Kalapara Upazila

Kalapara Upazila (patuakhali district) area 491.89 sq km, located in between 21°48' and 22°05' north latitudes and in between 90°05' and 90°20' east longitudes. It is bounded by amtali upazila on the north, bay of bengal on the south, Rabnabad Channel and galachipa upazila on the east, Amtali upazila on the west.

Population Total 237831; male 120514, female 117317; Muslim 225345, Hindu 11125, Buddhist 1196, Christian 145 and others 20. Indigenous community such as rakhain (104 families, 474 population) belongs to this upazila.

Water bodies Main rivers: Andharmanik, Nilganj, Dhankhali.

Administration Kalapara Thana was formed in 1921 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
2	11	57	239	35354	202477	484	65.3 (2001)	68.2

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
3.75 (2001)	18	34	26509	4335 (2001)	47.5

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
15.74 (2001)	3	8845	464 (2001)	75.1

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Chakamaiya 11	8496	8157	8315	52.9
Tiakhali 83	8126	7213	7129	46.2
Dalbuganj 15	6004	5280	5641	50.9
Dhankhali 55	9948	13025	13048	45.2
Dhulasar 29	12713	9189	9054	38.9
Nilganj 71	15648	14163	14856	62.6
Baliatali 10	11148	7948	8344	47.6
Mithaganj 59	7348	5789	5798	45.8
Mohipur 23	7025	11586	9300	56.4
Latachapli 47	15544	13327	12598	53.5
Lalua 35	9528	10907	10655	40.3

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Statue of Gautam Buddha installed at Keranipara Old Buddhist Bihara (believed to be the largest Buddha statue in Asia), Kuakata Buddhist Vihara.

War of Liberation Freedom fighters had a number of small encounters with Pak army at different locations of the Kalapara upazila and notable among these was the one at the Kalapara thana. Kalapara was liberated on 7 December 1971.

For details: see কলাপাড়া উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ২।

Religious institutions Mosque 290, temple 45, pagoda 4, church 2, Buddhist Vihara 8, tomb 1. Noted religious institutions: Kalapara Jami Masjid, Kuakata Buddhist Vihara, mazar of Pir Bashiruddin at Kalapara.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 52.0%; male 52.6%, female 51.5%. Educational institutions: college 7, secondary school 39, primary school 150, madrasa 26. Noted educational institutions: Mozaharuddin Bishwas College (1977), Dhankhali College (1994), Kuakata College (2001), Khepupara Secondary School (1928), Dhankhali MU Secondary School (1952), Khepupara Girls' Secondary School (1963), Mahipur Co-operative Secondary School (1967), Kalapara Nechharuddin Senior Madrasa (1965).

Cultural organisations Library 1, women society 1, theatre stage 1, cinema hall 4, community centre 14, playground 22.

Important installations and tourist spots kuakata, the second largest tourist centre of the country, is located on the southern extremity of the upazila. Both sun rise and sun set can be viewed from the 18 Km long Kuakata sea beach. The average breadth of the beach is about 3 to 3.5 km. The Shutki (dried fish) Palli is located 7 km on the west of Kuakata. During the winter season verities of sea fishes are collected at Shutki Palli and are processed there. Dry fish is exported in different parts of the country from this Palli. Besides, to attract the tourists there are Sea Fish Museum, Bura Gauranga Sea Chanel, Kuakata Sima Buddhist Bihara, statue of Buddha, Rakhain Palli, Narikel Bithi (series of coconut trees), Jhouban (tamarisk trees), Fatrar Char (mangrove), Gangamatir Char, Rash Mela, Lembur Char, etc.

Main sources of income Agriculture 57.23%, non-agricultural labourer 4.80%, industry 0.43%, commerce 13.50%, transport and communication 2.14%, service 4.56%, construction 1.36%, religious service 0.21%, rent and remittance 0.20% and others 15.57%.

Main crops Paddy, pulse, potato, vegetables.

Main fruits Banana, papaya, coconut, guava, plum, nut, water-melon.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries This upazila has a number of shrimps, dairies, poultries and hatcheries.

Communication facilities Pucca road 69 km, semi-pucca road 106 km, mud road 78 km; waterway 222 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Flour mill, rice mill, ice factory, saw mill, match factory.

Cottage industries Weaving, bamboo and cane work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are about 50, fair 1, most noted of which are Kalapara Hat, Mahipur Hat and Rash-purnima Mela at Kuakata.

Main exports Paddy, Hilsa fish, dried sea fish.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under electrification net-work. However 31.6% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Natural resources Fishery and forestry.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 97.6%, tap 1.4% and others 1.0%.

Sanitation 70.9% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 24.9% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 4.2% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Sanitation 34.60% (rural 30.01% and urban 70.17%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 60.01% (rural 65.45% and urban 26.58%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 5.39% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 1, family planning centre 9, clinic 1.

Natural disasters Many people were victims of the devastating cyclones of 1822, 1960 and 1979, and the flood of 1876. They also caused heavy damages to settlements, livestock and other properties of the upazila.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, caritas, asa, CODEC. [Ekramul Kabir]

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