Overview
Bangladesh is administratively divided into eight divisions, which are further subdivided into districts (zilas) and sub‑districts (upazilas). Urban settlements are classified primarily as either:
- City Corporations (পৌরসভার) – large metropolitan areas administered by a city corporation council.
- Municipalities (পৌরসভা or pourashava) – smaller urban centers with a municipal council.
As of the latest governmental records (2023), Bangladesh has 8 city corporations and approximately 330 municipalities. The following tables list the officially recognized city corporations and a representative selection of notable municipalities (towns) across the country. Population figures are based on the most recent national census (2022) and subsequent estimates; where exact numbers are unavailable, they are omitted rather than conjectured.
City Corporations (Metropolitan Cities)
| City Corporation | Division | District | 2022 Census Population* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka City Corporation (North & South) | Dhaka | Dhaka | 12,023,117 |
| Chattogram City Corporation | Chattogram | Chattogram | 2,557,464 |
| Khulna City Corporation | Khulna | Khulna | 1,006,849 |
| Rajshahi City Corporation | Rajshahi | Rajshahi | 775,495 |
| Sylhet City Corporation | Sylhet | Sylhet | 673,098 |
| Barishal City Corporation | Barishal | Barishal | 347,425 |
| Rangpur City Corporation | Rangpur | Rangpur | 286,393 |
| Mymensingh City Corporation | Mymensingh | Mymensingh | 258,826 |
*Population figures reflect the combined total for the North and South Dhaka city corporations, which together constitute the capital’s metropolitan area.
Selected Municipalities (Towns)
The list below includes municipalities that are widely referenced in national planning documents, statistical yearbooks, and reputable geographic references. They are organized alphabetically for ease of reference.
| Municipality (Pourashava) | Division | District | Approx. 2022 Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamdighi | Rajshahi | Naogaon | — |
| Alamdanga | Khulna | Chuadanga | — |
| Bagerhat | Khulna | Bagerhat | 73,874 |
| Baniachong | Sylhet | Habiganj | — |
| Barura | Chattogram | Comilla | — |
| Bogra | Rajshahi | Bogra | 108,696 |
| Brahmanbaria | Chattogram | Brahmanbaria | — |
| Chhagalnaiya | Chattogram | Feni | — |
| Daulatpur | Dhaka | Manikganj | — |
| Dhamrai | Dhaka | Dhaka | 101,142 |
| Dinajpur | Rangpur | Dinajpur | 150,160 |
| Faridpur | Dhaka | Faridpur | 156,155 |
| Feni | Chattogram | Feni | 86,952 |
| Gaibandha | Rangpur | Gaibandha | 82,759 |
| Gopalganj | Dhaka | Gopalganj | — |
| Habiganj | Sylhet | Habiganj | 105,200 |
| Jamalpur | Mymensingh | Jamalpur | 112,605 |
| Jashore (Jashore Sadar) | Khulna | Jashore | 163,810 |
| Jessore | Khulna | Jashore | 163,810 |
| Kishoreganj | Dhaka | Kishoreganj | 104,489 |
| Lakshmipur | Chattogram | Lakshmipur | — |
| Mymensingh (Mymensingh Sadar) | Mymensingh | Mymensingh | 166,332 |
| Netrakona | Mymensingh | Netrokona | — |
| Pabna | Rajshahi | Pabna | 143,394 |
| Panchagarh | Rangpur | Panchagarh | — |
| Patna | Dhaka | Naogaon | — |
| Pirojpur | Barishal | Pirojpur | — |
| Rangamati | Chattogram | Rangamati | — |
| Satkhira | Khulna | Satkhira | 84,282 |
| Shariatpur | Dhaka | Shariatpur | — |
| Sherpur | Mymensingh | Sherpur | 78,476 |
| Sirajganj | Rajshahi | Sirajganj | 136,557 |
| Sunamganj | Sylhet | Sunamganj | — |
| Tangail | Dhaka | Tangail | 124,470 |
| Thakurgaon | Rangpur | Thakurgaon | — |
*Population figures marked with “—” indicate that a recent, reliable estimate was not publicly available in the primary statistical releases; the municipality is nevertheless officially recognized.
Notes on Classification and Sources
-
City vs. Town Definition – The Government of Bangladesh designates “city corporation” status to urban areas with populations typically exceeding 500,000 and meeting additional infrastructure criteria. “Municipality” (pourashava) status applies to smaller urban settlements, often with populations ranging from 20,000 to 500,000, although exceptions exist.
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Data Sources – The list draws on the following authoritative sources:
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) – Population and Housing Census 2022 and Statistical Yearbook (2023).
- Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives – official registers of city corporations and municipalities (updated 2023).
- Bangladesh Gazette notifications concerning municipal status changes (e.g., elevation of certain pourashavas to city corporation status in 2020‑2022).
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Completeness – While the city corporation list is exhaustive, the municipality list is selective, highlighting those most frequently cited in national planning documents and scholarly works. Bangladesh maintains over 300 municipalities; a full enumeration can be accessed via the Ministry’s online database.
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Temporal Accuracy – Administrative boundaries and status designations can change following government orders. The information herein reflects the status as of December 2023. Readers should verify any subsequent changes through official government publications.
