Nalitabari Upazila

Nalitabari Upazila (sherpur district) area 327.61 sq km, located in between 25°01' and 25°13' north latitudes and in between 90°04' and 90°19' east longitudes. It is bounded by Meghalaya state of India on the north, sherpur sadar and nakla upazilas on the south, haluaghat upazila on the east, jhenaigati upazila on the west.

Population Total 252935; male 128963, female 123972; Muslim 237897, Hindu 10355, Buddhist 4252, Christian 16 and others 415. Indigenous communities such as garo, hajong, Hodi, Mandai and Koch belong to this upazila.

Water bodies Main rivers: Bhogai, kangsa, Maljhi, Thalong; Khuski, Paikal, Kasti, Bara, Kula and Dublakuri beels are notable.

Administration Nalitabari Thana 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	108	137	29012	223923	772	5.34	32.10

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
9.29	9	16	29012	3123	50.34

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kalaspur 41	9580	11736	11160	23.96
Kakarkandi 38	6422	7747	7888	39.04
Nunni 69	12959	9654	9660	38.86
Nayabil 55	7699	8523	8279	40.31
Nalitabari 51	12079	7485	7237	32.69
Poragaon 75	7005	8487	8453	32.79
Baghber 30	16301	12195	11412	33.33
Marichpura 72	5599	10711	9986	30.69
Jogania 34	7380	8435	7877	22.33
Rupnarayankura 94	11934	7504	7128	28.82
Rajnagar 77	6134	13157	12961	29.49
Ramchandrakura Mandalia 86	14167	8154	8094	35.62

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Kamla Rani or Sutanali Dighi (Nalitabari).

Historical events A great peasant assemblage of the eastern region of the undivided India was held in this upazila in 1937. In 1971 many freedom fighters including Commander Nazmul Ahsan were killed in an encounter with Pakistan army at Chellakhali Khal (canal). The Pak army killed 185 innocent people at village Sohagpur of this upazila.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 1 (Nakugaon), martyr memorial monument 1.

Religious institutions Mosque 364, temple 20, church 19, tomb 10.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 34.27%; male 37.71%, female 30.72%. Educational institutions: college 4, technical college 1, secondary school 33, primary school 96, madrasa 52. Noted educational institutions: Nazmul Smriti College (1972), Nalitabari Shahid Abdur Rashid Mohila College (1996), Hiranmayee High School (1919), Taraganj Pilot High School (1927), Taraganj Pilot Girl's High School (1959), Taraganj Fazil Madrasa (1950), Garkanda Mohila Alim Madrasa (1994).

Cultural organisations Library 1, club 20, theatre group 2, cinema hall 2, social organisation 10, playground 20.

Important installations and Tourist spots Madhutila Ecopark, Rubber Dam on the bank of Bhogai river.

Main sources of income Agriculture 70.06%, non-agricultural labourer 6.25%, industry 0.57%, commerce 8.59%, transport and communication 2.15%, service 2.93%, construction 0.64%, religious service 0.17%, rent and remittance 0.13% and others 8.51%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 55.02%, landless 44.98%; agricultural landowner: urban 42.45% and rural 56.51%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, potato, mustard, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, sweet potato, kaun, linseed, arahar.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, litchi, banana.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 5, dairy 21, poultry 15, hatchery 2, nursery 4.

Communication facilities Pucca road 220 km, semi-pucca road 100 km, mud road 256.66 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Rice mill 70, ice factory 2, welding factory 20.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, weaving, bamboo and cane work, wood work, tailoring.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 41, most noted of which are Nalitabari Bazar, Araiani Bazar, Naiani Ghatpara Bazar, Koter Bazar and Barmari Bazar.

Main exports Rice, banana, vegetables.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 9.21% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Natural resources White soil, pebble, bolder, white sand.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 85.9%, pond 0.86%, tap 0.62% and others 12.62%.

Sanitation 33.19% (rural 29.51% and urban 64.21%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 52.35% (rural 55.69% and urban 24.23%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 14.46% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 6, community clinic 13, satellite clinic 2.

Natural disasters Many people were victims of the famine of 1943.'

NGO activities brac, asa, CARE, caritas. [Joti Poddar]

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