Meghna Division Explained

Official Name:Meghna Division
Native Name:মেঘনা বিভাগ
Native Name Lang:bn
Settlement Type:Proposed Division
Coordinates:23.45°N 103°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Bangladesh
Established Title:Proposed
Seat Type:Capital and largest city
Seat:Comilla
Blank Name Sec1:Main Language(s)
Blank Info Sec1:Bengali
Blank1 Name Sec1:Other languages
Blank1 Info Sec1:English
Blank1 Name Sec2:Districts
Blank1 Info Sec2:6
Blank3 Name Sec2:upazilas
Blank3 Info Sec2:59
Blank Name Sec2:Notable sport teams
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:12,848.53
Population Total:16918446
Population As Of:2011 census
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:BST
Utc Offset1:+6
Iso Code:BD-B
Other Name:Samatata– Roshanbad [1]

Meghna Division (Bengali: মেঘনা বিভাগ) is a proposed administrative division within Bangladesh for the north-western parts of the existing Chittagong Division,[2] comprising Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, and Laxmipur Districts of Chittagong Division.[3] [4] [5] [6] The headquarter of the division is in Comilla. It covers the south-easternmost areas of the country, with a total area of 12848.53km2[7] and a population at the 2011 census of 16,708,000.[8] [9] [10]

Terminology and naming dispute

Various terms are used to describe the different (and sometimes overlapping) geographical and political areas of the proposed Meghna division. In brief, the main terms and their simple explanations are as follows:

History

The Greater Noakhali District was established in 1868 as a renaming of the Bhola District, which the British founded on 29 March 1822. It headquarters was in the town of Noakhali until the town vanished in the river-bed in 1951, as a result of the Meghna River erosion. A new headquarters for the Noakhali District was then established at Maijdee.

The present Greater Comilla region was once under ancient Gangaridai, Samatata and Pundra Kingdom of Bengal. The region came under the control of Gauda Kingdom after the fall of Gupta rule in 6th century.[13] Lalmai Mainamati was ruled by Khadga dynasty (seventh century to early eighth century AD), Deva dynasty (eighth century AD) and Chandra dynasty (during tenth and mid-eleventh century AD). After the reign of Chandras the region was ruled by Hindu Varman, Sena and Deva dynasty in the early mediaeval period. Later the region was joined with Twipra Kingdom in the mediaeval period. In 1732, it became the center of the Bengal-backed domain of Jagat Manikya.[14] [15]

The Peasants Movement against the king of Tripura in 1764, which originally formed under the leadership of Shamsher Gazi.[16] It came under the rule of East India Company in 1765 and was established as Tippera district (also known as Chakla Roshanbad) in 1790. Later, it was reorganized in three phases into six districts.

Administrative districts

The Division will be subdivided into six districts (zilas) and thence into 59 sub-districts (upazilas). The six districts listed below comprise the north-western portion (37.6%) of the present Chittagong Division, while the remaining five districts (zilas) comprise the south-eastern portion (62.4%) being separated by the lower (or Bangladeshi) stretch of the Feni River.

Name Capital Area (km2) Population
1991 Census
Population
2001 Census
Population
2011 Census
5,387,288
Total Division 6

Demographics

The division would have a population of 16,918,446. 16,008,777 (94.62%) are Muslims, 899,286 (5.32%) Hindus.[17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gumming, J. G.. Survey and settlement of the Roshanbad estate in the districts of Tippera and Noakhali, 1892–99. 1899.
  2. News: bn: কুমিল্লা বিভাগ দ্রুত বাস্তবায়নের দাবি . Cumilla Division demanded quick implementation . http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/453607/%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF . bn . Prothom Alo . 16 February 2015.
  3. Web site: কুমিল্লা বিভাগের নাম হবে 'ময়নামতি' . নিজস্ব . প্রতিবেদক . বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর . ডটকম . bangla.bdnews24.com . bn.
  4. Web site: bn:ময়মনসিংহ বিভাগ গঠনে কাজ শুরুর নির্দেশ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর . Mymensingh Division worked on the instruction of the Prime Minister . http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/434839/ . bn . Prothom Alo . 26 January 2015.
  5. News: Mymensingh to become new division . The Daily Star . 26 January 2015 . 26 January 2015.
  6. News: 3 new divisions to be formed . The Independent . Dhaka . https://web.archive.org/web/20150215161101/http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=245618%3A3-new-divisions-to-be-formed&catid=129%3Afrontpage&Itemid=121 . 15 February 2015 . 15 February 2015 . dead.
  7. Book: Miah, Sajahan . 2012 . Chittagong Division . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chittagong_Division . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  8. News: Noakhali Division Implementation Unity Committee . 30 October 2015 . Daily Observer . 21 October 2021.
  9. News: bn:বিভাগ করার দাবিতে নোয়াখালী শহরে মানববন্ধন আজ . https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8B%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9C . Prothom Alo . 11 March 2017 . bn.
  10. Web site: https://samakal.com/bangladesh/article/211081755/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80 . 21 October 2021 . bn:পদ্মা ও মেঘনা নামে নতুন বিভাগের কথা জানালেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী . bn . Samakal . 21 October 2021.
  11. Web site: Gazetteer - Bengal District Gazetteer Tipperah District - South Asia Archive . southasiaarchive.com.
  12. Book: Siddiqi, Mamun . 2012 . Comilla District . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Comilla_District . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  13. Book: Prasad, Bindeshwari . Dynastic History of Magadha. 1977 . 136.
  14. Bidhas Kanti Kilikhar. Tripura of the 18th Century with Samsher Gazi Against Feudalism: A Historical Study. (Chapa Kathi, Agartula: Tripura State Tribal Cultural Research Institute and Museum, 1995) p. 55
  15. Book: Sailendra Nath Sen. Ancient Indian History And Civilization. 12 May 2024. 1 January 1999. New Age International. 978-81-224-1198-0. 277.
  16. Book: Nawaz, Ali . 2012 . Shamsher Gazi . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Shamsher_Gazi . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  17. Web site: Zila Series: Bangladesh 2011 Census . bbs.gov.bd . Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.