Madaripur Sadar Upazila

Madaripur Sadar Upazila (madaripur district) area of 313.81 sq km, located in between 23°06' and 23°17' north latitudes and in between 90°01' and 90°15' east longitudes. It is bounded by shibchar and zanjira upazilas on the north, kalkini and kotalipara upazilas on the south, shariatpur sadar upazila on the east, rajoir upazila on the west.

Population Total 332020; male 171100, female 160920; Muslim 306534, Hindu 25279, Buddhist 71, Christian 22 and others 114.

Water bodies Main rivers: arial khan, kumar, Ghagor.

Administration Madaripur Sadar Thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1946.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	15	159	184	53688	278332	1058	69.3	41.0

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
13.99	9	33	53688	1542	69.25

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kalikapur 41	5186	8715	8277	38.91
Kunia 59	4096	8914	8706	29.46
Kendua 47	5989	12154	11311	38.94
Khoajpur 53	6386	12163	11239	32.56
Ghatmajhi 29	5547	14321	13322	52.91
Chilar Char 11	5371	9544	9232	34.25
Jhaudi 35	5363	12097	11304	40.49
Dudkhali 23	3733	8514	8451	47.35
Dhurail 17	3486	4124	4139	35.79
Panchkhola 77	6074	12448	11440	42.49
Pearpur 83	3332	7511	7222	48.82
Bahadurpur10	2635	5270	4791	33.71
Mustafapur 71	4513	12290	10913	41.27
Rasti 89	1852	8227	7545	47.98
Sirkhara 94	5380	7014	7134	43.21

Source  Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Kazibari Mosque at Algi (seventeenth century), Kulpadmi Durga Mandir, Mandir of Shashi Roy, Auliapur Neel Kuthi, Hazrat Shah Madar Dargah.

History of the War of Liberation On 24 April 1971 the Pak army killed Abdur Rashid Khan (Sub Jailer of Madaripur Sadar upazila) along with his entire family. A prolonged encounter (8 to 10 December) was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army near the Somaddar Bridge on the Madaripur Takerhat Road in which a number of freedom fighters and Pak soldiers were killed and wounded. In this encounter the Khalil Bahini captured 40 Pak soldiers including one Major and one Captain. During the war of liberation about 53 freedom fighters of the upazila were killed.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 3 (Kalagachhia, Bahadurpur and Mithapur).

Religious institutions Mosque 793, temple 12, tomb 1.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 45.87%; male 51.04%, female 40.42%. Noted educational institutions: Government Nazimuddin College (1948), Charmuguria College (1978), Government Sufiya Mahila College (1984), Syed Abul Hossain College (1989), Madaripur Public Institution (1953), Madaripur High School (1885), Donovan Government Girls' High School (1914), Mithapur LS High School (1915), Charmuguria Merchants High School (1931), United Islamia Government High School (1950), Tantibari Islamia High School (1954), AC North Kalagachhia High School' (1961), Ghatokchar Multilateral High School (1963), Bahadurpur High School' (1968), Julio Kuri High School (1972), Charnachana Fazil Madrasa (1912).

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Subarnagram (1998), Pranto (2001), Madaripur' News (2006), Bislashon (2009); weekly: Suprovat (1991), Shah Madar (1993), Shariatullah (1996). Ajkal (1999), Ganasachetanata (2006), Subarta' (2007); monthly: Jugachetona (1991), Poster (1991), Shanti Shamoyeki (1992), Jabol-e-Noor (2005); literary periodical: Shondipan, Kisholoy, Baishakhi, Canvas, Bornomala, Nabaprovat; defunct: Daily Diganta (1960), weekly janani Bangla (1972), weekly Madaripur Barta (1986), weekly Arial Khan (1989), fortnightly Balaronjika (1863).

Cultural organisations Library 13, women's organisation 3, cinema hall 4, cultural organisation 14.

Tourists spots Kazibari Mosque at Algi, Shokuni Lake, Hazrat Shah Madar Dargah, Charmuguria Port, Auliapur Neelkuthi, Mithapur Zamindar Bari.

Main sources of income Agriculture 52.26%, non-agricultural labourer 3.03%, industry 0.94%, commerce 18.01%, transport and communication 3.26%, service 9.99%, construction 1.78%, religious service 0.16%, rent and remittance 0.86% and others 9.71%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 66.77%, landless 32.93%; agricultural landowner: urban 42.93% and rural 71.68%.'

Main crops Paddy, jute, mustard, pulse, wheat, onion, sweet potato.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Betel leaf, watermelon.

Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, papaya, coconut, betel nut, banana.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage.

Noted manufactories Jute mill 2, ice factory 3, flour mill 5, biscuit factory 5.

Cottage industries Blacksmith, potteries, wood work, nakshi kantha.

Hats, bazars and fairs Madaripur Hat, Charmuguria Hat, Habiganj Hat, Kulpadmi Hat, Kendua Hat, Madra Hat, Khoajpur Hat, Ghatmajhi Hat, Durga Puja Mela, Fatik Shadhu Mela and Kalagachhia Mela are notable.

Main exports Jute and jute made products, betel nut.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 44.91% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 88.81%, tap 5.35%, pond 2.54% and others 3.29%. The presence of arsenic has been detected 78.84% of the tube-well water of the upazila.

Sanitation Rural 27.27% and urban 17.06% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and rural 69.86% and urban 15.98% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 11.51% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Government hospital 1, clinic 10, tuberculosis hospital 1, diabetic association 1, health and family planning centre 13.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, CARE, asa, Swanirvar Bangladesh. [Kazi Nazmul Islam]

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