Barisāl (also spelt Barisal) is located in south-central Bangladesh. Formerly a district called Bakerganj, it is now one of the 6 divisions of Bangladesh. The town lies in the Ganges (Padma) River delta on an offshoot of the Arial Khan River (Kirtonkhola). The Barisal town was under the control of the Roychoudhury family, which now has moved to Calcutta. Incorporated as a municipality in 1876 and upgraded to city corporation in 2002, it is a trans-shipment center for rice, hides, and pulses. Bakery, textile, Pharmaceutical products are output of a few industrial installation. It is linked by steamer with Dhaka (73 miles [117 km] north) and with Chittagong to the southeast. Road communication improved in last decade with building of few bridges. There is a medical college (Sher-e Bangla Medical College) affiliated with the National University. It also has a famous Cadet College - Barisal Cadet College (est. 1985) which has a number of record results on both HSC and SSC board exams.

Coordinates: 22°30 N, 90°20 E

Barisal Division with an area of 13297 sq km and surrounded by Dhaka Division on the north, bay of bengal on the south, Chittagong Division on the east and Khulna Division on the west. Main rivers are Agunmukha, Arial khan, Baleshwar, Bishkhali, Burishwar, Katcha, Kirtankhola, Haringhata, Paira, Tentulia.

Barisal Division was established in 1 January 1993. It consists of six districts, 38 upazilas, 353 union parishads, 3159 mouzas, 12 municipalities, 25 wards and 4163 villages. The districts are Barisal, Bhola, Jhalokati, Patuakhali, Pirojpur and barguna.