Rajasthali Upazila
Rajasthali Upazila (rangamati district) area 145.03 sq km, located in between 22°17' and 22°26' north latitudes and in between 92°06' and 92°22' east longitudes. It is bounded by kaptai upazila on the north, bandarban sadar and rowangchhari upazilas on the south, belaichhari upazila on the east, rangunia upazila on the west.
Population Total 26083; male 13595, female 12488; Muslim 5265, Hindu 2025, Buddhist 15568, Christian 3211 and others 14. Indigenous communities such as chakma, marma, Tanchanga, tripura, chak, khumee, lushei and Pankhoa belong to this upazila.
Water bodies Main river: karnafuli.
Administration Rajasthali Thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1909.
| Upazila | ||||||||
| Municipality | Union | Mouza | Village | Population | Density (per sq km) | Literacy rate (%) | ||
| Urban | Rural | Urban | Rural | |||||
| - | 3 | 9 | 106 | 3080 | 23003 | 180 | 49.2 | 43.5 |
| Upazila Town | ||||||||
|
Area (sq km) |
Mouza |
Population |
Density (per sq km) |
Literacy rate (%) | ||||
| 14.25 | 1 | 3080 | 216 | 49.2 | ||||
| Union | ||||
| Name of union and GO code | Area (acre) | Population | Literacy rate (%) | |
| Male | Female | |||
| Gainda 71 | 10080 | 4191 | 3965 | 38.7 |
| Ghila Chhari 46 | 14240 | 4326 | 3982 | 36.2 |
| Bangalhalia 23 | 6688 | 5078 | 4541 | 55.4 |
Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
War of Liberation In 1971 the Pak army conducted mass killing, torture and plundering; they also set many houses of the upazila on fire. The separatists Mizo arms guerrillas of the Mizoram state of India collaborated with the Pak army during the war of liberation. An encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held in Gainda union (border area of Bandarban district), in which 5 freedom fighters were killed. Rajasthali was liberated on 15 December.
For details: see রাজস্থলী উপজেলা, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জ্ঞানকোষ (Encyclopedia of Bangladesh War of Liberation), বাংলাদেশ এশিয়াটিক সোসাইটি, ঢাকা ২০২০, খণ্ড ৯।
Religious institutions Mosque 16, temple 3, church 2, pagoda 28.
Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.2%; male 50.7%, female 37.2%. Educational institutions: college 2, secondary school 6, primary school 32, community school 3. Noted educational institutions: Rajasthali College, Bangalhalia College, Rajasthali Taitongpara Government High School, Bangalhalia High School.
Cultural organisations Library 5, club 8, cinema hall 2, jatra party 2, women organisation 9, playground 16.
Main sources of income Agriculture 58.33%, non-agricultural labourer 12.69%, commerce 12.45%, service 6.49%, construction 0.71%, rent and remittance 0.53% and others 8.80%.
Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 48.01%, landless 51.99%; agricultural landowner: urban 39.39% and rural 65.48%.
Main crops Sugarcane, maize, pulse, cotton, tobacco, arahar, ginger, turmeric, bamboo, cane.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Sesame, linseed, kaun.
Main fruits Jackfruit, lemon, banana, orange, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, betel nut.
Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 6, dairy 22, poultry 65. Besides, varieties of fishes are caught from the nearby Kaptai Lake.
Communication facilities Pucca road 16 km, semi-pucca road 15 km, mud road 208 km. Bridge 15, culvert 30.
Noted manufactories Rice mill 2, pulse mill 1, cotton mill 5.
Cottage industries Weaving 80, potteries 2, wood work 4, bamboo and cane work 20.
Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 13, fairs 2, most noted of which are Rajasthali Bazar, Sakhipur Hat, Kakrachhari Hat, Kamalchhari Bazar, Islampur Bazar, Balipara Hat and Gailamukh Bazar.
Main exports Pineapple, banana, cane, lemon, water melon, jackfruit, segun timber, bamboo.
Access to electricity All the unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 37.8% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.
Sources of drinking water Tube-well 62.2%, tap 1.4% and others 36.4%.
Sanitation 33.8% of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 43.4% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 22.8% of households do not have latrine facilities.
Health centres Hospital 1, union health centre 1, upazila health complex 1, clinic 3, family planning centre 3, rural health centre 1.
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, proshika. [Gautam Chandra Modak]
References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Rajasthali Upazila 2007.
