Lakshmipur District

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Lakshmipur District (chittagong division) with an area of 1455.96 sq km, is bounded by chandpur district on the north, bhola and noakhali districts upazilas on the south, Noakhali district on the east, barisal and Bhola districts and the meghna and on the west. Maximum temperature 34.3°C, minimum 14.4°C; annual rainfall 3302 mm. Main rivers are the Meghna, dakatia, Katakhali, Rahmatkhali and Bhulua.

Lakshmipur (Town) stands on the bank of the Rahmatkhali, consists of 12 wards and 22 mahallas. Lakshmipur municipality was constituted in 1976. The area of the town is 16.88 sq km. The town has a population of 65398; male 52.07%, female 47.93%. The density of population is 3874 per sq km. The literacy rate among the town people is 45.1%.

Administration Lakshmipur thana was established under Noakhali district in 1860. Lakshmipur was transformed into subdivision in 1979 and was elevated to a district in 1984. It consists of 4 upazilas, 3 municipalities, 30 wards, 55 mahallas, 47 union parishads, 445 mouzas and 536 villages. The upazilas are lakshmipur sadar, raipur, ramganj and ramgati.

Archaeological heritage Tita Khan Jami Mosque, Mita Khan Mosque, Majupur Matka Mosque, Madhu Banu Mosque, Dayem Shah Mosque, Abdullahpur Jami Mosque, Sahapur Neel-kuthi, Sahapur Saheb-bari, Zamindar house at Dalal Bazar, Srigovinda Mahaprabhu Jeu Akhra, Dalal Bazar Math, Khoa-sagor dighi, Oidara Dighi, Kamala Sundari Dighi, Jinn's Mosque at village Kerwa in Raipur, Bara Mosque, Rani Bhabani Kamada Math of Ramgati, Sreerampur Rajbari in Ramganj, Shyampur Dayra Sharif, Kachua Dargah, Harishchar Dargah, Kanchanpur Dargah.

Historical events Lakshmipur district area had been a part of the kingdom of Bhulua at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Lakshmipur is said to have been a military outpost during the Mughal and Company period. From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century this area used to produce huge quantity of salt and exported them outside.

It was on the issue of salt production that the Salt Movement occurred in this area. The inhabitants of this district had important role in the indigo resistance movement, Sannyasi uprising, swadeshi movement and Debt Arbitration Movement. During the Swadeshi Movement Mahatma Gandhi travelled through the district and often stayed at Kafilatali Akhra and at Sreerampur Rajbari in Ramganj. The rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam visited Lakshmipur town in June 1926. On this occasion a silver plate and a silver cup were presented to the poet on behalf of the residents of the town. During the war of liberation in 1971 seventeen battles were fought between the freedom fighters and the Pak occupation army.

Marks of War of Liberation Memorial monument 3, Mass grave 2, mass killing site 1.

Population 1479371; male 49.21%, female 50.79%; Muslim 95.31%, Hindu 4.66%, Christian 0.01%, Buddhist 0.01% and others 0.01%.

Religious institutions Mosque 1699, temple 45, church 1, dargah 6, mazar 15, asram 2, harisava 8, Hindu sacred place 1.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 34.3%; male 38.8%, female 29.7%. Educational institutions: college (government) 5, (non-government) 12, law college 1, homeopathy college 1, high school (government) 3, (non-government) 142, junior high school 14, madrasa 167, primary teacher's training institute 1, primary school (government) 512, (non-government) 145, technical institute 2, maktab 240, satellite school 35, community school 27. Old and noted institutions: Lakshmipur Government College (1964), Lakshmipur Ideal Samad Government High School (1886), Lakshmipur Aliya Madrasa (1872), Raipur LM Pilot High School (1911), Raipur Aliya Madrasa (1886), Chandipur Manasa High School (1924), Ramgati BBK Pilot Ideal High School (1933), Dalal Bazar NK High School (1924.), Lakshmipur Government Girl's High School (1899), Ramganj Government College (1967), Primary Teacher's Training Institute (1953).

Newspapers and periodicals Daily Lakshmipur Kantha (1995), Daily Al-Chist (1995), (weekly) Natun Samaj (Natun Desh, 1972), Samabay Barta (Bangladesh Barta, 1973), Mukti Bani (1928, defunct), Ganamukh (1973, defunct), Elan (1982), Natun Path (1987), Damama (1992), Ananda Akash (1995, defunct), Ramganj Barta (1991), Rojnamcha (defunct), fortnightly Abasar, monthly Renaissance, monthly Jagaran (2000), monthly Dakatia, Quarterly Raipur Darpan (1998); periodicals: Chetana (1969), Prachchhad (1984), Chhayapath, Kabita Barta, Ramgati Darpan, Luxmipur Barta (1989), Ramgati Barta (1998), Agraja (1999), Bichitrita (1994).

Cultural organisations Club 202, women's organisation 150, co operative society 150, public library 22, music school 1, theatre party 8, press club 1, cinema hall 10.

Main occupations Agriculture 35.19%, fishing 2.7%, agricultural labourer 19.86%, wage labourer 3.16%, commerce 12.10%, service 12.21%, transport 2.04%, construction 1.27%, others 11.47%.

Land use Cultivable land 1 25466 hectares, fallow land 9704 hectares, forest area 9604 hectares; single crop 25.85%, double crop 59.03%, triple crop 15.12%.

Land control Among the peasants, 12.6% landless, 27.3% marginal peasant, 45.9% small peasant, 12.2% intermediate, 2% rich; land per head 0.095 hectare.

Value of land The market value of the first grade arable land is Tk 14470 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, mustard, jute, chilli, potato, pulse, maize, soybean, ground nut, sugarcane.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Sesame, kaun, linseed, joar, pea, khesari, leguminous pulse, barley, arahar, gram, tobacco.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, black berry, papaya, guava, palm, lemon, coconut, betel nut, apple, sharifa, amra.

Fishery, dairy and poultry Fishery 58, fish nursery 16, livestock and dairy 102, poultry 222, hatchery 3.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 243 km, semi pucca 235 km and mud road 1822 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), kosh and bullock cart (nearly extinct), boat.

Manufactories Textile mill, handloom, rice mill, flour mill, saw mill, ice factory, aluminium factory, bidi factory, nail factory, candle factory, soap factory, coconut fibre processing factory, printing press, oil mill, bakery, book binding, battery factory, miscellaneous workshops etc.

Cottage industries Bamboo and cane work, pottery, wood work, tailoring, radio TV and watch repairing, bi-cycle and rickshaw repairing, fishing net weaving, goldsmith, blacksmith, cobbler etc.

Hats, bazars and fair Hats and bazars are 123, fair 7.

Main exports Coconut, betel nut, fish, ground nut, chilli.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, proshika, CODEC, SOPIRET, CARE, RIDO, grameen bank, Gana Unnayan Sangstha, DORP Social Institute, Gonoshahajjo Sangstha, USAP, BCSDP, RDA, MRDS, NRDS, MCC, NRDP, Hunger Project, Desh Unnayan Sangstha, Palli Mahila Unnayan Sangstha, Triveni Mahila Unnayan Sangstha, Seba Society, Nijera Kari, Al-Amin,

Health centres Hospital 6, diabetic hospital 1, upazila health complex 4, family planning centre 32, maternity and child care centre 2, satellite clinic 40, community clinic 38, private clinic 12, veterinary hospital 5, artificial breeding point 6.


Coordinates: 22°55′N 90°50′E

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