Jhenaidah District Town

 third-level administrative division, town district

Jhenaidah District (Khulna division) with an area of 1949.62 sq km, is bounded by Kushtia district on the north, Jessore district and West Bengal (India) on the south, Rajbari and Magura districts on the east, Chuadanga district and West Bengal (India) on the west. Main rivers are Garai, Kumar, Nabaganga, Begabati, Chitra, Bairab, Kobadak, Kodla, Phatki, Kaliganga and Ichamati. Baors 9, noted of which are Baluhar, Marjat, Sarjat, Majdia and Barphar Baors; noted canals are Putimari, Sonalidanga, Dakuar and Tattipur Canal; noted beels are Kannadaha, Kajli, Shikir, Patar, Ruimari, Azampur, Dobila, Urki and Uttar Beel (Magura-Tattipur). Annual average temperature: maximum 37.1°C, minimum 11.2°C; annual rainfall 1467 mm.

The geographic location of Jhenaidah town centre is 23.5449963N 89.17256E. Jhenaidah (Town) consists of 9 wards and 33 mahallas. The area of the town is 39.63 sq km. The town has a population of 86635; male 52.55%, female 47.45%; density of population per sq km is 2186. Literacy rate among the town people is 48.9%.

At the beginning of the British rule Jhenaidah was a police out post and was turned into a thana in 1793. The Jhenaidah subdivision was established in 1862 and was turned into a district in 1984. It consists of six upazilas, five municipalities, 67 union parishads, 945 mouzas, 1152 villages, 27 wards and 134 mahallas. The upazilas are Jhenaidah sadar, shailkupa, kaliganj, harinakundu, kotchandpur and maheshpur; the municipalities are Jhenaidah, Kaliganj, Shailkupa, Kotchandpur and Maheshpur.

Archaeological heritage and relics: Biswabat (Bethuli), Harihar Garh (Shailkupa), Shailkupa Jami Mosque, Ram Gopal Mandir (Shailkupa), Rani Mata Dighi, Sawdaghar Dighi and Mosque, Gorai Mosque, Jor Bangla Mosque, Galakata Dighi and Mosque, Cheragdani Dighi and Mosque, Dighi of Sree Ram Raja, Tombs of Ghazi, Dhol Samudra Dighi (Jhenaidah Sadar), Naldangha Rajbari and Mandir (Kaliganj), Manasa Mandir (Maheshpur), Krishna Balaram Dev Bigraha Mandir (Kaliganj).

Historical events: bara bazar (ancient name Gangadighi) of Kaliganj upazila had been a famous port of India. It has been mentioned in the Greek history that in the ancient time Prabal and muslin used to be exported from this port. In the 1860s indigo resistance movement spread all over this district.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 1554514; male 51.16%, female 48.84%; Muslim 88.07%, Hindu 11.7%, Christian 0.11% and Buddhist 0.05%.

Religious institutions: Mosque 2256, temple 191, church 1 and tomb 6. Most noted religious institutions are Gorar Mosque, Jorbangla Mosque, Galakata Mosque, Joradaha Gambuj Mosque, (Harinakunda), Shahi Mosque, Moheshpur Jame Mosque, Shardar Khan Tomb, Gazi Kalu Champabati Tomb, Sarbajanin Kalibari Temple, Ramgopal Temple, Kaliganj Jami Mosque and Kalibari Mandir (Kaliganj).

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 25.95%; male 32.3% and female 18.9%. Educational institutions: university 1, government college 5, cadet college 1, law college 1, non-government college 36, primary teacher's training institution 1, homeopath college 1, government high school 3, non-government high school 169, junior high school 58, madrasa 165, government primary school 408, non-government primary school 396 and vocational institute 1. Noted educational institutions: Islami University, Government KC College (1960), Jhenaidah Cadet College (1961), Jhenaidah Government High School (1877), Naldanga Bhusan Pilot High School (1882), Kotchandpur Pilot High School (1899), Raigram Banikanta High School (1920), Harinakundu Priyanath High School (1872), Shailkupa Pilot High School (1893), Maheshpur High School (1863), Joradaha High School (1872), Wazir Ali High School (1903).

Cultural organisations: Cultural organisations include rural club, officer's club, press club, public library, cinema hall, theatre stage, theatre group, women's organisation, opera party, literary society, etc.

Main occupations: Agriculture 48.14%, agricultural labourer 23.17%, wage labourer 2.67%, commerce 11.26%, service 4.41%, transport 2% and others 8.35%.

Land use: Total cultivable land 168310 hectares; single crop 10%, double crop 72.11% and treble crop land 17.89%.

Land control: Among the peasants 12.03% are landless, 24.25% marginal, 30.13% small, 22.61% intermediate and 10.98% rich.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, sugarcane and mustard seed, onion garlic and varieties of pulse and vegetables.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Dairy 86, poultry 156, fishery 917, hatchery (fish) 30, agriculture farm 16, nursery 50, cattle breeding centre 4.

Communication facilities- Roads: pucca 180 km, semi pucca 100 km, mud road 6000 km; railways 45 km; waterways 22 nautical mile

Manufactories: Sugar mill 1, pharmaceutical industry 1; other manufactories include rice mill, ice factory, bidi factory, candy factory, ice cream factory, saw mill, welding and dal, oil and flour mills.

Cottage industries: Cottage industries include weaving, bamboo and cane work, goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, wood work, tailoring and wheel (bullock cart) making.

NGO activities: Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, CARE, proshika, grameen bank, Dipshikha, RICO, AID, Unnayan Dhara, Jagarani Chakra and Sreejani.

Health centres: Zila sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 6, health and family planning centre 41, diabetic hospital 1, maternity child welfare centre 1, eye hospital 1, child hospital 1