The corporation covers an area of over 58 square kilometers in the Barisal district where over five million people live as permanent residents.

The body was known as Barisal Municipality previously, until it obtained the city corporation status by a ministry of local government declaration on 25 July 2002.

To provide civil service and facilities to the inhabitants, Barisal Town Committee was formed in 1969 under Act VI of 1868 (B.C.)

It was then managed by a committee, of which the district magistrate was president, and was aided by government with establishment grants.

[2] The city corporation is run by a joint staff of elected public representatives and government officials.

Barishal City Corporation (BCC) has announced a budget of ৳442 crore (US$36 million) for 2023-24 fiscal year.