Chittagong District
Chittagong District (chittagong division) area 5282.92 sq km, located in between 21°54' and 22°59' north latitudes and in between 91°17' and 92°13' east longitudes. It is bounded by khagrachhari and rangamati districts and tripura state of India on the north, cox's bazar district on the south, bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts on the east and noakhali district and the bay of bengal on the west. Chittagong District is quite different from other districts for its unique natural beauty characterised by hills, rivers, sea, forests and valleys.
Population Total 7616352; male 3838854, female 3777498; Muslim 6618657, Hindu 861494, Buddhist 121169, Christian 7484 and others 7548.
Water bodies Main rivers: karnafuli, halda and sangu; Murari canal, Chandahkhali canal, Jalkandar canal and Dhalai beel are notable. Annual average temperature: maximum 33.8'C, minimum 14.5'C, total annual rainfall: 3194 mm.
Chittagong Town Chittagong Town, the main seaport of Bangladesh, is located at the estuary of the river Karnafuli. The Town is also called the commercial capital of Bangladesh. The first Export Processing Zone (EPZ) of Bangladesh, established in 1983, is situated here. Chittagong Municipality was formed in 22 June 1863. It was turned into Chittagong City Corporation on 31 July 1990.
Administration Chittagong district was established in 1666 including three hill districts. In 1860, the district of Chittagong Hill Tracts was formed out of it. Chittagong district was further divided into Chittagong and Cox's Bazar districts.
| District | |||||||||
| Area (sq km) | Upazila | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Urban | Rural | ||||||||
| 5282.92 | 14 | 10 | 194 | 890 | 1288 | 3152629 | 4463723 | 1442 | 58.9 |
| City Corporation (Census 2001) | |||
| City Corporation | Metropolitan Thana | Ward and Union | Mahalla and Mouza |
| 1 | 12 | 41 | 207 |
| Chittagong Metropolitan Thana (Census 2001) | ||||||
| Name of metropolitan thana and GO code | Area (sq km) | Ward and Union | Mahalla and Mouza | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) |
| Karnafuli 39 | 136.59 | 7+1 (Part) | 27 | 179148 | 1312 | 45.70 |
| Kotwali 41 | 7.68 | 9+1 (Part) | 23 | 282975 | 36846 | 79.60 |
| Khulshi 43 | 13.12 | 3+1 (Part) | 45 | 243351 | 18548 | 60.30 |
| Chandgaon 19 | 25.32 | 3 | 11 | 178390 | 7045 | 62.70 |
| Double Mooring 28 | 8.12 | 5+1 (Part) | 41 | 259181 | 31919 | 63.10 |
| Panchlaish 57 | 8.30 | 1+1 (Part) | 12 | 148120 | 17846 | 69.20 |
| Pahartali 55 | 13.31 | 3 | 14 | 127243 | 9560 | 67.30 |
| Bandar 20 | 20.04 | 4 | 11 | 213598 | 10659 | 72.60 |
| Bakalia 10 | 12.33 | 3+1 (Part) | 9 | 196877 | 15967 | 50.5 |
| Bayejid Bustami 16 | 17.58 | 3 | 12 | 168051 | 9559 | 59.50 |
| Halishahar 35 | 9.64 | 2+1 (Part) | 26 | 125255 | 12993 | 62.40 |
| Others Information of District | ||||||||
| Name of upazila | Area (sq km) | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) |
| Anowara 04 | 164.10 | - | 11 | 80 | 81 | 259022 | 1578 | 51.9 |
| Chandanaish 18 | 201.99 | 1 | 9 | 39 | 46 | 233017 | 1154 | 53.6 |
| Patiya 61 | 211.85 | 1 | 22 | 120 | 124 | 528120 | 2493 | 54.9 |
| Fatikchhari 33 | 773.54 | - | 21 | 102 | 206 | 526003 | 680 | 51.4 |
| Banshkhali 08 | 376.90 | 1 | 14 | 70 | 81 | 431162 | 1144 | 37.4 |
| Boalkhali 12 | 126.46 | - | 10 | 34 | 35 | 223125 | 1764 | 58.9 |
| Mirsharai 53 | 482.88 | 2 | 16 | 109 | 208 | 398716 | 826 | 55.1 |
| Raozan 74 | 246.59 | 1 | 14 | 56 | 66 | 322840 | 1309 | 62.3 |
| Rangunia 70 | 361.53 | 1 | 15 | 74 | 138 | 339004 | 938 | 48.9 |
| Lohagara 47 | 258.87 | - | 9 | 40 | 43 | 279913 | 1081 | 49.2 |
| Sandwip 78 | 762.42 | 1 | 15 | 34 | 34 | 278605 | 365 | 51.5 |
| Satkania 82 | 280.97 | 1 | 17 | 73 | 84 | 384806 | 1370 | 52.7 |
| Sitakunda 86 | 483.96 | 1 | 9 | 60 | 88 | 387832 | 801 | 59.2 |
| Hathazari 37 | 246.32 | - | 15 | 48 | 55 | 431748 | 1753 | 63.5 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Historical events Chittagong had been an international sea port since the ancient time. The Arab traders had business transactions with this port since 9th century AD. Chittagong region was under the kingdom of arakan during sixth and seventh centuries. Before the Muslim rule Chittagong had been either under the control of the Arakans or under the kings of Burma. Sultan Fakruddin Mubarak Shah (1338-1349) of Sonargaon conquered Chittagong in 1340. After the defeat of Sultan Giasuddin Mahmud Shah in the hands of Sher Shah in1538, the Arakanise again captured Chittagong. From this time onward until its conquest by the Mughals this region was under the control of the Portuguese and the Magh pirates. The Mughal Commandar Bujurg Umed Khan expelled the Portuguese from the area in 1666 and established Mughal rule there. The Mughals renamed Chittagong as Islamabad. On 18th April 1930, the revolutionaries looted the Chittagong armoury under the leadership of Mastarda surya sen. During this time the leaders of the women revolutionaries were pritilata waddedar, Bina Das, Lila Ray, Kalpana Dutta etc. Revolutionary Swadesh Roy was shot dead by the British soldiers in the Kalar Pole encounter. Besides, wounded Debu Prashad, Rajat Sen and Manaranjan Sen committed suicide to avoid arrests. In 1933 many revolutionaries including Masterda Surya Sen, Kalpana Datta hide out in the house of Kherada Prava Biswas of village Garla. During this time Surya Sen and Brajendra Sen were arrested by the British soldiers.
War of Liberation On behalf of Bangabandhu sheikh mujibur rahman the Declaration of the Independence of Bangladesh was announced by Shahid ziaur rahman on 27 March 1971 from the swadhin bangla betar kendra located at Kalurghat. A fierce battle was fought between the freedom fighters, under Captain Oli Ahmed, and the Pak army at a place near the Fenakuni Bridge on the south of Mirsharai Sadar on 20 April 1971 in which about 100 Pak soldiers were killed. On 13 April the Pak army killed 48 innocent persons at Unasattarpara and 35 persons at Jagatmallahpara of Pahartali Union. About 56 freedom fighters were killed and many Pak soldiers were killed or wounded in encounters between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at kafco, Kaliganj and Paraikura of Anowara Upazila. The Pak army brutally killed 15 innocent villagers at Banikpara of Amirabad. The freedom fighters killed 17 rajakars at Jotpukuria. A number of civilians were killed or wounded while the Pak army bombarded from two aeroplanes at Patiya Sardar. On 3 May the Pak army conducted genocide indiscriminately and set many houses on fire at village Muzzafarabad of this upazila. The Pak army brutally killed 75 persons on 19 May 1971 in Banshkhali. They also killed 89 freedom fighters at village Napora in October. Two freedom fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pak army near the Barabkundu Chemicals Bridge. The Pak army conducted genocide on 13 October in the Durgabari premises of Kadhurkhil; they also brutally killed 11 freedom fighters at Najirhat Bus Stand area. In 1971, the freedom fighters (naval commandos) conducted a number of successful operations from Bandar and damaged a number of enemy ships by bomb explosions. The Pakistan army, on the verge of their defeat, planted mines in order to deadlock the port. After 16 December 1971, the then Soviet Naval Force sent experts who conducted mine swiping operation for about three months. Several Soviet mariners were killed in this operation. During the war of liberation the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was transferred to Dohazari from the Chittagong Town. Mass graves have been discovered at 9 places (P.T.I yard, Nazirhat, Karer Hat, Lelung Tea Garden, Darbar Sharif, Baganbari, Dandmara Ultobit, Banshkhali, Jotpukuria) and mass killing sites at 13 places of the district; 9 memeorial monuments have been built.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 58.9%; male 61.1%, female 56.7%. Noted educational institutions: Chittagong University (1966), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (1968), Sir Ashutush Degree College (1939), Satkania College (1949), Fouzdarhat Cadet College (1958), Chittagong City College, Chittagong College, Mohsin College, Chittagong Commerce College, Ispahani School and College, Patiya Ideal High School (1845), Banigram Primary School (1881), Ramgati Ramdhan Abdul Bari Chowdhury High School (1898), Ideal Pilot High School (1902), Abdus Sobhan Rahat Ali High School (1914), Rangunia Ideal Multilateral Pilot High School (1915), Uttar Amirabad High School (1932), Dr. Khastagir Government Girls' School, Chittagong Collegiate School, Satkania Garangia Islamia Kamil Madrasa (1920), Shah Chand Awlia Alia Madrasa (1928).
Main sources of income Agriculture 33.53%, non-agricultural labourer 4.30%, commerce 16.22%, industry 0.99%, service 17.61%, transport & communication 3.43%, construction 1.32%, religious service 0.44%, rent & remittance 8.48% and others 13.68%.
Newspapers and periodicals Present: Daily Azadi, Daily Purbakon, Daily Life, Daily Karnafuli, Weekly Chattala, Monthly Suprobath Raozan, Monthly Banshkhali Barta, Chandanaish Darpan, Monthly Patiya, Fortnightly Alokito Boalkhali, Weekly Chaloman Sitakunda, Monthly Rangunia Kantha, Monthly Hathazari Kantha, Monthly Mirsharai; defunct: Monthly Sanshodhani, Purobi, Mukulika, Simanto, Weekly Jyoti, Weekly Sultan, Daily Jyoti, Daily Rashtrobarta, Daily East Pakistan, Daily Azan.
Folk culture Various special types of folk culture and festivals such as Mejbani of the Muslim community, Mahadeshwari Puja of the Hindu community, Baisabi festival, buddha purnima, Prabarana Purnima, Kathin Chibar Dan, Shibli Puja, Aushta Upakaran Dan of the indigenous communities and the durga puja are performed in the district. Besides, many folk festivities are performed on the occasion of Chaitra Samkranti, New Years's Day, Halkhata, Punnah, Nabanna, Poush Parvana, Anna Prashana etc. The indigenous communities of the district perform various kinds of folk dances including Mayur (peacock) dance, Jele (fishermen) dance, Sapure (snake charmer) dance, Bhaiya dance, Bottle dance, Plate dance, and Bansh (bamboo) dance, etc.
Tourist spots and important installations World Peace Pagoda (Hathazari), Karaldanga Hill (Boalkhali), Haludia Prantik Lake (Satkania), Batali Hill, War Cemetery, Parki Sea Beach (Anowara), Patenga Sea Beach, Marine Academy, Eco-park and Botanical Garden, Chandranath Hill, Mahamoni Mandir (Raozan), Chakma Rajbari, Buddha statue of the Pala period at Betagi (Rangunia), Bronze Statue (Anowara), Musa Khan Mosque (1658), Kadam Mubarak Mosque (1719), Andar Killah Mosque, Wali Khan Mosque (1790), Badar Awliya Dargah, Bakhshi Hamid Mosque (Banshkhali, 1568), Chittagong University (1893), Ethnological Museum (1974), Foy's Lake (Pahartali), Chhuti Khan Mosque, Mazar of Hazrat Shah Amanat (R), Mazar of Baro Awliya (Sitakunda), Sitakunda Shankar Math, Dharmo Chakro Buddho Vihara, Koriya Nagar and Sonakania Buddha Viharas. [Jasim Uddin Harun]'
See also The upazilas under this district.
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Chittagong District 2007; Cultural survey report of Upazilas of Chittagong District 2007.
