Meherpur District

Meherpur (Bengali: মেহেরপুর, pron: meɦeɾpuɾ) is the northwestern district of Khulna Division in southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian state of West Bengal to the west, and by the Bangladeshi districts of Kushtia and Chuadanga to the east.[2] Pre-independece Meherpur was a subdivision of Nadia district.[3] The district has an area of 716.08 square kilometres (276.48 sq mi).

Meherpur District
মেহেরপুর
District of Bangladesh
Top: Amjupi Nilkuthi, Bottom: Mujibnagar
Location of Meherpur District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Meherpur District
Coordinates: 23.75°N 88.70°E / 23.75; 88.70
Country Bangladesh
DivisionKhulna Division
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerDR. MOHAMMED MONSUR ALAM KHAN
Area
 • Total716.08 km2 (276.48 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total655,392
 • Density920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Meherpur
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
7100
HDI (2019)0.644[1]
medium · 5th of 20
Websitemeherpur.gov.bd

History

According to Ashraf Siddiqui, the district is named after the 16th century dervish Meher Ali Shah. The district was known for indigo cultivation and was a major place of the Indigo Revolt. The Meherpur Municipality is one of the oldest municipalities in Bangladesh which was established in 1859 when Meherpur was a part of the Nadia district. After Partition, Meherpur became a subdivision of the newly-formed Kushtia district.

The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed and solemnly sworn in Meherpur's Baidyanathtala village (later renamed as Mujibnagar), on 17 April 1971 under the leadership of Tajuddin Ahmed and Syed Nazrul Islam. The entire Proclamation ceremony was organised by local leaders under the supervision of Momeen Chowdhury and MM Rustom Ali.[4] After that day on 18 April 1971, the Pakistani Army killed 8 people in Amjhupi village. Meherpur became a district in 1983.[2]

Administration

Meherpur district is divided into three upazilas: Gangni Upazila, Meherpur Sadar Upazila and Mujibnagar Upazila.

Economy

Main sources of income: Agriculture 68.95%, non-agricultural labourer 3.24%, industry 0.87%, commerce 13.83%, transport and communication 2.21%, service 3.81%, construction 1.03%, religious service 0.14%, rent and remittance 0.59% and others 5.33%.[5]

Points of interest

Demographics
Religions in Meherpur district (2011)[7]
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 90.77%
Christians
 
 7.20%
Hindus
 
 1.20%
Other or not stated
 
 1.03%

According to 2011 Bangladesh census, Meherpur District had a population of 655,392. Males constituted 49.53% of the population and females 50.47. Muslims formed 97.77% of the population, Christian 7.20% Hindus 1.20%, and others 1.03%. This district has the lowest population of Hindus in Bangladesh, both percentage-wise and absolute numbers. Meherpur District had a literacy rate of 46.27% for the population 7 years and above.[8]

Literacy rate and educational institutions

Average literacy 37.8%; male 39.9%, female 35.6%. Educational institutions: college 7, vocational institute 3, secondary school 60, primary school 200, madrasa 11. Noted educational institutions: Meherpur Government College (1962), Mujibnagar Degree College (1983), Gangni Degree College (1983), Meherpur Government Mohila College (1984), Gangni Mohila College (1995), Meherpur Government High School (1854), Meherpur Model High School (1859), Mujibnagar Secondary School (1937), Meherpur government girls' High School (1940), Gangni Secondary School (1945), JDAMM Jugirgofa Gangni Meherpur (2020).

See also

References
  1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  2. Md Abu Hasan Farooque (2012). "Meherpur District". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. "Nadia keeps a date with history | Kolkata News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. Aug 19, 2011. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  4. Sajahan Miah (2012). "Proclamation of Independence". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  5. "Meherpur District". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  6. Alam, M. R. (15 October 2016). "Lack of renovation puts Bhatpara Neelkuthi on verge of ruination". The Daily Observer. Dhaka.
  7. "Bangladesh Population & Housing Census 2011(Zila aeries)". Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  8. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011: Zila Report – Meherpur" (PDF). Table P01: Household and Population by Sex and Residence, Table P05 : Population by Religion, Age group and Residence, Table P09 : Literacy of Population 7 Years & Above by Religion, Sex and Residence. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Retrieved 9 December 2018.


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