Dhanbari Upazila

Dhanbari Upazila (tangail district) area 143.82 sq km, located in between 23°37' and 24°45' north latitudes and in between 90°10' and 90°00' east longitudes. It is bounded by jamalpur sadar upazila on the north, gopalpur and madhupur upazilas on the south, Madhupur upazila on the east, sarishabari upazila on the west.

Population 151649; male 76819, female 74828; Muslim 148577, Hindu 2904 and others 45. There are a few garo and koch population in this upazila.

Water bodies Main rivers: bangshi, Jhinai and banar; Dublai Beel and Hamil Beel are notable.

Administration Dhanbari thana was formed in 2000 and it was turned into an upazila in 2006. Dhanbari municipality was established in 1996.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	7	75	168	30178	151647	1054	-	38.33

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Dhanbari 47	9070	14735	14006	35.94
Dhopakhali 57	4049	10306	9937	39.08
Paishka 85	6651	10326	10193	35.70
Balibhadra	2831	6929	6870	39.00
Baniajan	1237	2935	2842	41.07
Birtara 38	5227	14844	14408	41.92
Musuddi 80	5654	14207	14088	37.32

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Dhanbari Mosque and Nabab Manzil.

Religious institutions Mosque 180, temple 3, church 6.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 39.18%; male 39.79%, female 38.83%. Noted educational institutions: Dhanbari Degree College (1967), Dhanbari Nawab Institution (1910), Panpata Islamia High School (1943), Paishka High School (1960), Fakir Afaj Uddin High School (1969).

Newspapers and periodicals 'Weekly Dhanbari Barta.

Cultural institutions' Public library 1, club 73, cinema hall 6, playground 29, theatre group 17, other cultural group 5.

Main sources of income Agriculture 77.37%, non-agricultural labourer 1.92%, industry 0.53%, commerce 7,71%, transport and communication 2,26%, service 0.65%, construction 0.18%, religious service 3.76%, rent and remittance 0.31% and others 5.31%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 44.68% (urban 32.27% and rural 50.74), landless 55.32%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, sugarcane, potato, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Pea, khesari, black gram, sweet potato, sesame.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, litchi, papaya.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries These upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 45 km, mud road 287 km; waterways 7 nautical miles.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Bullock cart, horse carriage, palanquin and dhuli.

Manufactories Rice mill, saw mill, bakery, wood made furniture.'

Cottage industries Weaving, goldsmith, potteries, blacksmith, bamboo & cane work, wood work, tailoring, limestone.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 20, fair 3, most noted of which are Dhanbari Hat, Paishka Hat, Dhopakhali Hat, Balibhadra Hat, Musuddi Hat and Dhanbari Baishahi Mela.

Main exports Jute, sugarcane molasses, potato.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work; however, 19.34% dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 93.03%, pond 0.18%, tap 0.45%, and others 5.54%.

Sanitation 38.47% (urban 65.13.% and rural 25.46%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 49.36% (urban 30.75% and rural 8.45%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 12.17% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Satellite health centre 1, clinic 3, charitable dispensary 1, union health and family welfare centre 4.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are proshika, brac, SDS. [Sajida Begum]

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