Barisal Divisional Town

 town, second-level administrative division, administrative division

Barisal Division with an area of 13295.55 sq km, is bounded by Dhaka division on the north, Bay of Bengal on the south, Chittagong division on the east and Khulna division on the west. Main rivers are Arial khan, Bishkhali, Burishwar, Tentulia, Paira, Haringhata, Baleshwar, Kirtankhola, Katcha, Agunmukha.

The location of the Barisal town is 22.6998469N 90.3699866E. Barisal District (Barisal division) with an area of 2790.51 sq km is bounded by Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Lakshmipur districts on the north, Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalokati districts on the south, Bhola and Lakshmipur districts on the east, Jhalokati, Pirojpur and Gopalganj districts on the west. Annual average temperature: maximum 35.1°C, minimum 12.1°C; annual rainfall 1955 mm. Noted rivers are Lower meghna, Arial khan, Katcha, Kirtankhola, Tentulia, Naya Bhanga, Jayanti, Shwarupkathi and Amtali.

Barisal (Town) consists of 30 wards and 50 mahallas. The area of the town is 16.37 sq km. Barisal municipality was established in 1957 and was turned into a city corporation in 2000. It has a population of 202242; male 53.28%, female 46.72%. Literacy rate among the town people is 65%. The town has three dakbungalows and six police outposts.

Administration Barisal division was established in 1 January 1993. It consists of six districts, 38 upazilas, 353 union parishads, 3159 mouzas, 12 municipalities, 25 wards and 4163 villages. The districts are Barisal, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna.

Historical events: Ancient name of Barisal was Chandradvipa. The capital of this kingdom was at Bakla. The founder of the kingdom was Danuj Mardhan.

Religious institutions: Mosque 12804, tomb 23, temple 3110, church 49, pagoda 22 and math 5

As of the Bangladesh census: Population 7462644; male 50.67%, female 49.33%; Muslim 88.06%, Hindu 11.7%, Christian 0.18% and others 0.06%.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 35.25%; male 39.67%, female 30.76%. Educational institutions: university 2, government college 13, non-government college 98, medical college 1, government high school 19, non-government high school 852, junior high school 180, polytechnic institute 2, law college 3, cadet college 1, teacher's training college 4, madrasa 1616, government primary school 2583, non-government primary school 1982.

Main occupations: Agriculture 40.96%, fishing 3.4%, agricultural labourer 18%, wage labourer 4.59%, commerce 11.92%, transport 1.73%, construction 1.34%, service 7.39%, others 10.67%.

Main crops: Paddy, betel leaf, potato, sugarcane, oil seed, onion, garlic, vegetables.

Main fruits: Coconut, amra, guava, betel nut, banana.

Main exports Paddy, fish, shital pati, betel leaf, guava, coconut, betel nut and amra.

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

Health centres: Hospital 9, upazila health complex 37, union health centre 158, health and family planning centre 198, satellite clinic 72, private clinic 78, diabetic hospital 1.