Jhalokati District

Jhalokati District (barisal division) area 706.76 sq km, located in between 22°20' and 22°47' north latitudes and in between 90°01' and 90°23' east longitudes. It is bounded by barisal district on the north and east, pirojpur district on the west, barguna district and bishkhali river on the south.

Population Total 682669; male 329147, female 353522; Muslim 613750, Hindu 68572, Buddhist 195, Christian 105 and others 47.

Water bodies Main rivers: Bishkhali, Gajalia, Nalchity, Kalijira.

Administration Jhalokathi Sub-division was formed in 1972 and it was turned into a district in 1984. Of the four upazilas of the district nalchity is the largest (237.17 sq km, it occupies 31.3% of the total area of the district) and kanthalia is the smallest upazila (152.08 sq km).

District
Area (sq km)	Upazila	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
						Urban	Rural
706.76	4	2	32	396	455	112003	570666	966	66.7

Others Information of District
Name of Upazila	Area (sq km)	Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
Kathalia	151.29	-	6	47	52	124271	821	65.3
Jhalokati Sadar	159.45	1	10	158	190	216348	1357	68.8
Nalchity	231.42	1	10	119	138	193556	836	67.2
Rajapur	164.58	-	6	72	75	148494	902	63.9

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

War of Liberation The Pak army started killing, plundering and raping indiscriminately in different places of Jhalokati Sadar upazila immediately after they entered there on 27 April 1971; they also set many houses on fire. On 5 May, 21 Pak soldiers including a few razakars were killed in encounters with the Sarbahara Party of Siraj Sikder at Madra, Vhimrul and Peara Bagan. The Pak army shot 9 persons dead in Nalchity upazila on 13 May. On 23 May the Pak army killed 23 pious Muslims at Ramanathpur Sharif Bari while they were performing prayer. The Pak army, in collaboration with the razakars, captured and later killed 24 members of the Manik Bahini on 16 June. An encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held on 21 October at the premises of the Rajapur Police Station in which three freedom fighters were killed and so were 8 Pak soldiers. On 13 November, 18 Pak soldiers including 2nd Lt. Ajmat were killed in an encounter with the freedom fighters at Chachoir and Premdaha. Jhalokati was liberated on 8 December. Mass killing sites had been discovered at 6 places of the district; two memorial plaques, one memorial monument and a memorial sculpture have been built.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 66.7%; male 67.6%, female 65.8%. Noted educational institutions: Jhalokati Government College (1964), Jhalokati Government Women's College, Sher-E-Bangla A K Fazlul Haque College, Jhalokati Government High School (1872), Siddhakati Secondary School (1882), Kirtipasa Prosanna Kumar Secondary School (1903), Baukati Bindu Bashini Secondary School (1918), Jhalokati Government Girls' School (1919), Nathullabad Secondary School (1923), Raipur Syed Abdul Latif Secondary School (1927), Nalchity Merchants Secondary School (1929), Chandrakanda Secondary School (1928), Nalchity Islamia Fazil Madrasa (1910), Chingrakhali Senior Alim Madrasha (1924), Rajapur Fazil Madrasa (1940).

Main sources of income Agriculture 45.89%, non-agricultural labourer 5.25%, industry 1%, commerce 16.45%, transport and communication 2.57%, service 14.89%, construction 2.15%, religious service 0.33%, rent and remittance 1.73% and others 9.74%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Shatakantha (defunct); weekly: Suryadaya, Ajana Khabar (1995); monthly: Sujabad; defunct periodicals: Arkh, Jagaran, Shabdakash, Sabujpatra, Janayeta, Satabarsha Shoronika (1975), Mohona (1976), Chader Hasi (1978), Kalantar (1978), Onnesa (1978), Banglar Barta (1983), Biplobi Bangla (1983), Pari (1986), Suryaloka (1992), Ajker Shabdakash (1995), Namata (1996), Protiva (1996), Agraha (1996), Sreshti (1996), Shanko (1997), Kamini (1998), Dhanshiri Shahitta Soykot (1992), Weekly Robbarer Chithi (1972), Dhanshiri Sahittya Saikot, Nalchity Barta, Sugandha Barta, Sandesh, Bithika.

Folk culture Various types of folk songs such as Bhatiyali, Dhuyagan, Lokageeti, Baramasi gan, Kavigan, Kirtan, Jarigan, Chhad Petanor gan (songs sung at the time of levelling and casting of roof) are noted. Besides, various types of dances including the Kathak Dance are also performed in the district. [Humayun Rahman]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Jhalokati District 2007; Cultural survey report of upazilas of Jhalokati District 2007.