| Kushtia district | |
| Native Name: | কুষ্টিয়া |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Type: | District of Bangladesh |
| Map Caption1: | Expandable map of Kushtia District |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Kushtia in Bangladesh |
| Coordinates: | 23.9199°N 89.22°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Name1: | Khulna |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Kushtia |
| Leader Title: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Md. Ehtesham Reza [1] |
| Leader Title1: | District Council Chairman |
| Leader Name1: | Rabiul Islam [2] |
| Leader Title2: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Leader Name2: | Md. Joynul Abedin |
| Area Total Km2: | 1608.80 |
| Population Total: | 2149692 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | BST |
| Utc Offset1: | +06:00 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 7000 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2019) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.644[3] · 5th of 20 |
| Total Type: | Total |
Kushtia District (Bengali: কুষ্টিয়া জেলা, pronunciation: kuʃʈia) is a district in the Khulna administrative division of western Bangladesh. Kushtia is the second largest municipality in Bangladesh and the eleventh largest city in the country. Kushtia has existed as a separate district since the partition of India. Prior to that, Kushtia was a part of Nadia district. Kushtia is the birthplace of many historical figures including Mir Mosharraf Hossain (1847–1912),[4] Bagha Jatin (1879–1915)[5] and Lalon (1774–1890).[6] Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore lived his early life at Shelaidaha, a village in the district.[7]
In 1860, the Indigo revolt spread throughout the Bengal province. Shalghar Madhua in Kushtia district was one of the forerunners in this movement.[8] It inspired all indigo farmers in Kushtia to refrain from paying government taxes.[8] Subsequently, with the publication of the Indigo Commission Report, an act was passed prohibiting coercion of cultivators for indigo cultivation and the measure led to the end of the movement.[9]
During the Partition of India in 1947, three sub-divisions of Nadia district i.e. Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur were made into a new district of Kushtia in the then East Pakistan. The town once again became attractive for development in 1954 with the establishment of the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project (also known as G-K Project) headquarters and a number of government offices. The G-K Project is a large surface-irrigation system, with the first crop under this project grown in 1962–63.[10]
The district of Kushtia had significant contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War. A 147-member company of the 27th Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army reached Kushtia on 25 March 1971 from its base at Jessore cantonment. They initially captured the local police station and settled an outpost there, but soon faced considerable resistance from a group of police, ansars, students and local people. By 1 April, the Pakistani army was completely overpowered and the Mukti Bahini took control of Kushtia and emerged victorious in the Battle.[11] Later on 17 April 1971 the Bangladesh Government in-exile formally announced Proclamation of Independence at Baidyanathtala.[12] Subsequently, battles between the Pakistan Army and the rebels occurred at many places of the district including Bangshitala of Kumarkhali Upazila,[13] and Daulatpur Upazila.,[14]
After the independence of Bangladesh several different development projects were undertaken in the district of Kushtia. On 22 November 1979 the foundation stone of The Islamic University was laid at Shantidanga – Dulalpur under the districts of Kushtia and Jhenidah. However, In 1982 the university was shifted to Gazipur and admission of students began in the session of 1985–86. Later, on 10 January 1990, the university shifted back to its original site at Shantidanga Dulalpur. In 1984, two subdivisions of Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur, were named separate districts.[15] [16]
Kushtia District has an area of 1608.80 square kilometres and is bounded by Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna districts to the North, by Chuadanga, Jhenaidah districts to the South, by Rajbari District to the East, and by West Bengal and Meherpur District to the West.
Ganges, Gôŗai-Modhumoti, Mathabhanga, Kaligônga, and Kumar are the main rivers flowing through the district. The average high temperature is 37.8 °C and the average low is 9.2 °C. Annual rainfall averages 1,467 millimetres.
Kushtia district is divided into 6 upazilas, 7 police stations, 5 municipalities, 67 union councils, 710 mauzas and 979 villages.[17]
| No. | Upazila | Area (sq km) | Population (people) Census-2022 | Constituency | Union | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kushtia Sadar Upazila | 316.26 | 5,60,952 | Kushtia-3 | 14 | |
| 02 | Kumarkhali Upazila | 258.38 | 3,73,734 | Kushtia-4 | 11 | |
| 03 | Khoksa Upazila | 115.60 | 1,43,827 | 09 | ||
| 04 | Mirpur Upazila | 296.31 | 3,63,080 | Kushtia-2 | 13 | |
| 05 | Bheramara Upazila | 153.72 | 2,25,041 | 06 | ||
| 06 | Daulatpur Upazila, Kushtia | 461 | 4,82,965 | Kushtia-1 | 14 |
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Kushtia District had 565,339 households and a population of 2,149,692. 363,259 (16.90%) were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1336 people per km2. Kushtia district had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 69.01%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1036 females per 1000 males. 21.26% of the population lived in urban areas.[18]
| 381,261 | 73.48% | 2,090,530 | 97.25% | ||
| 137,422 | 26.49% | 58,770 | 2.73% | ||
| Others | 178 | 0.03% | 392 | 0.02% | |
| Total Population | 518,861 | 100% | 2,149,692 | 100% |
Muslims formed 97.02% of the population, Hindus 2.92%, and others 0.06%. The absolute number of Hindus has fallen continuously from 1981 to present-day.
In 2001, Kushtia District has a population of 1,740,155, of which 50.86% are male and 49.14% female. In terms of religion, 96.67% dwellers of Kushtia were Muslims, 3.29% follow Hinduism and other religions make up 0.04%. Religious institutions are mosques 3587, temples 300, churches 256.[8]
The Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari is an ancestral mansion of the erstwhile Tagore Zamindari.The Kuthibari, located at Shilaidaha in Kumarkhali Upazila of the Kushtia district, is only 20 km from Kushtia town. Rabindaranath Tagore lived here for part of his life, and wrote many memorable poems there. The Kuthibari is now a museum, and is cared for by the Archaeological Department of Bangladesh.
The shrine of Lalon Fakir, the founder of the Baul order is located at Cheouria, about 2 km from the Kushtia railway station. You will have Famous Tiler Khaja Factory at just beside the Milpara Rail Gate in Kushtia Town.[20]
Numerous Bengali daily and weekly newspapers are published from Kushtia. There is also a Bengali TV channel broadcast in the region.
* Sultana Firdousi, writer and poet[21]