Getting around
বাস
কত?
How much is it?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Chittagong
Bangladesh
Chittagong is Bangladesh's main seaport, on the Karnaphuli near the Bay of Bengal.
How the language is used
Bengali is official. The port city has its own dialect.
In this city
- Language
- Bengali
- Also heard
- Mostly Bengali
- A local word
- বন্দর — The port.
- Writing
- the Bengali script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
বন্দর
কোথায়?
Where is it?
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
দোকান
একটা চা।
One tea.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
রাস্তা
আসসালামু আলাইকুম।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Bengali is official. The port has its own dialect, and standard Bengali still runs signs and school.
Around the port, Station Road, Sadarghat, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Chittagong can run on four lines: “কত?”, “কোথায়?”, “একটা চা।”, and “আসসালামু আলাইকুম।”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Bengali script.
- আপনি is the polite you. তুমি is closer.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Chittagong, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: বন্দর. It means The port..
Places you can see
- Patenga — A beach where the Karnaphuli meets the sea.
- Shrine of Bayazid Bostami — A hill shrine known for the turtles in its pond.
- Foy's Lake — An artificial lake in the hills above the city.
Food
A festive table may serve mezban, a spicy beef dish, and the coast cooks with dried fish.
Getting around
Parts of the city are hilly. You can move between the port and the centre by bus or rickshaw.
Daily life
Street Bengali here has its own sound, distinct from the Dhaka way of speaking.
A few everyday phrases
Bengali
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| নমস্কার | Nomoskar | Hello |
| ধন্যবাদ | Dhonnobad | Thank you |
| সুপ্রভাত | Suprobhat | Good morning |
| আমার নাম… | Amar naam… | My name is… |
