Dhanbari Upazila

Dhanbari Upazila (tangail district) area 133.75 sq km, located in between 23°37' and 24°45' north latitudes and in between 90°10' and 90°00' east longitudes. It is bounded by jamalpur sadar upazila on the north, gopalpur and madhupur upazilas on the south, Madhupur upazila on the east, sarishabari upazila on the west.

Population 176068; male 85842, female 90226; Muslim 171319, Hindu 4663, Buddhist 2, Christian 35 and others 49. There are a few garo and koch population in this upazila.

Water bodies Main rivers: bangshi, Jhinai and banar; Dublai Beel and Hamil Beel are notable.

Administration Dhanbari thana was formed in 2000 and it was turned into an upazila in 2006. Dhanbari municipality was established in 1996.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	7	103	132	36125	139943	1316	52.3	41.9

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
25.63	9	25	36125	1409	52.3

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Dhanbari 47	6054	14775	15617	44.9
Dhopakhali 57	4040	11186	11767	40.6
Paishka 85	4510	10279	10873	42.5
Balibhadra 21	2773	6788	7110	44.2
Baniajan 25	3199	8469	8802	41.2
Birtara 38	3265	8936	9545	39.9
Musuddi 80	2881	7663	8133	37.9

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Dhanbari Mosque and Nabab Manzil.

War of Liberation Freedom fighters had encounters with Pak army at a number of places of the upazila and notable among them were those at Darichand Bari, Koyra-Charpara and Pankata. Besides, the freedom fighters had destroyed the road bridges at Hazrapara and Kuichamara and disrupted the supplies for enemy soldiers.

For details: see ধনবাড়ী উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৫।

Religious institutions Mosque 180, temple 3, church 6.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.0%; male 45.9%, female 42.2%. Noted educational institutions: Dhanbari Degree College (1967), Dhanbari Nawab Institution (1910), Panpata Islamia High School (1943), Paishka High School (1960), Fakir Afaj Uddin High School (1969).

Newspapers and periodicals 'Weekly Dhanbari Barta.

Cultural institutions' Public library 1, club 73, cinema hall 6, playground 29, theatre group 17, other cultural group 5.

Main sources of income Agriculture 77.37%, non-agricultural labourer 1.92%, industry 0.53%, commerce 7,71%, transport and communication 2,26%, service 0.65%, construction 0.18%, religious service 3.76%, rent and remittance 0.31% and others 5.31%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 44.68% (urban 32.27% and rural 50.74), landless 55.32%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, sugarcane, potato, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Pea, khesari, black gram, sweet potato, sesame.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, litchi, papaya.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries These upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 68.7 km, Semi-pucca 0.3 km, mud road 265 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Bullock cart, horse carriage, palanquin and dhuli.

Manufactories Rice mill, saw mill, bakery, wood made furniture.'

Cottage industries Weaving, goldsmith, potteries, blacksmith, bamboo & cane work, wood work, tailoring, limestone.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 20, fair 3, most noted of which are Dhanbari Hat, Paishka Hat, Dhopakhali Hat, Balibhadra Hat, Musuddi Hat and Dhanbari Baishahi Mela.

Main exports Jute, sugarcane molasses, potato.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work; however, 35.4% dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 96.6%, tap 0.3%, and others 3.1%.

Sanitation 27.0% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 63.0% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 10.0% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Satellite health centre 1, clinic 3, charitable dispensary 1, union health and family welfare centre 4.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are proshika, brac, SDS. [Sajida Begum]

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