Abhaynagar Upazila

Abhaynagar Upazila (jessore district) area 247.19 sq km, located in between 23°07' and 23°15' north latitudes and in between 89°18' and 89°34' east longitudes. It is bounded by jessore sadar and narail sadar upazilas on the north, khan jahan ali thana, dumuria, dighalia and phultala upazilas on the south, Narail Sadar and kalia upazilas on the east, Jessore Sadar and manirampur upazilas on the west. Although in administrative record this region is named Abhaynagar, locally it is mostly known as Noapara.

Population Total 232162; male 120069, female 112093; Muslim 183086, Hindu 48785, Buddhist 276 and others 15.

Water bodies Main rivers: bhairab, chitra; beel dakatia, Singra beel, Kurakhali beel and Majul canal are notable.

Administration Abhaynagar Thana, now an upazila was formed on 16 March, 1875. Noapara Paurasabha was established on 16 October, 1996.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1 (Noapara)	8	89	106	73006	159156	939	60.14	50.50

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
25.11	9	20	73006	2907	60.14

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Chalishia 52	7419	8227	7932	49.42
Payra 42	6193	8349	8082	53.40
Prambag 21	8861	10437	9718	50.97
Baghutia 10	5679	10158	9564	50.58
Subha Para 84	8517	11488	10898	49.85
Sreedharpur 73	8515	14117	13690	47.00
Siddhipasha 63	7912	12677	11943	52.66
Sundoli 27	303	6118	5758	51.93

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001,Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Khan Jahan Ali Jami Mosque (Subha Para), Noapara Kali Temple, Siddhipasha Rajbari, tank and temple, 11 Duari Mandir, Madhayapur Neelkuthi, Sreedharpur Zamindar Bari, Khan Jahan Ali Dighi (Basuari), Rupsonatan Dham (Ramsara).

History of the War of Liberation On 27 March 1970 a number of railway staff were shot dead by Pak army in the office room of Noapara Railway Station. Besides, 17 freedom fighters including Nazibor Rahman, Assistant Secretary of bangladesh awami league, were killed by the Pak army during the War of Liberation.

Religious institutions Mosque 227, temple 66, church 2, tomb 3 and sacred place 2.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 53.55%; male 59.05%, female 47.69%. Educational institutions: college 10, secondary school 73, primary school 107, community school 3, ngo school 15, madrasa 35. Noted educational institutions: Noapara College (1964), PB Secondary School (1903), Rajghat-Jafarpur Secondary School (1916), Mohishati High School (1918), Noapara-Sankarpasha Secondary School (1918), Noapara Pilot Girls' School (1962), Noapara Madrasa.

Newspapers and Periodicals Monthly: Mukul; Weekly: Mukti, Uddipan. Noapara Jamania Art Press played a remarkable role in the cultivation of art and culture in the region. The first monthly magazine Mukul, edited by Poet Nasiruddin Ahmed, was published from press.

Cultural organizations Library 2, club 22, theatre stage 1, cinema hall 3, literary society 3, theatre group 7, playground 32.

Main sources of income Agriculture 44.38%, non-agircultural labourer 5.76%, industry 2.39%, commerce 15.25%, transport and communication 4.27%, service 18.18%, construction 1.66%, religious service 0.17%, rent and remittance 0.53% and others 7.41%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 58.92%, landless 41.08%; agricultural land owner: urban 41.78% and rural 67.14%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, potato, garlic, onion, mustard, betel nut, brinjal, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, sesame, barley, arahar.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, litchi, blackberry, papaya, watermelon, coconut.

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

Communication facilities Roads: pucca road 88.89 km, semi-pucca road 75 km and mud road 402 km; waterways 8 nautical miles; railways 13 km. Noted riverport: Noapara. At present, this riverport is used to operate about 40 vessels/ burges for carrying goods daily.

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

Manufactories Jute mill, textile mill, rice mill, paper mill, leather factory, cement factory, salt factory and ice factory. Noted manufactories: Bengal Textile Mill, Raj Textile Mill, JJI Jute Mill, Noapara Jute Mill, Purbachal Jute Industry, SAF Industry, Enayet Paper Industry.

Cottage industries goldsmith, blacksmith, weaving.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 22, fairs 6. Notable hats and bazars are Noapara, Chengutia, Magura, Vatpara, Gabindopur, Sundoli, Mohishati, Harishpur, Siddhipasha, Arpara, Payra, Ramsara, Nauli, Bhangagate, Chaki, Amtola, Prembagh and Dhopadi Natun Bazar.

Main exports Coconut, banana, jute, date molasses, watermelon and betel nut.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under electrification network; however, 46.39% dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 92.93%, pond 0.59%, tap 0.93% and others 5.54%.

Sanitation 40.27% (urban 58.91% and rural 31.32%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 46.90% (urban 33.67% and rural 53.25%) of dwelling houses use non-sanitary latrines; 12.83% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, union health and family planning centre 8, satellite clinic 4.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, CARE, RRC, Gonosaharjo Sangstha, Palli Unnayan, Ashar Alo Sangstha. [Md. Saifur Rahman]

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