Bholahat Upazila HQ

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

Bholahat Upazila (Nawabganj district), with an area of 123.52 sq km, almost two-third of the upazila (west, north and east) is bounded by Maldah district of West Bengal (India), Shibganj and Gomastapur uazilas on the south. Physiographically the upazila lies under Barind tract. Mahananda is the main river. Noted depressions are Bhatia, Baro Vaeoa, Chota Vaeoa, Kalan, Amgachi, Suria, Haridhoa, Dhankupa, Baro Koimari and Chota Koimari beels.

The location of Bholahat town is 24.9484578N 88.2151462E. Bholahat (Town) consists of 5 mouzas. It has an area of 5.06 sq km. It has a population of 10,141; male 49.99%, female 50.01%; density of population is 2004 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 35.7%. Bholahat is famous for silk production. About 75% of cocoon and silk yearn of the country are produced here. About 60-65% of the local population is somehow related with silk industry.

During the undivided Bengal Bholahat was under the Maldaha district of India. Bholarhat Thana was established in 1918. It was included into Nawabganj subdivision in 1947. The Thana was turned into an upazila in 1984. It consists of 4 union parishads, 91 villages and 45 mouzas.

Archaeological heritage: Jadunagar Mosque (Mughal period), Gopinathpur and Bazratek Mosques (Sultani period).

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 70507; male 49.6%, female 50.4%; Muslim 99% and Hindu 1%.

Religious institutions Mosque 183, Temple 3. Tombs of Shahbuddin Shah (R), Hazrat Bakhragazi (R) and Hazrat Bhola Shah (R) are notable.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 26.5%; male 31.2%, female 21.9%. Educational institutions: college 3, madrasa 11, secondary school 12, government primary school 26, non-government primary school 21. Bholahat Romeshwar Pilot High School (1911), Mushareevuza High School (1962), Bholahat Mohebullah Degree College (1986) are notable educational institutions.

Main occupations Agriculture 33.02%, fishing 1.74%, agricultural labourer 35.67%, wage labourer 5.05%, commerce 9.15%, service 3.32%, others 12.05%.

Land use Total land 12352 hectares; single crop 57%, double crop 38% and triple crop 5%.

Value of land The market value of land of first grade is about Tk 7000 per 0.01 hectare.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 10.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 37 km, semi pucca 9 km and mud road 260 km; waterways 11 nautical mile

Manufactories Silk mills.

Cottage industries Silk weaving industries.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika and VERC, Trinamul, Vision, Proyash and Manobic Unnayan Sangstha (MAUS).

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, health and family planning centre 4, charitable dispensary 1.