Tangail, Bangladesh

Capital City

This city of 180,144 people is a decidedly mixed bag. While Tangail boasts a high literacy rate of 86.24%, the bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the local government planning to expand the city's boundaries by over 130%. The humid subtropical climate brings a sweltering monsoon season, and the low-lying floodplain location near the Jamuna River means the risk of flooding is ever-present. For those able to navigate the red tape and weather the climate, Tangail offers a reasonably developed regional hub with good transportation links, but it's hardly the idyllic Bangladesh getaway.