Kushtia District

Kushtia
কুষ্টিয়া
District

Shilaidaha Kuthibari, the famous residence of Rabindranath Tagore in Kushtia, is a popular tourist destination
Nickname(s): Kushti{কুষ্টি}

Location of Kushtia in Bangladesh
Coordinates: BD 23°55′11″N 89°13′12″E / 23.91985556°N 89.220030556°E / 23.91985556; 89.220030556Coordinates: BD 23°55′11″N 89°13′12″E / 23.91985556°N 89.220030556°E / 23.91985556; 89.220030556
Country  Bangladesh
Division Khulna Division
Area
 • Total 1,608.80 km2 (621.16 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
 • Total 1,946,838
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Literacy rate
 • Total 90.9%
Time zone BST (UTC+6)
Postal code 7000

Kushtia (Bengali: কুষ্টিয়া জেলা, Kushtia Jela also Kushtia Zila) is a district in the Khulna administrative division of western Bangladesh. Kushtia has existed as a separate district since the partition of India.[1] Prior to that, Kushtia was a part of Nadia District under Bengal Province of British India. Kushtia was home of many famous people, especially authors and poets. Present day Kushtia is known for the Islamic University, Shilaidaha Kuthibari and Lalon's shrine.

History

The Shahi Mosque in Kushtia bears the sign of rich cultural heritage of the region from the Mughal period. Kushtia is the birthplace of many historical figures including Mir Mosharraf Hossain (1847–1912), Bagha Jatin (1879–1915) and Lalon Fakir (1774–1890). Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore lived a part of his life at Shelaidaha in this district and created some of his memorable poems while living there. However, during the British rule Kushtia was not a separate district – it was a part of the Nadia district (now in West Bengal). A municipality was established in Kushtia in 1869. The composer and Singer S I Tutul was born in Kushtia.

Kushtia, however, is not an ancient township. A river port was developed in the district during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. Although the British East India Company made extensive use of the port, it was not until indigo planters and traders settled there that the township began to grow. A railway connection was made in 1860 with Calcutta (now Kolkata), capital of British India, which made the town an alluring location for mills and factories, including the Jagneshwar Engineering Works (1896), Renwick and Company (1904), and the Mohini Mills (1919).

In 1860, the Indigo revolt spread throughout the Bengal province. Shalghar Madhua in Kushtia district was one of the forerunners in this movement.[1] It inspired all indigo farmers in Kushtia to refrain from paying government taxes.[1] Subsequently, with the publication of the Indigo Commission Report, an act was passed prohibiting coercion of cultivators for indigo cultivation and the measure led to the end of the movement.[2]

The tomb and shrine of Lalon Fakir is located in Kushtia.

During the Partition of India in 1947, Kushtia was made a separate district, consisting of Kushtia Sôdor, Chuadanga and Meherpur subdivisions. The town once again became attractive for development in 1954 with the establishment of the Ganges-Kobadak Project (also known as G-K Project) headquarters and a number of government offices. The GK Project is a large surface-irrigation system, with the first crop under this project grown in 1962-63.[3]

The district of Kushtia had significant contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War. A 147-member company of the 27th Baluch Regiment of the Pakistan army reached Kushtia on 25 March 1971 from its base at Jessore cantonment. They initially captured the local police station and settled an outpost there, but soon faced considerable resistance from a group of police, ansars, students and local people. By 1 April, the Pakistany army was completely overpowered and the Mukti Bahini took control of Kushtia.[4] Later on 17 April 1971 the Bangladesh Government in-exile formally announced Proclamation of Independence at Baidyanathtala.[5] Subsequently, battles between the Pakistan army and the rebels occurred at many places of the district including Bangshitala of Kumarkhali Upazila,[6] and Daulatpur Upazila.,[7]

After the independence of Bangladesh several different development projects were undertaken in the district of Kushtia. On 22 November 1979 the foundation stone of The Islamic University was laid at Shantidanga - Dalulpur under the districts of Kustia and Jhenidah. However, In 1982 the University was shifted to Gazipur and admission of students began in the session of 1985-86. Later, on 10 January 1990, the University shifted back to its original site at Shantidanga Dulalpur. In 1984, two subdivisions of Kushtia: Chuadanga[8] and Meherpur[9] were named separate districts.

Geography

Kushtia District has an area of 1608.80 square kilometres and is bounded by Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna districts to the North, by Chuadanga, Jhenaidah districts to the South, by Rajbari District to the East, and by West Bengal and Meherpur District to the West.

Ganges, Gôrai, Mathabhanga, Kaligônga, and Kumar are the main rivers flowing through the district. The average high temperature is 37.8 °C and the average low is 9.2 °C. Annual rainfall averages 1,467 millimetres.

Concept of "Greater Kushtia"

Historically, Kushtia was a larger district consisting of three subdivisions, each of which has now become a district. However, the peoples of these three districts, Chuadanga, Meherpur, and Kushtia, share more than just a common past. Most notably, the dwellers of these districts, as the past inhabitants of an undivided Nadia district, speak a dialect remarkably close to what is now considered "standard" Bengali in both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Because of the great commonality between the three districts, they are often referred to as the Greater Kushtia District. Several organisations, such as the "Greater Kushtia Association" and "Greater Kushtia Society", are concerned with the welfare of the entire region.

Administration

Administrator of Zila Porishod: Zahid Hossain Zafor [10]

Assistant Director (A.D) 250 Beded General Hospital : Dr Azizum Nahar

Administrative divisions

Kushtia City Municipality House.

Kushtia was created as a district in 1947 with the partitioning of India. Initially, Kushtia consisted of the Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur subdivisions. Each of these subdivisions was later converted to a separate district for ease of management. The Upazilas are:

  1. Kushtia Sadar,
  2. Kumarkhali,
  3. Daulatpur,
  4. Mirpur,
  5. Bheramara and
  6. Khoksa

Demographics

Kushtia District has a population of 1,946,838, of which 50.86% are male and 49.14% female. In terms of religion, 95.72% dwellers of Kushtia are Muslims, 4.22% follow Hinduism and other religions make up 0.06%. Religious institutions are mosques 3587, temples 185, churches 32.[1]

******* ATTENTION: could anyone confirm the number Religious institutions?? It seems pretty awkwardly large numbers. Thanks.

Education

The average literacy rate of the district is 25.8%, with 30.9% of males and 48.35% of females considered literate.

Kushtia/Jhenaidah is home to the Islamic University; it also has the following educational institutions:

Islamic University, Kushtia Auditorium.

Places of interest

The Rabindra Kuthibari of Shelaidaha is a beautiful mansion where the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore lived to administer his family Zamindari.[11] The Kuthibari,located at Shilaidaha in Kumarkhali Upazila of the Kushtia district, is only 20 km from Kushtia town. He lived here for part of his life, and wrote many memorable poems there. Tagore built the Kuthibari as his office/residence, to collect revenue as a zaminder, from local peasants. The Kuthibari is now a museum, and is cared for by the Archaeological Department of Bangladesh.

The shrine of Lalon Fakir, the founder of the Baoul faith is located at Cheouria, about 2 km from the Kustia railway station.

Economy

Kushtia produces a large amount of rice in Khajanagor by auto rice mill (Rashid Auto Rice Mills). It has a big commercial area named Bisic Shilponogory. BRB is a famous brand and a tobacco factory (British American Tobacco). Since 1986 few companies (Rupali rice mill,Dada agro food and Rajib rice mill) started rice producing businesses and today there are almost 350 rice mills are located in Khajanagor, Kushtia playing an important role in the national economy. The famous "Miniket" rice was invented in Khajanagor in the early 1990s.

Organizations

• Cyber Café:

• Kobadak Cyber Café [First Cyber Café in Greater Kushtia] ESTD: 2002

Media

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kushtia District.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Nehal, SM Rakib (2012). "Kushtia District". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ↑ Choudhury, Nurul Hossain (2012). "Indigo Resistance Movement". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ Chowdhury, Masud Hasan; Murshed, Sanzida (2012). "Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. ↑ Coggins, Dan (19 April 1971). "The Battle of Kushtia". Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  5. ↑ Miah, Sajahan (2012). "Proclamation of Independence". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  6. ↑ Tipu, Shiek Md Badrul Alam (2012). "Kumarkhali Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  7. ↑ Reza, Md. Salim (2012). "Daulatpur Upazila (Kushtia District)". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  8. ↑ Ahmed, Rajib (2012). "Chuadanga District". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  9. ↑ Farooque, Md. Abu Hasan (2012). "Meherpur District". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation: Govt. Tourism Organization".

eCommerce Site Kushtia First eCommerce site KushtiaBazar.com

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, January 13, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.