Manikganj District


Manikganj is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division.

History

Manikganj was formerly a subdivision of Dhaka District. It was turned into a district in 1984.
On 26 April 1989, Manikganj was the site of the world's worst tornado in terms of loss-of-lives. 1,300 people were initially reported as having been killed with 12,000 injured. The towns of Saturia and Manikganj Sadar were leveled and about 80,000 people were made homeless.

War of Liberation

Liberation war in 1971 in Manikganj District was organized and led by Capt. Halim Chowdhury, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Principal Abdur Rouf Khan and other heroes of the district.
During October 1971, at the Northwest corner of Golaidanga village, Baldhara union in Singair upazila, a group of Freedom Fighters attacked the boats carrying the Pakistani intruding soldiers and a terrible battle occurred on the Nuruni ganga.Eighty one Pak soldiers were killed and many others held with injuries in a fierce battle with freedom fighters at Golaidanga village in Singair upazila on 29 October. Freedom fighter Engr Tobarak Hossain Ludu led the operation. He was the commander of muktibahini Lodu group
None of the Mukti Bahini Freedom Fighters were killed during this battle which is one of the significant liberation fight against Pakistani military in Manikgonj. After this short duration battle, the Mukti Bahini Freedom Fighters leave the battle field and the PAK soldiers enhanced their strength bringing more soldiers and they burnt 160 houses surrounding area of Golaidanga village of the battle place and killed 09 local people who were mostly elderly stayed at home.Some local young boys helped freedom fighters in that ambush.They are Abdul Ali, Mohiuddin Alamgir and Zakir and many others. After golaidanga fight singair upozilla became free from Pak occupied army on 13 November 1971. In the last week of November in 1971, fresh groups of freedom fighters entered different areas of Manikganj and defeated Pakistani troops in a few battles. On 14 December 1971, a group of PAK Bahini moving toward Dhaka entered into Barundi village under Manikganj Sadar upazila, a group of liberation forces under leadership of Shahadat Hossain Biswas Badal were preparing to attack them within a suitable place. Understanding this, the PAK Soldiers immediately left the village leaving two soldiers from their troops. One of them was arrested by the liberation forces at night on 14 December 1971 and another was arrested by the same group of freedom fighters next day after a small fight.
Finally they declared the then sub-division free on 13 December.

Geography

Manikganj is a district in Dhaka Division. It comprises an area of. Annual average temperatures reach a maximum of 36 °C and a minimum to 12.7 °C with the annual rainfall total being.

Rivers

There are quite a few rivers in the Manikganj District.
The names of the some important rivers of this district are as follows:
  1. The Padma
  2. The Kaliganga
  3. The Jamuna
  4. The Dhaleshwari
  5. The Ichamati

    Population

Manikganj District has a population of 1,671,985; 52.02% male and 56.34% female; the population density is 3674.

Economy

There are total 166 Haats and Bazars. Besides 54 fairs are held in Manikganj. "Manikganj Bijoy Mela"-, "Bahadia Boishakhi Mela, "Joymontop Modhor Mela, Bahadia Bazar "Majhi Barir Mela"-, "Zinda Shah Mela"-, "Belal/Billal Paglar Mela"-, "Rowth Jatra Mela"-, "Poush Mela"-, "Bathaimuri Mela"-, "Baher Paglar Mela"-, "Baher Paglar Mela"-, "Sadhur Mela"-, "Sadhinota Mela"-, "Aziz paglar Mela"-, " Baruni Mela"-,are famous and favorite all over Manikganj. Mohadebpur Bazar, Barangail Bazar, Baira Bazar, Jhitka Bazar, jamsha bazar, Diabari Bazar, Gheor Bazar, Singair Bazar, Bangala Bazar, Maluchi Bazar, Intazganj Bazar,Butni Bazar are famous bazar in manikganj.

Places of interest

The upazilas are:
The district of Manikganj has 3575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five Buddhist temples and a pagoda.

Education

There is one medical school in the district, Colonel Malek Medical College.
A private university, NPI University of Bangladesh, is planned.
There are 27 colleges in the district. They include Government Debendra College, founded in 1942.
According to Banglapedia, Baliati Iswar Chandra High School, founded in 1919, Barangail Gopal Chandra High School, Dhankora Girish Institution, Dhulla B. M. High School, Ghior D. N. Pilot High School, Ibrahimpur Iswar Chandra High School, Jamirtta S. G. High School, Jhitka Ananda Mohan High School, Joymontop High School, Manikganj Government High School, Manikganj Model High School, Nali Bararia Krishna Chandra High School, Patgram Anath Bandhu Government High School, Teota Academy, and Terosree K. N. Institution, Bajpara high school are notable secondary schools.
The madrasa education system includes two fazil madrasas and one kamil madrasa, Manikganj Islamia Kamil Madrasa, founded in 1953.
The technical education system includes the Government Textile Vocational Institute Manikganj.

Notable residents