| Sylhet সিলেট জেলা |
|
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Location of Sylhet in Bangladesh | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Sylhet Division |
| Established | 1782 |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 3,490.40 km2 (1,347.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 2,675,346 |
| • Density | 766.5/km2 (1,985.2/sq mi) |
| Literacy rate | |
| • Total | 46% |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
| • Summer (DST) | BDST (UTC+7) |
| Postal code | 3100 |
| Website | http://www.dcsylhet.gov.bd/ |
Sylhet District is located in north-east Bangladesh, it is one of the four districts in the Sylhet Division.
Contents |
Sylhet District has an area of 3,490 km²; and is bounded by the districts of Maulvi Bazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj along with Cachar and Karimganj districts of India.
The physiography of Sylhet consists mainly of hill soils,[2] encompassing a few large depressions known locally as "beels" which can be mainly classified as oxbow lakes, caused by tectonic subsidence primarily during the earthquake of 1762.[2]
Sylhet experiences a hot, wet and humid tropical climate. The city is within the monsoon climate zone, with annual average highest temperatures of 23°C (Aug-Oct) and average lowest temperature of 7°C (Jan).[3] Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 3,334 mm occurs between May and September.
Administrator of Zila Porishod: Abu Sufian [1]
Deputy Commissioner (DC): Khan Mohammad Bilal [2]
Administration Sylhet District was established on 3 January 1782. Until 1878, Sylhet was under the jurisdiction of Dhaka. In that year, Sylhet was included in the newly created Assam Province. Until 1947 (excepting the Banga Bhanga period of 1905-1911) it remained a part of Assam. In 1947, as a result of a referendum, it was attached to the East Pakistan and was included in the Chittagong.
The greater Sylhet was divided into four new districts: Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Maulvi Bazar in 1983-1984. On 1 August 1995, Sylhet was declared as the 6th division of the country consisting of the four districts of the greater Sylhet. Sylhet district consists of 12 upazillas, 2 municipalities, 37 wards, 233 mahallas, 98 union parishads, 1,693 mouzas and 3,249 villages. The upazillas are Balaganj, Beanibazar, Bishwanath, Companiganj, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, Gowainghat, Jaintiapur, Kanaighat, Sylhet Sadar, South Surma and Zakiganj.[4]
Sylhet District consists of 11 sub-districts or Upazilas. Sometimes thana is used instead of upazila, but all thana is not upazila. Upazila can consists one or more than one thanas. So the upazilas/thanas in Sylhet district are:
Sylhet District was established on January 3, 1782, and until 1878 it was part of Bengal province. In that year, Sylhet was included in the newly created Assam province, and it remained as part of Assam up to 1947 (except during the brief break-up of Bengal province in 1905-11). In 1947, Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan as a result of a referendum (except the sub-division of Karimganj.) Sylhet subsequently became a sub-division of Sylhet Division and was converted into a district in 1983-84.
The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet.[3] A Muslim saint, Hazrat Shaikh al Mushaek Jalal Uddin, popularly known as Shah Jalal, arrived in Sylhet in 1303 CE from Mecca via Delhi with 360 Sufi saints and army generals such as Sikander Ghazi, Syed Nasiruddin and Khwaja Burhanuddin Qahtan defeating Govinda of Gaur.[4] Sikander Ghazi was the direct nephew of Sultan Feroze Shah of Delhi. Under the spiritual leadership of Hazrat Shah Jalal and his 360 companions the local pagans were brought under control and they began to spread Islam. He died in Sylhet in or around the year 1350 CE. His shrine is located inside the parameter of the mosque complex known as Dargah-e-Shah Jalal. Even today Shah Jalal remains revered; visitors arrive from all over Bangladesh and beyond to pay homage.[4] Saint Shah Jalal and his companions were responsible for the conversion of most of the populace from their earlier beliefs in Hinduism, Buddhism and Paganism to Islam. Shortly, thereafter, Sylhet became a centre of Islam in Bengal. In the official documents and historical papers, Sylhet was often referred to as Jalalabad during the era of the Muslim rule.[5][6]
In the late 18th century, the British East India Company became interested in Sylhet and saw it as an area of strategic importance in the war against Burma. Sylhet gradually was absorbed into British control and administration and was governed as a part of Bengal. After the British administrative reorganization of India, Sylhet was eventually incorporated into Assam. It remained a part of Assam for the rest of the era of British rule. In 1947, following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state of Assam.[7] The referendum was held on 3 July 1947, there were a total of 546,815 votes cast on 239 polling stations, a majority of 43.8 per cent voted in favour of East Bengal. There were protests regarding bogus votes.[8] However, the referendum was acknowledged by Article 3 of the India Independence Act of 18 July 1947.[9] In 1971, Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.[5]
The Sylhet region has a "friendship link" with the city of St Albans, in the United Kingdom. The link was established in 1988 when the District council supported a housing project in Sylhet as part of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. Sylhet was chosen because it is the area of origin for the largest ethnic minority group in St Albans.[10] The majority of British Bangladeshis are of Sylheti ethnic origin [11]
The Majority of people follow Islam as a religion. More than 80% of people are Muslim. Hinduism is the 2nd largest religion in this country. A table showing total number of followers:[1]
| Religion | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Islam | 2,365,728 | 83.57% |
| Hinduism | 486,565 | 17.30% |
| Christian | 1,831 | 0.07% |
| Other | 1,090 | 0.045% |
It is the second box of religion:
The district of Sylhet consists 6754 mosques, 453 temples, 96 churches and four Buddhist temples.