Port city
The descendants of the Portuguese are still to be seen in Chittagong. Most of them married local women and are known as Kala Firingis or Matia (earth coloured) Firingis. They are mostly Roman Catholic Christians. During the British period they enjoyed certain privileges and were given preference in appointments in certain institutions like the port and the railway and in clerical posts in government offices. An area in the city known as Firingi Bazar is said to be named after them. The most significant contribution of the Portuguese is the presence of many Portuguese words in the Bengali language which are in daily use till now. A few examples are - Anaras (pineapple), Pepe (papaya), Padri (clergyman), Fita (ribbon), Alpin (pin), botam (button), Chabi (key) etc.
Chittagong has been a seaport since ancient times. Arabs traded with the port from the 9th century AD. The Chittagong region was under the kingdom of Arakan during the sixth and seventh centuries. Before Muslim rule, Chittagong had been either under the control of the Arakans or under the kings of Burma. Sultan Fakruddin Mubarak Shah of Sonargaon conquered Chittagong in 1340. The explorer Ibne Batuta passed through Chittagong during his travels. After the defeat of Sultan Ghyasuddin Mahmud Shah at the hands of Sher Shah Suri in 1538, the Arakanese again captured Chittagong. From this time onward until its conquest by the Mughals this region was under the control of the Portuguese and the Magh pirates.
The Mughal Commander Umeed Khan expelled the Portuguese from the area in 1666 and established Mughal rule there. The Mughals renamed Chittagong as Islamabad. The city was occupied by Burmese troops shortly in the Anglo-Burmese War in 1824. During the period 1920-40, Chittagong became the main hub of revolutionary activities against the British Raj. The geographical position of Chittagong, on the southeast corner of a vast and scattered empire, made it ideal for such clandestine activities. The main mastermind of these activities was Surya Sen, known to common people simply as 'Masterda'. After some minor attacks on the Raj, the revolutionaries took control of the town on 18 April 1930. The revolutionaries captured the Chittagong armoury under the leadership of Masterda. The Indian republic was proclaimed with Surya Sen as the first president. The revolutionaries, however, failed to isolate the city, and reinforcement came quickly to the British. After 3 days the British were once again in control of the city. The revolutionaries were scattered, yet their operations continued. Even after the arrest and execution of Masterda (in Jan. 1934), the activities continued. A number of women were also involved. The leaders of the women revolutionaries were Pritilata Waddedar, Bina Das, Lila Ray, and Kalpana Dutta, among others. Finally, during the early 40's, as the battle in the Far East became very intense, Chittagong became a vital component of the defence of British India. The regular presence of British Army and Navy in the town made it difficult for the revolutionaries to carry on their activities. After more than two decades, Chittagong lost its revolutionary character.
In 1971, The Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh came from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra located at Kalurghat, Chittagong.
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