Bhola Island

Bhola Island is the largest island of Bangladesh, located in the Meghna River estuary within Barisal Division. It is a broadly flat, deltaic island shaped by river and tidal processes and supports substantial farming and fishing communities.

The island’s landscape consists of interlaced rivers, tidal channels and agricultural land protected in places by coastal embankments and polders. Main human features are small towns and villages focused on agriculture, aquaculture and river transport, with Bhola town as the island’s principal administrative and market centre.

Bhola formed through ongoing riverine sedimentation in the Meghna delta and has long been important for regional fishing and agriculture; its low elevation means it is regularly affected by strong storms and high tides. Transport to and from the island is by road and ferry connections linking it to mainland river ports.

Bhola sits off the southern coast of Bangladesh in the Meghna estuary and is administered within Barisal Division.

• Country's largest island: It is the largest island of Bangladesh, formed in the Meghna river delta and characterised by a landscape of polders, rivers and coastal embankments.
• Cyclone vulnerability: The island is low-lying and has been vulnerable to cyclones and storm surge, which has shaped settlement patterns and infrastructure on the island.

What to See #

• Bhola town: Bhola town is the main urban centre on the island and serves as the administrative headquarters and transport hub for ferries and roads connecting the island to the mainland.