| Mehendigonj মেহেন্দিগঞ্জ |
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| — Upazila — | |
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Mehendigonj
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Barisal Division |
| District | Barisal District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 435.79 km2 (168.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 304,364 |
| • Density | 671/km2 (1,737.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
| Website | Official Map of the Mehendiganj Upazila |
Mehendigonj (Bengali: মেহেন্দিগঞ্জ) is an Upazila of Barisal District in the Division of Barisal, Bangladesh. Mehendigonj is popularly known as Patarhat (Bengali: পাতারহাট) by the local people.
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Mehendigonj is located at . It has 55128 units of house hold and total area 435.79 km². The river Meghna is sourrounded by this small island causing erosion every year during monsoon. The popular towns such as Ulania, Kaliganj in the east are in serious danger. Dhaka Mehendigonj Rakkha Committee called a meeting to protect Mehendigonj against erosion in June 2008. About 9,480 people of 1,343 families have become homeless due to erosion. Besides, the rivers have gobbled up 10,501 acres (42.50 km2) of land, 17 schools and colleges, three madrasas, 22 mosques and temples, 1,222 ponds, 18 kilometer roads, 42 business establishments, three big hats and 500 acres (2.0 km2) of betel nut groves. Mehendigonj has a history of its own in education and culture, trade and commerce, agriculture and artistry. Its contribution to the national achievement and growth is immense. But the Meghna, the Tentulia and the Mashkata have become the 'fait accompli' of three lakh people of the upazila. The mighty rivers have already swallow the hearths and homes and everything of most of the areas of several unions including Gubindapur, Jagalia, Darirchar-Khajuria, Bhashanchar and Andermanik. A documentary titled Mehendigonj of Barisal at Estuary of Meghna based on river erosion directed by Fuad Chowdhury. The documentary portrays the severity of river erosion in monsoon season (July-September). Only in 2007, 12,000 acres (49 km2) of land was engulfed by the river Meghna, making around forty thousand people landless, specially affecting women's privacy and security. Hardly any initiative can be seen to rehabilitate these affected people and to stop the river erosion. Local people are helping each other with their limited resources. In the last 300 years, the feudal landlord (Jamidars) of Ulania of Mehendigonj built an estate of 100 magnificent architectural building which are also under the threat of Meghna erosion.
As of the 2001 Bangladesh census, Mehendigonj has a population of 304,364. Males constitute are 154,400 of the population, and females 149,964. Mehendigonj has an average literacy rate of 70% (7+ years), and the national average of 46.5% literate.[1]
Mehendigonj thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. It consists of one municipality, 9 Wards, 13 Unions, 11 Mahallas, 124 Mauzas, 155 villages and 58,719 households.
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