KISHORGONJ.COM

By G.M Frazer

Bajitpur Upazila :

Bajitpur Upazila (kishoreganj district)  with an area of 193.76 sq km is bounded by katiadi, nikli and austagram upazilas on the north, kuliarchar, bhairab and sarail upazilas on the south, Austagram and nasirnagar upazilas on the east, katiadi upazila on the west. Main rivers: meghna, Baulai, ghorautra, old brahmaputra (almost dead); canel 7, Jalmahal 15; Bengla Charabadha are important.

Bajitpur (Town) The town is now a municipality with an area of 9.84 sq km and population 26609; male 50.76%, female 49.24%. It has 9 wards and 28 mahallas. Literacy rate among the town people is 41.4%. Bajitpur was turned into a municipal town in 1869.

Administration Bajitpur thana was established in 1835 and was turned into an upazila in 1983. It consists of one municipality, 12 union parishads, 92 mouzas, 178 villages.

Historical events During the British period the naval port of Dulalpur of this upazila became famous. Indigo centres were established at Gopinathpur and Ghoraghat. Consignments of pearl of the Bhati region were made from these areas. Bajitpur was famous for the production of fine quality muslin, called tanjab. The Fakir-Sanyasi revolts extensively spread over Bajitpur. During the war of liberation the Muktibahinis liberated Bajitpur on 26 October after defeating occupant Pak army. Seven freedom fighters were killed in encounters with the Pakistan army. Pak army killed about 400 innocent people and 60 women lost their sanctity.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site: Rail gate of Sararchar.

Religious institutions Mosque 125, temple 12, tomb 4.

Population 197081; male 50.49 %, female 49.51%; Muslim 87.49%, Hindu 12.51%; ethnic nationals 572 families.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 22.1%; male 27.8%, female 16.4%. Educational institution: college 1, private medical college 1, nursing institute 1, high school 12, junior high school 2, madrasa 10, government primary school 82, non-government primary school 24; noted Bajitpur H E School (1890).

Cultural organisations Club 52, press club 1, theatre club 1, public library 1, women's organisation 1, playground 4, cinema hall 2.

Main occupations Agriculture 42.29%, fishing 2.67%, agricultural labourer 18.97%, wage labourer 4.13%, commerce 12.28%, transport 3.12%, service 5.22%, others 11.32%.

Land use Total cultivable land 15862 hectares; single crop 31.90%, double crop 56.61%, treble crop 11.48%; land under irrigation 12800 hectares.

Land control Among the peasants 55% are landless, 31% small, 12% intermediate, 2% rich.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is about 8500 Taka per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, potato, peanut, sweet potato and vegetables.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, sesame, china, kaun, tobacco, pulse, betel leaf.
Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, bel, lemon, natkol.
Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 70, dairy 41, poultry 375, hatchery 20.
Communication facilities Roads: pucca 70 km, mud road 287; railways 10 km; waterways 40 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart, horse carriage, buffalo cart, pansi boat, saranga boat. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Rice mill 15, saw mill 10, iron boar factory 2, ice mill 3, welding 5.

Cottage industries Chappa dry fish 100, wood works 80, goldsmith 32, blacksmith 25, potteries 9, tailoring 112, wooden boat making 7.

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 19, the most noted are Fatehpur, Sreedharganj; fair 3.

Main exports Rice, egg, milk, banana, chicken.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, asa, grameen bank.

Health centres Medical college hospital 1, upazila health complex 1, sub health centre 9. [AKM Mesbahuddin Kamal]