Madhukhali Upazila

Madhukhali Upazila (faridpur district) with an of area 230.20 km², is bounded by baliakandi and rajbari sadar upazilas on the north, boalmari and mohammadpur (Magura) upazilas on the south, faridpur sadar upazila on the east, magura sadar and sreepur (Magura) upazilas on the west. Main rivers are Gorai-Madhumati, Kumar, Chandana and Barasia.

Madhukhali (Town) consists of 3 mouzas with an area of 3.57 km². It has a population of 9042; male 52.38%, female 47.62%. The density of population is 2533 per km². Literacy rate among the town people is 45.7%.

Administration Madhukhali thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. The upazila consists of 9 union parishads and 240 villages.

Archaeological heritage Seventy feet high wall at Mathurapur (c 16th century), Kachari (zamindar's revenue office) and Dighi (pond) of Mukunda Ray (Sitaram) at Busna.

Marks of War of Liberation Memorial 1.

Population 165438; male 52.5%, female 47.5%; Muslim 79.40%, Hindu 19.99%, Christian 0.04%, Buddhist 0.03%, ethnic and others 0.54%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 32.5%; male 39%, female 25.3%. Educational institutions: government college 1, non-government college 4, higher secondary school 14, secondary school 7, girl's school 1, madrasa 56, satellite school 14, government primary school 48, non-government primary school 22; noted institution: Korokdi Rambihari Multilateral High School (1901).

Main occupations Agriculture 44.41%, fishing 1.2%, agricultural labourer 22.09%, wage labourer 2.66%, commerce 11.35%, transport 1.99%, service 8.37%, others 7.93%.

Cultural organisations Library 2, rural club 30, cinema hall 2, women's organisation 1.

Religious institutions Mosque 232, temple 135, church 1, tomb 4, most noted of which are Banamalidia mazar and mosque, west Gorakhola Jami Mosque, Makrail Mazar and Mosque and Madhukhali Bazar Jami Mosque.

Land use Total cultivable land 17920 hectares, fallow land 5621 hectares; land under irrigation 5529 hectares.

Land control Among the peasants 15.23% are landless, 24.36% marginal, 29.32% small, 22.78% intermediate and 8.31% rich.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 5000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Sugarcane, jute, paddy, wheat, sola, mustard seed, chilli, onion, brinjal and betel leaf.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Kaun, sweet potato, barley, corn, linseed and sesame.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, papaya, bel, palm, date and coconut.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Dairy 8, poultry 42, hatchery 7.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 99 km, semi pucca 25 km and mud road 700 km; railway 24 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), horse carriage (nearly extinct) and boat.

Manufactories Sugar mill 1, flour mill 1, ice factory 12, rice mill 52.

Cottage industries Weaving 12, bamboo work 100, goldsmith 70, blacksmith 200, potteries 15, wood work 200, sewing 300 and welding 50.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 20, most noted of which are Madhukhali, Kamarkhali; fairs 7, most noted of which is Thana Ghat Mela (on Chaitra Sankranti).

Main exports Sugar, chilli, brinjal, coconut, date molasses and onion

NGO activities brac, grameen bank, asa, Gonoshahajjo Sangstha, Alo, Saptagram Swanirvar Nari Parishad.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 2 and family planning centre 8.

Madhukhali is located at 23°32′30″N 89°37′50″E / 23.5417°N 89.6306°E / 23.5417; 89.6306 . It has 29201 units of house hold and total area 230.2 km².