Sylhet,originally Srihatta, city, northeastern Bangladesh. It lies along the right bank of the Surma River. The most important town in the Surma River valley, it is connected by road and rail with Comilla, ChhātakChhatak, and Habiganj, by road with Assam and Meghālaya, IndiaMeghalaya (both in India), and by air with DhākāDhaka and several international destinations. Sylhet is known for its cane products and also produces tea, matchesfertilizer, and vegetable oilliquefied petroleum (propane) gas. There are also several handicraft cottage industries, including mat weaving and bamboo work. Tea estates southeast of Sylhet provide most of Bangladesh’s yield.

Constituted a municipality in 1878, Sylhet houses a medical college and several government colleges affiliated with the University of Chittagongis the home of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (1987) and several other government colleges. It was the capital of the 14th-century raja Gaur Gobind and later served as a Muslim cultural centre. Historic sites include the Shāh Shah Jalal Mosque and the tombs of several Muslim saints. Pop. (1991 prelim.2001) city146, 114,284247.