Faridpur District

Infobox of BD districts
native_name = Faridpur
skyline =
skyline_size =
skyline_caption =
locator_position = right
latd = 23.50
longd = 89.83
division_name = Dhaka Division
population_as_of = 1991
population_total = 1,714,496
population_density = 827.17
literacy_rate = 37.44%
area_total = 2,072.72
website = banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/F_0022.htm
website_caption = Banglapedia Article

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

Geography

It is under Dhaka division. The area of this district is 2072.72 km² and bounded by rajbari and manikganj districts on the north, gopalganj district on the south, dhaka, munshiganj and madaripur districts on the east, narail, magura and rajbari districts on the west. The soil of this region is so fertile because of alluvial soil of padma, although once upon a time the district consisted mainly of depression based marshland. Main rivers are Padma, Old Kumar, arial khan, Gorai, Chandana, Bhubanshwar and Lohartek; main depressions are Dhol Samudra, Beel Ramkeli, Shakuner Beel, Ghoradar Beel. Average highest temperature 35.8 °C and lowest 12.6 °C; annual rainfall is 1546 mm. Faridpur (Town) stands on both sides of the Kumar. Detail GIS map of Faridpur district could be a great tool for development. [http://mymail.daniel.googlepages.com]

ubdivisions

Faridpur district consists of 9 upazilas, 4 municipalities, 79 union parishads, 36 wards, 92 mahallas and 1859 villages. The town consists of 9 wards and 35 mahallas. The area of the town is 20.23 km². The population of the town is 99634; male 51.73%, female 48.27%. The density of population is 4925 per km². The literacy rate among the town people is 66.6%. The town has two dakbungalows.

Faridpur district is divided into the following upazilas:

# Faridpur Sadar Upazila
# Boalmari Upazila
# Alfadanga Upazila
# Madhukhali Upazila
# Bhanga Upazila
# Nagarkanda Upazila
# Char Bhadrasan Upazila
# Sadarpur Upazila
# Shaltha Upazila

History

The district is named after the Sufi saint Shah Sheikh Fariduddin, who preached there in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the early 1800s, Hazi Shariatullah started the Farayzi movement against the British rulers from this district. The movement against the British enforcement of Indigo cultivation was also initiated from Faridpur under the leadership of Dudu Miah.

The district was previously called Fatehabad until 1860. The town of Faridpur came into being towards the late 1700s. It was declared a municipality in the 1860s. The town had a prison since 1825 and the District School there was founded in 1840 - making it one of the oldest schools of the country.

Faridpur has yielded many great political leaders and personalities. One of the most important of them is Ambika Charan Majumder who was also President of All India Congress Party and was also one of its founders.

There were many important land lords in Faridpur district. Most of them were of Hindu origin. The most prominent Hindu landlords were Ishan Sarker and his descendants from Ishan Gopalpur Union, the Sikdars of Kanaipur, the lords of Choddo and Andy Baish smells Roshi and Bhanga.

The most powerful Muslim Zamindars included the the Nawab of Boalmari, one of the earlist Muslim embracers of western education and great social reformer, and Chowdhury Moyezuddin Biwshash.

Chowdhury Moyezuddin Biwshash was one of the patrons of the Congress party and also a valiant fighter. He also brought about many social reforms in Faridpur, including initiating the revival of Islamic practices, abolition of various racist policies against the Muslims and helped bring about equality among Hindus and Muslims in the town and nearby areas. He also built many schools, madrasas and orphanages. It is said that his family's territories extended well beyond the district and would total to over 4000 km².

Faridpur was one of the places which led the other districts in the anti-colonial movement across the 30s and 40s.

Demographics

"Population:"1714496
*Male 50.55%
*Female 49.45
*Muslim 88%
*Hindu 11%
*Others 1%.

Economy

Economy of Faridpur district is based on agriculture. Land use Cultivable land 1,501.23 km², fallow land 3.93 km², forestry 15.95 km²; single crop 20.63%, double crop 62.62% and treble crop 16.75%; land under irrigation 27.54%. Main crops Paddy, jute, peanut, wheat, oilseed, pulse, turmeric, onion, garlic and coriander. Extinct or nearly extinct crops Indigo, kusumphul, kaun, kalijira, china, arahar, barley, corn, tobacco, linseed, sesame, bhura, mesta, sanpat. Some manufacture industries and Cottage industries are also contribute in the economy. Agriculture based economy is operated by local “Hat” (bazaar), most noted of which are Kanaipur, Piaskhaki, Kanarkhali, Haziganj Bazar, Chaukighata, Maligram and Bhanga.

Education

*Kindergerten.........: 9
*Primary School.......: 834
*Girls School/College.: 19
*Junior High School...: 35
*Secondary High School: 120
*College..............: 18
*Medical College......: 1
*University...........: -
*Teachers training....: 1
*Physical Training....: -
*Homeo Medical College: 1
*Unani Institute......: -
*Polytechnical Inst...: 1
*Vocational Institute.: 1
*Blind/Disable School.: 1
*Mass Education Centre: 123
*Ibtedaye Madrasa.....: 78
*Dakhil Madrasa.......: 23
*Alia Madrasa.........: 14
*Fazil Madrasa........: 7
*Kamil Madrasa........: 3
*Forquania Madrasa....: 406
*Hafizia Madrasa......: 44
*Qaumi Madrasa........: 28

Places of interest

"Dhighir Par Masjid (Mosque) (1493-1519 AD)" which is a symbol of Mughal Architect. It is situated at Pathrail in Bhanga Upazila. "Baisrashi Babu Bari" " Kobi Jssimuddin's house" is also a tourist spot. "River Research Institute" a Govt research organization, is also an interesting place. Garoda Mosque (1013 AH), Satoir Mosque (1519 AD), Fatehabad Taksal (1519-32), Mathurapur Wall, Zila Judge Court building (1889 AD) and Bhanga Munsif Court Building (1889), Basudeva Mandir and Jagabandhu Angina is well known archaeological heritage,satoir mosque(Boalmari),Dewan Saker Shah er Majar (katagor , Boalmari), Bharat Sevashram Sangha.

Personalities

*Jasim Uddin: Eminent poet
*Munsi Muhammad Abdur Rouf: Bir Shrestho (war Heoro:1971)
*Nawab Abdul Latif: educator and social reformer during the 19th century
*Md. Shahidul Hassan: Chief Engineer of LGED
*Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf: Ex- Minister Govt. of Bangladesh, Vice-President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
*KM Obaidur Rahman: Ex- Minister Govt. of Bangladesh
*Mawlana Abdul Ali: Renowned Alim and muslim scholar of Faridpur
*Babu Ambika Charan Majumder: Eminent Politician, one of the founders and former presidents of the All India Congress Committee
*Yusuf Ali Chowdhury (Mohan Mia): Eminent Muslim League Politician
*Chowdhury Abdallah Zaheeruddin: Former cabinet minister, Fed Govt. of Pakistan
*A.T.M.Shamsul Huda: Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh
*Buddhadeb Bhattacharya: Chief Minister of West Bengal State, India
*Sajeda Chowdhury: Ex- Minister Govt. of Bangladesh, Awami League leader
*Fakir Alamgir: popular folk singer

Mela(Fair)

1st January is the birth day of eminent poet Jasimuddin. Jasim foundation in every year organizes a fair named 'Jasim Polli Mela' every year. This fair lasts for two weeks.

ee also

*Districts of Bangladesh
*Dhaka Division
*Geeta Dutt

External links

* [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/F_0022.htm Banglapedia article on Faridpur district]

Divisions and districts of Bangladesh