For over two centuries, the iconic Kutubdia Lighthouse has guided sailors with its unwavering light. Built-in 1822, the lighthouse stands 40 miles from the mouth of the Karnaphuli River on Kutubdia Island.
Lighthouses serve as crucial navigation aids for sailors at night, helping them maintain their course and alerting them to the shallow coastal regions. The British government established the Chittagong port in 1860, making it suitable for ship navigation. It initially constructed two temporary jetties. However, ships had navigated the waters around Chittagong long before this.
Captain Hare oversaw the construction of the Kutubdia Lighthouse, which engineer J.H. Tugood designed and completed in 1846. The total construction cost was 4,428 rupees. Stone reinforced the lighthouse’s foundation, sustaining a 120-foot-high tower that continues to serve as a historic beacon for mariners.
By Rajin Saleh
