Munshiganj District

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Coordinates: 23.46° N 90.54° E

Munshiganj District
Skyline of Munshiganj, Bangladesh.
Dhaleshwari River bank, Munshiganj Sadar Upazila in Munsiganj District

Munshiganj
Division_name Dhaka Division
Coordinates 23.46° N 90.54° E
Area 954.96 km²
Time zone BST (UTC+6)
Population (1991)
 - Density
 - Literacy rate
1,293,536
 - 1,354.54/km²
 - 35.8%
Website: Banglapedia Article
Maplink: Official Map of Munshiganj District

Munshiganj (Bangla:মুন্সীগঞ্জ)is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Total land area is 235974 acres (954 km²), out of which 138472 acres (560 km²) are cultivable and 5609 acres (23 km²) are fallow land. It has no forest area. 40277 acres (163 km²) of land is irrigated while 26242 acres (106 km²) of land is under river. It has 14 rivers of 155 km passing through.

Munshiganj is one of the largest producer of rice in Bangladesh. It produces significant amount of jute, wheat, and other vegetables. It also produces sugar cane, tobacco, pulse, onion, garlic and turmaric.

[edit] Subdivisions

The district consists of 6 upazilas:

  1. Gazaria Upazila
  2. Lohajang Upazila
  3. Munshiganj Sadar Upazila
  4. Sirajdikhan Upazila
  5. Sreenagar Upazila
  6. Tongibari Upazila

[edit] History

Bikrampur (Munshiganj) was the political and cultural centre of ancient Bengal survives only in the name of an area in the Munshigonj district of Bangladesh. The remains of the city of Bikrampur, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of southeastern Bengal, are lost and its location can only be guessed on the basis of available data. Bangla, Old History

In the ancient period Bikrampur was undoubtedly the most important political centre in the Banga janapada. Indeed, it was the capital city of the Chandra, Varman, Sena, rulers, from the beginning of the 10th century AD to the beginning of the 13th century AD.

The name of Bikramapur survived in the name of a pargana in the Mughal period. Today the name does not exist even officially; but the inhabitants of a vast tract of land in the Munshigonj district still feel pride in saying that they belong to Bikramapur, which, of course, emanates from the past glory of the area. Also, within the confines of Munshigonj, the colonial era mansion of Bodrul Islam, the renowned Kombal merchant, is located.

[edit] Economy

Development projects

Name of items Total number
Agriculture & food 18
Education 35
Family planning 3
Health 8
Poverty allivation 284
Rehabilit of des 647
Road & communication 76

[edit] Places of interest

Archaeological heritage are still found all around Vikrampur, although a large number of these sites is now being missed due to erosion of river Padma. The following is a summary of heritage that is worth visiting.

Munshigonj town: Idrakpur Fort (1660), Panditer vita (birth place of Atish Dipankar Srijnan) at Bajrayogini, Baba Adam's Mosque, Dighi of Raja Haris chandra, home stead of Raja Ballal Sen, home stead of Raja Sreenath at Rampal, Rampal Dighi, Kodal Dhoar Dighi, marble statue of Ashutosh Ganguly inside the library room of Haraganga College.

Sreenagar: Shyamsiddhi Math, Hasara Dargah, Sholaghar Math, Bhagyakul Rajbari, residence of Jagadis Chandra Basu at Radhikhal, Jora Math at Sonarang,

Tongibari: Kalibari, Taltala Pancha-shikhara Mahadeva Temple, Talukdarbari Mosque at Kusumpur, Tajpur Mosque, Patharghata Mosque, Kazishal Mosque, Pulghata Bridge, Panch Pir Dargah,

Sirajdikhan: A single domed mosque at Kusumpur (Talukdar-bari Mosque, Mughal period), Tajpur Mosque, Patharghata Mosque, Qazishal Mosque, Pulghata Bridge, math at village Fegnasar, math at the house of Kankata De at village Tajpur and Panchasikhar Mahadeva Mandir (temple) at Taltala. A large shiva-linga (phallus of god Shiva) is placed inside this temple.

Sreenagar: Archaeological heritage Shyamsiddhir Math, Sholaghar Math, Bhagyakul Rajbari.

[edit] Famous people

Famous people from the district include:

[edit] See also