Sylhet#Ethmicity

Sylhet is the anglicisation of {{lang|bn|শিলহট}} (Śilhôṭ), one of the archaic native names for the city.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} The local name is generally thought to be directly derived from {{lang|sa|শ্রীহট্ট}} (Śrīhaṭṭa), the Sanskrit name of the city.{{Cite book |author=Monsur Musa |editor=Sharif Uddin Ahmed |chapter=History of the Study of the Dialect of Sylhet: Some Problems |title=Sylhet: History and Heritage |year=1999 |publisher=Bangladesh Itihas Samiti |isbn=978-984-31-0478-6 |pages=588 |language=en}} The city of Śrīhaṭṭa takes its name from Śrīhaṭṭanātha, the tutelary deity of the Nātha dynasty who promoted the early settlement of Nāthas in the Surma and Barak valleys between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, founding the Śrīhaṭṭa janapada and establishing Śrīhaṭṭanātha idols across the region.{{cite news |first=Mujibur Rahman |last=Chowdhury |title=গৌড়-বঙ্গে মুসলিম বিজয় এবং সুফি-সাধকদের কথা |trans-title=Muslim conquest in Gauḍa-Vaṅga and discussion about Sufi ascetics |language=bn |url=https://sylheterdak.com.bd/details.php?id=30429 |work=Sylheter Dak |date=31 July 2019 |access-date=30 January 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005052346/http://sylheterdak.com.bd/details.php?id=30429 |url-status=dead}} The later Hindu monarchs of Sylhet, such as Gour Govinda, continued to pay tribute to the deity as Hāṭkeśvara or Haṭṭanātha as evident from the Devipurana and copper-plate inscriptions.{{cite book |author=Choudhury, Achyut Charan |title=Srihatter Itibritta: Uttorangsho |year=2000 |orig-year=1916 |publisher=Kotha |location=Kolkata |language=Bangla |url=https://bn.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE:%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4_-_%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B6.pdf/%E0%A7%AA%E0%A7%A7 |page=21 |chapter=উত্তর শ্রীহট্টের নামতত্ত্ব}}

{{Main|History of Sylhet}}

In 1303, the Sultan of Lakhnauti Shamsuddin Firoz Shah conquered Sylhet by defeating Gour Govinda.{{cite book |last=Fazal |first=Tanweer |year=2013 |title=Minority Nationalisms in South Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6bGMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA53 |publisher=Routledge |pages=53 |isbn=978-1-317-96647-0}} Sylhet became a part of the Bengal Sultanate. In the 16th century, Sylhet was controlled by the Baro-Bhuiyan zamindars and later became a sarkar (district) of the Mughal Empire.{{cite book |last=Sangma |first=Milton S. |title=Essays on North-east India: Presented in Memory of Professor V. Venkata Rao |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UaNQ_HLLt04C&pg=PA75 |year=1994 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-015-6 |pages=75}} Sylhet emerged after 1612 as the Mughals' most significant imperial outpost in Bengal east of Dhaka, and its importance remained as such throughout the seventeenth century.{{cite book |last=Nath |first=Pratyay |year=2019 |title=Climate of Conquest: War, Environment, and Empire in Mughal North India |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-949555-9 |pages=184–185}} British rule began in the 18th century under the administration of the East India Company. Sylhet became a key source of lascars in the British Empire due in part to its ancient seafaring tradition. The Sylhet municipal board was established in 1867.{{cite web |url=http://www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org/ |title=Welcome sylhetcitycorporationbd.org - Justhost.com |website=www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org |access-date=26 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014249/http://www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org/ |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=dead}} Originally part of the Bengal Presidency and later Eastern Bengal and Assam, the town became part of Colonial Assam in 1874. A devastating earthquake demolished almost the entire town on 12 June 1897 following which a modern and European model new town was built on the wreckage.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} From the beginning of the 20th century, the importance of Sylhet increased with the establishment of the tea industry.{{Cite web |title=History Of Bangladesh Tea {{!}} Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh (TTAB) |url=https://ttabctg.com/about-us/history-of-bangladesh-tea/ |access-date=2025-01-02}}

In 1947, following a referendum and the partition of British India, Sylhet became part of East Pakistan. In 1995, the Government of Bangladesh declared Sylhet as the sixth divisional headquarters of the country.{{cite web |url=http://www.londoni.co/index.php/travel-guide/29-location-guide/3-sylhet-bangladesh |title=Basics of Islam |website=Londoni |access-date=10 September 2016 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905170347/http://www.londoni.co/index.php/travel-guide/29-location-guide/3-sylhet-bangladesh |url-status=dead}} Sylhet has played a vital role in the Economy of Bangladesh. Several of Bangladesh's finance ministers have been members of parliament from the city of Sylhet. Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran was a long time mayor of Sylhet. Humayun Rashid Choudhury, a diplomat from Sylhet, served as President of the UN General Assembly and Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament.

In 2001, the municipality was upgraded to the Sylhet City Corporation. It was made a metropolitan city in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org/index.php/cms/home/ |title=Welcome sylhetcitycorporationbd.org - Justhost.com |website=www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org |access-date=10 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704033705/http://www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org/index.php/cms/home |archive-date=4 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}

Sylhet is located in the northeastern region of Bangladesh within the Sylhet Division, the Sylhet District, and Sylhet Sadar Upazila. Sylhet has a typical Bangladeshi tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) at higher elevations. The rainy season runs from April to October, and is generally hot and humid with heavy showers and thunderstorms almost every day. The shorter dry season runs from November to February, with very warm and fairly clear weather. Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of {{convert|4200|mm|in|-1}} occurs between May and September.[http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:BGXX0010&q=Sylhet%2c+BGD+forecast:averagesm Monthly Averages for Sylhet, BGD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701141245/https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/ |date=1 July 2019 }} MSN Weather. Retrieved 25 May 2009.

The city is located within a topographically distinctive region of Bangladesh characterized by dramatic hills and basins. The physiography of Sylhet consists mainly of hill soils and encompasses a few large depressions known locally as "beels," which are frequently oxbow lakes caused by tectonic subsidence during the earthquake of 1762.

Geologically, the region is complex and diverse; higher-elevation regions date partly to the Plio-Miocene age. Available limestone deposits in different parts of the region suggest that the whole area was under the ocean in the Oligo-Miocene. In the last 150 years, three major earthquakes have hit the city with magnitude of at least 7.5 on the Richter Scale, most recently in 1918.{{cite news |last=Siddiquee |first=Iqbal |date=10 February 2006 |title=Sylhet growing as a modern urban centre |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities24.htm |work=Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special |publisher=The Daily Star |access-date=25 May 2009 |archive-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721161221/http://archive.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2006/15thanniv/ourcities/ourcities24.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{Sylhet weatherbox}}

File:Tea garden 31118.jpg

File:পানিতে নিমজ্জিত রাতারগুল জলাবনের গাছ.jpg

{{Further|Wards of Sylhet City Corporation}}

Robert Lindsay, who served as the District Collector of Sylhet from 1778 to 1790, mentioned Sylhet in his autobiography, Oriental Miscellanies: Anecdotes of Indian Life, as 'a small bazaar (market)'. He wrote, "The town was then merely a small market. The inhabitants’ houses were situated on the hills and hidden behind forests and jungles."{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QyZsHAAACAAJ |title=Oriental Miscellanies: Comprising Anecdotes of an Indian Life by Robert Lindsay, Narratives of the Battle of Conjeveram by James and John Lindsay, Journal of an Imprisonment in Seringapatam by John Lindsay and An Adventure in China by Hugh Lindsay |date=1840 |publisher=C.S. Simms |language=en |chapter=7}} Exactly 100 years after his tenure, in 1878, Sylhet was upgraded into a municipality with an approximate area of about 1.75 square kilometers.{{Cite news|last=দাশ |first=সুমনকুমার |date=2021-05-07 |title=রবীন্দ্রনাথের শ্রীভূমি বনাম লিন্ডসের এডিনবরা |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=Prothom Alo|language=bn}} The civic body of Sylhet was formed according to the Sylhet City Corporation Act, 2001, which came into effect on April 10, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/bangla_all_sections.php?id=852|title= Sylhet City Corporation Act, 2001|website= bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd}} On July 28, 2002, Sylhet Municipality board was upgraded to a City Corporation, which covered an area of 26.50 square kilometers and was divided into 27 wards. Currently, the city is administered by the Sylhet City Corporation.{{Cite news|last=দাশ |first=সুমনকুমার |date=2023-06-20 |title=সিলেট সিটি করপোরেশনের বর্ধিত ১৫টি ওয়ার্ডে নিশ্চিত হয়নি নাগরিক সুবিধা |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/7xjrqdzgjg |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=Prothom Alo|language=bn}} On August 31, 2021, a gazette notification was issued to expand the area of Sylhet City Corporation. According to the gazette, several mouzas from four unions of Sylhet Sadar Upazila and three unions of Dakshin Surma Upazila were included in the City Corporation. Subsequently, the expanded areas were reorganized and boundaries were defined on a ward basis under Sections 29 and 30 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009. Currently, the City Corporation consists of 42 wards and covers an area of 79.5 square kilometers.{{Cite news|last= |first= |date=2022-02-24 |title=সিলেট সিটি করপোরেশনের নতুন ১২টি ওয়ার্ডের সীমানা নির্ধারণ |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%A8%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%93%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3 |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=Prothom Alo|language=bn}} At present, Sylhet is the district-headquarters as well as the divisional headquarters of the districts of Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet District. The Sylhet City Corporation is responsible for the services that are provided within the city which includes traffic, roads, garbage collection, water supply, registrations and many others. The corporation consists of the Mayor and 22 other commissioners, and focuses on the development of the city.[http://www.swadhinata.org.uk/sylhetpartnership/sylhet.htm The Sylhet City Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212105351/http://www.swadhinata.org.uk/sylhetpartnership/sylhet.htm |date=12 December 2009 }} Swadhinata Trust. Retrieved 26 May 2009. Sylhet is divided into 6 metropolitan thanas (police stations), 42 wards, and 1224 mahallas.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Sylhet is strategically important for the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Bangladesh Army's 17th Infantry Division is based at Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet.{{Cite news |title=PM launches 17 Infantry Division |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/uncategorized/2013/09/17/pm-launches-17-infantry-division |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=24 November 2016}} The cantonment is also home of the School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T) and the 1st Para-commando Battalion, an elite commando unit of the Bangladesh Army.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Sylhet is also home to many hospitals such as the Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital District Hospital, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College, North East Medical College, and Sylhet Women's Medical College.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2018, Sylhet Medical University was established in the city, following the Prime Minister's order to found a medical university in each division with the goal of maintaining medical standards in colleges. According to the order, Chittagong and Rajshahi Medical University have already been established, and Sylhet Medical University is the fourth Medical University of the directive.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ekushey-tv.com/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87/49455 |script-title=bn:আগামীতে ক্ষমতায় এলে প্রতিটি বিভাগে মেডিকেল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় হবে |work=Ekushey TV |language=bn}}{{cite news |script-title=bn:সিলেট মেডিকেল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বিল পাস |url=http://www.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/215213/%25E0%25A6%25B8%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%259F-%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25A1%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B2-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B6%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BC-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B2-%25E0%25A6%25AA%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B8/amp |work=NTV |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926100600/http://www.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/215213/%25E0%25A6%25B8%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%259F-%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25A1%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B2-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B6%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A7%258D%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BC-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25B2-%25E0%25A6%25AA%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B8/amp |archive-date=26 September 2019}}

{{See also|Demographics of Bangladesh}}

{{bar box

|title=Religions in Sylhet City Corp. (2022)

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{{bar percent|Islam|green|86.52}}

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|13.30}}

{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.18}}

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As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sylhet has a population of 485,138. The population growth rate of the city is 1.73%, a decrease from 1.93% in 1991.[http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/pb_wb_page.pdf Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Pocket Book, 2007 (pdf-file)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928093839/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/pb_wb_page.pdf |date=28 September 2007 }} 2007 Population Estimate. Retrieved 29 September 2008. Sylhet has a sex ratio of 861 females to 1000 males and a literacy rate of 67.8%.{{Cite web |title=Community Series - Sylhet District |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCen2011/COMMUNITY_SYLHET.pdf |website=bbs.gov.bd |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics}}

The majority of the population are Bengali Muslims, while significant minority population groups include the Bengali Hindus, Bishnupriya Manipuri and others.[http://research.brac.net/publications/Exploring_the_Marginalized.pdf Exploring the Marginalized] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427100314/http://research.brac.net/publications/Exploring_the_Marginalized.pdf |date=27 April 2017 }} Samir Ranjan Nath. BRAC. February 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2017. Sylheti is spoken by the vast majority of the people, while Standard Bengali is the official language used by the state government and officials.{{cite web |url=http://www.omniglot.com/writing/syloti.htm |title=Syloti-Nagri alphabet |work=omniglot.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/UA800.pdf |title=Sylheti unicode chart}}Christina Julios (2008). Contemporary British Identity: English Language, Migrants, and Public Discourse. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp.40–41. {{ISBN|978-0-7546-7158-9}} 2,424 (0.45%) of the population are of an ethnic minority, of which 2,040 are Manipuri.

The majority of people in Sylhet are Muslims (86.5%), while other religious groups include Hindus (13.3%) and less than 0.2% of other religions, mainly Buddhists and Christians. The majority of Muslims in Sylhet are Sunnis who follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.{{cite web |url=http://www.ourbangla.com/islam/bd/bd1.asp |title=Islam in Bangladesh |website=OurBangla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219125652/http://www.ourbangla.com/islam/bd/bd1.asp |archive-date=19 February 2007 |access-date=3 August 2016}}{{self-published source|date=August 2016}} Significant numbers of people also follow Sufi ideals, particularly the teachings of Abdul Latif Fultali.{{cite web |url=http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Arts/CRONEM/SOASBangladeshi%20diaspora%20PaperDRAFT-7June2005.pdf |title=Bangladeshi Diaspora in the UK : Some observations on socio-culturaldynamics, religious trends and transnational politics |author=David Garbin |date=17 June 2005 |publisher=University of Surrey |access-date=3 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923014220/http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Arts/CRONEM/SOASBangladeshi%20diaspora%20PaperDRAFT-7June2005.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2010}}

{{clear}}

{{Main|Economy of Sylhet}}

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}

The Sylhet Metropolitan Area is one of Bangladesh's main business centres. Sylhet's economy is closely linked with the Bangladeshi diaspora, especially the British Bangladeshi community. The city receives a significant portion of the country's annual remittances, which have driven growth in real estate and construction.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-16190888 |title=Returning home to build mansion |date=22 December 2011 |work=BBC News}} A number of shopping centres, restaurants and hotels have opened as a result. Sylhet also relies on religious tourism, with thousands of devotees visiting its Sufi shrines annually, as well as ecotourism in its broader natural hinterland.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Nature resorts have been built in the city's outskirts. Several important Bangladeshi companies are based in Sylhet, including Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution, Sylhet Gas Fields and Alim Industries. Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates several flights from Sylhet to the United Kingdom and the Middle East. Roads connect Sylhet with the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam.

Sylhet's hinterland plays a vital role in the economy of Bangladesh. It is home to the country's largest natural gas fields, sole crude oil field,{{cite web |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Haripur_Oilfield |title=Haripur Oilfield |website=Banglapedia}} largest tea plantations, rubber, palm oil, cane, agarwood{{Cite news |last=Siddiquee |first=Iqbal |date=19 October 2011 |title=Agar farming sees export markets |work=The Daily Star |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-207067}} and citrus farms. Rice production in the region is one of the country's highest. Heavy industries include power plants, fertilizer plants, cement plants and liquefied petroleum gas plants. Other major industries in the region include ceramics, machinery and equipment, ready-made garments and pharmaceuticals. Most of the tea production in Bangladesh is based around Sylhet, much of which is eventually exported internationally.{{Cite web |title=History Of Bangladesh Tea {{!}} Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh (TTAB) |url=https://ttabctg.com/about-us/history-of-bangladesh-tea/ |access-date=2024-10-29}}

Sylhet has high rates of electricity shortages and water shortages. According to the Power Development Board, as of 2009, Sylhet was only receiving 50 MW, half of the required demand of 100 MW. The city corporation was also supplying only 22,500 gallons of water, far less than the demand of about 65,000.{{cite news |author=Iqbal Siddiquee |date=5 May 2009 |title=Power, water crises grip Sylhet city |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-86843 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=29 May 2009}} The major sources of water to the city are the tube wells and the Surma River.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Tests of tube wells in Sylhet District by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 1997 found that about 27.6% contained more arsenic than the acceptable limit set by Bangladesh of 50 micrograms per liter, and 49.2% contained more arsenic than the World Health Organization standard of 10 micrograms per liter.{{cite news |title=Arsenic poisons Sylhet water |url=http://www.eng-consult.com/arsenic/as16.txt |newspaper=The Independent |location=Dhaka |date=11 September 1997 |access-date=29 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041027040014/http://www.eng-consult.com/arsenic/as16.txt |archive-date=27 October 2004 |via=Engconsult Ltd.}} There are about 331 registered restaurants in the city, but only 15% maintain sanitary facilities and 85% have unhygienic conditions that are unsafe for the public.[http://journals.tums.ac.ir/upload_files/pdf/3104.pdf Study of Water Quality in Sylhet City and its Restaurants: Health Associated Risk Assessment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401095611/http://journals.tums.ac.ir/upload_files/pdf/3104.pdf |date=1 April 2010 }} Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Retrieved 29 May 2009.

State-owned Bangladesh Television operates a relay station headquartered in the Kazitula neighborhood.{{cite news|url=https://www.banglanews24.com/cat/news/bd/59478.details|script-title=bn:১৬ বছর ধরে লাল ফিতায় বন্দি বিটিভির সিলেট কেন্দ্র|date=24 September 2011|access-date=8 November 2024|language=bn|work=BanglaNews24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608180950/https://www.banglanews24.com/cat/news/bd/59478.details|archive-date=8 June 2024}} From 2000 to 2002, privately owned Ekushey Television broadcast terrestrially on VHF channel 11 in Sylhet.{{cite web|title=Coverage|url=http://www.ekusheytv.com/htmldoc/corporate/coverage.html|access-date=8 November 2024|website=Ekushey Television|date=16 August 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020816181919/http://www.ekusheytv.com/htmldoc/corporate/coverage.html|archive-date=16 August 2002}}

File:সিলেট আন্তর্জাতিক ক্রিকেট স্টেডিয়াম.jpg]]

Cricket is the most popular sport in Sylhet.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The Bangladesh Premier League franchise Sylhet Strikers are based in Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (M.A.G. Osmani Stadium), which was built in 2007 and has a capacity of 18,500 spectators. The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium was renovated in 2013 specifically to host matches for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. It is situated near lush green tea gardens on the city fringe.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bdcrictime.com/sylhet-is-the-most-beautiful-test-venue-in-asia |title='Sylhet is the most beautiful Test venue in Asia' |first=Jannatul |last=Pieal |website=www.bdcrictime.com}} In the National Cricket League, Sylhet Division has not won any titles but did win in the One-Day Cricket League during the 2001–02 season. Notable players from Sylhet who have played for the Bangladesh national cricket team include Rajin Saleh,[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/56074.html Players and Officials – Rajin Saleh] Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2009. Enamul Haque Jr,[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/55882.html Players and Officials – Enamul Haque jnr] Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2009. Tapash Baisya,[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/56176.html Players and Officials Hasibul Hussain who was the opening bowler in the 1999 World Cup – Tapash Baisya] Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2009. and Alok Kapali.[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/56251.html Players and Officials – Alok Kapali] Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 May 2009. Chess player Rani Hamid was awarded the FIDE Women's International Master (WIM) title in 1985, while her son Kaiser Hamid was the captain of the Bangladesh national football team in the early 90s.{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/147884/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6/ |script-title=bn:ইতিহাসের সাক্ষী কায়সার হামিদ |work=Janakantha |date=14 October 2015 |access-date=11 May 2024 |language=bn}}

{{Further|Transport in Bangladesh}}

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The main transport systems used in Sylhet are cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws (mainly known as baby-taxis or CNGs), buses, mini-buses and cars. About 80,000 rickshaws run each day within the city. Bus service prices have increased up to 30% higher, and as of 2008 prices range from Tk 4 to 15.95.[http://www.newagebd.com/2008/nov/04/met.html Sylhet city bus services hike fares on whim] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615134038/http://www.newagebd.com/2008/nov/04/met.html |date=15 June 2009 }} New Age Metro. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2009.

The N2 connects the city with Bangladesh's capital and largest city, Dhaka, as well as with many other parts of the country. The N2 highway is also part of the Asian Highway Network's two longest routes, AH1 and AH2.

Sylhet is served by Osmani International Airport, located at the north of the city. It is Bangladesh's third busiest airport, and it became an international airport due to demand driven by expatriate Bangladeshis and their families living in the United Kingdom and the United States. The most prevalent airlines at the airport are Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair.

Osmani International Airport received its first international arrival on 3 November 2002, with a Biman plane arriving from Kuwait via Abu Dhabi en route to Dhaka.{{cite news |title=Biman launches Kuwait-Sylhet flight |author=Weekly Holiday |publisher=Aviatour |date=22 November 2002}} Sylhet's first direct international flight arrived on 15 March 2017 when a Flydubai direct flight from Dubai landed at the airport.{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/business/first-direct-international-flight-lands-sylhet-airport-1376566 |title=First direct international flight lands at Sylhet airport |work=The Daily Star |date=16 March 2017 |access-date=26 March 2017}} Work began in 2006 to upgrade the airport to international standards, including a new terminal building, a jetway, a taxiway, and expansion of the runway to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.{{cite news |title=Osmani Airport expansion work begins in July |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/13/d40513070476.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=13 May 2004}} In May 2007, Biman announced direct Hajj flights originating from the airport later that year.{{cite news |url=http://www.newagebd.com/2007/may/12/front.html#26 |title=Runway expansion at Osmani Airport nearing completion |work=New Age |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=14 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615092705/http://www.newagebd.com/2007/may/12/front.html#26 |archive-date=15 June 2009}} As of 2020, Biman Bangladesh operates direct flight to London from Sylhet.{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/biman-bangladesh-airlines-sylhet-london-sylhet-flight-inaugurated-1972169 |title=Biman's Sylhet-London-Sylhet direct flight resumes after 9 years |work=The Daily Star |date=4 October 2020 |access-date=2 January 2021}} All Bangladeshi airlines operate regular domestic flights to Dhaka and Biman operates regular domestic flights to Cox's Bazar.{{cite news |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/11/10/biman-to-launch-sylhet-cox-s-bazar-flight-from-nov-12 |title=Biman to launch Sylhet-Cox's Bazar flight from Nov 12 |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=10 November 2020 |access-date=2 January 2021}}

In response to the increase in passenger and cargo demand at the airport, work began in 2020 on a new {{convert|34919|m2}} international passenger terminal building, as well as a cargo building, a control tower, parking areas, and a taxiway.{{cite news |title=International terminal at Osmani Airport on the cards |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/article/71738/International-terminal-at-Osmani-Airport-on-the-cards |newspaper=Banglanews24.com |date=24 October 2018}}{{cite news |title=Sylhet's Osmani Int'l Airport getting improvements |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/sylhets-osmani-intl-airport-getting-improvements-1977349 |newspaper=Daily Star |date=13 October 2020 |language=English |access-date=24 July 2023}}

File:Parabat Express.jpg train in Sylhet Railway Station]]

The Sylhet railway station is the main railway station providing trains on national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh Railway.

Some train routes originating or terminating in Sylhet include the following.

{{Main|List of educational institutes of Sylhet}}

{{Further|Education in Bangladesh}}

There are two public universities in Sylhet: Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Agricultural University. There are also private universities such as Leading University and Metropolitan University.{{cite web |title=List of Public Universities |url=http://www.ugc-universities.gov.bd/public-universities |website=University Grants Commission of Bangladesh |access-date=23 December 2024}}{{cite book |chapter=Bangladesh |title=International Handbook of Universities 2019 |year=2019 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |pages=249–302 |isbn=978-3-319-76971-4}} Other prominent colleges and schools in Sylhet include Jalalabad Cantonment Public School and College, Jalalabad Ragib Rabeya Medical college, Pathantula Parkview Medical College, MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Sylhet Women's Medical College, North East Medical College, Sylhet Engineering College,{{cite news |title=Sylhet Engineering College |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/campus/2008/11/02/feature_sylhet.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=9 November 2008 |access-date=25 May 2009}} Sylhet Cadet College, Murari Chand College,{{cite news |last=Islam |first=Mohammad Shafiqul |date=25 March 2007 |title=Inter University Debate Competition: Metropolitan University Team Champion |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/campus/2007/03/04/newsroom.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=25 May 2009}} Institute of Health Technology, Sylhet, Border Guard Public School And College, Scholarshome, Blue Bird High School and College, Sylhet Science And Technology College, Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, and Sylhet Government Women's College.

{{Main|List of people from Sylhet}}

Sylhet is twinned with:{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|ROU}} Bârlad, Romania
• {{flagicon|AZE}} Ganja, Azerbaijan
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Nishapur, Iran
• {{flagicon|SUD}} Al Qadarif, Sudan
• {{flagicon|DE}} Berlin, Germany
• {{flagicon|AZE}} Sheki, Azerbaijan
• {{flagicon|TUR}} Konya, Türkiye
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Kyoto, Japan
• {{flagicon|MKD}} Tetovo, North Macedonia
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Xi'an, China
• {{flagicon|HUN}} Ráckeve, Hungary

{{div col end}}

As of 2009, Sylhet has friendly relations with:

• {{flagicon|UK}} St Albans, United Kingdom{{cite web |title=Councillors, mayoralty and town twinning |url=https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/councillors-mayoralty-and-town-twinning |website=stalbans.gov.uk |publisher=St Albans City & District Council |access-date=2021-08-18}}
• {{flagicon|UK}} Rochdale, United Kingdom{{cite web |url=http://democracy.rochdale.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=118&MeetingId=666&DF=08%2F07%2F2009&Ver=2.pdf |title=Rochdale Township Committee |publisher=Rochdale Borough Council |date=4 July 2019}}

The friendship link with St Albans was established in 1988, when the St Albans' district council supported a housing project in Sylhet as part of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. Sylhet was chosen because it is the home region for a large ethnic minority population in St Albans.

In March 2009 the Mayor of Sylhet, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form another friendship link between Sylhet and Rochdale, home to around 10,000 people with Sylheti heritage. The Mayor of Sylhet signed it alongside the Mayor of Rochdale, Cllr Keith Swift, at the Sylhet City Corporation.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

• Barak Valley
• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh
• Upazila
• Thana

{{Portal bar|Asia|Geography|Bangladesh}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category|Sylhet}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20181013014249/http://www.sylhetcitycorporationbd.org/ Official website of Sylhet City Corporation]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NFLLGnAoOA Sylhet Tourist Places Video]

{{Bangladesh cities}}

{{Sylhet District}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Sylhet District

Category:Former capital cities in India