Derai Upazila HQ

 township, subdistrict, fourth-level administrative division, local government

Derai Upazila (sunamganj district) with an area of 420.93 sq km, is bounded by Sunamganj sadar and Jamalganj upazilas on the north, Sullah and Nabiganj upazilas on the south, Jagannathpur on the east, Khaliajuri, Sullah and Jamalganj upazilas on the west. Main rivers are surma, piyain, kushiyara, Dahuka. Noted depressions: Aival, Gangui, Menua, Tatua and Khulrin Beels.

Derai is located at 24.7833°N 91.3500°E. It has 30041 units of house hold. Derai (Town) The town is now a municipality with an area of 20.5 sq km and population 23098; male 52.29%, female 47.71%. It has 9 wards and 29 mahallas. Literacy rate among the town people is 39.4%. The town has one dakbungalow.

Derai upazila was established in 1982. It consists of 9 union parishads, 165 mouzas, 233 villages.

As of 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 185284; male 51.38%, female 48.62%; Muslim 68.53%, Hindu 30.96%, Buddhist 0.11%, Christian 0.12%, ethnic nationals 0.18% and others 0.10%.

Average literacy 25.15%; male 30.1%, female 20.2%. Educational institutions: college 2, high school 16, junior high school 2, primary school (government) 96, primary school (non-government) 24, satellite school 4, madrasa 7. Dirai High School (1915) is a notable institute.

Main occupations Agriculture 45.24%, agricultural labourer 31.11%, wage labourer 3.19%, commerce 5.20%, service 2.75%, fishing 3.89%, others 8.62% .

Land use Arable land 32061 hectares, cultivated 26061 hectares, uncultivated arable land 2913 hectares, barren land 3087 hectares; khas land 184.13 hectares; single crop 87.58%, double crop 12.42%; land under irrigation 14490 hectares.

Land control Among the peasants, 9.07% are landless, 20.95% marginal, 38.03% small, 23.30% intermediate and 8.65% rich.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 150, hatchery 5, poultry 120.

Main exports: Fish.

Manufactories: Flour mills 6, ice factory 3, auto rice-mill 10.

Communication Roads: pucca 4 km, mud road 408 km; waterways 46 nautical mile

Health centres Upazila health centre 1, health and family welfare centre 1, satellite clinic 2, BRAC operated TB Clinic and HID Bangladesh operated Leprosy Clinic.

NGO activities brac, HEED Bangladesh, Grameen Janakolyan Sangstha, RASA.