Kishoreganj District

Kishoreganj District (dhaka division) area 2731.21 sq km, located in between 24°02' and 24°39' north latitudes and in between 90°35' and 91°15' east longitudes. It is bounded by netrokona and mymensingh districts on the north, narsingdi and brahmanbaria districts on the south, sunamganj and habiganj districts on the east, gazipur and Mymensingh districts on the west.

Population Total 2594954; male 1320117, female 1274837; Muslim 2432664, Hindu 160492, Buddhist 256, Christian 11 and others 1531.

Water bodies Main rivers: old brahmaputra, meghna, Kalni, Ghorautra, Dhanu.

Administration Kishoreganj Sub Division was formed in 1860 under Mymensingh District and it was turned into a district in 1984. Kishoreganj Municipality was formed in 1869.'

District
Area (sq km)	Upazila	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
						Urban	Rural
2731.21	13	4	105	953	1794	356941	2238013	950	38.3

Others Information of District
Name of Upazila	Area (sq km)	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
Austagram	300.44	-	7	59	82	145552	484	37.4
Itna	503.40	-	9	93	128	151157	300	24.8
Katiadi	221.88	-	10	97	170	282297	1272	37.9
Karimganj	200.52	-	11	85	196	258266	1288	35.8
Kishoreganj Sadar	193.73	1	11	110	207	348382	1798	48.4
Kuliarchar	104.01	1	6	46	97	156592	1505	41.3
Tarail	136.88	-	7	75	114	153665	1123	33.3
Nikli	214.40	-	6	43	125	120105	560	23.9
Pakundia	180.52	-	10	97	172	237218	1314	48.2
Bajitpur	191.90	1	11	84	188	210375	1096	34.6
Bhairab	139.32	1	6	32	84	247166	1774	40.7
Mithamain	222.92	-	6	59	133	122200	548	31.9
Hossainpur	121.29	-	6	73	98	161979	1335	36.6

Source  Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

History of the War of Liberation In the middle of July 1971 the Pak army brutally killed about 50 persons at the cremation centre of Nikli upazila. On 14 August a battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army in Kuliarchar in which four Pak soldiers were killed and 28 razakars surrendered with arms and ammunitions to the freedom fighters. On 3 September, the Pak army in collaboration with the local razakars, brutally killed about 35 persons at village Ikardia of Austagram upazila. The Pak army also brutally killed 25 persons at village Savianagar of the upazila. The Pak soldiers brutally killed 25 innocent persons at village Shurui of Nikli upazila. A number of freedom fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pak army on 19 September in Nikli upazila and this upazila was liberated on 20 October. The freedom fighters liberated Bajitpur on 26 October. On 1 November, the Pak army killed 18 persons at village Dhubajura and 3 persons at village Telikhai of Mithamain upazila. On 18 November the freedom fighters destroyed a bridge near the Hossainpur Police Station by dynamite explosion. They also raided the razakar camp and captured 14 razakars with their arms and ammunitions. During the war of liberation the Pak army brutally killed about 360 innocent persons at Baraitala of Jashodal under Kishoreganj sadar upazila. The Pak army also killed 300 persons at Halgara of Bhairab upazila. The Pak army also destroyed the Bhairab Bridge on 13 December. The freedom fighters attacked the Hossainpur Police Station, killed 39 Pak soldiers and captured huge amount of arms and ammunitions. Besides, during the War of Liberation encounters were held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at different places including Kajla, Aila, Sakua, Baliabari of Karimganj upazila.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site 11 (Kishoreganj sadar 7, Nikli 1, Mithamain 1, Hossainpur 1, Bajitpur 1); martyr memorial 1 (Kishoreganj sadar); mass grave 1 (Itna); memorial plate 1 (Hossainpur); memorial sculpture 1 (Bhairab bus stand); memorial 1 (Bhairab).

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 38.3%; male 41.3%, female 35.1%. Educational institutions: university college 2, college 18, technical college 3, homeopathic college 1, teachers training college 1, secondary school 114, primary school 692, community school 13, kindergarten 19, satellite school 4, maktab 335, madrasa 144. Noted educational institutions: Kishoreganj Gurudoyal College (1943), Government Mahila College (1969), Kishoreganj Wali Newaz Khan College (1982), Alhaj Abdul Kuddus Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital (2002), Jangalbari High School (1862), Kishoreganj Government Boys' High School (1881), Bajitpur Hafez Abdur Razzaque Pilot High School (1890), Jawar High School (1903), Agarpur GC High School (1907), Kodalia Saharullah Islamia High School (1910), Achmita George Institute (1912), Banagram Ananda Kishor High School (1912), Azim Uddin High School (1916), Sararchar Sibnath Multilateral High School (1918), Gabindapur High School (1918), Bhairab KB Pilot High School (1919), Hossainpur Pilot High School (1920), Mangalbaria Kamil Madrasa (1802), Tutiarchar Mazharul Ulom Dakhil Madrasa (1903), Tarakandi Fazil Madrasa (1919), Auliapara Fazil Madrasa (1921), Goboria EU Fazil Madrasa (1923), Birabrula Adarsha Dakhil Madrasa (1928), Madkhala Fazil (Honours) Madrasa (1929).

Main sources of income Agriculture 60.18%, non-agricultural labourer 4.27%, industry 0.87%, commerce 15.24%, transport and communication 3.12%, service 5.29%, construction 1.19%, religious service 0.23%, rent and remittance 0.88% and others 8.73%.

Newspapers and periodicals Present: daily: Ajker Desh (1992), Shatabdir Kantha (2001), Ajker Saradin (2004), Kishoreganj (2006), Grihakon; weekly: Alor Mela (2003), Drishapat' 71 (2003), Alokito Kishoreganj (2005); monthly: Bhatir Darpan, Unmesh, Majlumer Dak, Bajitpur Samachar; quarterly: Dut; periodical: Sristi (1986), Subhechha, Suryatapa, Anirban; defunct: daily: 'Pratahik Chitra (1997), Ekushey Kagoj; weekly: Aryagaurava (1904), Kishoreganj Bartabaha (1924), Kandari (1972), Kishoreganj Barta (1974), Janabarta (1984), Prokash (1985), Shuruk (1986), Durbin (1986), Prativa (1952), Grambangla (1985), Sakal (1988), Kishoreganj Barta (1991), Kishoreganj Parikrama (1991), Manihar (1991), Kishoreganj Sangbad (1991), Kishoreganj Prabaha (1991), Kathbarta (1992),' Bibarani, Nirapekhha Aurunima, Ujan Srot, Dishari, Grambangla, Mafassal Chitra; fortnightly: Natun Patra (1962), Natun Desh (1981), Narasunda (1981), Bhairab; monthly: Akhtar (Urdu, 1926), Al Hasan (1992), Naydanda (1996). Kishoreganj Bulletin, Nabaankur; periodical: Suchana (1990), Shadhin Barta (1998), Isha Khan (1988-1991), Shahoser Podabali (1992) are also notable.

Folk culture Kishoreganj district maintains a huge collection of mymansingha gitika. The villages and haors mentioned in the palas (folk dramas) of Mymensingha Gitika belong to this district. The Bhatiali songs are regularly sung by the boatmen of the district. The Meyeli geet (women folk songs), folk tale, folk belief, pala songs, proverbs, riddle, sloka, rhymes etc of this district occupy a distinctive place in Bangla Literature. Various folk practices like offering shirney and voga (food items) in the mosque and temple, washing of materials with milk, 'frog marriage' expecting for rain, burning of straws as symbol of burning of the face of mosquito, jhar fook (folk treatment) for diseases like cholera and small pox, 'Shanirdasha' (influence of god Shani) on domestic cattle, recitation of the' mantra of Hirali for the protection of crops are in practice in the district. The old tradition of boat race in Nikli and Bajitpur upazilas is also notable. Besides, various folk games such as Gollachhut, Ha-du-du or Kabadi, horse race, Kanamachhi, playing with sticks, wrestling, boat race, bullock race, Solaguti (playing with 16 dice), Baghbandhi, Jor-bijor, picnic, Tokabhati' are still prevalent in some parts of the district. Various theatre groups also perform dramas in the district.

Important installations and tourists spots Bangladesh -UK Friendship Bridge (Bhairab), Bhairab Railway Bridge (Bhairab), solakia eid congregation (Kishoreganj Sadar), Botanical Garden at Bhairab (on the bank of the Meghna). [Hakim Arif]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Kishoreganj District 2007; Cultural survey report of Upazilas of Kishoreganj District 2007.