Jhalakati District

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Jhalokathi District is an area in the Barisal District of Bangladesh with an area of 758.06 square kilometres. It is bounded by the Barisal district on the north and east, Barguna district and the Bishkhali river on the south, and the Lohagara and Pirojpur districts on the west. Annual average temperature: maximum 33.3 °C, minimum 12.1 °C; annual rainfall 2506 mm. Main rivers are Bishkhali, Sugandha, Dhansiri, Gabkhan, Jangalia and Bamanda.

Jhalokati (Town) Jhalokati, a municipal (1875) town, consists of 9 wards and 47 mahallas. The area of the town is 6.37 square kilometres. The town has a population of 45095; male 53.11%, female 46.89%; density of population is 7079/km². Literacy rate among the town people is 67.5%. The town has two dakbungalows.

Administration Jhalokati subdivision was established in 1972 and was turned into a district in 1984. It consists of 2 municipalities, 18 wards, 4 upazilas, 32 union parishads, 400 mouzas, 66 mahallas and 449 villages. The upazilas are jhalokati sadar, kathalia, nalchity and rajapur.

Archaeological heritage and relics Sujabad Kellah (fort), remnants of the Ghosal Rajbari, Old Municipal Building, Civil Court Building (1781), Surichora Jami Mosque, Madabar Mosque.

Historical events During the British rule 17 Muslims were killed in an encounter with the British army at Kulkati. Due to navigation facilities the area attracted the Europeans; the East India Company, the Dutch and the French established their trade centres in phases. Because of its commercial importance Jhalokati was called the 'second Kolkata'. During the War of Liberation Rezaul Karim of village Besain Khan (Jhalokati Sadar Upazila) formed the Manik Bahini consisting of 24 members to resist the Pak army. On 16 June 1971, the Pak army in collaboration with some local Razakars captured and killed them. On 27 April the Pak army set on fire in Jalokhati Town and caused heavy damages.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site 2, memorial plate 2, memorial sculpture 1.

Population 696055; male 49.36%, female 50.64%; Muslim 87.31%, Hindu 12.64% and others 0.05%.

Religious institutions Mosque 1697, temple 307, church 2, tomb 4.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 51.2%; male 55.9% and female 46.5%. Educational institutions: college 23, high school 167, junior school 3, madrasa 159, government primary school 339, non-government primary school 68, kindergarten 1.

Cultural organisations Club 73, public library 3, theatre group 7, cinema hall 6, literary society 2, playground 84, community centre 3, Shilpakala academy 1, women's organisation 3.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Shatakantha (extinct), weekly Suryadaya, weekly Ajana Khabar; periodicals: Arkh, Jagaran, Agraha, Namta, Shabdakash, Sabujpatra, Janayeta, Sreshti.

Main occupations Agriculture 40.07%, agricultural labourer 15.68%, wage labourer 4.66%, commerce 12.43%, service 11.03%, fishing 1.1%, transport 1.86%, construction 1.75% and others 11.42%.

Land use Total cultivable land 1,123.88 square kilometres; single crop 45.08%, double crop 38.09% and treble crop 16.83%; cultivable land under irrigation 40%.

Value of land Market value of land of the first grade is approximately Tk. 90/m².

Main crops Paddy, betel leaf.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, sesame and aus paddy.

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

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 1097, dairy 97, hatchery 13, fishery 573.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 176 km, semi pucca 77 km and mud road 1467 km; waterways 204 nautical mile (378 km).

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), boat.

Manufactories Ice factory, flour mill, salt factory, rice mill, oil mill, saw mill, bidi factory.

Cottage industries Weaving, wood work, goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, bamboo & cane work, pati (mat) making, tailoring, welding.

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 114, fair 14.

Main exports Betel leaf, guava and salt.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, CARE, Abirvab, Annesha, JDS, Parshi, South Bengal Development Society, Social Welfare Organisation, Popular Development Society, CIDA, proshika, Palli Unnayan Sangstha.

Health centres Hospital 2, upazila health complex 4, union health & family planning centre 22, satellite clinic 7. [Humayun Rahman]

excerpts from Banglapedia