Sirajganj District
Sirajganj District (rajshahi division) area 2402.05 sq km, located in between 24°01' and 24°47' north latitudes and in between 89°15' and 89°59' east longitudes. It is bounded by bogra district on the north, pabna and manikganj districts on the south, tangail and jamalpur districts on the east, Pabna, natore and Bogra districts on the west.
Population Total 3097489; male 1551368, female 1546121; Muslim 2948505, Hindu 147514, Buddhist 24, Christian 380 and others 1066.
Water bodies Main rivers: jamuna, ichamati, baral, hurasagar; chalan beel is notable. About 10% of the total area of Chalan Beel belongs to the Tarash upazila of the district.
Administration Sirajganj Sub-division was established in 1885 under Pabna district and it was turned into a district in 1984. Of the nine upazilas of the district ullahpara is the largest (414.43 sq km) and kamarkhanda' is the smallest (91.61 sq km).
| District | |||||||||
| Area (sq km) | Upazila | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Urban | Rural | ||||||||
| 2402.05 | 9 | 6 | 82 | 1379 | 2,016 | 436577 | 2660912 | 1290 | 42.1 |
| Others Information of District | ||||||||
| Name of Upazila | Area (sq km) | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) |
| Ullahpara | 409.06 | 1 | 13 | 254 | 412 | 540156 | 1320 | 43.6 |
| Kazipur | 328.79 | 1 | 12 | 112 | 172 | 274679 | 835 | 37.5 |
| Kamarkhanda | 90.80 | - | 4 | 55 | 93 | 138645 | 1527 | 46.2 |
| Chauhali | 210.39 | - | 7 | 116 | 102 | 160063 | 761 | 36.5 |
| Tarash | 300.07 | - | 8 | 176 | 254 | 197214 | 657 | 39.0 |
| Belkuchi | 158.87 | - | 6 | 108 | 143 | 352835 | 2221 | 45.7 |
| Raiganj | 259.74 | 1 | 9 | 191 | 267 | 317666 | 1223 | 38.1 |
| Shahjadpur | 324.15 | 1 | 13 | 172 | 291 | 561076 | 1731 | 38.4 |
| Sirajganj Sadar | 320.15 | 1 | 10 | 203 | 294 | 555155 | 1734 | 48.0 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
War of Liberation In 1971, Palashdanga Juba Shibir (youth camp) was formed at Kalibari of Bhadraghat Union under Kamarkhanda upazila. During the war of liberation this Juba Shibir played a remarkable role in encounters against the Pak army at different places of Bangladesh. On 20 April an encounter was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at a place near the Ghatina Bridge in Ullahpara upazila in which 15 Pakistani soldiers were killed; in this encounter 50 freedom fighters and civilians were also wounded. On 23 April the Pak army conducted mass killing, plundering, violation of women and burning at Ullahpara. On 25 April the Pak army shot many people dead at Chariashika and Charia Kalibari near Hatikamrul Square of this upazila. A battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on 11 November at Naogaon of Tarash upazila in which 130 Pakistani soldiers and razakars were killed. The freedom fighters attacked the Sambhudia Pak military Camp of Chauhali upazila on 19 November and captured two firearms. On 27 November the freedom fighters again attacked the Sambhudia Camp causing considerable damages to the camp; in this attack 5 freedom fighters were wounded. Chauhali upazila was liberated on 29 November. In December 1971 a battle was fought between the Pak army and the freedom fighters at village Baraitala of Gandail Union under Kazipur upazila in which several freedom fighters lost their lives. During the War of Liberation in 1970 the Pak army, in collaboration with the local razakars, conducted heavy plundering and set many houses on fire after establishing military camps at Malipara on 22 June and at Sambhudia in the mid August. The freedom fighters attacked the Sambhudia Pak military Camp on 19 November and captured two firearms. On 27 November the freedom fighters again attacked the Sambhudia Camp causing considerable damages to the Camp; in this attack 5 freedom fighters were wounded. Chauhali upazila was liberated on 29 November. On 7 December 1971 a battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on WAPDA dam of Rajapur union in which the Pak army was defeated and one freedom fighter was killed. Another battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at the north side of the graveyard of Tamai Paschimpara of Bhangabari union in which three Pakistani soldiers and two freedom fighters were killed. Encounters between the freedom fighters and the Pak army were held at different places of the upazila including at Sailabari, Degree College and on the bank of the river Jamuna. On 14 December, Ullahpara was liberated and with this the whole Sirajganj was liberated on this day. There are 2 mass graves (Baroitala of Kazipur upazila Asbaria of Tarash upazila) in the district; 2 martyr memorial monuments were built ("Durjay Bangla" at Chandidasgati of Sirajganj Sadar upazila and another monument at Ghatina of Ullahpara upazila).
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 42.1%; male 45.1%, female 39.0%. Educational institutions: medical college 2, university college 1, college 80, law college 1, teachers training college 1, nursing institute 1, government polytechnic institute 1, primary teachers training institute (PTI) 1, vocational institute 1, youth training centre 1, secondary school 374, primary school 1564, satellite school 19, community school 34, kindergarten 2, madrasa 249. Noted educational institutions: Sirajganj Government University College (1940), North Bengal Medical College, Enayetpur Medical College and Hospital, Islamia College (1887), Kazipur Government Mansur Ali College, Government Rasidajjoha Mohila College, Shahjadpur Government College, Salonga Degree College (1970), Chauhali Degree College (1970), Sthal Pakgashi institution (1864), Sirajganj Polytechnic Institute, Youth Training Institute, Harina Baghbati High School (1866), BL Government High School (1869), Porjana Mukundanath High School (1880), Shahjadpur Pilot High School (1882), Gyandayini High School (1884), Potajia Multilateral High School (1894), Victoria High School (1898), Jamirta High School (1900), Khassatbaria High School (1904), Sonatani High School (1905),' Salop High School (1905), Ullahpata Merchants Pilot Multilateral High School (1906), Shyam Kishore Pilot High School (1913), Mohanpur KM institution (1915), Meghai EEUI Multilateral High School (1920), Gandhail High School (1920), Chandaikona Multilateral High School (1921), Pakrashi Primary School (1856), Jhikra Bandar Model Government Primary School (1903), Enayetpur Islamia Fazil Madrasa.
Main sources of income Agriculture 51.14%, non-agricultural labourer 3.99%, industry 11.05%, commerce 14.47%, transport and communication 3.02%, service 6.33%, construction 1.41%, religious service 0.21%, rent and remittance 0.42% and others 7.96%.
Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Kalam Saynik, Jamuna Probaha, Jamuna Setu; weekly: Jamuna Barta, Sahasi Janata, Jaha Baliba Satya Balibo, Ase jay ay din, Sundar Barta, Ananda Bhor, Sirajganj Barta, Sirajganj Kantha, Dolanchapa, Ullahpara; monthly; Bibartan, Sahitya Darpana; defunct weekly: Samakal, Hitoishi, Samajug, Sirajganj Samachar, Jehad, Krishan, Janapad, Ittefaq, Naya jamana, Juger Dabi, Mousumi, Gana Bangla; defunct fortnightly: Mukul, Jamuna(1963); defunct monthly: Jamuna, Ashalatai, Nur, Pratinidhi, Tajkir, Palli Pradip (1935), Sebak, Naya jamana, DesherDas, Pratibha, Shahitya; defunct quarterly: Biggan Bichitra.
Folk culture Folk songs such as Jari, Sari, Murshidi, Bhatiali, etc are very popular in the district. Folk games and sports prevalent in the district include bow and arrow game, Lathikhela (game played with sticks), boat race, etc.
Amusement centres bangabandhu jamuna multipurpose bridge, Rautara Barrage. [Kamrul Islam]
See also The upazilas under this district.
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Sirajganj District 2007; Cultural survey report of Upazilas of Sirajganj District 2007.
