Baniachang Upazila

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.