Knowing Bangladesh
Shariatpur District
Area: 1181.53 sq km, located in between 2301 and 2327 north latitudes and in between 9013 and 9036 east longitudes. It is bounded by Munshiganj district on the north, Barisal district on the south, Chandpur district on the east, Madaripur district on the west.
Population: Total 1082300; male 543838, female 538462; Muslim 1041584, Hindu 40491, Buddhist 60, Christian 28 and others 137.
Water bodies: Main rivers: Padma, Meghna, Palong, Jayanti.
Administration: Shariatpur District was formed on 1 March 1984. Of the six upazilas of the district bhedarganj is the largest (311.24 sq km) and damudya is the smallest (91.76 sq km).
History of the War of Liberation: In 1971 the Pak army in collaboration with their local agents conducted mass killing and plundering; they also set many houses of the district on fire. During the war of liberation a number of encounters were held in Shariatpur sadar upazila between the freedom fighters and the Pak army in which about 313 Pak soldiers were killed. A number of freedom fighters were killed in two encounters and one frontal battle with the Pak army in Bhedarganj upazila. Nine freedom fighters including Ahsanul Hoque and Abdul Wahab were killed in an encounter with the Pak army at a place on the southern side of Damudya College. Muktijoddha and Mujib Bahini jointly conducted attack on the Pak army by guerrilla technique in the upazila. Five freedom fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pak army in Gosairhat upazila. The freedom fighters of Naria raided the Naria Police Station and captured all the arms and ammunitions of the thana. In retaliation, the Pak army sacked the nearby villages. During the War of Liberation a number of encounters were held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army in Zanjira upazila in which a number of freedom fighters were killed. Marks of the War of Liberation: Mass grave 1 (Mahisar); martyrs memorial 9; memorial monument 8.
Literacy rate and educational institutions: Average literacy 38.95%; male 42.17%, female 35.77%. Educational institutions: college 16, secondary school 102, primary school 772, madrasa 42. Noted educational institutions: Shariatpur Government College, Shariatpur Government Girls High School, Palong Tulasar Gurudas Government High School, Palong Multilateral High School (1939), Domsar Jagatchandra Institution (1907), Chikandi Sharaf Ali High School (1884), Rudrakar Neelmani High School (1915), Kagdi Government Primary School, Shariatpur Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, Angaria Osmania Qaumia Madrasa, Kauadi Dakhil Madrasa.
Main sources of income: Agriculture 61.66%, non-agricultural labourer 2.64%, industry 0.91%, commerce 14.34%, transport and communication 2.41%, service 6.41%, construction 1.13%, religious service 0.28%, rent and remittance 2.71% and others 7.51%.
Newspapers and periodicals: Daily: Hunker; weekly: Muktir Kantha, Shetu, Kagojer Pata, Saptapalli Samachar; defunct weekly: Chikandi Barta, Shariatpur Barta, Rudrakantha, Jabanbandhi.
Folk culture: Most notable folk festivals of the district include Bangla Nababarsa (Bangla New Years Day), Chaitra Sankranti and boat race. Popular folk songs include Jarigan, Kabigan, Biyer Gan (songs sung in the marriage ceremony). Besides, Jatra and folk drama are also prevalent in the district. Various folk games and sports including Ha-du-du, Gollachhut, Dariabandha are notable. Bull fights were earlier held in Paus and Chaitra Sankranti.
Tourists spots: Fateh Jangapur Fort (Naria). Source: Banglapedia
