Shantiganj Upazila Explained

Official Name:Shantiganj
Native Name:শান্তিগঞ্জ
Settlement Type:Upazila
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Bangladesh
Subdivision Type1:Division
Subdivision Name1:Sylhet
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Sunamganj
Established Title1:South Sunamganj
Established Date1:2006
Established Title2:Shantiganj
Established Date2:2021
Leader Title1:Upazila Chairman
Leader Name1:Faruq Ahmad
Leader Title2:MP (Sunamganj-3)
Leader Name2:Muhammad Abdul Mannan
Area Total Km2:303.17
Population Total:204998
Population As Of:2022
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:3001 (Pagla)[2]
Postal2 Code Type:Postal code
Postal2 Code:3002 (Patharia)[3]
Population Demonym:Shantiganji
Timezone:BST
Utc Offset:+6

Shantiganj (bn|শান্তিগঞ্জ|Shantigônj, formerly known as South Sunamganj or Dakshin Sunamganj (bn|দক্ষিণ সুনামগঞ্জ, is an upazila of the Sunamganj District in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.[4]

Geography

Shantiganj is located in between 24°49' and 25°10' north latitudes and in between 91°14' and 91°27' east longitudes. It has a total area of . The Surma River and Kalni River flow through Shantiganj. The Ufa, Karchabarar, Saladia, Behala, Baradal and Basadubi beels are other notable bodies of water in Shantiganj, in addition to the Dekhar haor. The upazila is bounded by Chhatak Upazila and Dowarabazar Upazila to the east, Derai Upazila and Jagannathpur Upazila to its south, Jamalganj Upazila to its west, and Sunamganj Sadar Upazila to its north.

History

Shantiganj was first established as an upazila on 6 June 2006 when it was separated from Sunamganj Sadar Upazila and given the name "South Sunamganj". On 26 July 2021, Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the renaming of South Sunamganj to "Shantiganj".[5]

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Shantiganj Upazila had 32,033 households and a population of 183,881. 56,643 (30.80%) were under 10 years of age. Shantiganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 32.30%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1021 females per 1000 males. 5,181 (2.82%) lived in urban areas.[6] [7]

With over 32,000 households, majority (80.6%) of these are kancha or kucha houses which are made from mud or clay, while a few are semi or full pucca houses. A small minority of these houses have access to sanitary latrine (29.2%), majority have non-sanitary latrine (60.4%) and 10.4% do not have toilet facilities available. Electricity within the upazila was available to 38.4% of the population.[6]

The population is predominantly Muslim (90.3%) with a small minority of Hindus (9.7%) and very few following other religions.[6]

Education

The literacy rate and school attendance is below average of the Sunamganj District, with 32.30% and 43.8% respectively.[6] There are five madrasas in the upazila, including Jamia Islamia Haji Akram Ali Dakhil Madrasa and Amaria Islamia Alim Madrasa.

Administration

Shantiganj Upazila is divided into eight union parishads: Dargapasha, Joykalash, Paschim Birgaon, Paschim Pagla, Patharia, Purba Birgoan, Purba Pagla, and Shimulbak. The union parishads are subdivided into 102 mauzas and 171 villages.[6]

Chairmen

List of chairmen[8] !Name!Term!Party
Abul Kalam2018Awami League
Faruq Ahmad2019-presentIndependent (formerly Bangladesh Nationalist Party)

Economy and tourism

There are 15 haat bazaars in Shantiganj. These are: Patharia Bazar, Pagla Bazar, Noakhali Bazar, Ganiganj Bazar, Birgaon Bazar, Taila Bazar, Natun Bangla Bazar, Aktapara Bazar, Damodharatapi Bazar, Chikarkandi Bazar, Muradpur Bazar, Jaikalas Bazar, Thakurbhog Bazar, Shantiganj Bazar and Bhamabhami Bazar.[9]

Shantiganj Upazila is home to around 150 mosques, most notable of which is the historic Pagla Jame Mosque.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Book: National Report . November 2023 . . 978-9844752016 . Population and Housing Census 2022 . 1 . Dhaka . 404.
  2. Web site: Bangladesh Postal Code . 20 October 2024 . Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh . Dhaka.
  3. Web site: Bangladesh Postal Code . 20 October 2024 . Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh . Dhaka.
  4. Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila.
  5. News: Dhaka Tribune. Three new upazilas in Madaripur, Cox’s Bazar and Sunamganj. 26 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Sunamganj . bbs.gov.bd . Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  7. Web site: 2011 . Community Tables: Sunamganj district . bbs.gov.bd . Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  8. News: https://www.sylhetnews24.com/https://www.sylhetnews24.com/%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%80/5708/5708. bn. bn:দক্ষিণ সুনামগঞ্জে স্বতন্ত্র ফারুক আহমদ চেয়ারম্যান পদে বিজয়ী. 10 March 2019. Ahmad, Husayn.
  9. Web site: http://southsunamganj.sunamganj.gov.bd/bn/site/page/4LM9--%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0. bn:হাটবাজার. Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila. bn. Hatbajar.