Chandanaish Upazila
Chandanaish Upazila (chittagong district) area 201.99 sq km, located in between 22°02' and 22°08' north latitudes and in between 91°49' and 92°09' east longitudes. It is bounded by patiya and rangunia upazilas on the north, satkania upazila on the south, bandarban sadar and Satkania upazilas on the east, anowara upazila on the west.
Population Total 233017; male 117418, female 115599; Muslim 200072, Hindu 27162, Buddhist 5046, Christian 564 and others 173.
Water bodies Main river: sangu.
Administration Chandanaish Thana was formed in 1976 and it was turned into an upazila on 2 July 1983.
| Upazila | ||||||||
| Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | ||
| Urban | Rural | Urban | Rural | |||||
| 1 | 9 | 39 | 46 | 35248 | 197769 | 1154 | 61.4 | 52.2 |
| Municipality | ||||||||
| Area (sq km) |
Ward | Mahalla | Population | Density (per sq km) |
Literacy rate (%) | |||
| 26.83 | 9 | 12 | 35248 | 1314 | 61.4 | |||
| Union | ||||
| Name of union and GO code | Area (acre) | Population | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Male | Female | |||
| Kanchanabad 85 | 5691 | 13060 | 11641 | 48.7 |
| Joara 76 | 1653 | 5366 | 5015 | 63.8 |
| Dohazari 47 | 8106 | 20373 | 19774 | 49.3 |
| Dhopachhari 38 | 14277 | 5075 | 5100 | 30.3 |
| Barkal 19 | 6257 | 10712 | 9748 | 62.0 |
| Barama 28 | 2375 | 11612 | 11373 | 62.2 |
| Bailtali 13 | 2359 | 11171 | 11481 | 53.4 |
| Satbaria 95 | 2879 | 11786 | 12541 | 49.8 |
| Hashimpur 66 | 6835 | 11249 | 10692 | 46.9 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011,Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Archaeological heritage and relics Three domed Khan Mosque (Bagicha Hat), Nabaratna Bihar (Satbaria), Buri Kali Mandir (Barama), Khan Dighi (Bagicha Hat).
Historical events The Mughal army conquered chittagong in 1666; later, the Mughal army crossed the karnafuli river and established their position at the northern bank of the Sangu River under Murtaza Khan. Adhu Khan and Lakshman Singh, two hazari mansabdars were deputed to defend the border of that area. Many people think that Dohazari was named after these two hazari mansabdars. Two forts were later built there. The British built an air base at Dohazari.
War of Liberation Towards the end of the war of liberation, a fierce battle took place between the Pakistan army and the freedom fighters in which the Pakistan army was defeated. During the Liberation War the swadhin bangla betar kendra was transferred to Dohazari from Chittagong Town. There are mass killing sites at two places of the upazila.
For details: see চন্দনাইশ উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৩।
Religious institutions Mosque 275, temple 70, tomb 20, sacred place 1, kiyang 11. Noted religious institutions: Satbaria Shanti Bihar (monastery), Gachhbaria Sarbojanin Hari Mandir and Baruni Snan at Barumati Canal.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 53.6%; male 54.2%, female 53.0%. Noted educational institutions: Gachhbaria Degree College, Satbaria College, Amanatsafa Badrunnesa Mahila College, Jamijuri Technical School and College, Barama Trahi Menaka High School (1925), Gachhbaria Nittananda Gaurichandra High School, Barkal SZ High School, Shuchia High School, Kanchannagar High School, Joara Senior Madrasa.
Newspapers and periodicals Barumati, Ajker Chandanaish, Chandanaish Darpan, Seidiner Chandanaish, Shankha Chil, Darpan.
Cultural organisations Library 9, club 20, press club 2, cinema hall 2, women organisation 1, stadium 1.
Main sources of income Agriculture 36.41%, non-agricultural labourer 3.75%, industry 0.60%, commerce 19.11%, transport and communication 3.98%, service 16%, construction 1.48%, religious service 0.38%, rent and remittance 3.32% and others 14.97%.
Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 48.10%, landless 51.90%; agricultural landowner: urban 53.32% and rural 47.78%.
Main crops Paddy, wheat, sugarcane, potato, chili, mustard, vegetables.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, flax,tea, water-melon, tobacco, sweet potato.
Main fruits Jackfruit, pineapple, guava, lemon.
Fisheries, dairies and poultries This upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies, poultries, hatcheries and artificial breeding centres.
Communication facilities Roads: pucca 81 km, semi-pucca 141 km, mud road 202 km; waterway 5 km; railway 20 km. Railway Station 3 (Dohazari, Hashimpur, Gachhbaria Khan Hat).
Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart.
Noted manufactories Garments, cold storage, printing press, ice factory, welding factory, flour mill, rice mill, saw mill.
Cottage industries Weaving, goldsmith, potteries, blacksmith, wood work, bamboo work, bakery, tailoring.
Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 14, fairs 2; Khodar Hat, Bagicha Hat, Gachhbaria Khan Hat, Dohazari Bazar, Maulavibazar and Baruni Mela are notable.
Main exports Railway slipper, furniture, milk, chicken, guava, lemon, pineapple, vegetables.
Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 74.6% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.
Natural resources White clay and different types of stone.
Sources of drinking water Tube-well 95.0%, tap 0.5% and others 4.5%. The presence of arsenic at an excessive level has been detected in 0.02% of the shallow tube well water of the upazila.
Sanitation 75.3% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 22.5% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 2.2% of households do not have latrine facilities.
Health centres Hospital 1, upazila health complex 2, union health centre 5, family planning centre 10, community clinic 10.
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, Uddipan, caritas, Palli Pragati Sangstha. [SM Abu Zaker]
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Chandanaish Upazila 2007.
