivers.
The annual average temperature for Khulna is 35.5 °C with a record low of 12.5 °C
Like the other big cities of Bangladesh, notably Dhaka and Chittagong, Khulna is undergoing a major transformation, due to its immensely growing population and its status as Bangladesh's third largest city. Because of its strategic location of only 45 km from the port of Mongla, Khulna is considered as being a port city like Chittagong. 25% of all trade handled in Bangladesh passes through Mongla, while the rest goes through Chittagong. Khulna is also known as the city of Shrimps, because 75% of all shrimps exported from Bangladesh are cultivated in the Khulna zone. In addition to this, a major portion of the Golden Fiber (Jute) is exported through Khulna Zone.
Khulna has the largest shipyard of Bangladesh. Khulna Shipyard is operated by Bangladesh Navy. Khulna has some heavy and medium type industries like Khulna Hardboard Mills, Bangladesh Oxygen Company, Khulna Oxygen Company, Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, and Dada Match Factory.
Khulna is famous for its fish and seafood industries. Lobster, Prawn, Catfish, Shrimp and Crab are now being exported abroad from Khulna. Khulna is also famous for its coconuts.
Major markets and shopping centers in Khulna include Safe 'n' Save a unique supper store, Boro Bazar and Daak Bangla, Daulatpur Bazar, and Khulna New Market.
Khulna has a very good transport system with links to all the districts of Bangladesh. The city possesses roads broad enough for motor vehicles to pass. However like the rest of Bangladesh, the people of Khulna like to travel using rickshaws which provide cheap, public and environmentally friendly transport. Though it is a busy city, Khulna doesn't have any traffic jams. Khulna has only one bus terminal named Sonadanga Bus Stand. "Baby Taxi" (Auto rikshaw) is very popular & common vehicle in Khulna city.
There is a rail junction situated at the hard point of Khulna which is linked to Northern Bangladesh & Capital city Dhaka. Though there are also road links with that region, the rail system remains a popular mode of transportation. The Sundarban Express is a luxury express train which has two trains daily to Dhaka.
Besides other forms of transport, there is a water transport terminal (B.I.W.T.C.). Barisal division is mainly connected to Khulna by water vehicles.
There is no airport in Khulna. Instead, the city is connected to Jessore Airport, which is about 70 km from Khulna. The airport has domestic flights to the rest of Bangladesh, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, GMG Airlines, United Airways and Royal Bengal Airlines. Also, Khan Jahan Ali Airport is currently under construction in Bagerhat, which is set to serve the city of Khulna and its surrounding areas.
Click at the link below of Khulan City Corporation's website: