Domar Upazila

Domar Upazila (nilphamari district) area 250.84 sq km, located in between 26°02' and 26°19' north latitudes and in between 88°46' and 88°54' east longitudes. It is bounded by west bengal of India on the north, nilphamari sadar upazila on the south, dimla and jaldhaka upazilas on the east, debiganj upazila on the west.

Population Total 215699; male 110355, female 105344; Muslim 173716, Hindu 41852, Buddhist 31 and others 100.

Water bodies Main rivers: Jamuneshwari, Buri Tista and Deonai.

Administration Domar thana was formed in 1875 and it was turned into an' upazila in 1984.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	10	47	47	36933	178766	860	50.7	43.4

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
9.42	9	12	16626	1765	58.0

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
21.48	4	20307	945	44.2

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Ketkibari 76	4695	7812	7246	43.43
Gomnati 47	7054	10694	10725	45.07
Jorabari 66	5773	10024	3818	45.45
Domar 38	5238	8499	8017	42.55
Panga Matukpur 85	6034	9807	9131	38.74
Bamunia 17	4809	6917	6726	41.16
Boragari 28	7471	12788	12006	44.53
Bhogdabari 19	9046	16213	15300	51.46
Sonaroy 95	7057	11628	11265	41.04
Harinchara 57	4807	7361	7096	40.19

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Mainamati Fort (Harinchara), Shah Kaland's Tomb (Sonaroy).

Historical events The peasants of this upazila revolting against the British government and the local zamindars, declared Domar as an independent state in 1921. The Provincial Conference of the Krishak Sabha was held on 18 and 19 July 1942 in this upazila. The most noted participants of the conference were Communist leader Jyoti Basu, peasant leaders Mansur Habibullah and Nripen Chakraborti. tebhaga movement, in an extensive form, spread over the area in 1946-1947. At the end of April 1971 the people of the upazila marched towards Syedpur to attack the Pak army camp with 63 rifles and other indigenous weapons; however, they were forced to retreat.

Religious institutions Mosque 200, temple 50, tomb 7.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.7%; male 50.8% female 38.3%. Educational institutions: College 5, technical college 4, agricultural college 1, secondary school 44, vocational school 3, madrasa 14. Noted educational institutions: Domar Multilateral High School (1919).

Cultural organisations Club 17, library 2, cinema hall 4, theatre group 1, theatre stage 1, women's organisation 1, cultural organisation 2.

Main sources of income Agriculture 68.04%, non-agricultural labourer 4.69%, industry 0.38%, commerce 12.38%, transport and communication 3.78%, service 4.28%, construction 0.97%, religious service 0.25%, rent and remittance 0.19% and others 5.04%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 51.19%, landless 48.81%; agricultural landowner: urban 42.13% and rural 53.15%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, tobacco, potato, turmeric, ginger, onion, tomato, chilli and vegetables.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Indigo, bhadai and aus paddy.

Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, black berry, banana, betel nut and litchi.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 220 km, mud 285 km; railways 25 km; railway stations 3, bus stands 2.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Rice mill, oil mill, saw mill, ice factory.

Cottage industries Bamboo work, bell-metal industry, blacksmith, potteries, wood work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 25, fairs 1, most noted of which are Basunia, Ambari and Boragari Hat.

Main exports Jute, ginger, potato, tomato, onion, betel nut.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However, 8.85% dwelling households have access to electricity.

Natural resources' There is coarse sand (Domar Sand) in this upazila.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 80.42%,' pond 0.55%, tap 0.31% and others 18.72%.

Sanitation 9.73% (urban 22.19% and rural 7.04%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 26.99% (urban 22.39% and rural 27.99%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 63.28% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, hospital 1, family welfare centre 10, clinic 1,' community clinic 10, satellite clinic 8, pathological centre 1.

Natural disasters The famine of 1943 caused huge loss of life in this upazila.

ngo activities' brac, asa, proshika, Peaceful Bangladesh Society. [Riasat Karim]

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