Tangail Sadar Upazila

Tangail Sadar Upazila (tangail district) area 334.26 sq km, located in between 24°10' and 24°22' north latitudes and in between 88°46'and 89°59' east longitudes. It is bounded by kalihati upazila on the north, nagarpur and delduar upazilas on the south, basail upazila on the east, belkuchi and chauhali upazilas on the west.

Population Total 521104; male 260170, female 260934; Muslim 483976, Hindu 36957, Buddhist 26, Christian 128 and others 17.

Water bodies Main rivers: jamuna, dhaleshwari, Lohajang.

Administration Tangail Sadar Thana was formed in 1962 and it was turned into an upazila in 1984. Tangail Municipality was formed in 1887.

Upazila
Municipality Union Mouza Village Population Density (per sq km) Literacy rate (%)
Urban Rural Urban Rural
1 12 249 276 167412 353692 1559 71.8 43.9
Municipality
Area (sq km) Ward Mahalla Population Density (per sq km) Literacy rate (%)
33.80 18 64 167412 4953 71.8
Union
Name of union and GO code Area (acre) Population Literacy rate (%)
Male Female
Karatia 59 4699 23612 22877 58.9
Kakua 71 8712 13955 13305 31.8
Katuli 65 6652 14632 15179 33.0
Gala 41 4042 14123 14143 52.0
Gharinda 47 4908 15440 16377 45.1
Danya 39 4907 15363 16077 47.7
Porabari 90 3404 10835 10787 39.9
Baghil 37 5193 14989 15448 41.0
Magra 77 5717 15803 16306 43.6
Mahamudnagar 80 5675 9382 9775 36.0
Silimpur 83 4106 9932 10862 46.4
Hugra 53 8434 17363 17127 37.0

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Santosh Zamindar Bari, Karatia Zamindar Bari.

Historical events The Awami League held its Council Conference and cultural functions at Kagmari of the upazila during the period from 6 to 10 February 1957. The historic event is known as the kagmari conference.

War of Liberation During the war of liberation about 17000 freedom fighters led by Bangabir Kader Siddiqui fought against the Pak army in various places of the upazila. There is a mass killing site at a place adjacent to the water tank on the northern side of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and a martyrs' memorial in the upazila.

For details: see টাঙ্গাইল সদর উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৪।

Religious institutions Karatia Jami Mosque and Chandra Narayan Das Math are notable.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 53.1%; male 57.3%, female 48.8%. Educational institutions: university 1, university college 1, college 7, primary teachers training institute (PTI) 1, polytechnic institute 1, secondary school 47, primary school 147, madrasa 1. Noted educational institutions: Maulana Bhasani Science and Technology University (1997), Institution School and College (1900), Government Sadat University College (1926), Kumudini Government College (1943), Government Maulana Mohammad Ali College (1968), Major General Mahmud Hasan College (1989), Lion Nazrul Islam College (1993), Tangail Polytechnic Institute (1987), Pathrail Bangla School (1862), English Medium School (1870), Government Bindubashini Boys'; High School (1880), Government Bindubashini Girls'; High School (1882), Porabari High School (1896), Tangail Sibanath High School (1907), BS Bisweswari High School (1926), Rokeya Senior Fazil Madrasa (1925).

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Deskatha, Mufassal (1987), Majlumer Kantha (1995), Lokkatha, Ajker Telegram, Nagarik Kantha; defunct weekly: Tangail Hitoishi (1890), Naba Mihir (1891), Probaho (1914), Durbin (1947), Janata (1954), Joy Bangla (1971), Purbakash (1994), Lohajang, Khamos, Mou Bazar, Bidrahi Kantha, Parjukti, Mul Srata, Tangail Barta; defunct fortnightly: Ahmadi, Hitakari (1892), Rayat(1936); defunct monthly: Naba Yug (1890), Naba Bidhan (1890), Prajasakti (1931), Balark (1970).

Cultural organisations Library 1, club 4, shilpakala academy, sports club 1, cinema hall 6, theatre stage 1 (Bhasani Hall), theatre group 2, women organisation 1, playground 20, literary society 3, cultural society 3.

Main sources of income Agriculture 36.81%, non-agricultural labourer 3.66%, industry 1.91%, commerce 19.09%, transport and communication 7.14%, service 12.18%, construction 2.14%, religious service 0.20%, rent and remittance 1.51% and others 15.36%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 55.95%, landless 44.05%; agricultural landowner: urban 47.27% and rural 59.52%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, mustard, wheat, potato, sugarcane, ground nut, maize, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Varieties of pulse, china, linseed, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, coriander.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, plum, papaya, wood apple.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 16, poultry 200. This upazila has a number of dairies.

Communication facilities Pucca road 140.5 km, Semi-pucca road 3.58 km, mud road 322.75 km; railway 10 km, waterway 35 km. Bridge-culvert 287.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart, buffalo cart.

Noted manufactories Flour mill, ice factory, rice mill, oil mill, pulse mill, chira mill, biscuit factory, engineering workshop, book binding factory, pipe factory, soap factory, aluminum factory.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, weaving, bidi factory, embroidery, brass and bell metal work, bamboo work, wood work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 22, most noted of which are Karatia Hat, Pala Hat, Pashbaithor, Suruj Hat, Porabari Hat, Jugan Hat, Panchani Bazar, Chayani Bazar, Baghil Bazar and Bhuter Mela (Shibpur).

Main exports Milk and milk products, cotton sari, jute, leather, sugarcane molasses, mustard.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 65.2% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 89.2%, tap 9.3% and others 1.5%.

Sanitation 65.0% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 31.2% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 3.8% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Hospital 4, clinic 2, upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 17, satellite clinic 5.

Natural disasters Many people of the upazila were victims of the famine of 1943.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, asa, CARE. [Nazrul Islam]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Tangail Sadar Upazila 2007.