Jamalpur District

Jamalpur District (dhaka division) area 2115.16 sq km, located in between 24°34' and 25°26' north latitudes and in between 89°40' and 90°12' east longitudes. It is bounded by Meghalaya state of India, kurigram and sherpur districts on the north, tangail district on the south, mymensingh and Sherpur districts on the east, jamuna river, bogra, sirajganj and gaibandha districts on the west. Of the 17 districts of Dhaka Division Jamalpur district occupies the 6th position and it occupies the 33rd position among the 64 districts of Bangladesh.

Population Total 2292674; male 1128724, female 1163950; Muslim 2252181, Hindu 38832, Buddhist 15, Christian 985 and others 661. Indigenous communities such as garo, Bangshi, hajong, Hodi, Kurmi and Mal belong to this district.

Water bodies Main rivers: jamuna, old brahmaputra, banar, Jhinai; Kharka Beel, Kaiyer Beel, Chiradhuni Beel, Chilmari Beel, Kaludaga Lake, Ranipukur Dighi and Harishchander Dighi are notable.

Administration Jamalpur district was established in 1978. Of the seven upazilas of the district jamalpur sadar is the largest (489.56 sq km, it occupies 24.09% of the total area of the district) and bakshiganj is the smallest (204.30 sq km).

District
Area (sq km)	Upazila	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
						Urban	Rural
2115.16	7	6	68	745	1361	387869	1904805	1084	38.4

Others Information of District
Name of Upazila	Area (sq km)	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
Islampur	353.31	1	12	72	130	298429	845	30.1
Jamalpur Sadar	508.80	1	15	253	365	615072	1209	47.0
Dewanganj	267.51	1	8	42	166	258133	965	32.5
Bakshiganj	238.29	-	7	25	199	218930	919	33.1
Madarganj	225.39	1	7	104	119	263608	1170	33.0
Melandaha	258.32	1	11	132	199	313182	1212	35.7
Sarishabari	263.50	1	8	117	183	325320	1235	44.6

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Historical events Most notable historical events of district include fakir-sannyasi resistance (1772-1790), indigo resistance movement (1829), famine (1874), and construction of the railway lines (1899).

War of Liberation The Pak army, in collaboration with the local razakars, conducted heavy genocides in Jamalpur. On 21 June 1971, the Pak army killed 9 persons at the Shashan Ghat (cremation centre) on the bank of the Brahmaputra river of Jamalpur Sadar upazila. A battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on 31 July at Kamalpur Pak Army Base of Bakshiganj upazila causing heavy loss to the occupation army. 35 freedom fighters, including Captain Salahuddin Momtaz, Ahaduzzaman, Abul Kalam Azad were killed in this battle. Another battle was fought between the freedom fighters led by Sector Commander Col. abu taher and the Pak army on 13 November at Kamalpur of Bakshiganj upazila. In this battle Col Taher was seriously wounded. The well protected Pak military base at Kamalpur eventually fell in the face of heavy attack by the freedom fighters after 21 days on 4 December. In this battle 220 Pak soldiers under Captain Ahsan Malik surrendered to the freedom fighters. Mass graves at 33 places and a mass killing site at one place have been discovered in the district; a memorial monument has been built.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 38.4%; male 41.1%, female 35.9%. Educational institutions: university 5, college 39, technical college 9, homeopathy college 1, secondary school 185, technical school 7, primary school 820, satellite school 16, community school 19, madrasa 308. Noted educational institutions: Government Asheq Mahmud College (1946), Government Jaheda Safir Mahila College (1967), Madarganj AHZ Government College (1968), Islampur College (1970), Jamalpur Zilla School (1881), Jamalpur Government Girls' High School (1882), Pingna High School (1896), Singhajani Girls' High School (1901), Jharkata Multilateral High School (1907), Singhajani Multilateral High School (1918), Dewanganj Government High School (1919), Sarishabari Rani Nidmani Model High School (1920), Hazrabari High School (1926), Nandina Maharani Hemanta Kumari Pilot High School (1935), Balridia Primary School (1869), Pogoldia Primary School (1890), Pingna Madrasa.

Main sources of income Agriculture 65.50%, non-agricultural labourer 3.30%, industry 0.81%, commerce 11.88%, transport and communication 2.94%, service 5.76%,' construction 1.22%, religious service 0.19%, rent and remittance 0.30%' and others 8.10%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Janabangla, Pallir Alo; weekly: Sachetan Kantha, Purba Katha, Jamalpur Sambad, Janak, Jamalpur Satdin, Jagat, Nabatan, Jhenai, Urmee Bangla, Jamalpur Barta, Kalakal, Mukta Alo, Gangchil; literary periodicals: Patai Patai, Lok, Riddhi, chhande Jhinai, Mayukh (irregular); defunct: monthly Pallimangal (1922), Hanifi (1903), Jamalpur Barta, Pallibani, Silpa-Sahityapatra.

Folkculture Various kinds of folk songs are prevalent in the district. These include Gunaibibir Gan, Jari Gan of Khairun, Palagan of Rupvan, Panchali, Ghetu Gan and Meyeli geet (songs sung by women on the occasion of marriage and Gaye Holud festivals). In the rural areas, various folk games and sports are performed on competitive basis. These include bull fight, horse race, Moi (ladder) race, Lathi Khela (stick game); besides, during the rainy season boat races are arranged in the Jamuna river. The Garo community of the district perform dances on the 'Bigan Gala' festival.

Tourist spots Revenue office and Dighi of the Zamindar at Fulkocha and Mahiramkul (Melandaha Upazila), Neelkuthi at village Tartapara (nearly reined, in Madarganj Upazila), Narapara Fort (Sharishabari Upazila), Radhanath Jeu Mandir, Sholakuri Hill at Nandina, Ranipukur Dighi at Sreepur, Harish Chandra Dighi at Chandra (Jamalpur Sadar Upazila), Kuthibari of Pradyut Thakur (Islampur Upazila), garo hills (Bakshiganj Upazila). [Samar Pal]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Jamalpur District 2007; Cultural survey report of upazilas of Jamalpur District 2007.