Saltha Upazila

Saltha Upazila (faridpur district) area 186.20 sq km, located in between 23°18' and 23°30' north latitudes and in between 89°43' and 89°53' east longitudes. It is bounded by faridpur sadar upazila on the north, muksudpur and kashiani upazilas on the south, nagarkanda upazila on the east and boalmari upazila on the west.

Population Total 167446; male 83098, female 84348; Muslim 156385 and Hindu 11061.

Water bodies Main rivers: kumar and Old Kumar; Ghugil Beel and Kagdir Beel are notable.

Administration Saltha Upazila was formed in 2006 and its administrative activities start in 2008.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
-	8	105	159	9535	157911	899	35.6	38.7

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
7.39	3	9535	1290	35.6

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Atghar 10	7020	11454	11648	43.3
Gatti 39	8492	16386	16070	39.6
Ballabhdi 11	5185	9315	9424	42.4
Bhawal 16	4755	9968	10388	31.6
Majhardia 61	4800	8729	8834	34.0
Jadunandi 44	5421	8354	8704	37.6
Ramkantapur 78	4066	8555	8601	42.2
Sonapur 89	5272	10337	10679	36.6

Source  Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

War of Liberation In August 1971, the freedom fighters carried out an important operation in Faridpur town and in October, they blasted the Bakhunda Bridge on the Faridpur-Barisal road. They have later destroyed a fuel carrying ferry at the waters near the landing station at Goalanda. Many freedom fighters of Saltha took part in these operations.

For details: see সালথা উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ১০।

Religious institutions Mosque 180, temple 15.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 38.6%; Male 38.9%, female 38.2%. Educational institutions: college 2, secondary school 13, primary school 55, madrasa 5. Noted educational institutions: Saltha College, Saltha High School.

Cultural organisations Library 2, theatre group 3, playground 10.

Main sources of income Agriculture 82.34%, non-agricultural labourer 1.73%, industry 0.49%, commerce 6.12%, transport and communication 1.62%, service 3.19%, construction 0.88%, religious service' 0.23%, rent and remittance 0.17% and others 3.23%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 70.54%, landless 29.46%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, potato, onion, chilli, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, kaun, arahar.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, litchi, black berry, shaddock, coconut, papaya, banana, guava.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Dairy 70, poultry 50.

Communication facilities Pucca road 78 km, semi-pucca road 54 km, mud road 227 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin and bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Rice mill, welding factory.

Cottage industries Blacksmith, potteries, handicraft, bamboo and cane work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 25; most noted of which are Saltha Hat, Bhawal Bazar, Ramkantapur Bazar, Majhardia Bazar, Sonapur Bazar, Jadunandi Bazar, Atghar Bazar, Gatti Bazar, Bardia Bazar, Gourdia Bazar, Boalia Bazar, Nakulhati Bazar, Joykali Bazar.

Main exports Paddy, onion, chilli, vegetables.

Access to electricity All the unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 33.4% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 96.9%, tap 0.1% and others 3.0%.

Sanitation 75.1% dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 21.3% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 3.6% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres 'Family welfare centre 2, clinic 10.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa. [Rajib Mondal]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Field Report of Saltha Upazila 2007.'