Sylhet

This article is about the city. For other uses, see Sylhet (disambiguation).

Sylhet সিলেট Jalalabad
Metropolis
Skyline City Point Keane Bridge and Ali Amjad's Clock Bandar Bazar Zindabazar Khadimnagar National Park Malnicherra Tea Garden Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Shah Jalal Dargah
Sylhet Location of Sylhet Sylhet Sylhet (Bangladesh) Sylhet Sylhet (South Asia) Sylhet Sylhet (Asia)
Coordinates: 24°54′N 91°52′E
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Sylhet Division
District	Sylhet
Municipal Board	1867
Sylhet City Corporation	9 April 2001
Metropolitan city	31 March 2009
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Sylhet City Corporation
• Administrator	Abdul Quiyum Choudhury
• City Council	42 constituencies
• Parliament	2 constituencies
Area
• Urban	58.74 km2 (22.68 sq mi)
• Metro	177.81 km2 (68.65 sq mi)
Elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Urban	712,288
• Urban density	12,130/km2 (31,410/sq mi)
• Metro	896,331
• Metro density	5,040.9/km2 (13,056/sq mi)
•	10th in Bangladesh
• Metro rank	10th in Bangladesh
Demonym	Sylheti
Languages
• Official	Bengali
• Regional	Sylheti
Time zone	UTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
Postal code	3100
Calling code	+880 821
National Calling Code	+880
Calling Code	0821
UN/LOCODE	BD ZYL
HDI (2023)	0.650 medium· 19th of 22
Police	Sylhet Metropolitan Police
International Airport	Osmani International Airport
Metropolitan Planning Authority	Sylhet Development Authority
Website	scc.gov.bd

Sylhet is a metropolitan city in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative centre for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as of 2025, the metro area population of Sylhet is estimated to be 1,033,000, reflecting a 3.4% increase from 2024. This makes it the third-largest urban area in Bangladesh.

Sylhet is known for its tea plantations and natural scenery. Sylhet is famous for the Ratargul Swamp Forest, one of the few freshwater swamp forests in Bangladesh. The region has been inhabited since ancient times, and since the city's establishment in the 14th century has been ruled by various dynasties including the Mughals, the British, and the Nawabs of Bengal. The city is also home to several important landmarks, such as one of the Islamic sites in Bangladesh, the Shah Jalal Dargah, which attracts thousands of pilgrims annually.

Sylhet is one of the most economically important cities in Bangladesh after Dhaka and Chittagong. A major commercial and financial centre, Sylhet is home to several multinational companies and industries, including the tea industry, which generates a significant amount of revenue for the city. Sylhet has diverse transport infrastructure, with a modern airport, railway station, and bus terminals that connect it to other parts of the country. The city also has several educational institutions, including Sylhet Agricultural University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Cadet College.