Bhola District

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Bhola
District
Location of Bhola in Bangladesh
Location of Bhola in Bangladesh
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Expandable map of Bhola District
Coordinates: 22°41′24″N 90°39′09″E / 22.69°N 90.6525°E / 22.69; 90.6525Coordinates: 22°41′24″N 90°39′09″E / 22.69°N 90.6525°E / 22.69; 90.6525
Country Bangladesh
DivisionBarisal Division
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerMohammad Masud Alam Siddique
Area
 • Total3,403.48 km2 (1,314.09 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 Census)
 • Total1,776,795
 • Density520/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Literacy rate
 • Total43.2%
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
8300
HDI (2018)0.586[1]
medium · 16th of 21
Websitewww.bhola.gov.bd

Bhola District (Bengali: ভোলা) is an administrative district (zila) in south-central Bangladesh, which includes Bhola Island, the largest island of Bangladesh. It is located in the Barisal Division and has an area of 3737.21 km2.[2] It is bounded by Lakshmipur and Barisal District to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the south, by Lakshmipur and Noakhali districts, the (lower) Meghna river and Shahbazpur Channel to the east, and by Patuakhali District and the Tetulia river to the west.[3] About 400 million cubic feet (11 million cubic metres) natural gas has been found at Kachia in Bhola which is being used to run a power station.[citation needed]

History[]

South Shahbajpur Island ( marked as DECCAN SHABAZPOUR l.) which is now Bhola in 1778 map by James Rennell

The previous name of Bhola district is Ashutosh. J. C. Jack stated in his "Bakerganj Gazetier" that the island started creating in 1235 and cultivation in this area started in 1300. In 1500, Portuguese and Mog pirates established their bases in this island. The Arakan and Mog pirates established their bases in the southern part of Shahbajpur also.

Shahbajpur was a part of Bakerganj district till 1822. At the beginning of 19th century, it became difficult to connect to the southern Shahjadpur from the district headquarter due to the expansion of Meghna River. Government then decided to include south Shahbajpur and Hatia in Noakhali District. Bhola was included in Noakhali till 1869. In 1869, it was included in Barisal District as a sub-division. In 1876, the administrative headquarter was moved from Daulatkhan to Bhola. In 1984, it was established as a district.[4]

Etymology[]

The canal situated in the Bhola Sadar was very wide in ancient times. The canal was known as Betua river. People used boat to cross the river. There was a very old boatman who used to cross the river daily. His name was Bhola Gazi Patni. The name of the district is derived from the name of this famous boatman, Bhola Gazi. The other sub-districts of this districts are also named according to the names of famous persons as well.[4]

Geography[]

Bhola is a delta island. There are two rivers in this district which are Meghna and Tetulia. Meghna is in east and north side of the district and Tetulia is in the west side. Bay of Bengal is in the south of Bhola district.

Islands[]

Administration[]

There are five municipalities, 7 sub-districts, 9 thanas, 66 unions and 473 villages in this district.[2]

Subdistricts[]

Bhola district comprises the following upazilas:[2]

Name of Sub-district union area (km2) population
Bhola Sadar Upazila 13 413.16 408097
Daulatkhan Upazila 9 316.99 173253
Burhanuddin Upazila 9 284.67 244137
Tazumuddin Upazila 5 512.92 120189
Lalmohan Upazila 9 396.24 276547
Char Fasson Upazila 14 1440.04 413593
Manpura Upazila 3 373.19 67034

Demographics[]

Total population of Bhola district is 1,776,795. Density of population is 520 people per square kilometre.[5]

Religion[]

Religions in Bhola District[5]
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 96.55%
Hindus
 
 3.44%

The overwhelming majority of residents are Muslims and there are 2391 mosques, 130 temples and 1 church in this district. The Hindu population has continuously reduced in number from 1981 onwards, when it hit a high of 91,964 people, and stands at less than 61,162 people as of 2011.[2]

Economy[]

80% of the total people living here are fisherman. Main source of income of this district are: Agriculture 63.64%, non-agricultural labourer 4.95%, industry 0.50%, commerce 12.67%, transport and communication 2.47%, service 5.74%, construction 1.55%, religious service 0.35%, rent and remittance 0.44% and others 7.69%. There is no major industry in this district due to its geographical location. In recent times, small factories like shoe, plastics, wax, tar etc. have been established here.[6]

Education[]

Literacy rate of Bhola district is 47% (grossly inaccurate as of 2016). Literacy rate among male population is 38.28% and female population is 34.25%. There are 3 government and 34 non-government colleges, 6 government and 169 non-government high schools, 77 junior high schools, one PT I, one VTI, 9 technical schools, 922 government primary schools and 32 community primary schools in Bhola. There are 103 Kowmi madrasa, 460 ebtedai madrasa, 185 dakhil madrasa, 25 alim madrasa, 28 fazil madrasa and 4 kamil madrasa in Bhola.[7] Notable schools and colleges are:

Bhola Government College main gate
  • Bhola Govt. College
  • Bhola Girls High School
  • Bhola Govt. High School
  • Shahabajpur Govt. College
  • Charfassion Govt. College.
  • Bhola Govt. Technical School & College
  • Bhola Darul Hadis Kamil - Mastars Madrasah (1913)

Health[]

There are one modern government hospital, 6 government health complex, 1 Tuberculosis clinic, 1 mother and child care, 1 diabetic hospital, 276 satellite clinic and 2 government child care in this district.[8]

Transportation[]

There is no railways and airport in this district and no direct connection to the capital by road. Waterways are the main medium of transportation. Launch, steamer and sheep are used for transportation. Bhola is 195 km away from Dhaka by waterways and 247 km away by road. Total area of rivers is 1133.46 km2. Total length of road is 3893.65 km, concrete road is 3001.8 km and dirt road is 899.85 km.

Major launch services are M.V Greenline 1&2 M.V Bhola, Tasrif, Shompod, Srinagar, Karnaphuli, Balia and Lali. The condition of internal travels is very good. Road transportation is available between the sub-districts. Sea-truck is used for travelling Monpura sub-district.[9]

Members of the 11th parliament[]

The district is divided into four parliamentary constituencies. In the 2018 general election, the Awami League won all four seats.[10]

Member Seat Party
Tofail Ahmed Bhola-1 Awami League
Ali Azam Bhola-2 Awami League
Nurunnabi Chowdhury Bhola-3 Awami League
Abdullah Al Islam Jakob Bhola-4 Awami League

Points of interest[]

  1. Monpura char[11]
  2. Char Kukri Mukri[11]
  3. Deuli[11]
  4. Dhal Char[11]
  5. Manpura landing station[11]
  6. Taruia Seabeach
  7. Sojib wazed Joy digital Park
  8. Sahabazpur gas Khetro
  9. Jakob Tower
  10. Nizam-Hasina foundation Mosque
  11. Tulatuli

Notable residents[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Md Sakhaowat Hossain (2012). "Bhola District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ^ http://bhola.amardesh.com, Retrieved on 24-02-2011.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Background of district". Bangladesh national portal.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bangladesh Population & Housing Census 2011 (Zila series)" (PDF). Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Business in District". Bangladesh national portal.
  7. ^ "District at a glance". Bangladesh national portal.
  8. ^ "District at a glance". Bangladesh national portal.
  9. ^ "Transportation of district". Bangladesh national portal.
  10. ^ "List of members of the 11th parliament". Bangladesh Parliament.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e দর্শনীয় স্থান [Tourist spots]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d প্রখ্যাত ব্যক্তিত্ব [Famous person]. Bangladesh National Portal.
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