Islampur Upazila
Islampur Upazila (jamalpur district) area 343.02 sq km, located in between 24°57' and 25°10' north latitudes and in between 89°38' and 89°56' east longitudes. It is bounded by dewanganj and bakshiganj upazilas on the north, madarganj and melandaha upazilas on the south, sherpur sadar and sreebardi upazilas on the east, saghatta, fulchhari and sariakandi upazilas on the west.
Population Total 289337; male 148158, female 141179; Muslim 284980, Hindu 4181, Buddhist 12, Christian 10 and others 154.
Water bodies Main rivers: jamuna, old brahmaputra, bangali; Bamna Beel, Bakar Beel, Shingbhanga Beel, Hasal Beel, Banur Beel, Chilmari Beel, Rieyar Beel, and Katakhali Canal and Dashani Canal are notable.
Administration Islampur Thana was formed in 1914 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.'
| Upazila | ||||||||
| Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | ||
| Urban | Rural | Urban | Rural | |||||
|
1 |
12 |
86 |
143 |
35427 |
253910 |
843 |
39.0 |
21.3 |
| Municipality | ||||||||
|
Area |
Ward |
Mahalla |
Population |
Density |
Literacy rate (%) | |||
|
16.71 |
9 |
18 |
35427 |
2120 |
39.05 | |||
| Union | ||||
| Name of union and GO code | Area (acre) | Population | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Male | Female | |||
|
Islampur 55 |
5514 |
8979 |
8654 |
21.17 |
|
Kulkandi 63 |
7024 |
6922 |
6770 |
27.20 |
|
Gaibandha 39 |
8971 |
15159 |
14711 |
15.56 |
|
Goaler Char 47 |
6191 |
12604 |
12043 |
16.44 |
|
Char Goalini 15 |
8681 |
8438 |
7870 |
11.56 |
|
Char Putimari 23 |
6005 |
14039 |
13187 |
14.85 |
|
Chinadulli 31 |
5933 |
12264 |
12011 |
31.88 |
|
Noarpara 71 |
9564 |
14901 |
13794 |
21.07 |
|
Patharsi 87 |
5350 |
13741 |
13251 |
32.92 |
|
Palbandha 79 |
5199 |
5772 |
5438 |
25.44 |
|
Belgachha 13 |
8746 |
10765 |
10390 |
19.04 |
|
Sapdhari 94 |
7580 |
6474 |
5733 |
15.16
|
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Archaeological heritage and relics Tomb of Hazrat Shah Kamal (R) at Durmuth, Kuthibari of Pradyut Thakur, Jeu Mandir, Kali Mandir, Durgabari and tomb of Itapir.
Historical events During the reign of Emperor Jahangir the Bangla viceroy islam khan lived in this region for some time; it is believed that Islampur is named after him.
Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 3 (Kulkandi, Upazila Complex, Mosharafganj).
Religious institutions Mosque 325, temple 11.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 23.6%; male 27.8%, female 19.2%. Educational institutions: college 8, secondary school 37, primary school 150, technical educational institution 2, KG school 8, BRAC school 78, madrasa 86. Noted educational institutions: Islampur JJKM Girls' High School and College (1917), Islampur College (1970), Islampur Nekjahan High School (1915), Dewanganj Government High School (1919), Neelkhiya RJ Pilot High School (1935), Dengargarh Nurul Huda Alim Madrasa (1831).
Newspapers and periodicals Weekly: Urmi Bangla, Gangchil, Mayur (irregular).
Cultural organisations Library 36, club 55, theatre group 1, cinema hall 1, women's organisation 2, playground 17. Noted Cultural organisations: hasan hafizur rahman Smriti Sangha Library (1984), Shahid Major General khaled mosharraf (Bir Uttam) Smriti Samsad (1995).
Main sources of income Agriculture 68.83%, non-agricultural labourer 3.45%, industry 0.55%, commerce 10.69%, transport and communication 2.21%, service 4.27%, construction 0.61%, religious service 0.21%, rent and remittance 0.24% and others 8.93%.
Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 54.50%, landless 45.50%; agricultural landowner: urban 36.01% and rural 57.41%.
Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard, sugarcane, potato, pulse, brinjal, vegetables.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Peanut, kaun, corn.
Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, coconut, papaya, banana.
Fisheries, dairies and poultries This upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries.'
Communication facilities Pucca road 77.86 km, semi-pucca road 5.5 km, mud road 438 km; railways 20 km.
Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, soari, bajra, bhela.
Cottage industries Weaving, goldsmith, blacksmith, brass work, potteries, bamboo work, cane work, jute work, cotton work.
Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 8, most noted of which are Dharmakura, Guthail and Islampur bazars.
Main exports Rice, jute, sugarcane, potato, brinjal.
Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 11.04% (urban 26.52% and rural 8.84%) of the dwellings have access to electricity.'
Sources of drinking water Tube-well 91.91%, tap 0.19%, pond 0.34% and others 7.55%.
Sanitation 15.48% (urban 21.13% and rural 14.68%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 54.40% (urban 53.96% and rural 54.46%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 30.12% of households do not have latrine facilities.
Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 12, satellite clinic 3, clinic 6, community clinic 40.
NGO activities brac, asa, Unnayan Sangha, Progress. [Sayed Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury]
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Islampur Upazila 2007.'
