Kotwali Model Thana (Barisal Metropolitan)

Kotwali Model Thana (Barisal Metropolitan) area 40.33 sq km, located in between 22°38' and 20°43' north latitudes and in between 90°16' and 90°22' east longitudes. It is bounded by kaunia and airport thanas on the north, nalchity and bakerganj upazilas on the south, bandar thana on the east and jhalokati sadar upazila on the west.

Population 165050; male 88821, female 76229; Muslim, 150262, Hindu 12618, Buddhist 2026, Christian 74, and others 70.

Water bodies Main river:' kirtanhkHola.

Administration Kotwali thana was formed in 2007 comprising 20 wards and Jagua Union of Barisal Sadar upazila.

Thana
Ward	Mohalla	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
		Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
21	45	127315	37735	4093	75.12	68.04

Ward
Name number of Ward	Area (sq km)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Ward No. 6	0.37	1561	1419	80.76
Ward No. 8	0.56	2504	2365	71.31
Ward No. 9	0.87	6950	6397	45.88
Ward No. 10	0.79	5775	4729	56.66
Ward No. 11	0.51	3525	1651	79.53
Ward No. 12	0.48	2313	1526	88.93
Ward No. 13	0.56	2056	693	79.68
Ward No. 14	0.49	2784	1630	72.91
Ward No. 15	0.47	3454	2607	58.23
Ward No. 16	1.00	5540	4818	71.15
Ward No. 17	0.91	3867	3939	80.46
Ward No. 18	0.59	2834	2504	81.04
Ward No. 19	0.61	2223	2124	76.02
Ward No. 20	0.91	4062	3726	72.21
Ward No. 21	0.77	3458	3235	78.54
Ward No. 22	0.79	2534	2183	87.21
Ward No. 23	0.74	4448	4127	78.98
Ward No. 24	0.70	2678	2573	78.38
Ward No. 25	0.99	3453	3116	79.91
Ward No. 26	1.00	3109	2825	85.33
Jagua Union 60	26.22	19693	18042	68.04

Source  Bangladesh Population Census- 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Religious institutions Jami Kasai Mosque, Kalu Shah Road Mosque, Jami Ebadullah Mosque, Barisal Muslim Graveyard Mosque, Madrasa and Orphanage, Mazar of Hazrat Lechu Shah, Ramkrishna Mission, Shankar Math, Kalibari, Oxford Mission Church and St Piter's Catholic Church are notable.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 74.82%; male 77.17%, female 71.91%. Noted educational institutions: BM College (1884), Barisal Polytechnic Institute (1962), Sher-e- Bangla Medical College (1969), Amritalal Dey College (1992), Barisal Government College, Government Syed Hatem Ali College, Barisal Government Women's College, Barisal Model School and College, Barisal Zila School, Brajamohan School, Oxford Mission High School, Udayan High School and Char Monai Madrasa.

Cultural organisations Public library 3, cinema hall 1, stadium 1.

Important establishments and tourist spots Barisal Collectorate Bhaban, District Judge Court, Headquarters of Metropolitan Police, Office of the Road and Waterways Authority, Police Line, Fisheries Bhaban, Fire Service, Bangladesh Bank, City Corporation Office, Rice Research Centre, Interdistrict Bus Terminal, Bangladesh Radio (Barisal Station), Barisal Stadium, Bibir Pond, Bell's Park, etc.

Main sources of income Industry 1.98%, agriculture 5.18%, non-agricultural labourer 5.47%, commerce 28.42%, transport 7.12%, construction 4.34%, service 30.18%, religious service 0.39%, rent and remittance 2.29% and others 14.63%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 42.69%, landless 57.31%.

Main crops Rice, wheat, betel leaf, sugarcane, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Sesame, linseed, mustard seed, sweet potato, leguminous seeds of pulse, jute.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, litchi, papaya, black berry, coconut, betel nut.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries There are quite a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries in the thana.'

Extinct of nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart and horse carriage.

Noted manufactories Jute mill 1, Cotton mill 1.

Cottage industries 'Goldsmith, blacksmith, wood work, welding.

Hats and bazars Venus Market, Bangla Bazar, Puran Bazar, Chaumatha Bazar, Fish offloading Centre and wholesale Market, etc.

Hotels and restaurants Rose Garden, Yan Thai, Kirtankhola Garden.

Access to electricity All the wards and union of the thana are under electrification net-work. However 80.47% of the dwellings have access to electricity.'

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 71.02%, pond 1.91%, tap 25.46.50% and others 1.61%.

Sanitation 82.45% of the dwelling households use sanitary latrines and 14.4% use non-sanitary latrines; 3.15% of' the dwelling households do not have sanitation facilities.

NGO activities operationally important NGO's are brac, proshika, asa CARITAS.

Health centres Hospital 2, family planning centre 7, private health centre 11. Noted health centres are Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, Captain Nazibuddin Clinic. [Akhtaruddin Chowdhury]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.