Ghatail Upazila

Ghatail Upazila (tangail district) area 451.30 sq km, located in between 24°23' and 24°34' north latitudes and in between 89°53' and 90°15' east longitudes. It is bounded by gopalpur and madhupur upazilas on the north, kalihati and sakhipur upazilas on the south, fulbaria and bhaluka upazilas on the east, bhuapur and Gopalpur upazilas on the west.

Population Total 417939; male 205436, female 212503; Muslim 397992, Hindu 18883, Buddhist 20, Christian 38 and others 1006.

Water bodies Main rivers: bangshi, Jhenai, Lohajang; Sadhika Beel, Gaupchha Beel, Bara Beel and Ghatail Beel are notable.

Administration Ghatail Thana was formed in 1961 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	294	411	35245	382694	926	72.1	41.4

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
8.88	9	16	35245	3969	72.1

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Anehola 15	5698	12398	13267	45.0
Ghatail 60	3825	9897	10000	51.0
Jamuria 69	6641	14424	15132	50.4
Digar 51	6857	18045	19883	43.2
Digalkandi 43	6610	14082	15747	48.2
Deulabari 17	6427	17156	17827	46.6
Deopara 25	9685	11380	12320	39.6
Dhalapara 34	18523	26030	27191	30.7
Rasulpur 86	22308	27878	29150	34.1
Lakherpara 77	4556	11710	12122	45.2
Sandhanpur 94	18233	22846	24209	39.6

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Gala Jami Mosque (c. 1792).

War of Liberation During the war of liberation a Pakistan military cargo carrying arms and ammunitions was captured by the freedom fighters in an operation led by Habibur Rahman (Bir Bikram). In the battle that followed 25/30 members of the Pakistan army were killed. A total of 44 freedom fighters were killed in 9 major encounters and 31 minor encounters with the Pak army in the upazila. A memorial tower has been at Kumarpara of Makrai.

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

Religious institutions Mosque 508, temple 68, math 4, ashram 1, sacred place 1. Noted religious institution: Gala Jami Mosque.'

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.0%; male 47.6%, female 40.6%. Noted educational institutions: GBG University College (1969), Ghatail Cantonment Public School and College (1991), Pakutia Public School and College (1952), Brahmanshasan Mohila College, Ghatail Gana Pilot High School (1908), Gala Gana High School (1964).'

Newspapers and periodicals Defunct: Sathsanga Sambad, Monthly Ghatail, Rakamari, Antaranga, Gati, Gangchil, Jhinuk, Ghatail Porikkroma, Samoychitra, Weekly Ghatail, Sonar Kathi, Tok, Prodipan, Upattaka.

Cultural organisations Library 3, club 113, auditorium 1, cinema hall 6, theatre group 1, playground 12, women's cooperative society 60, musical academy 1, women's tailoring training centre 1, cultural society 3.

Tourist spots Deopara, Dhalapara, Sagardighi Pahar.

Main sources of income Agriculture 64.75%, non-agricultural labourer 2.37%, industry 0.86%, commerce 10.56%, transport and communication 3.90%, service 7.54%, construction 1.39%, religious service 0.16%, rent and remittance 1.42% and others 7.05%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 68.34%, landless 31.66%; agricultural landowner: urban 64.72% and rural 68.56%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, sugarcane, mustard, pulse, ginger, nut, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Sesame, linseed, wheat, garlic.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, pineapple, papaya, banana, blackberry, watermelon.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Dairy 62, poultry 170, satellite dairy farm 3,' artificial breeding centre 1, nursery 10, hatchery 1.

Communication facilities Pucca road 165 km, Semi-pucca road 4 km, mud road 669 km; bridge 460.

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

Noted manufactories Saw mill 55, rice mill 1, ice cream factory 9, bakery 5, printing press 2, brick field 38, spinning mill 1, wood made goods producing factory 145, steel made goods producing factory 15.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, bamboo work, cane work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 15, fairs 8, most noted of which are Ghatail, Deulabari, Shaliajani, Digar, Deopara and Sandhanpur hats.

Main exports Pineapple, jute, watermelon, banana, paddy.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 62.4% of the dwellings have access to electricity.

Natural resources Fish, wood, cocoon, candle, honey.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 94.0%, tap 2.2% and others 3.8%.

Sanitation 65.8% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 26.9% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 7.3% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 6, community clinic 55, EPI outreach centre 264, union health and family welfare centre 10, NGO operated clinic 2, clinic 5, veterinary hospital 1.

NGO activities brac, asa, proshika, Palli Unnayan Sangstha. [Muhammad Moniruzzaman]

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