Mymensingh District
Banglapedia
Area: 4363.48 sq km, located in between 2415 and 2512 north latitudes and in between 9004 and 9049 east longitudes. It is bounded by Garo Hills and Meghalaya state of India on the north, Gazipur district on the south, Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts on the east, Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail districts on the west.
Population: Total 4489726; male 2297302, female 2192424; Muslim 4289789, Hindu 168135, Buddhist 27999, Christian 330 and others 3473. Indigenous communities such as Garo, Koch, Dalu, Barman and Hajong belong to this district.
Water bodies: Main rivers: Old Brahmaputra, Bhogai, Bajua, Kangsa.
Administration: Mymensingh district was formed in 1787. The previous name of the Mymenshing Town was Nasirabad. Of the 17 districts of Dhaka Division, Mymenshingh District is the biggest. Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Marks of the War of Liberation: Mass killing site 7 (Dakbungalow Char of Mymensingh sadar, Chawkbazar, Jelkhanar Char, river bank of Shambhuganj, Boror Char, Bangladesh Agricultural University compound, Rasulpur of Muktagachha).
Literacy rate and educational institutions: Average literacy 39.1%; male 41.7%, female 36.3%. Educational institutions: university 2, medical college 3, college 63, cadet college 1, teachers training college 4, vocational training institute 2, polytechnic institute 1, secondary school 506, primary school 2043, art school 1, community school 6, satellite school 24, NGO operated school 1065, nursery school 59, deaf and dump school 1, music school 3, madrasa 1212. Noted educational institutions: bangladesh agricultural university (1960), Ananda Mohan Government College (1908), Mymensingh Medical College (1968), Mymensingh Girls Cadet College (1964), Muminunnesa Government Girls College (1959), Mukul Niketan High School (1959), Vidyamoyee Government Girls High School (1873), Phulpur Pilot High School (1882), Ramgopalpur PJK High School (1890), Muktagachha Ram Kishore High School (1894), Kandipara Askar Ali High School (1906), Mahakali Girls School and College (1907), Birai Taltala Girls High School (1902), Edward Institution (1903), Radha Sundari Girls High School (1927), Bangladesh Railway Government High School (1925), Saint Marys Girls Junior High School (1929), Mymensingh Zila School (1853), City Collegiate School (1883), Mrityunjoy School (1901), Nasirabad Collegiate School (1911), Nazrul Academy (1913), Katlasen Kaderia Kamil Madrasa (1890), Chargoadanga Senior Fazil Madrasa (1915), Pachbag Islamia Fazil Madrasa (1921), Sherpur Islamia Fazil Madrasa (1927).
Main sources of income: Agriculture 64.14%, non-agricultural labourer 3.65%, industry 0.82%, commerce 11.40%, transport and communication 3.53%, service 6.21%, construction 1.33%, religious service 0.21%, rent and remittance 0.46% and others 8.25%.
Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Jahan, Banglar Jamin, Insaf, Ajker Smriti, Shipa, Swadesh Sangbad; weekly: Mymensingh Barta, Ajker Muktagachha; defunct: Kumar, Bigyapani (1866), Bangalee (1874), Surid (1875), Pramadi (1875), Bharat Mihir (1875), Sanjibani (1878), Basana (1899), Abriti (1901), Swadesh Sampad (1905), Shikkha Saurav (1912), Hafez Shakti (1924), Ganavijan (1938), weeekly Charumihir (1939), Uttar Akash (1959), Aunirban (1963), Jagrata Bangla (1971).
Folk culture: Notable folk culture of the district include Maimansingha Gitika, rhymes, Boul song, Palageet, proverbs of the Garo community, sloka (hiluk) of the Hajong community, riddle (thachi-katha),
Important installations: Museum, Mymensingh Town Hall, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (Mymensingh sadar Upazila).
