Mirzaganj Upazila

Mirzaganj মির্জাগঞ্জ
Upazila
Mirzaganj Location in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 22°21.8′N 90°14.5′E / 22.3633°N 90.2417°ECoordinates: 22°21.8′N 90°14.5′E / 22.3633°N 90.2417°E
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Barisal Division
District	Patuakhali District
Area
• Total	175.45 km^2 (67.74 sq mi)
Population (1991)
• Total	110,763
• Density	631/km^2 (1,630/sq mi)
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
Website	Official Map of the Mirzaganj Upazila

Mirzaganj (Bengali: মির্জাগঞ্জ ) is an Upazila of Patuakhali District in the Division of Barisal, Bangladesh.^[1]

Geography

Mirzaganj is located at 22°21′45″N 90°14′30″E / 22.3625°N 90.2417°E . It has 21,345 households and a total area of 175.45 km².

Demographics

According to the 1991 Bangladesh census, Mirzaganj had a population of 110,763. Males constituted 50.06% of the population, and females 49.94%. The population aged 18 or over was 56,446. Average literacy rate is 42.1%; male 48.6%, female 35.6%.

Economy

Main crops

Paddy, sweet potato, lentil, chilli, sesame, linseed, ground nut etc.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops

Tobacco, jute and sugarcane.

Main fruits

Mango, jackfruit, banana, futi, watermelon.

Main exports

Banana, lentil, chilli.

Administration

Mirzaganj thana was established in 1812 and was turned into an upazila in 1983. Mirzaganj has 6 Unions/Wards, 68 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 72 villages.

Education

There are five colleges in the upazila. They include Howlader Foundation Women's College, founded in 2015, Akhtar Hossain Choudhury Memorial Degree College, founded in 2002, Subidkhali Degree College (1972), and Subidkhali Mahila College (2000).^[1][2]

Educational institutions

• High school: 32
• Primary school: 70 (government), 62 (non-government)
• Satellite school: 4
• Old institutions:
  • Subidkhali R I Pilot High School (1934)
  • Subidkhali Government Model Primary School (1940)
  • Kathaltali Government Primary School (1924)
  • Basonda Government Primary School (1934)
  • 1NO. Madhobkhali Govt. Paimary School

Historical events

At the initial stage of the War of Liberation in 1971 a large number of youths were given military training in the training centre at village Deuli of this upazila. In an encounter between the Pakistani army and the local freedom fighters on the outskirts of Mirzaganj, 32 freedom fighters lost their lives causing heavy casualties to the enemy.

References

1. Rahman, Md. Mizanur (2012). "Mirzaganj Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
2. "District Statistics 2011: Patuakhali" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved July 25, 2014.