The city was once called the Venice of the East or the Venice of Bengal. Barishal is known for its extensive network of rivers and waterways, which play a crucial role in local transportation.

Barisal municipality was established in 1876 during the British rule in India and upgraded to City Corporation on 25 July 2002. Barisal is Bangladesh's third largest financial hub after Dhaka and Chittagong. The city consists of