Kishoreganj District

Kishoreganj District (Dhaka division) with an area of 2688.62 km2, is bounded by Netrokona and Mymensingh districts on the north, Narsingdi district on the southwest and brahmanbaria district on the southeast, Sunamganj and Habiganj districts on the east, Gazipur and Mymensingh districts on the west. The soil formation of the district is alluvial sand coming from Brahmaputra, Meghna and other small rivers. The soil is fertile. Annual average temperature- maximum 33.3°C, minimum 12°C; annual rainfall 2174 mm. There are hills and hillocks on the northern and depressions on southern parts of the district. Main rivers are old brahmaputra, meghna, Kalni, Dhanu, Ghorautra, Baurii, Narasunda, Piyain; main depressions: Humaipur (Bajitpur), Somai (Nikli), Barir (Mithamain), Surma Baula (Nikli), and Tallar Haors (Nikli-Bajitpur-Austagram).

Kishoreganj (Town) consists of 9 wards and 56 mahallas. Kishoreganj municipality was established in 1869. The area of the town is 19.57 km2. It has a population of 77165; male 52.51%, female 47.49%. The density of population is 3943 per km2. Literacy rate among the town people is 59%. It has two dakbungalows.

Kishoreganj district was established in 1984; earlier it was a subdivision under the Mymensingh district. The subdivision was established in 1860. The district consists of four municipalities, 39 wards, 145 mahallas, 13 upazilas, 105 union parishads, 946 mouzas and 1775 villages. The upazilas are Austagram, Bajitpur, Bhairab, Hossainpur, Itna, Karimganj, Katiadi, Kishoreganj Sadar, Kuliarchar, Mithamain, Nikli, Pakundia and Tarail; municipalities are Kishoreganj Sadar, Bajitpur, Bhairab and Kuliarchar, Katiadi,Pakundia, Hossainpur, Karimganj.

History

In the ancient time Kishoreganj area was included in the kingdom of the Kamrupa. In the 11th and 12th century the Pala, Varman and Sena kings ruled this area or part of it. After that there arose petty independent kingdoms under the Koch, Hajong, Garo and Rajbanshi. Although in 1491 AD the greater part of Mymensingh was included within the Muslim rule under Firoz Shah, Kishoreganj remained outside. Greater part of Kishoreganj was included in the Mughal Empire during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. But some areas including Jangalbari and egarasindhur remained under the Koch and Ahom kings. In 1538 AD the Ahom king of Egarasindhur was defeated by the Mughals and in 1580 the Koch Chief of Jangalbari was defeated by isa khan. The episode of the conflict between the Mughal Commander Man Singh and Isa Khan, the Chief of the bara-bhuiyans in 1580 and the defeat of Man Singh at Egarasindhur are still current. Though after the death of Isa Khan in 1599 the grater part of Kishoreganj was still under the rule of his son Musa Khan, ultimately seceded to the Mughals.

Literacy and educational institutions

Maple English medium school is the best school in Kishoreganj. It is situated at Sholakia (Kharampotty) which is the best place to live and most expensive part of Kishoreganj. Average literacy 21.94%; male 26.94% and female 16.64%. Educational institutions: medical college 1, nursing training institute 1, university (under construction) 1, college 25, collegiate high school 4, high and junior high school 201, madrasa 120, technical training institute 2, government primary school 808, non-government primary school 1137, kindergarten 16. Noted old educational institutions: Govt. Gurudayal College, Kishoreganj, Govt. Mohila College, Kishoreganj, Kishoreganj Boy's High School (1881), Hafez Abdur Razzaque Pilot High School, Bajitpur (1890), Jangalia High School and College, Pakundia, Jangalbari High School (1862), Mangalbaria Madrasa, Pakundia (1872), Hossainpur High School (1890), Agarpur Gokulchandra High School, Kuliarchar (1907), Kodalia High School, Pakundia (1910), Achmita George Institute (1920), Banagram Ananda Kishore High School, Katiadi (1912), Azimuddin High School, Kishoreganj (1916).

Cultural Organisations:Club 240, cinema hall 23, literacy society 14, press club 1, theatre group 17, public biliary 10, women's organisation 17, playground 53, theatre group 4, shishu academy 1, shilpakala academy 1.

Places to see

Kishoreganj is enriched with Historical & sightseeing Spots such as Sholakia Eidgah Field, Pagla Mosque, Shohidi Mosque, Poet Chandrabati’s Shiv Temple, House Of Isha Kha,Junglebari fort (fifteenth century), Egaroshindhur fort (fifteenth century), Sadi Mosque (1652), Salanka Jame Mosque at Pakundia, Gurai Mosque at Bajitpur (1680), Kutub Shah Mosque at Austagram (1538), Jawar Saheb Bari Mosque at Tarail (1534), Badshahi Mosque at Itna (seventeenth century), Bhagalpur Dewan Bari Mosque at Bajitpur (eighteenth century), Sekandarnagar Mosque at Tarail (eighteenth century), Hazrat Samsuddin Bokhari Mosque Kurikhai at Katiadi (1005), Chandrabati Shiva Mondir (sixteenth century), Delhi Akhra at Mithamain, Arabic stone inscription discovered at village Ghagra, Nataraj Shiva Sculpture discovered at Nikli (fourteenth century), Krishnadas' deed for Nandakishore Pramanik discovered at Kishoreganj Sadar (1759) etc.

Rivers

Main Rivers are Old Brahmaputra, Meghna, Kalni, Dhanu, Ghorautra, Baurii, Narasunda, Piyain; main depressions: Humaipur (Bajitpur), Somai (Nikli), Barir (Mithamain), Surma Baula (Nikli), and Tallar Haors (Nikli-Bajitpur-Austagram).

Newspapers

Daily Ajker Desh, Grihakon Bhatir Darpan, Pratahik Chitra; extinct: Weekly Aryagaurava (1904), Kishoreganj Batrabaha (1924), Akhtar (Urdu, 1926), Kishoreganj Batra (1946), Prativa (1952), Natun Patra (1962), Fortnightly Narasunda (1981), Grambangla (1985), Sristi (1986), Sakal (1988), Suchana (1990), Kishoreganj Parikrama (1991), Manihar (1991), Kishoreganj Prabaha (1993), Bibarani (Kuliarchar 1993).

Municipalities:
• Kishoreganj Sadar

• Bajitpur

• Bhairab

• Kuliarchar.

Upazillas:

• Astagram Upazila

• Bajitpur Upazila

• Bhairab Upazila

• Hossainpur Upazila

• Itna Upazila

• Karimganj Upazila

• Katiadi Upazila

• Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila

• Kuliarchar Upazila

• Mithamain Upazila

• Nikli Upazila

• Pakundia Upazila

• Tarail Upazila

Main depressions:

Humaipur (Bajitpur), Somai (Nikli), Barir (Mithamain), Surma Baula (Nikli), and Tallar Haors (Nikli-Bajitpur-Austagram).

Weather:

Annual average temperature of this district is maximum 33.3°C, minimum 12°C. annual rainfall is 2174 mm.

Soil formation:

The soil is formed by alluvial sand coming from Brahmaputra, Meghna and other rivers. The soil is fertile.

Main occupations:

Agriculture 45.48%, agricultural labourer 21.02% and commerce 11.2%.

Main crops :

Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, pulse, potato, peanut, corn, sugarcane and vegetables.

Main fruits:

Banana, palm, tetul, chalta, lichee, olive, latkon, khira, jambura, amloki and hartaki.

Transportation facilities:

Main transportation is by Roads and by railways.

Main exports:

Paddy, jute, banana, chicken, vegetables, litchi, mustard seed and peanut.

Mills and factories:

Kalia Chapra Sugar Mill and Kishoreganj Sugar Mill(both of them are nearly extinct).Joshodal Textile Mills, Jeminee Textile Mills are noted textile mills.Badam Tail Mills and Aftaf Feed Mills Ltd are also notable.

Marks of War of Liberation:

Memorial is at Karaitala. Monument in memory of martyr Khairul Jahan is situated at Parabhanga.