Sylhet - City of Bangladesh

Sylhet, previously Shilhat, Sreehatta, and Jalalabad, is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the capital of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District. Located on the northern bank of the Surma River and surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills, Sylhet is nestled among picturesque tea plantations and lush green tropical forests.

Historians believe that Sylhet (or Shilhat, as it was known in ancient times), was an expanded commercial center from the ancient period, which explains its original namesake. During this time, Sylhet was probably inhabited by Indo-Aryan Brahmins, though ethnically the population would also have traces of Munda, Assamese, and Dravidian ancestry. It has also been suggested that Ancient Kingdom of Harikela was situated in modern Sylhet.

In the late 18th century, the British East India Company became interested in Sylhet and saw it as an area of strategic importance in the war against Burma. Sylhet gradually was absorbed into British control and administration and was governed as a part of Bengal. After the British administrative reorganization of India, Sylhet was eventually incorporated into Assam. It remained a part of Assam for the rest of the era of British rule. In 1947, following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state] of Assam. In 1971, Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.

Sylhet is located in north-eastern Bangladesh at 24°32'0'N, 91°52'0'E, on the northern bank of the Surma River.

The Sylheti language is spoken throughout Sylhet Division, with some minor dialectal variations. Sylheti is an Eastern Indic language closely related to Bengali (Bangla), Chittagonian and Assamese languages. Most Sylhetis are at least bilingual to some degree, as they are taught Bengali at all levels of education in Bangladesh. Sylheti is also the dominant dialect of Bengali among the inhabitants of the Barak Valley in India, centered around Cachar district in Assam. The largest Sylheti-dominated city in India is Silchar, with significant Sylheti-speaking populations in Agartala, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Shillong and Kolkata.

Sylhet city is served by Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education,Sylhet and educational institutes like Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, M C College, Osmani Medical College, Govt. Pilot High School Sylhet, etc. Other notable educational institutions are Jalalabad Cantonment public School & College, Sylhet Cadet College, Sylhet Law College, Sylhet Polytechnic, Sylhet Aaliyah Madrasa, Sylhet Government College, Madan Mohon College, Sylhet Government Women College, Blue Bird School and college, The Aided High School, Charipara High School, Agragami Government Girls High School and some famous private English schools. Among them Scholarshome is one of the best English medium school & college in Sylhet city.

There are also four private medical colleges in Sylhet, namely Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College & Hospital, North East Medical College & Hospital, Sylhet Women's Medical College and Durre Samad Red Crescent Medical College.

Sylhet has a number of interesting places to attract tourists. Sylhet is a major destination for tourists. Some important places are listed here:

Kean Bridge & Watch Of Ali Amjad
Shahi Eidgah
Gour Gobinda Fort
Raynogor Rajbari
Manipuri Rajbari (Medical Road)
Palace Of Jamindar Prosanna Takur
The Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal
The Shrine of Hajrat Shah Paran
The Shrine of Gazi Burhanuddin
The Shrine of Shah Shundor
The Shrine of Chasni Pir
Manik Pir Tilla (The Shrine of Manik pir)
The Shrine of Shah Taiab Coylani
Tilagorh Eco Park (Alutol)
Lakkatura,Malnichara & Tarapur Tea Estates.
Parjatan Corporation,Sylhet.(Resort)
Kanishile River Bank