| Araihazar | |
| Official Name: | Araihazar Upazila |
| Native Name: | আড়াইহাজার |
| Settlement Type: | Upazila |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Name1: | Dhaka |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Narayanganj |
| Population Total: | 376550 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Araihazari |
| Area Total Km2: | 181.07 |
| Established Title1: | Thana |
| Established Date1: | 1977 |
| Established Title2: | Upazila |
| Established Date2: | 1983 |
| Leader Title: | Upazila Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Junayed Habib |
| Leader Title1: | MP (Narayanganj-2) |
| Leader Name1: | Nazrul Islam Babu |
| Timezone: | BST |
| Utc Offset: | +6 |
| Coordinates: | 23°N 90°W |
| Website: | Official Map of Araihazar |
Araihazar (Bengali: আড়াইহাজার) is an upazila (sub-district) of the Narayanganj District in Bangladesh, part of the Dhaka Division.[1]
Araihazar is named after the leftover 2,500 Mughal soldiers of Man Singh I that fought with Isa Khan in the 17th century. The word for "two thousand and five hundred" in Bangla is "Araihazar" (Bengali: আড়াইহাজার romanised: Araihajar), hence the name.
In 1921, a thana (police outpost administrative headquarters) was established in Araihazar, under the former Dhaka district. Araihazar Thana's status was upgraded to upazila (sub-district) in 1983 as part of the President of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad's decentralisation programme.[2]
Araihazar is located at 23.7917°N 90.65°W. It has 77,462 households and total area 181.07 km.
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Araihazar Upazila had 77,462 households and a population of 376,550. 96,076 (25.51%) were under 10 years of age. Araihazar had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 41.0%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 999 females per 1000 males. 14,423 (3.83%) lived in urban areas.[3] [4]
As of the 2001 Bangladesh census, Araihazar has a population of 331566. Males constitute 51.75% of the population, and females 48.25%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 142883. Araihazar has an average literacy rate of 32% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.[5]
Araihazar Upazila is divided into Araihazar Municipality, Gopaldi Municipality, and 11 union parishads: Bishnandi, Brahmandi, Duptara, Fatepur, Haizadi, Kalapaharia, Khagakanda, Mahmudpur, Sadasardi, Satgram, and Uchitpur.[3] [6]
