Meherpur Sadar Upazila HQ District Town

 third-level administrative division, town district

Meherpur District (khulna division) with an area 716.08 sq km, is bounded by kushtia district and West Bengal of India on the north, chuadanga district and West Bengal on the south, Chuadanga and kushtia districts on the east, West Bengal on the west. Main rivers are Bhairab, Mathabhaga and Kazli; Main depressions: Dharlar Beel, Chandbeel, Kolar Beel, Patapukur Beel, Gopalpur Beel, Bamandi Beel, Salika Beel, Terogharia Beel, Elangi Beel. Annual average temperature: highest 37.1°C and lowest 11.2°C; annual rainfall 1467 mm.

Meherpur (Town) consists of 9 wards and 72 mahallas. It has an area of 13.62 sq km. The population of the town is 35771; male 52.33%, female 47.67%. The density of population is 2626 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 49.4%. The town was established in the beginning of the 16th century. Meherpur municipality was established in 1960.

Administration Before the partition (1947) Meherpur was a part of the Nadia district of India. The Meherpur subdivision was turned into a district in 1984. It consists of 1 municipality, 9 wards and 72 mahallas, 2 upazilas, 18 union parishads, 277 villages, 190 mouzas. The upazilas are meherpur sadar and gangni.

Historical events: The proclamation of independence was read at village Baidyanathtola, now Mujibnagar, on 17 April 1971.

Archaeological heritage Gosaidubi Mosque at Karamdi, Dargahs of Sheik Farid and Shah Enayet, Mazars of Barkat Bibi and Bagudewan, Ballavpur Mission, Teragharia Marrut, Shiva Mandir at Ballavpur, Alampur Mandir, Bhabanipur Mandir, Neelkuthis at Aamjhupi, Bhatpara and Saharbati.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave: Meherpur Government College, Jagannathpur, Kazipur and Tengramari; Mass killing site: Jatarpur, memorial monument at Mujibnagar.

Population 579531; male 50.77% and female 49.23%; Muslim 97.5%, Hindu 1.28%, Christian 1.17% and others 0.05%.

Religions institutions Mosque 566, temple 19, church 7, tomb 3.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 25.23%; male 27.36%, female 23.11%. Educational institutions: government college 2, non-government college 5, vocational training institute 1, collegiate school 2, government high school 2, non-government high school 45, junior school 11, government primary school 120, non-government primary school 80 and madrasa 11.

Cultural organisations Club 25, public library 7, theatre stage 2, theatre group 15, literary organisation 2, shilpakala academy 1, officer's club 2, cinema hall 6, playground 28.

Main occupation Agriculture 37.37%, agricultural labourer 33.89%, wage labourer 3.36%, commerce 12.97%, transport 1.05%, service 3.53%, others 7.83%.

Land use Cultivable land 46582 hectares, fallow land 165 hectares; single crop 13%, double crop 70% and triple crop17%; land under irrigated 63%.

Land control Among the peasants, 16% are landless, 23% marginal, 32% small, 22% intermediate and 7% rich; cultivable land per head 0.10 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, chilli, kachu, sweet potato, ground nut.

Main fruits Mango, banana, litchi, jackfruit, coconut, guava and palm.

Fisheies, dairies, poultry Dairy 118, poultry 150, fishery 17, hatchery 3.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 160 km, semi pucca 47 km and mud road 997 km; waterways 15 nautical mile.

Cottage industries Weaving, bamboo work, goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, wood work, welding.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 26, fairs 7.

Main export Chilli, jute, tobacco, banana, sweet potato, kachu, sugarcane molasses.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, asa, Nijera Kari, Palasheepara Samity, Kumaridanga Palli Unnayan Sangstha, Child and Mother Welfare Foundation and Sandhani.

Health centres Sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 1, TB hospital 1, health and family planning centre 18, maternity and child welfare centre 1, missionary hospital 2 and private clinic 9.