Mahalchari Upazila HQ

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

Mahalchhari Upazila (Khagrachhari district) with an area of 362.18 sq km, is bounded by Khagrachhari sadar upazila on the north, Naniarchar and Lakshmichhari upazilas on the south, Langadu and Naniarchar upazilas on the east, Matiranga and Ramgarh upazilas on the west. Main river: Chingri; main hill: Murah.

Mahalchari is located at 22.9194°N 92.0250°E. It has 6343 units of house hold and total area 248.64 km². Mahalchhari (Town) consists of one mouza. It has an area 23.31 sq km; population is 7997; male 58.11%, female 41.89%; density of population is 343 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 42.3%.

Mahalchhari thana was turned into an upazila in 1982. The upazila consists of 5 union parishads, 13 mouzas and 100 villages.

Archaeological heritage: Shindukchhari Dhumnighat Sacred Place and Nunchhari Devata Pukur (pond).

Religious institutions: Mosque 27, temple 7, Buddhist Vihara 58.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census: Population 32,609; male 52.95%, female 47.05%. Muslim 23.98%, Hindu 10.27%, Buddhist 65.71% and others 0.04%. Ethnic nationals: Chakma, Marma, Tripura and Rakhaines, etc.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 26.5%; male 34.8%, female 17.0%. Educational institutions: college 1, high school 5, government primary school 32, non-government primary school 20, madrasa 1, satellite school 12, community school 3, BRAC school 79 and music school 1.

Cultural organisations: Press club 1, public library 1, cooperative society 101, town hall 1, cinema hall 2, playground 23 and stadium 1.

Main occupations: Agriculture 41.44%, agricultural labourer 19.30%, wage labourer 11.05%, forestry 4.09%, commerce 5.79%, service 10.68%, others 7.65%.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, pineapple, litchi, papaya, lemon, orange and bel (wood apple).

Fisheries, poultries Fishery 9, poultry 1.

Communication facilities- Roads: pucca 31 km and mud road 99 km.

Manufactories: Ice factory 1, sawmill 2, bakery 3, rice mill 9 and welding 1.

Cottage industries: Handloom, goldsmith, blacksmith, wood work, sewing and bamboo work.

NGO activities: Operationally important NGOs are brac and proshika.

Health centres: Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 5, satellite clinic 2.