| Sylhet Division Greater Sylhet |
|
|---|---|
| — Division — | |
| Tea Gardens of Srimongol | |
| Map of Sylhet Division in red | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Established | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12,595.95 km2 (4,863.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
| • Total | 9,807,000 |
| • Density | 778.6/km2 (2,016.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
Sylhet Division (Bengali: সিলেট বিভাগ, pronounced Sileṭ Bibhag), also known as Greater Sylhet or Sylhet region,[1] is the northeastern division of Bangladesh, named after its main city, Sylhet. It is bounded by Meghalaya State of India on the north, Tripura State on the south, Assam State of India on the east and Dhaka division on the west and Chittagong division on the southwest.
One of the most picturesque and archeologically rich regions in South Asia, is the Sylhet Division. Its bourgeoning economy has become a part of the attractions of the region, as landscapes are filled with fragrant orange and pineapple gardens and breathtaking tea plantations. Many Sylhet community members have found work and residence abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom and have been using remittances to fund projects and industries within the Sylhet Division, allowing the export industry and foreign investment sectors to grow.
Contents |
The Division is subdivided into four districts (zilas) and thence into 36 sub-districts (upazilas).
| Name | Capital | Area (km²) | Population 1991 Census |
Population 2001 Census |
Population 2011 Census (preliminary results) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habiganj District | Habiganj | 2,636.58 | 1,526,609 | 1,757,665 | 2,059,000 |
| Maulvi Bazar District | Maulvi Bazar | 2,799.39 | 1,376,566 | 1,612,374 | 1,902,000 |
| Sunamganj District | Sunamganj | 3,669.58 | 1,708,563 | 2,013,738 | 2,443,000 |
| Sylhet District | Sylhet | 3,490.40 | 2,153,301 | 2,555,566 | 3,404,000 |
| Total Division | Sylhet | 12,595.95 | 6,765,039 | 7,939,343 | 9,807,000 |
Historians believe that Sylhet was an expanded commercial center from the ancient period, which explains its original namesake. During this time, Sylhet was probably inhabited by Indo-Aryan Brahmins, though ethnically the population would also have traces of Assamese, Dravidians of Bengal, Arabs, Persians and Turks. It has also been suggested that the Ancient Kingdom of Harikela was situated in modern Sylhet.[2][3]
The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet.[4] 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.[5] 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 Hindus 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.[5] 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.[6][7]
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.[8] 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.[9] However, the referendum was acknowledged by Article 3 of the India Independence Act of 18 July 1947.[10] In 1971, Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.[6]
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.[11]
According to the St. Albans District Council: The majority of British Bangladeshis are of Sylheti ethnic origin (see British Bangladeshi). It is a testiment of Sylhet in its history of trade relations with other parts of the world. "Sylhet" is thought to be a misnomer of Syria, from the time Syrians and Arabs were among the merchant peoples of the Bengal delta, as well some historical cultural ties to China and Southeast Asia can be evident.
In 1995, Sylhet was declared the 6th division of the country. Prior to that it was part of the Chittagong Division. The Sylhet Division is subdivided into four districts (zillah): Habiganj, Maulvibazar, Sunamganj and Sylhet. Further, the Sylhet Division contains 35 sub-districts (upazila/thana), 323 union parishad, 10,185 villages and 14 municipalities. Population: approximately 10 million, which is less than 7% of the total population of Bangladesh.
Sylheti attachment to their regional identity also continues in the efforts of many Sylhetis to keep marital relationships within the same regional, cultural, social and religious background.[12] Sylheti people are considered as a distinct ethnic group in Bangladesh;[13] They are also generally more family oriented, follow and support Sylheti community culture, and are more conformist Muslims.[14] These tendencies have led to some rivalry between non-Sylhetis and Sylhetis, due to differences of customs.[15]
Marriages are practiced in a traditional Muslim style, with henna ritual (mehendi), and prayers. Sylheti marriages often include contracts of marriage outlining both the rights and obligations of both partners. Marriages in Sylhet often take place with partners in the United Kingdom and the US.
Given its unique cultural and economic development, and linguistic differences (Greater Sylhet region was a part of Assam and Surma Valley State for about 100 years during the British Raj in comparison to the rest of Bangladesh), and given that Sylhet has, for much of its recent history, been a region of a larger entity.[16][17] As so many Sylhetis are resident abroad, Sylhet has a major flow of foreign currency from non-resident Bangladeshis .
The area around Sylhet is a traditional tea growing area. The Surma Valley is covered with terraces of tea gardens and lush green tropical forests. Srimangal is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh and for miles around one can see the tea gardens on the hill slopes.
The area has over 150 tea gardens, including three of the largest tea gardens in the world both in terms of area and production. Nearly 300,000 workers, of which over 75% are women, are employed on the tea estates. Employers prefer to engage women for plucking tea leaves since they do a better job and are paid less than the men. Unfortunately recent drought has killed nearly a tenth of the tea shrubs.
The gardens are relics from the days of the British Raj. The plantations were started by the British and the managers still live in white timber homes as they did in those days. The bungalows stand on huge lawns and the service and lifestyle is pretty much unchanged.
A relatively new area that has come under tea cultivation is the sub-Himalayan terrain of Panchagarh. The soil and climate is highly favorable for growing tea here. In fact this area is contiguous with Assam and Bengal in India, where tea has been grown for decades. Beginning with only 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land in 2000, the cash crop is now being cultivated on over 3,500 acres (14 km2) in Tentulia, Sadar and Atoari upazilas of Panchagarh.
The humus content in the soil here is more than in the traditional tea-growing areas of Sylhet. The tea produced in Panchagarh is supposedly much better in quality than that of Sylhet. Several nurseries have been set up in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon to supply saplings to the tea gardens. Bangladesh exports tea to Pakistan and Russia.
There are large numbers of investments and businesses in the city and in large towns funded by Sylhetis living abroad, in particular by British Bangladeshis, over 95 percent of whom come from this Sylhet region.[18] The Bangladesh government has set up a special Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Sylhet, in order to attract foreign investors, mainly from the UK.
Sylhet is a holy place for both Muslim and Hindus. It is a land of 360 awliyas. Notable Hindu saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited his maternal and paternal family homes in Burunga (Balaganj), Dhaka Dakkhin (Gulapganaj) and Habiganj in Sylhet Division. Famous religious places include, the shrines of Shah Jalal, Shah Farhan (popularly known as Shah Paran, Shah Kamal Qattani in Shaharpara,Hazrat Sayyed Zakir Shah Fatimi in Turuk Khola of South Surma and Sipahsalar Syed Nasiruddin in Habiganj for Muslims. Hindu temples like Shree Chaitanya Dev Mandir, Kali Mandir of Jainpur, Shakti Piths temple of Kirit Devi Kamala, Bagala Matar Mandir of Habiganj and Kalibari of Jaintiapur are known throughout the Indian Subcontinent.[19]
Followers of Different religions are: Muslim 81.16%, Hindu 17.80%, Christian 0.06%, Buddhist 0.02% and others 0.96%.
Ahmed Bunty
Census figures for 1991, 2001 and 2011 are from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Wing. The 2011 Census figures are based on preliminary results.
| Meghalaya, India | ||||
| Dhaka Division | Assam, India | |||
| Sylhet Division | ||||
| Chittagong Division | Tripura, India |
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