Raiganj Upazila
Raiganj Upazila (sirajganj district) area 267.83 sq km, located in between 24°25' and 24°34' north latitudes and in between 89°24' and 89°37' east longitudes. It is bounded by sherpur (bogra) and dhunat upazilas on the north, ullahpara and kamarkhanda upazilas on the south, sirajganj sadar and Kamarkhanda upazilas on the east, tarash upazila on the west.
Population Total 267522; male 137574, female 129948; Muslim 234112, Hindu 33361, Buddhist 30 and others 19.
Water bodies Main rivers: karatoya, ichamati.
Administration Raiganj Thana was formed in 1937 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 | |||||
|
- |
9 |
193 |
270 |
6762 |
260760 |
999 |
54.8 |
35.1 |
| Upazila Town | ||||||||
|
Area (sq km) |
Mouza |
Population |
Density (per sq km) |
Literacy rate %) | ||||
|
2.62 |
2 |
6762 |
2581 |
54.75 | ||||
| Union | ||||
| Name of union and GO code | Area (acre) | Population | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Male | Female | |||
|
Ghurka 57 |
6912 |
16473 |
15369 |
37.50 |
|
Chandaikona 19 |
8095 |
17746 |
16951 |
37.25 |
|
Dhangara 38 |
7275 |
19249 |
17911 |
43.70 |
|
Dhamainagar 28 |
9459 |
8523 |
8612 |
24.86 |
|
Dhubil 47 |
6618 |
11979 |
11620 |
33.74 |
|
Nalka 66 |
7660 |
17823 |
16703 |
40.74 |
|
Pangashi 76 |
6570 |
16793 |
15483 |
27.90 |
|
Brahmagachha 09 |
6897 |
18033 |
16894 |
29.74 |
|
Sonakhara 85 |
6382 |
10955 |
10405 |
38.57 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Archaeological heritage and relics Dhangara Mosque (Dhangara union), Khariza Ghughat Mosque (Dhubil union), Birat Rajar Bari at Nimgachhi.
History of the War of Liberation In 1971 the Pak army conducted mass killing and plundering at Salanga, Pangashi, Dhangara and Chandaikona Bazars of the upazila; they also set many houses on fire. This upazila was liberated on 12 December.
Religious institutions Mosque 361, temple 55, tomb 2. Noted religious institutions: Dhangara Mosque, Khariza Ghughat Mosque, Bhola Dewan (R) Tomb, Rajar Bari Mandir.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 35.58%; male 40.63%, female 30.25%. Educational institutions: college 11, secondary school 43, madrasa 37. Noted educational institutions: Salanga Degree College (1970), Hazi Wahed Mariam Degree College (1972), Dhangara Mohila College (1999), Salanga Mohila College (1999), Chandaikona Multilateral High School (1921), Dhangara High School (1950), JKA Mannan High School (1973), Dhangara Fazil Madrasa (1976).
Cultural organisations Library 2, cultural organisation 2, women organisation 3, playground 6.
Main sources of income Agriculture 69.27%, non-agricultural labourer 2.93%, industry 4.46%, commerce 11.25%, transport and communication 2.51%, service 3.90%, construction 0.90%, religious service 0.17%, rent and remittance 0.18% and others 5.33%.
Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 55.99%, landless 44.01%; agricultural landowner: urban 35.59% and rural 56.49%.
Main crops Paddy, jute, potato, sugarcane, wheat, pulse, vegetables.
Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, litchi, banana, papaya, guava, blackberry.
Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 38, dairy 8, poultry 28, hatchery 5.
Communication facilities Pucca road 117.55 km, semi-pucca road 2.25 km, mud road 819.80 km; waterway 25.92 nautical miles. Bridge 24, culvert 257.
Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, dhuli, horse carriage.
Noted manufactories Rice mill, flour mill, ice factory, saw mill, welding factory.
Cottage industries Blacksmith, potteries, weaving, embroidery, bamboo work, cane work.
Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 9, fairs 5, most noted of which are Chandaikona Hat, Salanga Hat, Dhamai Hat, Amshara Hat, Brahmagachha Hat, Nalka Hat, Rudrupur Hat, Krishnadia Hat, Nimgachhi Mela and Dhangara Mela.
Access to electricity All the unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 16.96% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.
Sources of drinking water Tube-well 90.77%, tap 0.32%, pond 0.42% and others 8.49%. The presence of arsenic has been detected in 23.32% of the shallow tube-well water of the upazila.
Sanitation 30% (rural 29.75% and urban 39.87%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 36.43% (rural 36.47% and urban 34.74%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 33.57% of households do not have latrine facilities.
Health centres Upazila health complex 1, health centre 9.
Natural disasters Many people were victims of the famines of 1897, 1943 and 1974. Besides, the earthquakes of 1885 and 1897 caused heavy damages to settlements and other properties of the upazila.
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika. [Monayem Khan]
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Raiganj Upazila 2007.
