The objective of the study is to explore the factors affecting students’ English achievement at the secondary level in Narayanganj and in Bholaof Bangladesh. To identify these factors, data was collected from both primary and secondary sources; first-hand evidencewas assembled from the 10th grade secondary school students,Englishteachers, principals, guardians, community members and UpazillaEducation Officers in the Southeastern part of country,NarayanganjSadarUpazilla (sub-urban area) and Southern part of the country, BholaSadarUpazilla (rural part), following different research instruments such as observations, questionnaires and interviews. Eight secondary-level schools were chosen purposefully for collecting the oral and documentary evidence from two regions. Between the two areas, NarayanganjSadar is one of the industrial areas in the country, near the capital city of Dhaka. On the other hand, BholaSadar is one of the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Also 75 % of the county’s population resides in Bhola. Secondary data was collected by reviewing closely linked existing literatures as well as websites and other written documents. A number of semi-structured interviews were conducted in the written as well as recorded forms with every single stakeholder. Furthermore, a survey in the form of a questionnaire was conducted in a total of 8 schools, having distributed questionnaires on the random basis only among the students, English teachers and school principals during the study time, September-October, 2011. Inductive Thematic Analysis wasemployed to analyze the numeric interview data. The major findings of the study indicated that: in the case of English achievement, students in Bhola are weaker than the students in Narayanganj. In Bhola, they need trained English teachers and inNarayanganj, teachers expect a lower student to teacher ratio. It was revealed that 75% of English Teachers in Narayanganj also have more than 10 classes every week of English lessons while 50% in Bhola conducted less than 10 classes per week. They do not have adequate teaching-learning materials and aids, standard salary and social status, in particular. In Bhola, teachers factors and in Narayanganj school factors affecting students’ English achievement. It was recommended that each school, public and private, should appoint at least a couple of English teachers who are capable enough to teach English to all secondary-level students meticulously; reasonable teacher-student ratio should be 1:35. Tutors salaries and status should also be enhanced. Government and other stakeholders should give emphasis to providing need based support in Bholato increase the Englishachievementof the secondary level.