Zakiganj Upazila


Zakiganj is an Upazila of Sylhet District in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.

History

There are a few theories behind the name of Zakiganj. The first is that is derived from Shah Zaki, a pir who established a khanqah on the banks of the Kushiyara River. A ganj, Perso-Bengali suffix meaning 'marketplace' or 'neighbourhood', was then set up around the khanqah. In memory of Shah Zaki, nearby places are named Pirerkhal and the village Pirerchok. Another theory is that it is named after a man named Ghulam Zaki Majumdar, whose brother Karim Majumdar is who Karimganj district is said to have been named after.
Zakiganj was established as a thana in 1947 and was previously a part of the greater Karimganj district. In the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, mass graves were found in Atgram Bazar and Kaliganj Bazar. Zakiganj became an upazila on 1 August 1983.
A 17th century stone inscription was found in the Ghayebi Dighi Masjid in Barothakuri and it is now in display at the Bangladesh National Museum.

Geography

Zakiganj is located at . It has 29836 households and total area.
It is situated on the north bank of Kushiyara River, opposite Karimganj town of Assam, India.

Climate

Demographics

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Zakiganj has a population of 174038. Males constitute 50.55% of the population, and females 49.45%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 85935. Zakiganj has an average literacy rate of 30.8%, and the national average of 32.4% literate. Religions: Muslim 81.48%, Hindu 18.47%, Buddhist, Christian and others 0.05%.

Points of interest

Zakiganj has 09 Unions/Wards, 115 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 286 villages.
The unions are:
  1. Barahal
  2. Manikpur
  3. Barathakuri
  4. Birosree
  5. Kajalshar
  6. Khaskanakpur
  7. Kholachara
  8. Sharulbagh
  9. Sultanpur
  10. Zakiganj

    Upazila Chairmen