Faridpur District

Faridpur District (dhaka division) area 2072.72 sq km, located in between 23°17' and 23°40' north latitudes and in between 89°29' and 90°11' east longitudes. It is bounded by rajbari and manikganj districts on the north, gopalganj district on the south, dhaka, munshiganj and madaripur districts on the east, narail and magura districts on the west.

Population Total 1756470; male 893358, female 863112; Muslim 1576713, Hindu 178354, Buddhist 1073, Christian 58 and others 370.

Water bodies Main rivers: padma, Old Kumar, arial khan, Gorai; Dhol Samudra, Ramkeli, Ghoradar, and Shakuner beel are notable.

Administration Faridpur District was formed in 1815 and Faridpur Municipality was established in 1869. Of the eight upazilas of the district faridpur sadar is the largest upazila (407.02 sq km) and alfadanga is the smallest upazila (136 sq km).

District
Area (sq km)	Upazila	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
						Urban	Rural
2072.72	8	4	79	1038	1860	227471	1528999	847	40.9

Other information of district
Name of upazila	Area (sq km)	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
Alfadanga	136	-	6	92	121	100598	740	43.0
Char Bhadrasan	141.59	-	4	24	88	76366	539	34.3
Nagarkanda	196.06	1	9	140	165	177710	906	36.2
Faridpur Sadar	407.02	1	11	157	332	413485	1016	49.7
Boalmari	272.34	1	11	173	251	233683	858	36.4
Bhanga	216.34	1	12	136	205	232386	1074	38.1
Madhukhali	230.20	-	9	129	241	187775	816	43.3
Sadarpur	290.20	-	9	88	296	188757	650	36.3
Saltha	182.96		8	99	161	145710	796	31.16

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

History of the War of Liberation The Pak army killed 8 Brahmacharis of the Jagabandhu Ashram at Sree Angan and set the Ashram on fire. The freedom fighters attacked the police outpost at Nagarkanda on 22 April and captured huge numberof arms and ammunitions. On 30 April the Pak army conducted genocide in Bhanga upazila and killed 17 innocent persons at Jandi of Tujarpur union. On the same day the Pak army killed a number of people including 21 women at village Jashohardi' of Nagarkanda upazila; they also conducted plundering and set many houses on fire. On 2 May the Pak army brutally killed 34 persons at Sarkar Bari of' Ishan Gopalpur in Faridpur Sadar. On 4 May, a group of 40 freedom fighters attacked Nagarkanda police station and arms and ammunitions; they also killed the Inspector of the police station who was a collaborator. An encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held at Chandhat of Char Jashohardi union under Nagarkanda upazila on 21 May in which 30 Pak soldiers and razakars were killed. On 30 May, the Pak army set houses of five villages from Kodalia to Bhagat on fire and killed 18 innocent persons. On 31 May, they fired from helicopter and set 9 villages on fire in Nagarkanda upazila. In October 1971 an encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held at a place near Chandana Barasia river of Madhukhali upazila in which one Pak soldier was killed. In retaliation, a number of Pak soldiers of Madhukhali camp rushed to the spot while the freedom fighters dispersed. However, they set many nearby houses on fire. On 5 November. When the freedom fighters of Alfadanga upazila attacked the Pak army camp at Bhatiapara wireless station' the Pak army fired from helicopter killing 13 freedom fighters wounding 10 of them. A battle between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held on 9 December at Karimpur Bridge of Kanaipur under Faridpur Sadar upazila in which 60 Pak soldiers were killed and so were 11 freedom fighters. One freedom fighter was killed in an encounter with the Pak army and the Beharis at Momin Khan Hat of this upazila on 14 December. A frontal battle between the allied forces and the Pak army was held on 18 December in Alfadanga upazila in which Lt. Col. Kamal of the allied forces was seriously wounded. In an encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at Talma Bazar of Nagarkanda upazila 8 razakars were killed. In another encounter at Nagarkanda one freedom fighter was killed and so were a number of razakars and Pak soldiers. In an encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army in Dhopadanga and Chandpur areas of Nagarkandha upazila 49 Pak soldiers including Pak Major Mofiz were killed and so were 11 freedom fighters.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass grave 4, mass killing site 1, memorial monument 4, memorial sculpture 1.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 40.9%; male 44.6%, female 37%. Noted educational institutions: Faridpur Medical College (1985), Govt. Rajendra College (1918), Govt. Sarda Sundori Mahila College, Faridpur Zila School (1840), Hitoishi High School (1889), Bhanga Pilot High School (1889), Boalmari George Academy (1911), Baishrashi Shib Sundar Academy (1914), Faridpur Govt. Girls' High School (1918), Kalamridha Govinda High School, Karakdi Rambihari Multilateral High School (1901), Krishnapur High School (1910), Bakiganj Islamia Madrasa (1922).

Main sources of income Agriculture 58.60%, non-agricultural labourer 2.88%, industry 1.07%, commerce 14.09%, transport and communication 4.58%, service 8.87%, construction 1.91%, religious service 0.19%, rent and remittance 1.50% and others 6.31%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Jagaran, Ganaman (1370 BS), Chashi Barta, Idaning, Thikana, Bhorer Runner, Faridpur (1997), Kumar (2006); Weekly: Kalbhabna (2004), Pragotir Din (1995), Boalmari Sangbad, Al Helal, Bhanga Khabar; Fortnightly: Nazir Bangla Defunct: Faridpur Darpan (1861), Chitrakar (1283 BS), Kohinoor (1896), Sanjay (1900),' Aryakayastha (1318 BS), Faridpur Hitoishi (1329 BS), Faridpur Angina (1329 BS), Barta (1926), Muazzen (1335 BS), The Servant of Humanity (1960), Siraj (1932), Langal (1932), Sheba (1350 BS), Khedmat (1373 BS), Jubashakti (1972), Weekly Bangladesh (1972), Satyajug (1975), Faridpur Barta (1979), Aakal (1979), Samachar (1980), Half- weekly Bangla Sangbad (1982).

Folk Culture Once Faridpur was rich in various kinds of folk songs such as Baul, Marami, Bichar, Murshidi-Marfati, Fakirali, Gazirgan, Kabigan, Jarigan, etc; however these are now extinct or nearly extinct. But various festivities are performed in the district on the occasions of new year's day, Eid, Nabanna, Pous Utshab, Rathjatra, Dol Purnima Utshab, Durga Puja, etc. Besides, many kinds of folk festivals are also held on the occasion of Annaprashana, Muharram, marriage ceremony, Jamai Shasthi, Bhadra Mangal Chandi. Folk games of the district include Dariabandha, boat race, Ha-du-du, cock fight, etc.

Tourist spots Pathrail Shahi Mosque and Dighi (Bhanga upazila), Mathurapur Deoul, Picnic Corner, house of Palli Kabi Jasimuddin, Jagabandhuaundor Ashram, house of Shah Saheb, Kanaipur Sikder Bari and campus of Faridpur River Research Institute (Faridpur Sadar), Chaudarashi Zamindar Bari Sadarpur upazila. [Masud Reza]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Cencus 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Faridpur District 2007; ultural survey report of Upazilas of Faridpur District 2007.