CRB, Chittagong (The oxygen hub of my city)

Thumbnail Image:- An open field area surrounded by century-old large trees.

Chattogram's CRB is a very beautiful and green place. When you go there, you can enjoy the peaceful air and natural beauty. I think it's the only place in the whole city where trees have not been cut down to build roads or big buildings. That's why the locals call it the "Oxygen Hub of Chattogram." The entire area is named after this place. From the important Tigerpass intersection, you can walk to CRB in just two minutes. The green spaces are open to the public 24/7, but the main administrative building has specific time 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.

A view from a slightly elevated road, like a hilly area.

If someone comes to CRB for the first time, they won't even realize they're in the city. It's completely different from the city's noise and feels like you've come to a hilly area. There are huge trees here that are hundreds of years old. There are big fields next to the peaceful roads, where people of all ages are always seen playing sports.

The CRB area is very large and open, so many people are seen jogging here. The parts of most of the trees are spread out, and they are so big that the ground below is always covered in their shade. For this reason, most people spend their free time sitting in the shade of the trees. You will be amazed by the size of the trees.

A cotton tree from a distance, with its branches providing shade all around.

The clean and less-congested winding roads of CRB.

There are many such big trees all around. The place is somewhat like a hilly area, with some roads built on it for cars to travel. There are several stairs to go from the bottom to the upper roads. I found the environment to be very beautiful and saw some large stairs.

The interesting thing is that students have drawn graffiti on the walls next to the stairs. On several occasions, industrialists tried to occupy this area and turn it into a residential area, but the public protested and did not let it happen. The students drew graffiti on the walls to convey their protest messages.

	Brick stairs to go up from the bottom
	Protest graffiti drawn by students

This place has a history. The full name of CRB is Central Railway Building. Many years ago, it was the headquarters of the Bangladesh Railway, and houses were built for the railway officers to live in. I went near the red-colored headquarters building, whose structure was very beautiful.

This headquarters was built by the British. It was built during the time of colonial rule. I was quite surprised by its design. Later, when all its operations were stopped, it was opened to the public as the CRB area.

The Railway Headquarters building built by the British government.

There is a place here where cultural events are held at different times of the year. The biggest cultural event, Pohela Boishakh (the first day of the Bengali New Year), is held here on a brick stage under a tree. This stage is used, and people from far away enjoy the event from all around. When a festival comes, this place is specially decorated.

Various cultural events are held on this stage every year.

The people who come here mainly come to enjoy the natural environment. Although there are no big restaurants nearby, there are many small food stalls. You will find a food stall every few steps. However, simple foods like chatpati, fuchka, soft drinks, peanuts, and tea are mostly sold here. These stalls are lined up along a very long path.

Targeting tourists, some vendors sell various items here. Many people come here with their families. For them, I have seen stalls selling bangles, bracelets, hair clips, and children's toys at low prices. The vendors know that they will not find customers for expensive items here, so they keep cheap and essential things.

Rows of "chatpati" and "fuska" stalls extending far into the distance.

Shops selling bangles, clips, and hair bands, which are essential for female customers.

The roads here are very beautiful. No heavy vehicles or city cars travel on these roads. They are separate from the main roads. Only visitors' vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, are seen traveling. Since the roads are in a hilly area, you can sit by the side of the road and enjoy the surrounding environment of CRB.

Now, this is the only place in the city of Chattogram where people can enjoy a peaceful environment away from the city's noise. Various cultural events and the history of some British-built structures have made this place special. For those who prefer a calm and quiet environment, CRB will be a great place.

Place	CRB, Chittagong
Place Type	Historical Site
Entry Fee	Free. There is no entry fee to visit the public areas of CRB
Location	Central Railway Building (CRB), C.R.B. Road, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Days Open	Everyday
Best Time to Visit	The morning and late afternoon
Visiting Hours	The green spaces are generally open to the public 24/7, but for CRB building 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Google Plus Code	Link
Atlas-Map	[//]:# (!steematlas 22.340837 lat 91.820359 long CRB, Chittagong d3scr)