Chilmari

 subdistrict, fourth-level administrative division, local government

Chilmari Upazila (Kurigram district) with an area of 224.97 sq km, is bounded by Ulipur upazila on the north, Char Rajibpur and Sundarganj upazilas on the south, Raumari and Char Rajibpur upazila on the east, Ulipur and Sundarganj upazilas on the west. Adnar Beel is notable.

Chilmari is located at 25.5667°N 89.6917°E. It has 20129 units of house hold. Chilmari (Town) consists of five mouzas. It has an area of 28.01 sq km. The town has a population of 39982; male 50.63% and female 49.37%; population density per sq km 1429. Literacy rate among the town people is 29%. The town has one dakbungalow.

Chilmari thana, now an upazila, was established in 1850. The upazila consists of 6 union parishads, 58 mouzas and 152 villages.

Heritage and relics: Remnants of an ancient bastion at village Majai Danga, a three-domed mosque (Mughal period) at village Majider Par of Thanahat Union.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 100516; male 49.98%, female 50.02%; Muslim 93.79%, Hindu 6.05% and others 0.16%.

Religious institutions Mosque 145 and temple 10.

Average literacy 34.1%: male 44.8% and female 25.1%. Educational institutions: college 3, high school 12, junior high school 2, madrasa 23, government primary school 55, non-government primary school 61, vocational training institute 1. Noted educational institution: Chilmari High School (1933).

Main occupations: Agriculture 42.15%, agricultural labourer 28.93%, wage labourer 1.91%, commerce 8.64%, service 5.06%, fishing 2.01% and others 11.30%.

Land use Total cultivable land 12371.51 hectares; fallow land 151.76 hectares; single crop 12.38%, double crop 72.37% and treble crop land 15.25%.

Land control Among the peasants 60% are landless, 25% small, 10% intermediate and 5% rich; cultivable land per head 0.12 hectare.

Manufactories: Husking mill 8, saw mill 4, welding 6.

Cottage industries: Bamboo work 360, goldsmith 27, blacksmith 25, potteries 10, wood work 15, tailoring 50.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 7 km and mud road 236 km; waterways 14, nautical mile; railways 8 km.

Health centres: Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 6, satellite clinic 1, maternity 1, NGO operated health centre 1.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, grameen bank, rdrs, Chhinamukul, caritas, Gram Unnayan Kendra, nijera kari, Apan Udyag.