[6] The port operates daily services between Dhaka and Barisal as well as most of the districts in southern part of the country including Chandpur, Narayanganj, Bhola, Laxmipur, Pirojpur and Barguna.

[9] The port of Barisal is an important hub of transportation system connecting different parts of Bangladesh through waterways.

It was turned into Barisal Bandar (port) during the British rule after the town committee was established in 1869 and achieved municipal status in 1876.

However, the port of Barisal project was left unimplemented for an unknown reason and only a half-bricked tin-shed structure was built in 1980.

[13][14][15] In March 2010, the Barisal river port development and modernization project started and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.