Bakalia Thana
Bakalia Thana (Chittagong metropolitan) with an area of 12.33 sq. km is located in between 22°26' and 22°19' north latitudes and in between 91°50' and 91°54' east longitudes. It is bounded by chandgaon thana on the north, karnafuli thana and Karnafuli river on the east and on the south, and kotwali thana on the west.
Population 196877; male 110235, female 68642; Muslim 178915, Hindu 16969, Buddhist 60, Christian 812 and others 121.
Water bodies karnafuli river, Rajakhali and Chaktai canals are notable.
Administration Bakalia Thana was established on 27 May 2000 comprising parts of Kotwali and Chandgaon thanas.
| Thana | ||||||||
| Ward and Union | Mahalla and Mouza | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | ||||
| Urban | Rural | Urban | Rural | |||||
| 3+1 (part) | 9 | 196877 | - | 15967 | 50.50 | - | ||
| Ward and Union | ||||||||
| Ward and Union | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) | |||||
| Male | Female | |||||||
| Ward no. 17 | 2.56 | 33565 | 26905 | 64.80 | ||||
| Ward No. 18 | 2.72 | 27839 | 23963 | 43.40 | ||||
| Ward No. 19 | 1.60 | 39125 | 30320 | 42.10 | ||||
| Ward No. 35 (part) | 5.45 | 9706 | 5454 | 52.90 | ||||
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Religious institutions Mosque 26, Mazar 8, temple 7. Noted religious institutions: Afghan Mosque, Madina Mosque, Mazid Hazi Mojaher Sawdagar Mosque, Hazi Iqbal Baitul Aman Jami Mosque, mazars of Hazrat Alhaj Ismail Shah and Makbul fakir, Shree Shree Krishna Mandir, Narayan Mandir, Shiva Mandir and Shree Lokanath Mandir.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 50.50%; male 54.40%, female 45.40%. Noted educational institutions: Delwara Jahan Memorial School and College, Chittagong Government Commercial Institute, Shahid NMMJ College, BEd College, Bakalia Government Laboratory School, Bakalia Ideal Girls' High School, Bakalia High School, East Bakalia City Corporation High School, Karnafuli Public School and College, Majidia Islamia Madrasa, Sunnia Ajamdia Karimia Madrasa, Hazrat Shah Nur Hafezia Madrasa.
Noted establishments Third Karnafuli Bridge (length 950 meter and breath 24 meter), Kalpaloka Residential Area (built by CDA).
Main sources of income Agriculture 2.22%, non-agricultural labourer 2.16%, industry 2.74%, commerce 25.56%, transport and communication 15.08%, construction 3.37%, religious service 0.20%, employment 23.04%, rent and remittance 3.14% and' others 22.49%.
Ownership of agricultural land Land owner 34.10%, landless 65.90%.
Noted manufactories Cleopatra Knit Design Limited, Erina Fashion Limited, Harrolds Apparel Limited, Sanguine Apparel Limited, Unity Apparel Limited, Pravati Apparel Limited, Invent Clothing Limited, Knit Ware Apparel Limited, Rafi Apparel Limited and Metro Apparel Limited.
Noted hats, bazars and shopping complex Chaktai Chairman Bazar, Rajakhali Bazar, Bou Bazar, Jamai Bazar, Chaktai Bera Bazar, Sajeda Shopping Complex, River City market, Karnafuli Market, Amanat Siddique Shopping Mall and Karnafuli City Garden and Apartment.
Access to electricity All the wards of the thana are under electrification net-work; however 84.11% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.
Sources of drinking water Tube-well 80.12%, pond 0.37%, tap 18.46% and others 1.05%.
Sanitation 74.82% of the dwelling households use sanitary latrines and 23.20% use non-sanitary latrines; 1.98% of the dwelling households do not have sanitation facilities.
NGO activities brac, asa, tmss (Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha), Sabalombi Zone, Barani. [Md. Abdul Baten]
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
