Pabna District Town

 city, third-level administrative division, town district

Pabna District (Rajshahi division) with an area of 2371.50 sq km, is bounded by Natore and Sirajganj districts on the north, Rajbari and Kushtia districts on the south, Manikganj and Sirajganj districts on the east, Ganges river and Kushtia district on the west. Average maximum temperature 33.9°C, minimum 9.6°C; annual rainfall 1872 mm. Characteristically the soil of the district is divided into four, viz flood plains of the Ganges, Karatoya, Jamuna and Barind Tract. Main rivers are Ganges, Ichamati, Gumani and Hurasagar.

The location of Pabna Town centre is 23.9989806N 89.2323572E. Pabna (Town) consists of 15 wards and 34 mahallas. The area of the town is 18.64 sq km. The town has a population of 116371; male 52.37%, female 47.63%. The density of population is 6243 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 60.1%. The only mental hospital (estd 1957) of Bangladesh is located in the town.

Pabna district was established in 1832. It consists of 9 upazilas, 8 municipalities, 81 wards, 191 mahallas, 72 union parishads, 1321 mouzas and 1540 villages. The upazilas are atgharia, bera, bhangura, chatmohar, faridpur, ishwardi, santhia, sujanagar and pabna sadar. The municipalities are Bera, Bhangura, Chatmohar, Faridpur, Ishwardi, Santhia, Sujanagar and Pabna Sadar.

Archaeological heritage and relics: Three domed Mosque at Bharara (1176 AH), three domed Kazipara Mosque (Bhangura), Chatmohar Shahi Mosque (989 AH), Pathanpara Khandokarni Mosque (built by the Afghans, Chatmohar), Samaj Shahi Mosque (958 AH), three domed Jami Mosque at Juktitala (Ishwardi), Jor Bangla Mandir (eighteenth century, Pabna), Seth Kuthi (1779) and Pabna District Judge Court Building (1884).

Historical events: Once the present area of the Pabna district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana. Although established in 1832 the contours of the district has been changed many times. The major changes of the boundaries of the district took place in 1877 and 1881 with the major changes of the courses of the rivers Padma and Jamuna.In 1875, Raaygonj was transferred back to Pabna from Bogra, and in 1879, a separate judgeship for the districts of Pabna and Bogra was created. In the 1980s greater Pabna district was divided into two districts: Pabna and Sirajganj.

In 1859-61 the district was one of the major areas involved in the Indigo revolt. Beginning in Yusufshahi period in 1873 the serfs resisted excessive demands of incresead rents by feudal lords (zamindar). This largely peaceful movement found the support of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal George Campbell (1824–1892), who antagonised the absentee feudal lords. These protests are generally referred to as Pabna disturbances. In the following year the district was one of the worst hit by famine. The peasant's demands were finally partially met with the Rent Law Act of 1885.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, population 2153921; male 51.17%, female 48.83%; Muslim 95.12%, Hindu 4.50%, Christian 0.22% and others 0.16%.

Religious institutions: Mosque 2353, temple 420, church 11, tomb 5, sacred place 2.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 26.8%; male 31.8% and female 21.5%. Educational institutions: college 34, cadet college 2, law college 1, government polytechnic college 1, government vocational training institute 1, textile institute 1, government commerce college 1, primary teacher's training institute 1, nursing training institute 1, homeopathic college 1, high school 202, junior high school 29, madrasa 261, government primary school 667, non-government primary school 445, community school 8, kindergarten 29, satellite school 32, NGO operated school 299, music college 1. Noted educational institutions: Pabna Edward College (1898), Pabna Zila School (1853), GCI Institution (1894), RM Academy (1899), Polytechnic Institute (1891) and Aliya Madrasa (1925), MC Jubilee High School (1936), Debattar (Atgharia) Government Primary School (1880), Bharenga (Bera) Academy (1835), Bera B B High School (1899), Bera High School (1906), Dhobakhola Coronation High School (1906), Banwari Nagar (Faridpur) CB Pilot High School (1912), Sanra (Ishwardi) Marwari School (1917), Khalilpur (Sujanagar) High School (1901).

Cultural organisations: Club 455, library 66, cinema hall 27, literary and cultural organisation 46, theatre stage 3, theatre group 19, community centre 1, shilpakala academy 1, voluntary organisation 303, women's organisation 123, opera party 3, cooperative society 1124.

Main occupations: Agriculture 34%, agricultural labourer 22.77%, wage labourer 4.46%, transport 2.18%, weaving 2.85%, commerce 13.27%, service 7.26% and others 13.21%.

Land control: Among the peasants 29% are landless, 49% small, 18% intermediate and 4% rich.

Value of land: The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 7500 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops: Paddy, jute, wheat, sugarcane, oil seeds, onion, garlic, betel leaf, pulses.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Dairy 1069, fishery 88, poultry 714, hatchery 37.

Communication facilities- Roads: pucca 681 km, semi pucca 100 km and mud road 3198 km; waterways 184 nautical mile; railways 67 km; air port 1.

Manufactories: Paper mill, sugar mill, cotton mill, jute press, oil mill, pharmaceutical co, biscuit factory, rice and flour mill, ice factory, welding, saw mill, cold storage, etc.

Cottage industries: Handloom, bamboo and cane work, blacksmith, goldsmith, potteries, wood work, tailoring etc.

NGO activities: Operationally important NGOs are brac, CARE, asa, grameen bank, caritas, proshika, Samata, ITCL, thengamara mahila sabuj sangha and Palli Pragati.

Health centres: General hospital 4, mental hospital 1, zila sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 9, health & family planning centre 25, TB hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1, eye hospital 1, community hospital 1, maternity and child welfare centre 1, police hospital 1, railway hospital 1, private clinic 15.