How to get from Dhaka to Chittagong.

How to get from Dhaka to Chittagong.

Chittagong (officially Chattogram) also known as the Port City of Bangladesh is a major coastal city and financial centre in southeastern Bangladesh. The city has a population of more than 8.6 million, making it the second-largest city in the country. The city is located on the banks of the Karnaphuli River between the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bay of Bengal. Modern Chittagong is Bangladesh’s second most significant urban center after Dhaka.
Chittagong plays a vital role in the Bangladeshi economy. The Port of Chittagong, one of the world’s oldest ports, is the principal maritime gateway to the country. The port is the busiest international seaport on the Bay of Bengal and the third busiest in South Asia. Several Chittagong-based companies are among the largest industrial conglomerates and enterprises in Bangladesh.
Some famous attraction sites in Chittagong include: Foy’s Lake, War Cemetery, D.C. Hill, The Batali Hill, Patenga Sea Beach and Naval Point. Chittagong division is also considered to be the hub of tourist attractions in Bangladesh – hosting the largest sea beach in the world in Cox’s Bazar, the natural beauty of Bandarban, Tefnaf, Sajek and Saintmartin.
Basically there are 3 ways to get from Dhaka to Chittagong: Air, Train or road.
Air

The distance by air is 214 kilometres, with a journey time of 45 minutes.The following companies offer scheduled services between Dhaka and Chittagong approximately every 2 hours: Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla and NovoAir. The average cost of a return airfare is around BDT14,404 or $US170.
Tickets can be purchased online before arrival in Bangladesh or from airline offices and travel companies in country.

Train

The distance by rail is 321 kilometres, with a journey time of between just over 5 hours to 7.5 hours. There is a good train service between the capital city, Dhaka, and Bangladesh’s second city, Chittagong.  Dhaka & Chittagong are both in the eastern half of the country, linked by fast daytime InterCity trains and two overnight trains with sleeping-cars. One-way ticket prices range from BDT300 for the cheapest seat to around BDT731 for an AC seat (15% VAT applicable). Trains depart from Dhaka’s Kamalapur station.
Intercity trains – are fast good quality trains with a restaurant car offering AC class seats, snigdha, 1st class, shuvon chair, shuvon & shulov seats.
Turna Express trains offer good overnight intercity services with air-conditioned AC class 2-berth sleepers, AC class seats, 1st class seats, shuvon chair, shuvon & shulov seats.
Sonar Bangla Express trains use the most modern carriages.
Express trains are slower than InterCity trains and offer air-conditioned AC class seats, 1st class seats, shuvon chair, shuvon & shulov seats. 
How to buy ticketsBangladeshi Railways have an online ticket service, see www.esheba.cnsbd.com, though it only works with Bangladeshi bank cards and tickets are only sent to Bangladesh mobile phones, so of little use to overseas visitors, unless one of the travellers is Bangladeshi.  The better InterCity trains are very popular and often full, so make reservations at a station as soon as possible, or find a suitable local travel agency to arrange tickets for you. 

Classes of accommodation

There are a variety of classes on Bangladeshi trains.

  • AC class berth.  These are air-conditioned 2-berth sleeper compartments on the best overnight trains.
  • AC class seat.  The best accommodation on daytime trains.  Air-conditioned, carpeted cars with reclining seats, all reserved.
  • Snigdha.  These are AC class air-conditioned reclining seats cars with a TV screen.
  • 1st class berth.  1st class berths are arranged in 4-berth sleeper compartments on overnight trains.
  • 1st class seat, all reserved.
  • 2nd classshuvon chair.  Shuvon means better looking, a second class chair car with reclining seats, all reserved.
  • 2nd class shuvon.  More basic seating than shuvon chair cars, all reserved.
  • 2nd class Shulov.  Shulov means easily available.  These are second class cars with bench seats.  Unreserved seating, often crowded.

Road

The distance by road from Dhaka to Chittagong is 265 kilometres, with an average journey time of between 4.5 to 6 hours. There are various methods of road travel – though bus and private transfer are the most popular.
Bus

More than 10 companies offer regular bus services from Dhaka to Chittagong. Both AC and non-AC buses operate this route. The average price of a one-way ticket on an AC bus varies from BDT800-1300 or USD10-15 and around half that price for a non-AC bus (which takes longer to reach Chittagong).
Companies operating AC buses include the following:

  • Aziz Travels
  • Desh Travels
  • GreenLine Paribahan
  • Hanif Enterprise
  • London Express
  • Relax Transport
  • Saint martin Paribahan
  • Saudia Coach Service
  • TR Travels
  • Tuba Line
  • Yellow Line

Private Transfer

The cost for one way private transfer from Dhaka to Chittagong is between USD 60-100 depending on the standard of car and size

Taxi

With a journey time of around 3 hours and 10 minutes, the cost of a one-way taxi ride from Dhaka to Chittagong is between USD58-70.

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