Karimganj Upazila

Karimganj Upazila (kishoreganj district) area 200.50 sq km, located in between 24°22' and 24°32' north latitudes and in between 90°48' and 91°01' east longitudes. It is bounded by tarail and itna upazilas on the north, nikli, katiadi and kishoreganj sadar upazilas on the south, Nikli and mithamain upazilas on the east, Kishoreganj Sadar upazila on the west.

Population Total 287807; male 141531, female 146276; Muslim 282364, Hindu 5170, Buddhist 4, Christian 5 and others 264.

Water bodies Main rivers: Narsunda, Bathail, Singua, Dhanu; Balia, Naoli, Bara, Kolai, Alkhara' and Ukhla beels are notable.

Administration Karimganj Thana was formed in 1909 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	11	81	186	26844	260963	1435	51.4	37.2

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
7.82	9	17	26844	3433	51.4

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kadir Jangal 60	5580	16025	17699	43.6
Kiratan	1731	4625	4946	35.4
Gujadia 34	6542	17957	18811	39.2
Gundhar 25	6558	15149	14902	32.3
Joyka 51	6407	18755	18339	36.4
Jafarabad 43	2390	7026	7511	38.8
Dehunda 17	2397	10149	10747	34.8
Niamatpur 77	3202	12326	12432	38.8
Noabad 86	2841	11736	12280	38.5
Baragharia 13	2506	6650	7056	36.2
Sutarpara 94	7451	8026	7816	28.9

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Darbar House at Jangalbari Fort of isa khan (sixteenth century), Isa Khan Shahi Mosque (sixteenth century), ruins of residence of Isa Khan including the boundary wall.

Historical events Isa Khan, Chief of the Bara Bhuiyans, surprised Jangalbari and occupied it defeating Koch King Laxan Hajo who ran away. Isa Khan established his residence at Jangalbari.

War of Liberation During the war of liberation in 1971 encounters were held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at different places such as Kajla, Aiela, Sakura, Baliabari. Karimganj was liberated on 16 December. 12 freedom fighters of the upazila were martyred in the War of Liberation.

For details: see করিমগঞ্জ উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ২।

Religious institutions Mosque 286, temple 8, tomb 5, akhra 2.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 38.6%; male 39.6%, female 37.6%. Educational institutions: college 3, secondary school 17, primary school 116, satellite school 4, madrasa 15. Noted educational institutions: Jangalbari English School (1862).

Newspapers and periodicals Defunct periodical: Suchana (1981), Shadhin Barta (1998), Isha Khan (1988-1991), Shahoser Padabali (1992).

Cultural organisations Club 39, cinema hall 1, theatre stage 1, theatre group 10, shilpakala academy 1, playground 19, women's organisation 1, children park 1.

Main sources of income Agriculture 61.03%, non-agricultural labourer 3.32%, industry 1.03%, commerce 17.23%, transport and communication 4.40%, service 3.49%, construction 1.31%, religious service 0.27%, rent and remittance 0.25% and others 7.67%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 51.80%, landless 48.20%; agricultural landowner: urban 38.67% and rural 52.75%.

'Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard, nut, garlic, chilli, onion, tomato, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Sesame, sugarcane, motor, aman paddy.

Main fruits Mango, black berry, jackfruit, banana, plum, papaya, litchi, olive.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 25, dairy 37, poultry 467, hatchery 1.

Communication facilities Pucca road 172.5 km, semi-pucca road 27.5 km, mud road 952.4 km; waterway 45 km.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Rice mill, flour mill, saw mill, ice factory, oil mill, bakery, candle factory, various' workshop.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, weaving, potteries, bamboo work, cane work, wood work, tailoring.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 38, fairs 10, most noted of which are Karimganj Bazar, Babur Hat, Marichakhali Hat, Murikandhi Hat.

''Main exports Paddy, jute, vegetables, mustard, garlic, chilli, onion, banana, bamboo and cane items.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 47.9% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 96.7%, tap 0.1% and others 3.2%.

Sanitation 63.1% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 30.2% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 6.7% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 1, health and family welfare centre 7, community clinic 33.

Natural disasters The floods of 1974, 1998 and 2004 caused heavy damages to settlements, livestock and other properties of the upazila.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, Annesa. [Md Rezaul Habib Reza]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Karimganj Upazila 2007.