Chittagong
The political history of Chittagong, Bangladesh closely mirrors the similar political history of the greater South Asian sub-continent. Functioning as a port city for centuries, Chittagong has natural geographic benefits making it a desirable city to control for aspiring empires and leaders. Chittagong experienced political turmoil for much of their recorded history forcing several rebuilding efforts, but the city appears to become stronger each time.
The political benefits to controlling a port city are clear. Direct access to imports/exports, travel, and food, often makes ancient port cities like Chittagong contested territory. The early political history of Chittagong demonstrates the importance of controlling the port. Beyond the water boundary, Chittagong is also surrounded by inhospitable land terrain, making it easier for controlling political powers to protect their interests.
During the seventeenth century, the political control of Chittagong fell to the Mughal empire as much of the Indian sub-continent had during this period. The Mughal political system of overlords and subsidiaries maintained control of Chittagong until the British Empire eventually came to control the port city as their growing influence during the nineteenth and eighteenth centuries made this fate inevitable.
Throughout the nineteenth century, the people of Islamabad–the Mughals changed Chittagong’s name in the late 1600s–attempted several insurrections against the British crown. The most famous of these uprisings came to be known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Later, during the independence movements of the early 20th century, scholars viewed this uprising as the first break from British political control. Although the British suppressed this insurrection, news spread from Chittagong to the rest of the Indian sub-continent, causing separate cells of rebellion to spark throughout the region.
Chittagong remained an important vassal for the British crown, but many citizens supported the Non-Cooperation movements spreading through India. It remains unclear whether their direst was caused by political or religious fervor. Even though political control of Chittagong began to dwindle in the mid-20th century, the British utilized the city as an important military base during World War II. The Japanese pounded the city with constant air raids, devastating the Chittagong infrastructure. By the end of World War II British political and economic interests in the entire sub-continent quickly disappeared and they staged little rebuilding effort for the damaged city.
The following 20 years witnessed another Chittagong resurgence, until the war for Bangladesh liberation brought more death and destruction to Chittagong. After the war concluded, massive rebuilding efforts were directed to the city and this trend continues as Chittagong currently rates among the fastest growing cities in the world.
The social and political history of Chittagong tells a much bigger story that represents the greater Indian continent. Through constant strife and political malfeasance, Chittagong remained a powerful city for some fifteen centuries.