Jhenaigati Upazila

Jhenaigati Upazila (sherpur district) area 278.63 sq km, located in between 25°04' and 25°16' north latitudes and in between 89°58' and 90°08' east longitudes. It is bounded by Meghalaya state of India on the north, sherpur sadar and sreebardi upazilas on the south, nalitabari upazila on the east, Sreebardi upazila on the west.

Population Total 155067; male 78791, female 76276; Muslim 146153, Hindu 5435, Buddhist 3388 and others 91.

Water bodies Main rivers: Shomeshwari, Chilakhali, Malishi; Sonaikara Beel, Dholi Beel, Palka Beel, Bandhapole Beel, Baidadhanga Beel, Rurli Beel and Gur Canal are notable.

Administration Jhenaigati Thana was formed in 1975 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site 1, memorial monument 1.

Religious institutions Mosque 253, temple 38, church 11, tomb 1. Noted religious institutions: Khanbari Mosque and Tamagaon Mazar.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 33.44%; male 37.05%, female 29.73%. Noted educational institutions: Alhaz Shafiuddin Ahmed College (1986), DR. Serazul Hoque Technical and Agriculture Diploma Institute (2001), Tinani Adarsha College (1986), Jhenaigati Mahila Adarsha College (2002), Malijhikanda High School (1948), Ahmadnagar High School (1960), Jhenaigati Pilot High School (1961), Dighirpar Alim Madrasa (1962).

Cultural organisations Club 22, library 2, cinema hall 2, stadium 1, press club 1, playground 8.

Tourist spots Gazni Leisure Centre, Sandhyakura Rubber Garden, Mariam Nagar Mission, Ainapur Rubber Dam.

Main sources of income Agriculture 70.18%, non-agricultural labourer 3.57%, industry 0.69%, commerce 9.72%, transport and communication 3.09%, service 3.13%, construction 0.43%, religious service 0.17%, rent and remittance 0.18% and others 8.84%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 55.43%, landless 44.57%; agricultural landowner: urban 37.71% and rural 56.02%.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, potato, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, pulse, arahar.

Main fruits Jackfruit, banana, papaya.

Communication facilities Pucca road 50 km, mud road 225 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Flour mill, oil mill, welding factory, saw mill, ice factory.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, weaving, tailoring, wood and bamboo work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Jhenaigati, Dhanshail and Tinani hats are notable.

Main exports Paddy, banana, vegetables, stone, sand.

Access to electricity All the unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 6.24% of the dwelling households have access to electricity. '''

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 78.02%, pond 0.87%, tap 0.24% and others 20.87%. The presence of intolerable level of arsenic has been detected 65% in shallow tube-well water of the upazila.

Sanitation 38.77% (rural 37.75% and urban 69.28%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 35.03% (rural 35.52% and urban 20.37%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 26.20% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 7, union health and family welfare centre 4, satellite clinic 1.

Natural disasters Many people of the upazila died of small pox in 1974. Besides, the flood of 1988 caused heavy damages to settlements, livestock and crops of the upazila.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, ASA, caritas, proshika, World Vision, SDS. [Syed Marufuzzaman]

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