Photo: Md. T Mahtab, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
C.R.B (Central Railway Building)
About C.R.B (Central Railway Building)
C.R.B. stands for Central Railway Building. The red-brick headquarters was built in the British period for the Assam Bengal Railway, the line that linked the port of Chittagong with the tea gardens and towns of Assam. Today it is still the office of Bangladesh Railway’s East Zone, so you admire it from outside rather than going in.
The building is only part of the appeal. It sits among low hills, with winding roads, railway bungalows and some of the largest rain trees in the city. Locals come here to walk, jog and meet friends in the shade, and the open ground under the trees is one of Chittagong’s favourite places to celebrate Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year in mid-April, with music and colourful crowds.
It is an easy, relaxed stop that shows a greener side of Chittagong, and a good contrast to the noise of Fishery Ghat or the bazaars. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours often includes it on private city tours with a local guide, who can point out the colonial details.
Things to do
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See the railway headquarters
Look at the red-brick colonial building that still runs the railways of eastern Bangladesh.
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Walk under the rain trees
Stroll the shady hill roads among old trees, railway bungalows and quiet lanes.
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Join the New Year crowds
On Pohela Boishakh in mid-April the area fills with music, food stalls and people in red and white.
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Take photos
Late afternoon light on the brick and the trees makes this one of the city’s prettiest spots for pictures.
Getting there
From central Chittagong: 10 to 20 minutes by car or CNG auto-rickshaw. It is close to the Tiger Pass junction.
From Dhaka: fly or take the train to Chittagong, then continue by car.
Where to stay
Hotels around GEC Circle and Agrabad are a short drive away.
Tours that visit C.R.B (Central Railway Building)
Short Tours
Chittagong Heritage & Local Life Tour
from $200 per person
Questions
Can I go inside the Central Railway Building?
Generally no. It is a working railway office, so visitors enjoy the building and the grounds from outside.
What does C.R.B. stand for?
Central Railway Building, the headquarters of Bangladesh Railway’s East Zone.
How long do I need?
About 30 to 45 minutes for a relaxed walk around the area.
When is it busiest?
On Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year in mid-April, when it hosts one of the city’s biggest celebrations.