Madaripur Sadar Upazila

Madaripur Sadar Upazila (madaripur district) area of 283.14 sq km, located in between 23°06' and 23°17' north latitudes and in between 90°01' and 90°15' east longitudes. It is bounded by shibchar and zanjira upazilas on the north, kalkini and kotalipara upazilas on the south, shariatpur sadar upazila on the east, rajoir upazila on the west.

Population Total 345764; male 171329, female 174435; Muslim 321175, Hindu 24475, Buddhist 24, Christian 79 and others 11.

Water bodies Main rivers: arial khan, kumar, Ghagor.

Administration Madaripur Sadar Thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1946.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	15	147	185	62690	283074	1221	73.1	46.1

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
14.22	9	34	62690	4409	73.1

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kalikapur 41	5186	10576	9807	46.0
Kunia 59	4094	8895	9098	46.1
Kendua 47	5890	12347	12323	45.5
Khoajpur 53	6387	11444	11785	42.0
Ghatmajhi 29	4167	12885	12803	48.0
Chilar Char 11	5372	8573	9419	44.9
Jhaudi 35	4677	11939	12354	42.0
Dudkhali 23	3733	7561	8158	54.8
Dhurail 17	3293	4103	4484	41.0
Panchkhola 77	6045	11856	11873	52.0
Pearpur 83	3450	7095	7607	49.4
Bahadurpur10	2531	5363	5475	47.4
Mustafapur 71	4412	11983	11765	41.1
Rasti 89	1806	7574	7485	46.5
Sirkhara 94	5252	8065	8379	45.6

Source  Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Kazibari Mosque at Algi (seventeenth century), Kulpadmi Durga Mandir, Mandir of Shashi Roy, Auliapur Neel Kuthi, Hazrat Shah Madar Dargah.

War of Liberation On 24 April 1971 the Pak army killed Abdur Rashid Khan (Sub-Jailer of Madaripur Sadar upazila) along with his entire family. During 8 to 10 December a battle was fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak army near the Somaddar Bridge on the Madaripur-Takerhat Road in which a number of freedom fighters and Pakistani soldiers were killed and wounded. In this battle the Khalil Bahini captured 40 enemy soldiers including one Major and one Captain. During the war of liberation about 53 freedom fighters of the upazila were killed. There are mass graves at three places (Kalagachhia, Bahadurpur and Mithapur) of the district.

For details: see মাদারীপুর সদর উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৭।

Religious institutions Mosque 793, temple 12, tomb 1.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 51.1%; male 53.9%, female 48.4%. Noted educational institutions: Government Nazimuddin College (1948), Charmuguria College (1978), Government Sufiya Mahila College (1984), Syed Abul Hossain College (1989), Madaripur Public Institution (1953), Madaripur High School (1885), Donovan Government Girls' High School (1914), Mithapur LS High School (1915), Charmuguria Merchants High School (1931), United Islamia Government High School (1950), Tantibari Islamia High School (1954), AC North Kalagachhia High School' (1961), Ghatokchar Multilateral High School (1963), Bahadurpur High School' (1968), Julio Kuri High School (1972), Charnachana Fazil Madrasa (1912).

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Subarnagram (1998), Pranto (2001), Madaripur' News (2006), Bislashon (2009); weekly: Suprovat (1991), Shah Madar (1993), Shariatullah (1996). Ajkal (1999), Ganasachetanata (2006), Subarta' (2007); monthly: Jugachetona (1991), Poster (1991), Shanti Shamoyeki (1992), Jabol-e-Noor (2005); literary periodical: Shondipan, Kisholoy, Baishakhi, Canvas, Bornomala, Nabaprovat; defunct: Daily Diganta (1960), weekly janani Bangla (1972), weekly Madaripur Barta (1986), weekly Arial Khan (1989), fortnightly Balaronjika (1863).

Cultural organisations Library 13, women's organisation 3, cinema hall 4, cultural organisation 14.

Tourists spots Kazibari Mosque at Algi, Shokuni Lake, Hazrat Shah Madar Dargah, Charmuguria Port, Auliapur Neelkuthi, Mithapur Zamindar Bari.

Main sources of income Agriculture 52.26%, non-agricultural labourer 3.03%, industry 0.94%, commerce 18.01%, transport and communication 3.26%, service 9.99%, construction 1.78%, religious service 0.16%, rent and remittance 0.86% and others 9.71%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 66.77%, landless 32.93%; agricultural landowner: urban 42.93% and rural 71.68%.'

Main crops Paddy, jute, mustard, pulse, wheat, onion, sweet potato.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Betel leaf, watermelon.

Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, papaya, coconut, betel nut, banana.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 174 km, mud road 645 km; waterway 33 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage.

Noted manufactories Jute mill 2, ice factory 3, flour mill 5, biscuit factory 5.

Cottage industries Blacksmith, potteries, wood work, nakshi kantha.

Hats, bazars and fairs Madaripur Hat, Charmuguria Hat, Habiganj Hat, Kulpadmi Hat, Kendua Hat, Madra Hat, Khoajpur Hat, Ghatmajhi Hat, Durga Puja Mela, Fatik Shadhu Mela and Kalagachhia Mela are notable.

Main exports Jute and jute made products, betel nut.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 68.5% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 95.5%, tap 2.0% and others 2.5%. The presence of arsenic has been detected 78.84% of the tube-well water of the upazila.

Sanitation 61.7% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 37.3% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 1.0% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Government hospital 1, clinic 10, tuberculosis hospital 1, diabetic association 1, health and family planning centre 13.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, CARE, asa, Swanirvar Bangladesh. [Kazi Nazmul Islam]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Madaripur Sadar Upazila 2007.