View source for Khulna

{{about|the city|the division|Khulna Division|the district|Khulna District|the subdistrict|Khulna Kotwali Thana}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Khulna
| native_name        = খুলনা
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style =
| perrow      = 1/2/2/1
| image1      = Durbar Bangla at kuet.jpg
| caption1    = A monument at the [[Khulna University of Engineering & Technology]]
| image2      = Khan Jahan Ali Bridge (28079071092).jpg
| caption2    =  [[Khan Jahan Ali Bridge]]
| image3    = Rising Khulna.jpeg
| caption3    = Skyline of Khulna City
}}
| image_map          = {{maplink
 | frame            = yes
 | frame-width      = 300
 | frame-height     = 300
 | frame-lat        = 22.8200
 | frame-long       = 89.5500
 | frame-align      = center
 | zoom             = 11
 | type             = shape
 | id               = Q3790
 | fill             = #FF4D4D
 | stroke-width     = 1
 | text             = Interactive map highlighting Khulna
}}
| pushpin_map        = Bangladesh Khulna division#Bangladesh#Asia#Earth
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Khulna Division##Location in Bangladesh##Location in Asia##Location on Earth
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| coordinates        = {{Wikidatacoord|Q243325|region:BD-KH_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Divisions of Bangladesh|Division]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Khulna Division]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Bangladesh|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Khulna District]]
| established_title  = First settled
| established_date   = {{start date and age| 1842|04|25}}
| established_title1 = Municipal Council:
| established_date1  = {{Start date and age|1884|09|08}}
| established_title2 = Municipal Corporation:
| established_date2  = {{Start date and age|1984|12|12}}
| established_title3 = City Corporation:
| established_date3  = {{Start date and age|1990|8|6}}
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council]]
| governing_body     = [[Khulna City Corporation]]
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Khulna|Administrator]]
| leader_name        = Md. Helal Mahmud Sharif
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = Tajul Islam
| leader_title2      = [[List of city corporations in Bangladesh#City Council|City Council]]
| leader_name2       = [[Khulna City Corporation#Ward and councillor list|31 constituencies]]
| leader_title3      = [[Parliament of Bangladesh|Parliament]]
| leader_name3       = [[List of constituencies of the Jatiya Sangsad#Khulna Division|2 constituencies]]
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="bangladesh1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/municip.pdf |title=Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Paurashava −2001 |year=2001 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625052740/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/municip.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2008 }}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 45.65
| population_as_of   = [[2022 Bangladeshi census|2022]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_rank    = 
| population_metro   = 15,00,000
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Khulnaiya
| population_urban   = 928,891
| population_blank1  = [[List of cities and towns in Bangladesh|5th in Bangladesh]]
| population_blank2_title = Metro rank
| population_blank2  = [[List of city corporations in Bangladesh|3rd in Bangladesh]]
| timezone           = [[Bangladesh Standard Time|Bangladesh Time]]
| utc_offset         = +6
| blank_name         = National Calling Code
| blank_info         = +880
| blank1_name        = [[Telephone numbers in Bangladesh|Calling Code]]
| blank1_info        = 041
| area_metro_km2     = 150.57
| elevation_m        = 9
| elevation_ft       = 30
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Bangladesh|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 9000, 9100, 9201, 9202, 9203, 9204, 9205, 9206, 9207, 9208
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Bangladesh|Calling code]]
| area_code          = +880 41
| demographics_type1 = [[Languages of Bangladesh|Languages]]
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]{{*}}[[Bangladeshi English|English]]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 = [[Eastern Bengali dialects]]
| demographics_type2 = 
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="BBS">{{cite web | url=https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/site/page/b432a7e5-8b4d-4dac-a76c-a9be4e85828c | title=বাংলাদেশ পরিসংখ্যান ব্যুরো }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = 
| demographics2_info1 = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[UN/LOCODE]]
| blank_info_sec1    = BD KHL
| blank1_name_sec1   = {{nowrap|[[GDP]]}} (2022)
| blank1_info_sec1   = [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|PPP]]<br />{{IncreasePositive}} $5.1 billion<br />[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|Nominal]]<br /> {{IncreasePositive}} $2.0 billion
| blank3_name_sec1   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2023)
| blank3_info_sec1   = 0.718<ref>{{cite web |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BGD/?interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0 |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org |language=en |access-date=12 July 2025}}</ref><br />{{color|#093|high}} · [[List of regions of Bangladesh by Human Development Index|2nd of 22]]
| blank4_name_sec1   = [[Police]]
| blank4_info_sec1   = [[Khulna Metropolitan Police]]
| blank5_name_sec1   = [[Airport]]
| blank5_info_sec1   = [[Jessore Airport]] & [[Khan Jahan Ali Airport]] (Under construction)
| blank6_name_sec1   = Planning Authority
| blank6_info_sec1   = [[Khulna Development Authority]]
| blank7_name_sec1   = Water Supply and Sewerage Authority
| blank7_info_sec1   = [[Khulna WASA]]
| website            = [https://www.khulna.gov.bd/ khulna.gov.bd]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| blank_emblem_type  = Khulna City Corporation Seal
| seal_alt           = Official Seal of Khulna
}}
'''Khulna''' ({{langx|bn|খুলনা}}, {{IPA|bn|ˈkʰulna|pron|LL-Q9610 (ben)-Yahya-খুলনা.wav}}) is the third-largest city in [[Bangladesh]], after [[Dhaka]] and [[Chittagong]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/BD/largest-cities-in-bangladesh.html|title=Bangladesh–10 Largest Cities|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213230501/http://www.geonames.org/BD/largest-cities-in-bangladesh.html|archive-date=13 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the administrative centre of the [[Khulna District]] and the [[Khulna Division]]. It is the divisional centre of 10 districts of the division. Khulna is also the second largest port city of Bangladesh after [[Chittagong]] because of  [[Port of Mongla]]. There is also a river port within the city named [[Port of Khulna]]. Khulna's economy is mainly marine, sea port and local industry based and it is the third-largest in Bangladesh.

Khulna is on the [[Rupsha River|Rupsha]] and [[Bhairab River]], a strategic industrial point in southwestern Bangladesh. It is also an important industrial hub in Bangladeshi industry, hosting many of the nation's largest companies. Khulna's economy is affected by the [[Port of Mongla]], Bangladesh's second-largest seaport.

A colonial [[steamboat]] service, which includes the ''Tern'', ''Osrich'' and ''Lepcha'', operates on the river route to the city. Khulna is considered the gateway to the [[Sundarbans]], the world's largest [[mangrove forest]] and home of the [[Bengal tiger]]. It is north of the [[Mosque City of Bagerhat]], a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref name="marshall">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZBaVhmRvCkC&q=Khulna&pg=PA491 | title=World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia | publisher=[[Marshall Cavendish]] | author=Marshall Cavendish Corporation | year=2007 | pages=491 | isbn=9780761476313}}</ref><ref name="Girard">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sTPgcYrVulAC&q=Khulna+history&pg=PA297 | title=The Human Sustainable City: Challenges and Perspectives from the Habitat Agenda | publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd | author=Girard, Luigi Fusco | year=2003 | pages=298 | isbn=9780754609452}}</ref>

==History==
Khulna was part of the ancient kingdoms of [[Vanga Kingdom|Vanga]], [[Gangaridai]] and [[Samatata]]. After the end of the [[Pala Empire]], it was ruled by the [[Sena dynasty]] during the 12th-century reign of [[Ballala Sena]], and formed part of the Bagri division of Bengal.
During the 14th century, [[Shamsuddin Firoz Shah]] was the first Muslim ruler to arrive in the city. Muslim settlements increased during the time of [[Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah]], and many mosques and shrines were established. A Muslim saint, [[Khan Jahan Ali]], acquired a ''[[jagir]]'' (fiefdom) encompassing a large part of Khulna Division from the king of [[Gauḍa (city)|Gauḍa]] during the 15th century and renamed the region as Jahanabad. Ali ruled until he died in 1459.<ref name="kd">{{cite web | url=http://www.khulna.gov.bd/node/1076732 | title=জেলার ঐতিহ্য | publisher=Khulna District Portal | access-date=21 December 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131213164555/http://www.khulna.gov.bd/node/1076732 | archive-date=13 December 2013 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

After Ali's death, the city became part of the [[Bengal Sultanate]]. During the reign of [[Daud Khan Karrani]] in the 16th century, Vikramaditya (one of Karrani's chief ministers) obtained a grant in southern Bengal—including Khulna—when Karrani was fighting the [[Mughal empire|Mughals]]. Vikramaditya established a sovereign kingdom with its capital at Iswaripur (in present-day [[Satkhira District]]). He was succeeded by his son, [[Pratapaditya]], who gained preeminence over the [[Baro-Bhuyan]]s and controlled southern Bengal. Vikramaditya was defeated by Raja [[Man Singh I]], a Hindu Rajput general of the Mughal emperor [[Akbar]], in 1611.<ref name="gazetteer" />

Khulna was ruled by autonomous Bengali [[nawab]]s until 1793 when the British [[East India Company]] abolished ''nizamat'' (local rule) and took control of the city. Becoming part of Jessore District in 1842, it became the headquarters of Khulna District (the Khulna and Bagerhat subdivisions of [[Jashore District]], the Satkhira subdivision of [[24 Parganas]] district, and the Sundarbans) in 1882.<ref name="gazetteer">{{cite book | url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_293.gif | title=Imperial Gazetteer of India | publisher=Oxford University Press | author=Hunter, William Wilson | author-link=William Wilson Hunter | year=1908 | location=Oxford, UK | pages=287}}</ref> Khulna had a ''pouroshava'' ([[municipal council]]) in 1884, which became a [[municipal corporation]] in 1984.

Before 19 August 1947, Khulna District was part of undivided Bengal. Khulna first declared itself as part of India in 1947, and the Indian flag was flown on 15 August. Syed Mohammad Abdul Halim (an official of the Bengali civil service) requested Khulna's inclusion in Pakistan, and the boundary commission declared that the city was part of [[East Bengal]]. [[A. K. Fazlul Huq|Sher e Bangla A.K.Fazlul Haq]], Muslim League leaders [[Khan A Sabur]], Advocate [[Hamidul Haq Chowdhury]], A. F. M. Abdul Jalil, and Abdul Mojid Khan were also involved in the process.

[[File:বাংলাদেশের সামরিক (১৯৬৭-১৯৭১) পরিকল্পনা.png|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=Military map|Pakistani Eastern Command plan for the defense of East Pakistan from 1967 to 1971 (generic representation—some unit locations not shown)|left]]
During the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]], the [[Pakistan Army]] created the 314th ''ad hoc'' Brigade to hold Khulna.<ref>Salik, Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, pp126</ref> The city's [[Mukti Bahini]] fighters were part of [[List of sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War|sector 8]] under the command of Major [[Abu Osman Chowdhury]] and, later, under Major [[Mohammad Abdul Monjur]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=War of Liberation, The  |encyclopedia=Banglapedia |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=War_of_Liberation,_The |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
Khulna is Bangladesh's third-largest city, after [[Dhaka]] and [[Chittagong]]. It is in the southwestern part of the country, on the [[Rupsa River|Rupsha]] and [[Bhairab River]]s. Even though the city corporation area is 45.65 square Kilometres, The total city area covers {{convert|150.57|km2|sqmi}},<ref name="Bangladesh2001Mun">[https://www.facebook.com/AdminNeha/dataindex/census/municip.pdf Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Paurashava – 2001 (''pdf-file'')] Retrieved on 29 September 2008.</ref> and [[Khulna District]] covers {{convert|4394.46|km2|sqmi}}. Khulna is south of [[Jessore District|Jessore]] and [[Narail District]], east of [[Satkhira District]], west of [[Bagerhat]] and north of the [[Bay of Bengal]]. It is part of the [[Ganges Delta]], the world's largest [[river delta]]. [[Sundarbans]], the world's largest [[mangrove]] forest, is in the southern part of the delta. [[Mudflat|Tidal-flat]] ecosystems are adjacent to the city.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Clemens |first2=R.S. |last3=Phinn |first3=S.R. |last4=Possingham |first4=H.P. |last5=Fuller |first5=R.A. |title=Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |date=2014 |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=267–272 |doi=10.1890/130260|url=https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/60169/1/130260.pdf }}</ref> Khulna is in the northern part of the district, and the [[Mayur River]] is the western boundary of its metropolitan area.

==Climate==
In the [[Köppen climate classification]], Khulna has a [[tropical wet and dry climate]]. The city is hot and humid during summer, and pleasantly warm during winter. Khulna is significantly affected by the [[Monsoon of South Asia]]. Khulna gets less rainfall than other parts of Bangladesh due to its location and the effects of the [[Sundarbans]] south of the city. Its annual average rainfall is {{cvt|1878.4|mm|in}}h about 87 percent falling between May and October. Khulna also receives heavy rain from [[cyclone]]s which form in the [[Bay of Bengal]]. The city has an annual average temperature of {{convert|26.3|°C}}, with monthly averages ranging from {{convert|11.4|°C}} on January mornings to {{convert|34.6|°C}} during April afternoons.

{{Khulna weatherbox}}

=={{anchor|Civil administration}}Administration==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
Khulna Municipal Council was founded on 12 December 1884. It became a [[List of Municipal Corporations of Bangladesh|municipal corporation]] in 1984 and a [[List of City Corporations of Bangladesh|city corporation]] in 1990. [[Khulna City Corporation]] (KCC) is a self-governing corporation run by an elected mayor, who governs the city's 31 wards.

The [[Khulna Metropolitan Police]] (KMP) maintains law and order and regulates traffic in the metropolitan area. It has eight police stations: [[Kotwali Thana (Khulna)|Khulna Kotwali Thana]], [[Sonadanga Model Thana|Sonadanga Thana]], [[Khalishpur Thana]], [[Daulatpur Thana, Khulna|Daulatpur Thana]], [[Khan Jahan Ali Thana]], [[Aranghata Thana]], [[Harintana Thana]] and [[Labanchara Thana]]. The Metropolitan Magistrate Court (CMM) adjudicates the city's legal issues. The [[Khulna Development Authority]] (KDA) plans and coordinates the city's development. [[Khulna Water Supply & Sewerage Authority]] (KWASA) parallels the KCC.

Khulna city area has two parliamentary seats. They are

* [[Khulna-2]]
* [[Khulna-3]]

===Military===
Khulna is one of two principal naval command centers for the [[Bangladesh Navy]]. The [[BNS Titumir]] naval base is in the city. [[Jahanabad Cantonment]], containing the Army Service Corps Center and School (ASCC&S) is situated in Gilatola area of the Khulna metropolitan.

Also [[Khulna Shipyard]] is a renowned military naval Institute in Khulna region

==Demographics==
As of the 2022 census, Khulna City Corporation had 188,579 households and a population of 719,557. 14.97% of the population was under 10 years of age. Khulna had a literacy rate of 88.07% for those 7 years and older and a sex ratio of 102.91 males per 100 females.<ref name="2022census">{{Cite book |url=http://nsds.bbs.gov.bd/storage/files/1/Publications/PHCensus/Khulna/District%20Report%20khulna.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Khulna |date=June 2024 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |isbn=978-984-475-284-9 |series=District Series |location=Dhaka |pages=}}</ref>

In the [[2011 Census of Bangladesh|2011 census]], Khulna City Corporation had a population of 751,237 in 177,852 households. Khulna had a sex ratio of 923 females to 1000 males and a literacy rate of 72.7%.<ref name="khulnacensus">{{Cite web |title=Community Series - Khulna District |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCen2011/Com_Khulna.pdf |website=bbs.gov.bd |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>

Like the rest of Bangladesh, most of the city's population is [[Bengalis|Bengali]]. Khulna's native residents are known as Khulnaiya. Its population also consists of people from neighboring districts.

Most residents speak [[Bengali language|Bengali]] (the national language), its dialects, and regional languages. English is understood by a large segment of the population, especially in business. An Urdu-speaking population, descendants of Muslims displaced from Bihar in 1947 who sought refuge in [[East Bengal]], lives in the city's Khalishpur area.

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Khulna city (2022)<ref name="2022census"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]]|green|89.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]]|darkorange|9.86}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Bangladesh|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|1.04}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.02}}
}}

[[Islam]] is Khulna's major religion, practiced by 89.06% of the population. Other religions are [[Hinduism]] (practiced by 9.86%), and [[Christianity]] (1.04%).<ref name="2022census"/>

==Economy==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
Khulna is Bangladesh's third-largest economic center. North of the [[Port of Mongla]], it has a variety of industries. Major sectors are [[jute]], [[chemical industry|chemicals]], fish and seafood packaging, [[food processing]], sugar milling, power generation and [[shipbuilding]]. The Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) regulates commerce through its Licensed Measurers' Department (LMD) and certification, attestation, and publicity departments. The region has an [[Free-trade zone|Export Processing Zone]], attracting foreign investment. The city is home to branch offices of several national companies, including [[M. M. Ispahani Limited]], [[BEXIMCO]], [[James Finlay Bangladesh]], [[Summit Group|Summit Power]] and the Abul Khair Group. Khulna's largest companies include [[Khulna Shipyard]], [[Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited]], Bangladesh Oxygen, Platinum Jubilee Mills, Star Jute Mills, and the Khulna Oxygen Company.

==Transport==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}

===Road===
[[File:Rupsha Bridge 16.jpg|alt=Long, high bridge seen from below|thumb|[[Khan Jahan Ali Bridge]], which carries the Khulna City Bypass over the Rupsha River|245x245px]]
[[Rickshaw]]s are the most popular means of public transport in Khulna for short trips, and [[auto rickshaw]]s are also common. Nagar Paribahan buses have frequent service between [[Rupsa Upazila|Rupsha]] and [[Phultala Upazila|Phultala]], with stops throughout Khulna. Motorcycles are popular among the middle class, but wealthier people prefer a private car.

The [[N7 (Bangladesh)|N7]] highway connects Khulna with the rest of Bangladesh, and the [[N709 (Bangladesh)|Khulna City Bypass]] is a major road. The [[N760 (Bangladesh)|N760]] connects [[Satkhira District|Satkhira]] and western Khulna Districts. There are several nationwide bus services available in Khulna (most privately owned), and the [[Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation]] operates inter-district buses from the city. Sonadanga Bus Terminal is Khulna's main bus terminal. Major bus routes include Khulna-Jessore-Dhaka; Khulna-Goplaganj-Dhaka; Khulna-Jessore-Kushtia; Khulna-Satkhira; Khulna-Bagerhat; Khulna-Mongla; Khulna-Narail; Khulna-Barisal; Khulna-Rajshahi; Khulna-Faridpur; Khulna-Kuakata, and Khulna-Dhaka-Chittagong.

===Rail===
[[Khulna Railway Station]] is the city's main station. [[Bangladesh Railway]] operates six intercity trains: the [[Sundarban Express|Sundarban]] and [[Chitra Express]]es (to [[Dhaka]]), the [[Kapotaksha Express|Kapotaksha]] and Sagardari Expresses (to [[Rajshahi]]), and the [[Rupsha Express|Rupsa]] and [[Simanta Express|Seemanta Express]]es to [[Chilahati railway station|Chilahati]]. Two commuter express trains serve [[Benapole]], in addition to mail trains to [[Parbatipur Junction|Parbatipur]], [[Chapainawabganj]] and [[Goalundo Ghat|Goalanda]]. The international [[Bandhan Express]] runs to [[Kolkata]]. The city has four other railway stations, and two more (in addition to the [[Rupsha Rail Bridge]]) are newly inaugurated as part of the [[Khulna–Mongla Port Railway]] project.

===Air===
[[File:S2-AFE United Airways ATR-72 at Jessore airport. (23930818412).jpg|thumb|246x246px|S2-AFE United Airways ATR-72 at [[Jashore Airport]]]]
[[Jashore Airport]], {{convert|50|km}} north of Khulna, has flights to [[Dhaka]] on [[Biman Bangladesh Airlines]], [[US-Bangla Airlines]] and [[Novoair]], with air-conditioned bus service from the airport to the city. [[Khan Jahan Ali Airport]], is an airport under construction near Khulna city to serve Khulna region.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/06/29/khan-jahan-ali-airport-no-longer-a-priority-project | title=Khan Jahan Ali Airport no longer a priority project |work=Dhaka Tribune | date=29 June 2021 }}</ref>

==={{anchor|Waterway}}Water===
Several passenger launches and cargo services operate from the [[Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority]] launch terminal in the city.

===Public transport===
There is public transportation in Khulna city through the mid 19's. Buses of that urban transportation of Khulna city were called 'Murir Tin'. Today besides the urban transportation buses, [[Cycle rickshaw]], [[auto rickshaw#Bangladesh|auto rickshaws]] are playing a vital role in transport within Khulna city and the adjoining metro area. Famous ride sharing services like [[Uber]], [[Pathao]], [[Obhai]] also available in the city.
There are also bus and mini-bus services on some routes, connecting suburban areas of the city. Plenty of rental car agencies operate within the city and metro area, where sedans, SUVs, and micro-buses are available to hire hourly or daily.

==Education==
{{main|List of educational institutions in Khulna}}
[[File:Liberation War Sculpture, KUET.jpg|thumb|alt=University buildings, with statue and scattered rocks|[[Bangladesh Liberation War]] statue at the Khulna University of Engineering & Technology]]
[[File:একাডেমিক ভবন ১.jpg|thumb|alt=Plain concrete building, with a green bus outside|Khulna University building]]
[[File:Govt BL College Pond2.jpg|thumb|alt=Large pond and college buildings|Brajalal College pond]]
Educational institutions in the city include [[Khulna University of Engineering & Technology]] (KUET). The university, earlier known as Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Khulna, is the only engineering university in Khulna and was listed in the 2019 edition of ''[[QS World University Rankings#Asia|QS Asian University Rankings]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/khulna-university-engineering-technology|title = Khulna University of Engineering and Technology}}</ref> [[Brajalal College]], founded in 1902, is the city's oldest higher-education institution.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{citation
|author=Amjad Hossain
|chapter=Brajalal College
|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Brajalal_College
|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam |editor2=Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> [[Khulna University]] is the only public university in Bangladesh where student politics is prohibited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ku.ac.bd/ku/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303165457/http://ku.ac.bd/ku/history |archive-date=3 March 2019 |title=Khulna University}}</ref> There is also an agriculture university, named [[Khulna Agricultural University]] (KAU) was founded in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Academic activities of Khulna Agricultural University commence |url=https://www.unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/academic-activities-of-khulna-agricultural-university-commence/11632 |access-date=20 August 2022 |agency=[[United News of Bangladesh]] |date=30 January 2019}}</ref> [[Khulna Medical University]] and [[Khulna Medical College]] (KMC) are public medical institutions, while [[North Western University, Bangladesh]] (NWU) and the Northern University of Business & Technology (NUBT) and Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah University,these universities are private.[[Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology]] is also a renowned private university in Khulna. High schools in Khulna include:

* Khulna Zilla School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khulna Zilla School |url=https://kzs.edu.bd/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=kzs.edu.bd |language=en}}</ref>
*Govt. Model High School, Khulna.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2024 |title=Govt. Model High School |url=https://www.facebook.com/GovtModelHighSchoolKhulna/ |access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>
* St. Joseph's High School, Khulna.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Joseph's High School, Khulna – 29, Ahsan Ahmed Road, Khulna |url=http://www.stjhskhulna.edu.bd/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Govt. Model School and College, Boyra, Khulna.<ref>{{Citation |title=খুলনা সরকারি মডেল স্কুল এন্ড কলেজ |date=2024-11-09 |work=উইকিপিডিয়া |url=https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF_%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A1%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2_%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2_%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1_%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9C |access-date=2024-12-14 |language=bn}}</ref>
* Khulna Collectorate Public School & College<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khulna Collectorate Public School & College |url=https://www.kcpscbd.edu.bd/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Khulna Public School and College.<ref>{{Citation |title=খুলনা পাবলিক কলেজ |date=2024-12-09 |work=উইকিপিডিয়া |url=https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95_%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9C |access-date=2024-12-14 |language=bn}}</ref>

== Sports ==
{{Further|Sport in Bangladesh}}

[[Cricket]] and [[association football|football]] are the two most popular sports in Khulna, and the [[Khulna Division cricket team]]'s home ground is in the city. Khulna's cricket [[Bangladesh Premier League]] [[Khulna Titans]] was formerly the Khulna Royal Bengals. The Khulna Abahani Club played in the [[Bangladesh Premier League (football)|Bangladesh Football Premier League]] for several seasons before its relegation in the [[2008–09 B.League|2008–09 season]].

[[Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium]], the city's international sports venue (hosting [[test cricket]], [[One Day International]] and [[Twenty20 International]] matches), became Bangladesh's seventh test-cricket venue on 21 November 2012; it also hosts several Bangladesh Premier League matches.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/586397.html |title=BPL 2013 to kick off on January 17 |date=11 October 2012 |website=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=31 October 2012}}</ref> [[Khulna District Stadium]] hosts other domestic sports and cultural events.

==Media==
Print media include the ''Daily Purbanchal'', ''Daily Janmabhumi'', ''Daily Shomoyer Khobor'' and ''Dakhinanchal Protidin''. The ''Daily Tribune'' is the only English-language newspaper. Electronic media include the ''Khulna Gazette'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Khulna Gazette |url=https://khulnagazette.com/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |language=Bengali}}</ref> ''Protidin Shebok'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Protidin Shebok Newsportal |url=https://www.protidinshebok.com/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |language=Bengali}}</ref> ''Shomoyer Khobor''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shomoyer Khobor |url=https://www.skhobor.com/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |language=Bengali}}</ref> Radio stations are [[Bangladesh Betar#Stations|Bangladesh Betar]] Khulna, [[Radio Today]] (89.6&nbsp;MHz), [[Radio Foorti]] (88.0), and Radio Khulna FM (88.8).

=== Television ===
State-owned [[Bangladesh Television]] has a [[BTV Khulna|relay station]] in the [[Khalishpur Thana]] of Khulna, established in 1977. There were several attempts at converting it to a full-fledged television station, but this has not been successful as of today.<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 November 2023|title=প্রধানমন্ত্রীর প্রতিশ্রুতির এক যুগেও বাস্তবায়ন হয়নি বিটিভির খুলনা কেন্দ্র |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/index.php/national/news/bd/1220389.details|access-date=29 August 2024|website=banglanews24.com|language=bn}}</ref> Privately owned [[Ekushey Television]], which formerly broadcast on terrestrial, had a station in Khulna which broadcast on VHF channel 8 as of August 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coverage|url=http://www.ekusheytv.com/htmldoc/corporate/coverage.html|access-date=6 January 2023|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}}</ref>

==Tourism==
The [[Sundarbans]], in Khulna District, is home to the [[Bengal tiger]] and the world's largest virgin mangrove forest. It is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sundarbans |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/798 |website=World Heritage List |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> The [[Mosque City of Bagerhat]], in [[Bagerhat District]] about {{convert|15|mi}} south-east of Khulna, is also a World Heritage Site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/321 |website=World Heritage List |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref>

[[Rabindra Complex]] is in the village of [[Dakkhindihi]], {{convert|19|km}} from Khulna. Tagore visited the home of [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s father-in-law, Beni Madhab Roy Chowdhury, several times. The museum has been renovated and is administered by Bangladesh's [[Department of Archaeology (Bangladesh)|Department of Archaeology]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rabindra museum draws huge crowd |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/42985 |work=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)]] |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> The [[Khulna Divisional Museum]], founded in 1998, was established by the country's Department of Archaeology.

=={{anchor|Notable people}}Notable residents==
{{colbegin|colwidth=24em}}
* [[Khan Jahan Ali]] – [[Sufism|Sufi]] saint
* [[Khan A Sabur]] – Politician
* [[Prafulla Chandra Ray]] – Chemist
* [[Sheikh Razzak Ali]] – Lawyer, politician, deputy speaker, and speaker of the [[Jatiyo Sangsad]]
* [[Tanvir Mokammel]] – Filmmaker and writer
* [[Firoz Mahmud]]- Visual artist and painter
* [[Nilima Ibrahim]]- Educationist, littérateur and social worker
* [[Prafulla Chandra Sen]] – Former [[West Bengal]] chief minister
* [[Sheikh Abu Naser]] – Politician
* [[Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah]] - Poet
* [[Qazi Imdadul Haq]] – Writer
* [[Humayun Kabir Balu]] – Renowned journalist, Freedom fighter and Ekushey Padak winner in journalism
* [[SM Shafiuddin Ahmed]] – 17th [[Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)|Chief of Army Staff (CAS)]] of [[Bangladesh Army]]
* [[Sheikh Salahuddin (cricketer)|Sheikh Salahuddin]] – Former cricketer
* [[Bishnu Chattopadhyay]] – Freedom fighter and peasant leader
* [[Abdur Razzak (cricketer)|Abdur Razzak]] – Cricketer
* [[Manjural Islam Rana]] – Cricketer
* [[Popy (actress)|Popy]] (Sadia Parvin Popy) – Actress, model
* [[Moushumi]] (Arifa Pervin Moushumi) – Actress, model
* [[Salma Khatun]] – Cricketer
* [[Rumana Ahmed]] – Cricketer
* [[Mehedi Hasan]] – Cricketer
* [[Bibhuti Roy]] – Engineer
* [[Puja Cherry Roy]] – Actress
* [[Afif Hossain]] – Cricketer
* [[Nurul Hasan (cricketer)|Nurul Hasan Sohan]] – Cricketer
* [[Ayasha Rahman]] – Cricketer
* [[Tahin Tahera]] – Cricketer
* [[Shakil Ahmed (sport shooter)|Shakil Ahmed]] – Sports shooter
* [[Md. Rafiqul Islam]] - Editor/ Secretary General: Parliament Watch
* [[Ziaur Rahman (Bangladeshi cricketer)|Ziaur Rahman]] – Cricketer
* [[Amit Majumder]], Cricketer
* [[Sheikh Mohammad Aslam]], Footballer
* [[Abdus Salam Murshedy]], Footballer, Politician
* [[Mamun Joarder]], Footballer
* [[Kazi Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi]] – Footballer
{{colend}}
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170px">
আত্মচরিত (প্রফুল্লচন্দ্র রায়) 005.tif|alt=A young Prafulla Chandra Ray|Prafulla Chandra Ray
Razzak_Ali_ambassador_in_UK.jpg|alt=See caption|Sheikh Razzak Ali meeting with Queen [[Elizabeth II]]
এস এম শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ.jpg|alt=17th Chief of Army Staff (CAS) of Bangladesh Army|General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed
Firoz_Mahmud.jpg|alt=A serious-looking Firoz Mahmud in profile|Firoz Mahmud
Tanvir_Mokammel.jpg|alt=Tanvir Mokammel, in a light-blue shirt|Tanvir Mokammel
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Bangladesh}}
* [[Upazilas of Bangladesh]]
* [[Districts of Bangladesh]]
* [[Divisions of Bangladesh]]
* [[Upazila]]
* [[Thana]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Khulna}}
* [http://www.khulnacity.org/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302035931/http://www.khulnacity.org/ |date=2 March 2012 }} of Khulna City Corporation
* [https://www.khulna.gov.bd/ Govt. website of Khulna]
* [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Khulna_District Khulna District] on Banglapedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181016061319/http://www.discoverybangladesh.com/meetbangladesh/khulna.html Khulna Guide at Discovery Bangladesh]
* [https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/khulna-university-engineering-technology]

{{Bangladesh cities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Khulna| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Khulna Division]]