Chandpur is the City of Hilsa. For any Bangladeshi, this title alone commands respect. It sits at the confluence of the three great rivers: the Padma, the Meghna, and the Dakatia. This spot, known as the Mohona, is where the water turns into a vast, churning expanse that looks more like an ocean than a river. Standing at the Molhead, a concrete embankment built to protect the town from erosion, you can watch the sunset over this watery horizon. The breeze here is always cool, and the sound of the water slapping against the concrete is the town's heartbeat. But the real action is at the launch terminal. Chandpur has a romance associated with river travel that no other district can claim. The massive multi-deck launches arrive here from Dhaka, their horns blasting, unloading thousands of passengers. It is a sensory overload of lights, noise, and the smell of diesel and fish.
The Hilsa market near the station is a place of pilgrimage for seafood lovers. During the season, the silver fish are stacked in piles as high as a man. The fish caught here, or rather traded here from the nearby confluence, are considered the tastiest in the world due to the specific salinity and current of the water. Packing a box of Hilsa in thermocol and ice to take back home is a ritual for every visitor. Beyond the fish, the district is incredibly fertile. It is a major producer of Kachu (taro) and betel nuts. The villages are lush, often hidden behind thick groves of coconut and betel nut trees.
However, living in Chandpur means living with fear. The Meghna is known here as the 'Rakkhushe Meghna' or the hungry Meghna. River erosion has swallowed entire markets, mosques, and ancestral homes over the decades. The struggle to hold the line against the water is constant. Despite this, the people of Chandpur are known for being some of the most polite and hospitable in the country. There is a stereotype that people from Chandpur are trustworthy and make good in-laws, a reputation they guard fiercely. The district does not have heavy industry, which keeps the air relatively clean, but the river trade makes it a commercial heavyweight. It is a place where life floats on the water, rising and falling with the tide.