Sarail Upazila Explained

Official Name:Sarail
Native Name:সরাইল
Settlement Type:Upazila
Coordinates:24°N 91°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Bangladesh
Subdivision Type1:Division
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name1:Chittagong
Subdivision Name2:Brahmanbaria
Area Total Km2:239.52
Population Total:315208
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:3430
Website:Official Website of Sarail
Timezone:BST
Utc Offset:+6

Sarail (Bengali: সরাইল|Shorail) is an upazila of Brahmanbaria District[1] located in the Chittagong Division and near the Dhaka Division, Bangladesh.

History

The leader of the Baro-Bhuiyan zamindars, Isa Khan, had his first and temporary capital situated in Sarail.[2] During the Mughal era, Sarail was a mahallah (district) of the Sylhet Sarkar.[3]

During the dewani of Dewan Shahbaz Khan in 1650, the Hatirpul was constructed. It was a bridge built over the canal mainly for elephant pass. The Mughal dewans used to communicate by the elephant in this road and also took rest near this bridge. In 1662, the Arifil Mosque was constructed by Shah Arif. There are unknown tombs located near the mosque, supposedly belonging to the wives of Isa Khan.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Pakistani Army killed about 70 innocent people in the Bitghar area. On 5 May, the freedom fighters raided the Pakistani Army's camp in the Shahbazpur area and killed 9 Pakistani soldiers; one freedom fighter was killed during this raid. A number of Pakistani Army officers and the chairman of the Sarail Peace Committee were also killed. The freedom fighters set up a mine bomb north of Kalikaccha Bazar. This exploded and destroyed two military vehicles. Three mass graves remain in Sarail. Memorial monuments were established in the upazila's Bitghar area, the Annada Government High School, the Sarail Degree College and also a monument dedicated to the martyr Sheikh Mesbahuddin Saraili.

In 1990, Sarail was made an upazila of Bangladesh.[1]

Geography

Sarail is located at 24.1183°N 91.125°W. It has 43,854 households and a total area of 227.22 km2.[1]

Demographics

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sarail Upazila had 58,622 households and a population of 315,208. 102,749 (32.60%) were under 10 years of age. Sarail had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 40.85%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1068 females per 1000 males. 46,927 (14.89%) lived in urban areas.[4]

According to the 1991 Bangladesh census, Sarail had a population of 254,481. Males constituted 50.32% of the population, and females 49.68%. The population aged 18 or over was 120,249. Sarail had an average literacy rate of 22.6% (7+ years), against the national average of 32.4%.[5]

Administration

Sarail Upazila is divided into nine union parishads: Auraol, Chunta, Kalikachchha, Noagaon, Pakshimul, Panishor, Sarail, Shahbazpur, and Shahjadapur. The union parishads are subdivided into 67 mauzas and 141 villages.[4]

Upazila Chairman: Rafique Uddin Thakur [6]

Notable residents

See also

Notes and References

  1. Md. Azad Uddin Thakur. Sarail Upazila.
  2. AA Sheikh Md Asrarul Hoque Chisti. Isa Khan.
  3. Book: Nath, Pratyay. 28 Jun 2019. Climate of Conquest: War, Environment, and Empire in Mughal North India. Oxford University Press.
  4. Web site: Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Brahmanbaria. bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  5. Web site: November 10, 2006 . Population Census Wing, BBS.. https://web.archive.org/web/20050327072826/http://www.bangladeshgov.org/mop/ndb/arpc91_v1/tables04.htm . 2005-03-27 .
  6. Web site: Leaders . Sarail Upazila.
  7. News: Constituency 312_11th_En . Bangladesh Parliament . 1954.
  8. News: Constituency 312_11th_En . Bangladesh Parliament . 11 September 2020.