Baniachang Upazila

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Baniachang Upazila (habiganj district) area 482.26 sq km, located in between 24°21' and 24°41' north latitudes and in between 91°13' and 91°30' east longitudes. It is bounded by derai, sulla and ajmiriganj upazilas on the north, habiganj sadar and lakhai upazilas on the south, Habiganj Sadar and nabiganj upazilas on the east, Ajmiriganj, mithamain and austagram upazilas on the west. Baniachang village is the largest village in Asia continent.

Population Total 332530; male 163875, female 168655; Muslim 272672, Hindu 59343, Christian 18, Buddhist 8 and others 489.

Water bodies Main rivers: kushiyara, Kalni, Kalai; Choragaon, Chakua, Sonamua, Bata, Andura, Dhala, Baurabanda and Kandaiyal beels are notable.

Administration Baniachang thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1790. '

Upazila
Municipality Union Mouza Village Population Density (per sq km) Literacy rate (%)
Urban Rural Urban Rural
- 15 237 359 28506 304024 690 44.7 33.7
Upazila Town

Area (sq km)

Mouza

Population

Density
(per sq km)

Literacy rate (%)

13.29 8 28506 2145 44.7
Union
Name of union and GO code Area (acre) Population Literacy rate (%)
Male Female
Uttar Paschim Baniachang 12 5193 11878 12668 40.1
Uttar Purba Baniachang 06 8463 6669 6534 40.7
Subidpur 94 8593 7713 7816 40.9
Kagapasha 44 17828 12818 12982 27.3
Khagaura 50 7027 11948 12443 33.7
Dakshin Paschim Baniachang 25 6049 11787 12677 35.9
Dakshin Purba Baniachang 18 4007 13099 14098 34.2
Daulatpur 37 6816 14976 15228 43.5
Pukhra 82 10475 12442 12530 40.5
Pailarkandi 75 5778 8923 8831 27.9
Baraiuri 31 8138 9446 10146 32.1
Makrampur 56 8433 11958 12452 28.3
Mandari 63 8919 9511 9267 28.6
Muradpur 69 6017 7075 7161 20.2
Sujatpur 88 8726 9258 9209 36.4

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Remnants of ancient Rajbari (Puranbagh, 1737-38), Bibir Dargah Mosque, Bikhangal Akhra.

Historical events The history of a battle between anwar khan and his brother Hossain Khan (Bara Bhuiyans) with the Mughal army at Baniachang in the first decade of the 17th century is recorded in the Bahrastan-i-Gayebi. Once upon a time Baniachang was the capital of Anwar Khan, powerful zaminder of Sylhet. He, in collaboration with the Bara Bhuiyans, faught against the Mughals.

War of Liberation Pakistan army considered it unsafe to have a camp in the Baniaganj upazila because of its geographical features. But they frequently entered the area and conducted mass killing, tortures and looting and setting fire on the houses of the local residents. Freedom fighters were alert about these and carried out surprise attacks on the Pakistani soldiers. The upazila was liberated in October 1971. There is a mass killing site at Makalkandi.

For details: see বানিয়াচঙ্গ উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৬।

Religious institutions Mosque 230, temple 70, tomb 5. Noted religious institutions: Old Kalika Mosque, Puranbagh Mosque, Bibir Dargah Mosque, Akhra of Shyam Baul.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 34.7%; male 35.2%, female 34.1%. Educational institutions: college 3, secondary school 22, primary school 51, kindergarten 2, madrasa 23. Noted educational institutions: LR Government High School (1896), Nagura Firm High School, Baniachang Senior Madrasa.

Cultural organisations Library 1, club 26, theatre group 1, community centre 2, musical academy 1, women's organisation 5, playground 4.

Tourist spots Baniachang Rajbari, Sagardighi.

Main sources of income Agriculture 75.01%, non-agricultural labourer 3.89%, commerce 5.89%, transport and communication 0.84%, service 2.19%, construction 1.80%, religious service 0.38%, rent and remittance 1.50% and others 8.50%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 56.83%, landless 43.17%; agricultural landowner: urban 36.19% and rural 58.71%.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, arum.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Aush and Katari paddy.

Main fruits Mango, black berry, jackfruit, papaya.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries This upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries.'

Communication facilities Roads: pucca road 72 km, semi-pucca road 11 km, mud road 449 km; waterways 50 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart, soari, changari.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, bamboo work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 16, fairs 3, most noted of which are Bara Bazar, Ganing Ganj, Sujatpur Bazar, Bithangal Bazar, Kalibari Mela and Shyam Baul Mela.

Main exports Paddy, fish.

Access to electricity All the unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 43.6% dwellings have access to electricity.

Natural resources Natural gas.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 87.2%, tap 0.2% and others 12.6%.

Sanitation 38.4% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 56.9% of dwelling houses use non-sanitary latrines; 4.7% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, union health and family welfare centre 15, family planning centre 12, community clinic 2, private clinic 3, child and mother welfare centre 1, maternity centre 1, charity hospital 2, satellite clinic 5, diagnostic centre 2, veterinary hospital 1.

NGO activities CARE, brac, caritas, asa. [Jayanta Singh Roy]

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