Sylhet Divisional Town

 town, third-level administrative division

Sylhet District (Sylheti: ছিলট Silôţ, Bengali: সিলেট Ṣileţ) with an area of 3490.40 sq km, is bounded by the Khasia-Jainta hills of India on the north, Maulvi bazar district on the south, Kachhar and Karimganj districts of India on the east, Sunamganj and Habiganj districts on the west. Sylhet town is located at 24.8917°N 91.8833°E in the Sylhet District and Sylhet Sadar Upazila. The climate of Sylhet is humid subtropical with a predominantly hot and humid in summer and a relatively cool winter. Annual maximum temperature is 33.2°C and minimum is 13.6°C; annual rainfall 3334 mm.

Main rivers are Surma and Kushiyara. Haors 82; Shingua Beel (12.65 sq km) and Chatla Beel (11.86 sq km) are notable; reserve forest 236.42 sq km. Parts of Khasia and Jainta hills are included in this district. Notable tilas and hills are Jaintapur (54 m), Sary Tila (92 m), Lalkhan Tila (135 m), Dhaka Daksmin Tila series (77.7 m)

Sylhet is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh- Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. It is located on the banks of the Surma River and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills. The city has a high population density, with nearly 500,000 people. The Sylhet region is well known for its tea gardens and tropical forests, the city however is currently known for its business boom with new investments in hotels, shopping malls and luxury housing estates, brought mainly by expatriates living in the United Kingdom.

Sylhet (Town) consists of 27 wards and 210 mahallas. The area of the town is 26.50 km². It has a population of 285308; male 54.68%, female 45.32%; density of population is 27198. Literacy rate among the town people is 66.9%. The rapid growth and expansion of Sylhet occurred during the colonial period. Sylhet Municipality was established in 1878. A devastated earthquake demolished almost the entire town on 12 June 1897. On the wreckage a modern and European model new town was built later on. Many new roads were constructed in late 1890s. Sylhet became really connected to the other parts of the country with the establishment of an extension line of Assam-Bengal Railway in 1912-15. From the very beginning of the 20th century, importance of Sylhet town increased with the establishment of tea industry. In 1950s and 1960s, rapid urbanisation took place in the town by the expatriate Sylheties and still the process is going on. At present, Sylhet is the district-headquarter as well as the divisional headquarter.

Sylhet district was established on 3 January 1782. Until 1878, Sylhet was under the jurisdiction of Dhaka division. In the same year, Sylhet was included in the newly created Assam Province.

Up to 1947 (excepting the period of first partition of Bengal (Banga Bhanga) during 1905-1911) it remained a part of Assam. In 1947, following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state of Assam as a result of a referendum. It was attached to the East Pakistan and was included in the Chittagong Division. The greater Sylhet was divided into four new districts viz Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Maulvi Bazar in 1983-84. On 1 August 1995, Sylhet was declared as the 6th division of the country consisting of the four districts of the greater Sylhet. Sylhet district consists of 11 upazilas, 2 municipalities, 37 wards, 233 mahallas, 98 union parishads, 1693 mouzas and 3249 villages. The upazilas are balaganj, beanibazar, bishwanath, companiganj, fenchuganj, golabganj, gowainghat, jaintiapur, kanaighat, sylhet sadar and zakiganj.

Archaeological heritage: Stone monument of Jaintapur, Mound of Gharduara, Gaiyabi Mosque, Tombs of Hazrat shah jalal (r) and shah paran (r), Abu Torab Mosque, Nawabi Masque, Mughal Mosque at Akhalia, Dhaka Dakshmin Temple and historical Eidgah.

Historical events: Sylhet is an ancient settlement area. It has a history of conquests and heritage from different types of cultures. The city is described as a City of Saints, It was known as Jalalabad in Sultani period. The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet. A Muslim saint, Hazrat Shaikh al Mushaek Jalal Uddin, popularly known as Shah Jalal, arrived in Sylhet in 1303 CE from Mecca via Delhi with 360 Sufi saints and army generals such as Sikander Ghazi, Syed Nasiruddin and Khwaja Burhanuddin Qahtan defeating Govinda of Gaur. Under the spiritual leadership of Hazrat Shah Jalal and his 360 companions the local pagans were brought under control and they began to spread Islam. Saint Shah Jalal and his companions were responsible for the conversion of most of the populace from their earlier beliefs in Hinduism, Buddhism and Paganism to Islam. Shortly, thereafter, Sylhet became a centre of Islam in Bengal. In the official documents and historical papers, Sylhet was often referred to as Jalalabad during the era of the Muslim rule. Saint Shah Jalal died in Sylhet in or around the year 1350 CE. His shrine is located inside the parameter of the mosque complex known as Dargah-e-Shah Jalal.

Religious institutions: Most noted tombs of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) and Shah Paran (R), Syed Osmani Bagdadi (R), Jinda Pir, Fakir Kanai Shah and Shitalang Shah.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, population of the district is 2569783; male 50.75%, female 49.25%; Muslim 91.96%, Hindu 7.80%, Christian 0.09%, and others 0.15%; ethnic nationals: Khasi (Khasia), Manipuri and Patra (Pathar).

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 44.5%; male 50.6%, female 38.4%. Educational institutions: university 1, medical college 3, polytechnic institute 1, PTI 1, college 35, vocational training institute 1, high school 218, primary school 1320, madrasa 148.

Cultural organisation: Club 110, public library 38, museum 3, theatre group 28, theatre stage 4, literary society 18, women's organisation 15, community centre 5.

Main occupations: Agriculture 30.82%, agricultural labourer 15.59%, non agricultural labourer 7.33%, commerce 12.2%, transport 2.21%, construction 1.66%, house renting out 3.11%, fishing 3.6%, others 23.48%.

Land use: Cultivable land 66%, fallow land 34%; single crop 54%, double crop 36% and treble crop 10%.

Land control Land owner 49.26%, landless 50.74%.

Main crops: Paddy, mustered, betel nut.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries: Fishery 110, cattle farm 112, dairy 12, poultry 228, hatchery 8.

Communication facilities- Roads: pucca 794 km, railways 275 km; airways connections with Dhaka and abroad.

Manufactories: Notable manufactories include tea processing industries, Fenchuganj Fertiliser Factory, LP Gas Plant.

Cottage industries: Bamboo work, cane work, Shital Pati (one kind of handmade mat made of cane).

Mineral resources: natural gas, crude oil.

Main exports: Paddy; tea, betel nut, natural gas, fertiliser.

NGO activities: Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, grameen bank, CARE.

Health centres: Hospital 3, upazila health complex 10, union health and family planning centre 68, satellite clinic 17.

Sylhet division has enormous tourism potential. There is a green carpet of tea plants on small hillocks. Natural reserved forests are great attractions. Migratory birds in winter, particularly in the haor areas, are also very attractive in this area. The major tourist destinations surrounding the city are Jaflong, Sripur, Habiganj, Madhabkunda waterfall, Golapganj Botanical Gardens.

Sylhet is only half an hour flight from capital Dhaka and well connected by highways with Dhaka, Chittagong and other major cities. Sylhet has good number of hotels and motels from budget to 4 star for tourists and visitors.