Tangail Sadar Upazila

Tangail Sadar Upazila (tangail district) area 301.84 sq km, located in between 24°10' and 24°22' north latitudes and in between 88°46'and 89°59' east longitudes. It is bounded by kalihati upazila on the north, nagarpur and delduar upazilas on the south, basail upazila on the east, belkuchi and chauhali upazilas on the west.

Population Total 438765; male 224982, female 213783; Muslim 404762, Hindu 33871, Buddhist 81, Christian 21 and others 30.

Water bodies Main rivers: jamuna, dhaleshwari, Lohajang.

Administration Tangail Sadar Thana was formed in 1962 and it was turned into an upazila in 1984. Tangail Municipality was formed in 1887.

Upazila

Municipality

Union

Mouza

Village

Population

Density (per sq km)

Literacy rate (%)

Urban

Rural

Urban

Rural

1

63.1

34.92

Municipality

Area (sq km)

Ward

Mahalla

Population

Density (per sq km)

Literacy rate (%)

29.43

63.1

Union

Name of union and GO code

Area (acre)

Population

Literacy rate (%)

Male

Female

Karatia 59

51.82

Kakua 71

22.22

Katuli 65

30.70

Gala 41

38.92

Gharinda 47

39.97

Danya 39

42.35

Porabari 90

32.01

Baghil 37

35.43

Magra 77

34.24

Mahamudnagar 20

24.42

Silimpur 83

37.74

Hugra 53

29.25

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Santosh Zamindar Bari, Karatia Zamindar Bari.

Historical events During the period from 6 to 10 Febrary 1957 the Council Conference and cultural functions of the Awami Muslim League were held at Kagmari of the upazila. In the history, this conference is known as the kagmari conference. During the war of liberation about 17000 freedom fighters under Bangabir Kader Siddiqui fought against the Pak army in this upazila.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site 1 (at a place adjacent to the water tank on the northern side of the Deputy Commissioner's office), martyrs' memorial 1.

Religious institutions Karatia Jami Mosque and Chandra Narayan Das Math are notable.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.4%; male 49.8%, female 38.7%. Educational institutions: university 1, university college 1, college 7, primary teachers training institute (PTI) 1, polytechnic institute 1, secondary school 47, primary school 147, madrasa 1. Noted educational institutions: [[Maulana Bhasani Science and Technology University|maulana bhasani science and technology university (1997), Institution School and College (1900), Government Sadat University College (1926), Kumudini Government College (1943), Government Maulana Mohammad Ali College (1968), Major General Mahmud Hasan College (1989), Lion Nazrul Islam College (1993), Tangail Polytechnic Institute (1987), Pathrail Bangla School (1862), English Medium School (1870), Government Bindubashini Boys'; High School (1880), Government Bindubashini Girls'; High School (1882), Porabari High School (1896), Tangail Sibanath High School (1907), BS Bisweswari High School (1926), Rokeya Senior Fazil Madrasa (1925).

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Deskatha, Mufassal (1987), Majlumer Kantha (1995), Lokkatha, Ajker Telegram, Nagarik Kantha; defunct weekly: Tangail Hitoishi (1890), Naba Mihir (1891), Probaho (1914), Durbin (1947), Janata (1954), Joy Bangla (1971), Purbakash (1994), Lohajang, 'Khamos, Mou Bazar, Bidrahi Kantha, Parjukti, Mul Srata, Tangail Barta; defunct fortnightly: Ahmadi, Hitakari (1892), Rayat(1936); defunct monthly: Naba Yug (1890), Naba Bidhan (1890), Prajasakti (1931), Balark (1970).

Cultural organisations Library 1, club 4, shilpakala academy, sports club 1, cinema hall 6, theatre stage 1 (Bhasani Hall), theatre group 2, women organisation 1, playground 20, literary society 3, cultural society 3.

Main sources of income Agriculture 36.81%, non-agricultural labourer 3.66%, industry 1.91%, commerce 19.09%, transport and communication 7.14%, service 12.18%, construction 2.14%, religious service 0.20%, rent and remittance 1.51% and others 15.36%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 55.95%, landless 44.05%; agricultural landowner: urban 47.27% and rural 59.52%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, mustard, wheat, potato, sugarcane, ground nut, maize, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Varieties of pulse, china, linseed, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger, coriander.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, plum, papaya, wood apple.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 16, poultry 200. This upazila has a number of dairies.

Communication facilities Pucca road 91.69 km, mud road 254.94 km. Bridge-culvert 287.

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

Noted manufactories Flour mill, ice factory, rice mill, oil mill, pulse mill, chira mill, biscuit factory, engineering workshop, book binding factory, pipe factory, soap factory, aluminum factory.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, weaving, bidi factory, embroidery, brass and bell metal work, bamboo work, wood work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 22, most noted of which are Karatia Hat, Pala Hat, Pashbaithor, Suruj Hat, Porabari Hat, Jugan Hat, Panchani Bazar, Chayani Bazar, Baghil Bazar and Bhuter Mela (Shibpur).

Main exports Milk and milk products, cotton sari, jute, leather, sugarcane molasses, mustard.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 39.77% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 89.47%, tap 4.54%, pond 0.19% and others 5.80%.

Sanitation 40.26% (rural 25.27% and urban 76.71%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 53.78% (rural 67.29% and urban 20.95%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 20.95% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Hospital 4, clinic 2, upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 17, satellite clinic 5.

Natural disasters Many people of the upazila were victims of the famine of 1943.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, asa, CARE. [Nazrul Islam]

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