| Official Name: | Gowainghat |
| Native Name: | গোয়াইনঘাট |
| Settlement Type: | Upazila |
| Coordinates: | 25°N 91°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Sylhet |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sylhet |
| Area Total Km2: | 481.12 |
| Population Total: | 287512 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | BST |
| Utc Offset: | +6 |
Gowainghat (Bengali: গোয়াইনঘাট) is an upazila of Sylhet District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.[1]
The British Empire conquered the Jaintia Kingdom on 25 March 1835, finally incorporating Gowainghat in its Sylhet District Collectorate.[2] In 1908, the Gowainghat Thana was founded with the union of 5 parganas; Dhargram, Araikha, Piyaingul, Panchbhag and Jaflong and then separated into 9 union councils. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Pakistani army launched an attack in Ujuhat, Alirgaon killing 25 freedom fighters on the night of 28 November 1971. 7 mass graves are found in the upazila in Ujuhat, Atgram, Tamabil Zero Point, Health Complex and Birkuli. To commemorate the loss of lives, a memorial has been built. The thana prospered, officially upgrading to an upazila on 14 March 1983.[3]
Gowainghat is located at 25.1028°N 91.8917°W. It has 47,992 households and a total area of 481.12 km2. The rivers are quarried for their stones, in areas like Bichnakandi.[4]
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Gowainghat Upazila had 47,992 households and a population of 287,512. 93,235 (32.43%) were under 10 years of age. Gowainghat had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 32.70%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 998 females per 1000 males. 6,069 (2.11%) lived in urban areas.[5] Ethnic population was 2,073 (0.72%), of which Khasi were 902.[6]
Bangladesh census, Gowainghat has a population of 207,170. Males constituted 51.80% of the population, and females 48.20%. Gowainghat has an average literacy rate of 22.8%.[7]
Gowainghat Upazila is divided into nine union parishads: Alirgaon, Daubaria, Fatehpur, Lengura, Nandirgaon, Purba Jaflong, Paschim Jaflong, Rustampur, and Towakul. The union parishads are subdivided into 231 mauzas and 266 villages.