Gabtali Upazila

Gabtali Upazila (bogra district) area 239.61 sq km, located in between 24°46' and 25°01' north latitudes and in between 89°22' and 89°33' east longitudes. It is bounded by shibganj (bogra) and sonatala upazilas on the north, dhunat upazila on the south, sariakandi upazila on the east, bogra sadar and shahjahanpu upazilas on the west.

Population Total 319588; male 159186, female 160402; Muslim 300025, Hindu 19558 and others 5.

Water bodies Main rivers: ichamati, bangali, Sukhdaha; Katalahar, Dumar, Charar and Unchuki beels are notable.

Administration Gabtali Thana was formed in 1914 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.'

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	11	104	211	21455	298133	1334	60.3	45.6

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
10.80	9	21	21455	1987	60.3

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kagail 47	3953	11614	11614	41.9
Gabtali 33	3030	7783	7783	63.5
Dakshinpara 17	4064	9360	9360	43.8
Durgahata 27	6649	16779	16779	44.4
Nasipur 67	4349	10338	10338	41.9
Naruamala 61	4400	12171	12171	56.1
Nepaltali 74	7551	20755	20755	49.3
Balia Dighi 6	5404	12303	12303	41.0
Mahishaban 54	5785	16714	16714	45.5
Rameshwarpur 81	4324	13524	13524	39.4
Sonarai 88	7034	17244	17244	40.8

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Kalimandir and Mahashashan (1757 AD, Amtali village), Mosque and Tomb of Madar Shah Gazi (Baghbari village).

Historical events The people of this upazila actively participated in the wahabi movement and the khilafat movement.

War of Liberation In 1971 the Pak army, in collaboration with the local Biharis and the razakars, brutally killed the innocent people of the upazila. During the war of liberation the Pak army established a military camp at Gabtali. On 15 November an encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held at village Daripara under Balia Dighi union in which one Muktijoddha Group Commander was killed. A number of innocent people were killed in an encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army to take control over the Railway Bridge at village Joybhoga. On 13 December the Pak army killed two innocent persons on their way to retreat; in retaliation the freedom fighters attacked them and it turned into a direct encounter in which one Pakistani soldier was killed. In an encounter between four Pakistani soldiers (hiding out in the bushes of village Khudraperi) and the freedom fighters on 16 December four Pakistani soldiers and one freedom fighter were killed.

For details: see গাবতলী উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৩।

Religious institutions Mosque 455, temple 21.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 46.6%; male 48.9%, female 44.3%. Educational institutions: college 9, secondary school 39, primary school 379, community school 2, madrasa 30. Noted educational institutions: Kagail Karunakanta High School, Sondabari Darul Hadith Rahmania Madrasa (1700).

Newspapers and periodicals Britta (art and literary magazine) and Doansh (literary magazine).

Cultural organisations Club 16, theatre 1, cinema hall 2, women's organisation 2, playground 38.

Main sources of income Agriculture 63.27%, non-agricultural labourer 2.40%, industry 0.99%, commerce 13.66%, transport and communication 5.40%, service 5.07%, construction 1.65%, religious service 0.15%, rent and remittance 0.71% and others 6.70%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 58.15%, landless 41.85%; agricultural landowner: urban 57.47% and rural 58.16%.

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

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Bona aman and aus paddy, sweet potato, sesame, kaun.

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

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

Communication facilities Pucca road 195 km, semi-pucca road 2 km, mud road 336 km; railway 10 km; railway station 2.

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

Noted manufactories Food and cold drinks industry, ice factory.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, weaving, potteries, embroidery, bamboo work, wood work, cocoon production centre.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 25, most noted of which are Naruamala Hat, Tarani Hat, Sukhanpukur Hat, Pirgachha Hat, Baiguni Hat, Perir Hat, Dakumara Hat, Golabari Bazar and Poradaha Mela.

Main exports Banana, jute, potato, vegetables.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 46.2% of the dwellings have access to electricity.

Natural resources Oil mine has been detected at village Tallatala of the upazila.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 98.0%, tap 0.3% and others 1.7%. The presence of arsenic has been traced in the shallow tube-well water of the upazila.

Sanitation 65.1% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 25.0% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 9.9% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 8, satellite clinic 6.

NGO activities brac, asa, thengamara mahila sabuj sangha, CDS. [Sarkar Abdul Hai]

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