Sonaimuri Upazila
| Sonaimuri NOA | |
|---|---|
| Upazila | |
  Sonaimuri | |
| Coordinates: 23°2.3′N 91°6.5′E / 23.0383°N 91.1083°ECoordinates: 23°2.3′N 91°6.5′E / 23.0383°N 91.1083°E | |
| Country |
 Bangladesh |
| Division | Chittagong Division |
| District | Noakhali District |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
Sonaimuri (সোনাইমুড়ী) is a newly established upazila or sub-district in Noakhali District, Bangladesh.[1] It consists of ten union councils or parishads - Ambarnagar, Amisha Para, Bazra, Deoti, Jayag, Nadana, Nateshwar,Sonaimuri, Sonapur and Baragaon. Sonaimuri was declared as an upazila in response to a popular demand in 2005. The area of Sonaimuri is 169.14 km² while its population is 327,194. People in this Upazilla is generally solvent and engaged in business and agriculture. A number of residents of this locality also lives and works in USA, Europe and Middle East.
shimulia
shimulia is a leading village in Sonaimuri Upazila. Econmically and educationally this village also figures prominently in Noakhali. This village has a primary school and a madrassa. Dhaka-Noakhali highway and Laksam-Noakhali railway line also pass through this village. Almost 90% of the villagers are literate. In the social, business and political life of Bangladesh, the people of this village always plays an important role.
Deoti
Deoti ( দেওটি) Union consists of nine wards. Among them, Nandia para(নান্দিয়া পাড়া বাজার), Deoti and Muhurigonj Bazar (মুহুরীগন্জ বাজার) are growing rapidly & now considered as the centre of the Union from social and economic point of view.
Nodona
Nodona is one of leading unions in Sonaimuri Upazila. There are villages like Gozaria,Joggjibonpur, Kaluai,Burpit,Pacbariya and Hatgao in this Union. Sonaimuri- Ramgonj Road passes through this Union. Important bazaars like Nodona Bazar, Nilam Hut, Banglabazar and Gozaria Bazar are all on this road.
Sonapur
Sonapur union is another important union in Sonaimuri. Sonapur,Kalikapur, West Dalutpur (Barul), Baripur, Chandpur, Hirapur, Muradpur,Maripara and Nayagaon are noted villages of Sonapur. Sonapur Bazar, Khelafath Bazar and Kabir Hut are quickly emerging as important trade centers. People of this union are living and working in a big number in Middle East, South Africa and Italy.
Amisha Para
After Sonaimuri Union, Amisha para union is the other best known unions of this Upazila. Few thousands people of this union are staying and working in places like USA,Italy, UAE,UK and Spain. near about 94% people are educated Bir Shresta Mohammad Ruhul Amin, a hero of Bangladesh Liberation War hailed from this Union.
Freedom fighters
Bir Srestho Mohammad Ruhul Amin, a hero and martyr of the Liberation War was born in Bag-Pacra ( বাঘপাঁচরা ) village in Deoti Union. Recently Bag-Pacra has been renamed as Ruhul Amin Nagor (রুহুল আমিন নগর) to honour his contribution to Bangladesh's War of Independence. Honorary Captain Lutfor Rahaman ( লুৎফর রহমান)was another prominent freedom fighter of this upazilla who along with Dr Anis, Commander of the Bangladesh Liberation Fighters (BLF) of Begumgonj Thana, kept much of the areas of present day Sonaimuri, Begumgonj and Chatkhil upazilas free of Pakistani occupation in 1971.
Notable People of this Upazila
- Haji Fazlur Rahman Bhuiyan: A leading businessman and local elite who held the position of President/Chairman of Sonaimuri Union Board/Council since the partition of India to mid sixties. He was a member of the Noakhali District Rin Salishi Board (Debt Arbitration Board). He was also the founder President of the Sonaimuri Bazar Committee and led the emergence of Sonaimuri as a major trade and business center of Noakhali.
- Ali Ahmed: He was the first elected General Secretary of the Chaumohoni College Students Union. He was also the founding President of Greater Noakhali District Chatra League and a central committee member of erstwhile East Pakistan Chatra League. He was a co-founder of Sonaimuri College.He retired from Bangladesh Water Development Board in 1991 after serving almost 30 years in the organization.
- Mohammad Sirajuddin: A CSP officer of the 1961 batch of the Pakistan Civil Service. He retired as a Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh. He was also Chairman of BISIC and Member, Planning Commission. He has a number of publications on rural development of Bangladesh.
- Mohammad Shahabullah: A member of 1981 batch of BCS(Administration). He is a Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh and until recently held the position of Member, Planning Commission.
- Kamrul Ahsan: A career diplomat and also holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from BUET. He is currently serving as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Canada. Prior to his current assignment in Canada, he was the Bangladesh High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Singapore where he held the position of the Dean of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps. He was also the Bangladesh Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, United Arab Emirates.
- Golam Sarwar:A famous freedom fighter. He was General Secretary of Noakhali District Chatra League. He was also the Vice President of Bangladesh Chatra League and revived the organization as its Acting President after 1975.
- Khalilur Rahman: A leading businessman and founded Amisha Para College.
- Eshaque Miah: A leading businessman and cofounded Sonaimuri College.
- Shamsul Haque: A leading businessman and cofounded of Sonaimuri College.
- Golam Kabir: A leading businessman and a senior leader of now defunct Bhasani NAP
Places of interest
Bazra Shahi Mosque - Bazra.
Bazra Shahi Mosque is one of the major Mughal era archeological relics in the region. It is situated in the village of Bazra which is 8 miles to the north of district town Maijdi. The mosque, according to an inscription fixed over the central doorway, was erected by one Aman Allah in 1741-42 AD during the reign of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah. The Bengali and Persian inscriptions fixed over the gateway of the outer wall and on the inside wall of the mosque record that it was thoroughly repaired in the years between 1318 to 1335 BS by the Bajra Zamindars Khan Bahadur Ali Ahmad and Khan Bahadur Mujir Uddin Ahmad.
Gandhi Ashram - Joyag
During Mahatma Gandh's visit to some parts of Noakhali in January 1947, Hemanta Kumar Ghosh, a local zamindar, donated his property for setting up the 'Ambika- Kaliganga Charitable Trust'which later on became famous as Gandhi Ashram. Every morning and evening, people gather for a prayer meeting in a room which still contains mementos of Gandhi's visit here in January 1947.
Economic conditions
People of this upazila are playing an important role in the trade, industry, banking, service and hospitality sectors in Bangladesh. This has created huge job opportunity not for the people of Noakhali but for Bangladesh as a whole. A number of people of this Upazila are living in the United States, Canada, Europe and Middle East. Remittances sent by these expatriates have also strengthened the local economy.
Socio-cultural life
A number of organizations are working in this locality for welfare of the people. Among them,Sonaimuri Kallan Trust and Sonaimuri Andha Kallan Samity are working in this Upazila for many years. Their philanthropic activities are nationally recognized. A good number of socio-cultural organizations are also working for promoting the cultural richness and diversity of this locality.
Education
Sonaimuri High School is the most renowned academic institution of this upazila. It played an important role in spreading education among all strata of the society from British days. Students of this school in the past played a pioneering role in our liberation struggle. Other important schools include Bajra High School, Kalikapur High School, Rubirhat Banghabondhu High School, Nandia Para High School, Vir Srasto Ruhul Amin Academy,Jaiag High School, Nodona High School, Sonaimuri Girls School and Sonaimuri Hamedia alia (kamil) Madrassah. Sonaimuri College and Amishapara College are playing a very important role in promoting higher education in this Upazila.
References
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