Sunamganj District
Sunamganj District (sylhet division) area 3526.12 sq km, located in between 24°34' and 25°12' north latitudes and in between 90°56' and 91°49' east longitudes. It is bounded by Meghalaya state of India on the north, habiganj and kishoreganj districts on the south, sylhet district on the east, netrokona district on the west.
Population Total 2375223; male 1189487, female 1185736; Muslim 2075863, Hindu 296380, Buddhist 71, Christian 1837 and others 1072.
Water bodies Main rivers: surma, kushiyara, Dhamalia, Jadukata.
Administration Sunamganj Sub-division was upgraded to a district in 1984. Municipality was formed in 1960. Of the eleven upazilas of the district dharmpasha is the largest (496.03 sq km) and bishwambarpur is the smallest (194.25 sq km).
| District | |||||||||
| Area (sq km) | Upazila | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Urban | Rural | ||||||||
| 3526.12 | 11 | 4 | 83 | 1502 | 2738 | 252172 | 2123051 | 674 | 35.0 |
| Others Information of District | ||||||||
| Name of Upazila | Area (sq km) | Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) |
| Chhatak | 440.48 | 1 | 13 | 296 | 539 | 397642 | 903 | 38.6 |
| Jagannathpur | 368.11 | 1 | 8 | 234 | 310 | 259490 | 705 | 39.9 |
| Jamalganj | 309.38 | - | 5 | 102 | 192 | 167260 | 541 | 32.5 |
| Tahirpur | 315.33 | - | 7 | 128 | 243 | 215200 | 682 | 30.4 |
| Dakshin Sunamganj | 303.17 | - | 8 | 107 | 171 | 183881 | 607 | 32.3 |
| Derai | 420.93 | 1 | 9 | 137 | 232 | 243690 | 579 | 37.1 |
| Dowarabazar | 263.35 | - | 9 | 168 | 308 | 228460 | 868 | 30.4 |
| Dharampasha | 310 | - | 6 | 84 | 175 | 130457 | 421 | 28.5 |
| Bishwambarpur | 248.63 | - | 5 | 61 | 184 | 156381 | 629 | 34.6 |
| Sulla | 256.03 | - | 4 | 65 | 116 | 113743 | 444 | 34.3 |
| Sunamganj Sadar | 290.71 | 1 | 9 | 120 | 268 | 279019 | 960 | 38.8 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
War of Liberation Freedom fighters had an encounter with the Pak army in Chhatak upazila on 28 April 1971 and 13 freedom fighters were killed and 11 were wounded in the encounter. On 29 July one freedom fighter was killed in an encounter with the Pak army at Sachna Bazar of Jamalganj upazila. On 12 August the Pak army killed 8 civilians at village Telia. On 25 August an encounter was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army in Derai upazila in which three freedom fighters were killed and two were wounded. During the war of liberation the local Razakars arranged a so-called peace meeting at Sreerampur High School compound and local teachers, officials, Union Parishad members, members of the elite and a cross section of people gathered at the places on the 31 August 1971. With the help of the razakars the Pak army brutally killed 126 persons by firing on the meeting and the entire village was set on fire. On 8 September the Pak Army sacked about 150 shops at Raniganj Bazar and killed 30 innocent people of this upazila. During the war of liberation, the Pak army conducted mass killing, violation of women and burning in different places including at Sunamganj Town, Krishnanagar and Ahsanmara Ferry Ghat. The Pak army killed three freedom fighters during the peoples’ resistance movement at Sunamganj Circuit House and Ahsanmara areas. 48 freedom fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pak army at Krishnagar of Mongal Kot; they were buried at Dalura. Sunamganj district was liberated on 7 December. There are mass graves at 4 places of the district and 3 mass killing sites; 3 memorial plates and 5 memorial monuments have been built.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 35.0%; male 36.9%, female 33.1%. Educational institutions: primary teachers training college 1, college 30, secondary school 168, primary school 1050, kindergarten 20, community school 72, madrasa 165. Noted educational institutions: Sunamganj Government College (1944), Sunamganj Government Mohila College (1984), Zainal Abedin College (1992), Sulla College (1986), Jamalganj Degree College (1985), Barakhal Multilateral School and College (1970), Badshahganj Degree College (1994), Maddhya Nagar BP High School and Colllege (1952), Derai Degree College (1979), Chhatak Degree College (1972), Chhatak Technical School and College (1981), Digendra Barman College (1992), Jagannathpur College (1992), Government Jubilee High School (1887), Tahirpur Government High School (1950), Satish Chandra Government Girls' High School (1940), Jamalganj High School (1948), Jagannathpur Swarup Chandra Government High School (1926), Pilotgaon BN High School (1919), Derai Boys' High School (1915), Rajanagar Krishnachandra Public Secondary High School (1903), Chandranth Girls' High School (1857), Satgaon High School (1923), Saidpur Sayedia Shamchhia Senior Madrasa (1903), Bahara Primary School (1831), Anandapur Government Primary School (1925), Derai Government Model Primary School (1805), Shahapur Government Primary School (1905), Bishwambarpur Government Model Primary School (1928).
Main sources of income Agriculture 66.99%, non-agricultural labourer 6.52%, industry 0.45%, commerce 9.12%, transport and communication 0.96%, service 3.81%, construction 0.64%, religious service 0.34%, rent and remittance 2.20% and others 8.97%.
Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Haor Barta, Desh Prantho; weekly: Shajan (1991), Sunam Kantha (2000), Sunam Express (2006), Sunamganj Report (2005), Sunam (1984), Din Jai (1992), Sunamganjer Kagoj (1991), Sunamganjer Janapath (2006), Sunamganj Samgbad (1991), Sunamganj Barta (1985), Aunal (1991), Grambanglar Katha (2007); fortnightly: Surma (2001), Daraien (2000), Bhati Katha (2001), Bijay (2002), Gang (2003), Nakshathra (2004), Kalni (2001), Haorer Dheow, Suchayan, Prattayan, Mangala (1906), Kaler Kartal (1977), Jamalganj Samachar (1985), Bhalobasi Swadesh (1987), Nabajatak (1987), Probhat (1990), Aparjita Tarunna (1991), Uttar Projanmma (1992), Dishari (1993), Pratidhi (1993), Unmachan (1994), Shahose Jage Utho (1997), Sreetir Olinde (1998), Purbasha (1998), Raktojhara Falgune (1998), Praona (1999), Abhiprai (2001), Nibedan (2006); monthly: Jagannath Times, Jankar (1929), Pradip (1929); quaterly: Sfulinga; periodicals: Dishari (1993), Khudrapat Rudrapran (1998), Sreetir Olinde (1998), Arunaday (1998, 2000).
Folk culture Other folk culture include Haljatra, Gormar dance, Dhamail and Suryabrata songs. Besides, different folk traditions of the district include Bijbas Brata, Banalaksmi Brata, Khirabas Brata, Firal etc. [Ashfaq Hossain]
See also The upazilas under this district.
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Sunamganj District 2007; Cultural survey report of upazilas of Sunamganj District 2007.
