Central Railway Building

Central Railway Building
Central Railway Building
সেন্ট্রাল রেলওয়ে বিল্ডিং
	Central Railway Building
	Location within Bangladesh
Alternative names	CRB
General information
Status	Active
Location	Chittagong
Country	Bangladesh
Coordinates	22°20′31″N 91°49′18″E / 22.3419804°N 91.8215841°E
Completed	1872

Central Railway Building (CRB) is situated in the scenic hilly area of Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is the governing office for the general manager of Bangladesh Railway. The building was completed in 1872,^[1] it is one of the oldest buildings of the port city. To the east, across CRB Road, is Railway Hospital at CRB, built in 1994.^[2] There is a proposal to establish a 50-bed medical college at CRB and up-grade the existing Railway Hospital to 250 beds.^[3] There is a residential area for the railway officers surrounding it.

History[]

The Central Railway Building is one of the few remaining buildings that tell the history of two hundred years of British colonial rule in Chittagong. In 1760, the British rulers took over the control of Chittagong from Nawab Mir Qasim and ruled it until 1947 before the Partition of India. During their reign the British built several buildings to facilitate their administrative works and one of those buildings is CRB.^[4]

In popular culture[]

Pohela Boishakh celebration[]

Pohela Boishakh or Bengali New Year celebrated every year on the open stage called "Shireeshtala" at CRB area. This open stage surrounded by several old Albizia lebbeck trees, in Bengali it is called Shireesh.

Boli Khela a type of free hand wrestling, is organised every year at this place during the Bangla New Year festival. At the festival it is the centre of attraction for people of all ages.