Feni District

Feni District (chittagong division) area 928.34 sq km, located in between 22'44' and 23'17' north latitudes and in between 91'15' and 91'35' east longitudes. It is bounded by comilla district and tripura state of India on the north, noakhali and chittagong districts on the south, Tripura state of India on the east, Noakhali district on the west.

Population Total 698447; male 353201, female 345246; Muslim 549702, Hindu 148339, Buddhist 186, Christian 21 and others 199.

Water bodies Main rivers: feni, little feni, muhuri.

Administration Feni Sub Division was established in 1976 and it was up graded to a district in 1984. Of the 11 districts of Chittagong Division, Feni district occupies the 11th position and it occupies the 61st position among the 64 districts of Bangladesh. Of the six upazilas of the district sonagazi is the largest (235.07 sq km) and parshuram is the smallest (97.58 sq km).

District
Area (sq km)	Upazila	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
						Urban	Rural
928.34	6	5	45	540	570	170200	1070184	1336	54.27

Others Information of District
Name of upazila	Area (sq km)	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
Chhagalnaiya	133.49	1	6	54	66	170524	1277	63.03
Daganbhuiyan	165.84	1	8	101	115	225464	1360	55.48
Parshuram	97.58	1	4	81	79	94378	967	54.66
Fulgazi	99.03	-	6	76	90	110291	1114	55.47
Feni Sadar	197.33	1	12	134	125	404498	2050	53.01
Sonagazi	235.07	1	9	94	95	235229	1001	47.99

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001,Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

History of the War of Liberation In early April 1971 20 Pak soldiers while crossing the Shuvapur Bridge were killed by the freedom fighters. The Pak army took control over Feni district on 23 April 1971. In the first week of May, 20 Pak soldiers were killed when the freedom fighters attacked the Pak army defense base at the Kalapur Bridge of Chhagalnaiya upazila. On 29 May battles were fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at Durgapur and Singha Nagar of Gopal union of this upazila in which 300 Pak soldiers were killed and two freedom fighters were wounded. On 10 June 50 Pak soldiers were killed when the freedom fighters opened fire on them at the time of their crossing the Bandhua Bridge of Fulgazi upazila. In July, 15 Pak soldiers were killed in an encounter with the freedom fighters at Shuvapur. In another encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at Madhugram area in July about 60 Pak soldiers were killed. On 28 July an encounter was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at Nawabpur of Sonagazi upazila in which Gul Muhammad, the commander of the Pak army, was beheaded. About 50 Pak soldiers were killed by mine explosion planted by the freedom fighters at a place near the Satbaria Bridge of Sonagazi upazila. In retaliation, the Pak army killed 5 innocent persons at Baksh Ali, Sujapur Dasgram; they also conducted plundering and set many houses on fire. Another encounter was held on 7 November between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at Bilonia outpost of Parshuram upazila in which about 50 Pak soldiers were killed and so were three freedom fighters. At the end of November, 8 freedom fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pak army at Shuvapur. Feni was liberated on 6 December.

Marks of the War of Liberation Memorial monument 10 (Chhagalnaiya 2, Sonagazi 8); mass killing site 7 (Feni sadar upazila), mass grave 1 (Feni sadar upazila).

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 54.27%; male 57.47%, female 51.19%. Noted educational institutions: Feni P.T.I (1957), Feni Polytechnic Institute (1962), Feni Teacher's Training College (1963), Feni Government College (1922), Feni GA Academy (1943), Government Zia Mohila College (1979), Chhagalnaiya Government College (1972), Fulgazi Government College (1972), Sonagazi Government College (1972), Parshuram Government College (1972), Government Commerce College (1965), Feni Girls' Cadet College (2004), Feni Government Pilot High School (1886), Munshirhat Ali Azam High School (1906), Feni Government Girls' High School (1910), S.C High School (1911), Mangalkandi High School (1912), Chhagalnaiya High School (1915), Joypur Sarojini High School (1917), Amirabad B.C Laha High School (1917), Feni Central High School (1919), Nawbabpur High School (1923), Bishnupur High School (1925), Feni Model High School (1927), Chhagalnaiya Government Primary School (1900), Baktarmunshi Fazil Madrasa (1910), Sonagazi Fazil Madrasa (1918), Gobindapur Chhiddikia Fazil Madrasa (1920), Feni Alia Madrasa (1923).

Main sources of income Agriculture 31.51%, non-agricultural labourer 2.57%, industry 0.98%, commerce 15.98%, transport and communication 4.66%, service 18.29%, construction 1.86%, religious service 0.43%, rent and remittance 11.53% and others 12.19%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Nayapaygam, Amar Feni; bi-weekly: Path, Nabonur; weekly: Gramdesh, Hawkers, Muhuri, Feni Barta, Feni Prabaha, Feni Sambad, Feni Khabar, Feni Darpan, Feni Times, Ananda Taroka, Grambarta, Minar, Shadesh Kantha, Ataeb, Baikali, Amar Desh, Gano Manush, Feni Kantha, Gano Chetona, Fenir Alo, Unmochan, Drishtipath, Nabin Bangla, Alokita Feni, Nabokiron, Fenir Rabi, Zahur, Kalakantha, Barnamala, Fenir Sahaistha Katha, Purbadesh, Songram; fortnightly: Mashimela, Feni Chitra; monthly: Ananda Bhairabi, Sarashori, Urmi, Haidar; quarterly: Dhansinri; periodical: Shuvechha, Bartaman Dishari, Upakul.

Folk culture The notable folk culture of the district include riddle, poem, Khanar Bachan, folk tale, folk belief, Jatra, Mantra-tantra, Bhatiali, Rakhali, Marfati and Murshidi songs in local dialects. Besides, occasionally drama performances are also displayed in the district.

Important installations Bilonia Railway Station, Customs House, Observation Tower at Bilonia. [Tipu Sultan]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Feni District 2007; Cultural survey report of upazilas of Feni district 2007.