Kamalganj Upazila


Kamalganj is an Upazila of the Moulvibazar District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Etymology

There was a local zamindar by the name of Kinkar Nath Ray who appointed a naib by the name of Kamal Narayan in order to develop the land. Kamal established a named after himself. In 1922, Kamalganj was made a thana and in 1983, an upazila.

History

Kamalganj was a part of the ancient Ita Kingdom founded by Raja Bhanu Narayan. The final raja of the Ita Kingdom, Raja Subid Narayan lost a battle in 1610 in which the region became under the rule of Khwaja Usman. However, this rule was short-lived after Mughal General Islam Khan I's attack in 1612. The battle between the Mughal Empire and Khwaja Usman was held in Patanushar, Kamalganj. This led to the death of Afghan leader Khwaja Usman.
A peasant rebellion led by Qasim Ali, Panchanan Singh, Baikuntha Sharma and Themba Singh was also held in the 1900s in Vanubal, Kamalganj.

Demographics

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Kamalganj has a population of 191,672. Males constitute 50.98% of the population, and females 49.02%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 102,877. Kamalganj has an average literacy rate of 28.6%, compared to the national average of 32.4%. Majority of the residents are Bengalis although there is a minority of indigenous peoples such as the Khasi, Manipuris, Bishnupriya Manipuris, Tripuris and Garos.

Administration

Kamalganj has 9 Unions/Wards, 118 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 276 villages.
The Unions are: Shamsher Nagar, Patanushar, Rahimpur, Munshi Bazar, Ali Nagar, Kamalganj, Adampur, Islampur, Madhabpur.

Economy and tourism

Kamalganj is home to many tourist attractions and natural geography. It contains many tea gardens and the Lawachara National Park. Other sites include the mausoleums of Shah Kala in Bhadair-Deul, Shah Ghayb and Shah Ghazi Malik in Bhadair-Deul. The ruins of the Ita Kingdom can be found across Kamalganj. The forts of Khwaja Usman, his grave and false tomb can be found in Patanushar in the areas of Srisurya and Usmangarh.

Notable residents