Sonatala Upazila Explained

Official Name:	Sonatala
Native Name:	সোনাতলা
Settlement Type:	Upazila
Coordinates:	25.0333°N 119°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Bangladesh
Subdivision Type1:	Division
Subdivision Name1:	Rajshahi
Subdivision Type2:	District
Subdivision Name2:	Bogra
Area Total Km2:	156.75
Population Total:	186778
Population As Of:	2011
Population Density Km2:	auto
Timezone:	BST
Utc Offset:	+6
Postal Code Type:	Postal code
Postal Code:	5826

Sonatala Upazila (Bengali: সোনাতলা উপজেলা) is an upazila of Bogra District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sonatala Thana was established in 1981 from Sariakandi Thana and was converted into an upazila in 1984.^{[1] [2]} It is named after its administrative center, the town of Sonatala.

Geography

Sonatala Upazila has a total area of . It borders Rangpur Division to the north, Sariakandi Upazila to the east and south, Gabtali Upazila to the south and west, and Shibganj Upazila, Bogra to the west.^{[2] [3]}

Beels

Goborchapa Beel

• Gobochanra Beel
• Thengar Beel
• Mohicharan Beel
• Padir Beel
• Satbeel

Chunepacha beel

Demographics

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sonatola Upazila had 48,569 households and a population of 186,778. 43,922 (23.52%) were under 10 years of age. Sonatola had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 43.19%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1023 females per 1000 males. 24,720 (13.23%) lived in urban areas.^{[4] [5]}

Economy

Famous markets (Hat)

• Sonatola Hat
• Balua Hat
• Karamja Hat
• Sayed Ahmed College Hat
• Pakulla Hat
• Horikhali hat

Administration

Sonatala Upazila is divided into Sonatala Municipality and seven union parishads: Balua, Digdair, Zorgachha, Madhupur, Pakulla, Sonatala Sadar, and Tekani Chukainagar. The union parishads are subdivided into 94 mauzas and 131 villages.

Sonatala Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 16 mahallas.

Transport

Rail stations Sayeed Ahmed College, Bhelurpara, and Sonatala are on the branch line connecting Santahar and Kaunia. In July 2014 they were served by six or eight intercity and six mail trains a day.^[6]

Education

See also: Education in Bangladesh. There are three colleges in the upazila. Government Nazir Akhter College, founded in 1967, is the only public one. A private one is Balua Hat Degree College, founded in 1987.^{[4] [7]} Govt. Sonatola Model High School & College founded in 1908.

The madrasa education system includes one fazil madrasa.^[8]

See also

• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh

Notes and References

1. Web site: Upazila Administration Background . . Sonatala Upazila . 17 July 2014.
2. Book: Harun-or-Rashid, Md. . 2012 . Sonatala Upazila . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sonatala_Upazila . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
3. Web site: Sonatala Map . . 11 July 2014.
4. Web site: Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Bogra . bbs.gov.bd . Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
5. Web site: 2011 . Community Tables: Bogra district . bbs.gov.bd . Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
6. Web site: Bogra Schedule . . Bangladesh Railways . July 21, 2014.
7. Web site: Baluyahata Degree College . . Sonatala Upazila . 18 July 2014.
8. Web site: List of Institutions . . Ministry of Education . July 15, 2014.