This article is about the city. For the division, see Khulna Division. For the district, see Khulna District. For the subdistrict, see Khulna Kotwali Thana.Khulna is the headquarters of Khulna District and the principal city of Khulna Division. It is located in the southernwest area of Bangladesh and situated on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab River. The River port of Khulna is one of the oldest River port in Bangladesh.Khulna is the 3rd largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and Chittagong. Often referred to as Industrial City, it is one of the important industrial and commercial areas of the country. It has a Sea port named Mongla on its outskirts, 48 km south from Khulna city which is the 2nd seaport in Bangladesh. Khulna is also the gateway of Sundarban. Sundarban is referred to as the largest tidal forest in the whole world.The population of the city was 1,000,000 in 2007 estimation. The wider Statistical Metropolitan Area had at the same time an estimated population of 1,435,422.The city is 333 km southwest from the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, a 133 km beeline. To which it is connected by road, air, railway and waterways. The steamer fleet for this route includes the ancient ships Tern, Osrich and Lepcha.
