KHULNA

city, southwestern Bangladesh. Khulna lies along the Bhairab River. An important river port and produce collection and trade centre, it is connected by river steamer, road, and rail to the major cities of the southern Gangetic delta. Shipyards are located 3 miles (5 km) south, on the Kazibacha River. Forest products from the forest-and-swamp area known as the Sundarbans supply Khulna's industries, which include jute, oilseed, cotton-textile, paper, and board mills and match and newsprint factories. Khulna was constituted a municipality in 1884 and now houses Khulna University (founded 1987). The surrounding area occupies the south-central portion of the Gangetic delta between the Hooghly (India) and Meghna estuaries. The alluvial plain is intersected by silted-up rivers. Pop. (1991 prelim.) city, 601,051.