city, south-central Bangladesh. It lies in the Meghna (Meghna River)-Padma (Padma River) River delta on the Kirtonkhola, an offshoot of the Arial Khan River. Incorporated as a municipality in 1876, it is a trade centre, most notably for rice, jute, and fish. It is linked by ship with Dhaka, about 73 miles (117 km) to the north, Chittagong to the southeast, and Khulna to the southwest. Barisal is home to several government colleges, including the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, as well as dozens of private higher-education institutions. Barisal gives its name to a curious natural phenomenon known as the Barisal guns, thundering noises heard in the delta and apparently coming from the sea. The sounds have not been satisfactorily explained but may have a seismic origin. Pop. (2001) 192,810.