Gosairhat Upazila

Infobox of upazilas
native_name = Gosairhat
locator_position = right
latd = 23.0667
longd = 90.4611
division_name = Dhaka Division
district = Shariatpur District
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 124014
population_density = 739
area_total = 167.86
area_telephone = 06024
postal_code = 8050

maplink = www.bangladesh.gov.bd/maps/images/shariatpur/Gosairhat.gif
maplink_caption = Official Map of Gosairhat
footnotes =

Gosairhat ( _bn. গোসাইরহাট) is an Upazila of Shariatpur District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Geography & History

Gosairhat is located at coord|23.0667|N|90.4611|E|. Total area of this upazila is 167.86 square kilometer. It is bounded on the north by Damudya and Bhedarganj upazila, on the east by Haimchar upazila of Chandpur District, on the south by Muladi and Hizla upazila of Barisal District and on the west by Shariatpur Sadar upazila and Kalkini upazila of Madaripur District. Main rivers are Meghna, Jayantia and Dharmaganj.

Along with the rest of Bengal, Gosairhat came under the rule of the British East India Company after the defeat of the Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula to the company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The area was administered as Madaripur subdivision which was established in 1854 under the then Bakerganj district. Madaripur subdivision was separated from Bakerganj district and annexed with Faridpur district in 1873. Gosairhat came into existence as a thana in 1921. Gosairhat was a big thana until 1975, when a segment of this thana was converted to Damudya thana and lately Upazila. In 1984 Gosairhat thana was separated along with other five thanas from Madaripur subdivision and Shariatpur District was created. Gosairhat is the second smallest upazila of Shariatpur district, in both area and population.

Nothing is definitely known about the origin of the name "Gosairhat". It is said that, in the past there lived a religious man of Hindu community named "Brommonanda Geeri" in the present place of the upazila headquarters. He was very pious and well known to all as "Goshai" (meaning: spiritual man). In course of time a weekly trading center ("hat" in Bengali) was developed around the heritage of that "Goshai" and become popularly known as Gosairhat.

Gosairhat upazila is well known for "Potty" Launch station, which is one of the oldest launch stations of Bangladesh, where south bound launches stop. "Potty" was a prominent steamer station during British and Pakistan regime. In British India "Idilpur" pargana was one of the 8 remaining parganas of that time. Its headquarter was in "Haturia" of present Gosairhat upazila where a tehsil office and zamindar house are also still exists. Presently "Idilpur" is the largest union of Gosairhat upazila with 31,612 population.

Demographics

According to the census of 2001,cite web| accessdate = September 03 | accessyear = 2007 | url = http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/ce_uzila.pdf | title = Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Upazila/Thana-2001| publisher= Population Census Wing, BBS.] Gosairhat upazila had a population of 124,014 in 25,086 households (average household size is 4.9), including 61,801 men and 62,213 women. The sex ratio is 99 males per 100 females. The population ratio by religion in 2001 was 95% Muslim and 5% Hindu and others. The average population size of each union is 17716, for a mauzacite web
last =
first = Banglapedia
date =
url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0338.htm
title = Mouza
format =
accessdate = 2006-09-27] it is 1531 and 591 for a village reported by the census. Out of the 84 mauzas, 11 have less than 50 households, while 11 have more than 600 households. Of the villages, 71 have a population of less than 250, while 9 have more than 2,500. As of 2001, the population density of Gosairhat upazila was 739 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,914 /sq mile). Most populated mauza is Dasherjangal (3,213 inhabitants per square kilometer). cite web | url = http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/bang_atg.pdf | | title = Population Census Wing, BBS.]

Administrative

There is an "Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)" who administers the upazila for the central government. Gosairhat upazila is organized into 7 Union Committees (Union "Parishads"), namely "Idilpur, Nagerpara, Nalmuri, Goshairhat, Goriber Char, Kodalpur" and "Shamantasar". Each Union are managed by a "Union Parishad Chairman". The area is divided into 84 mauzas and 210 villages. In 2006 Kuchaipatty union from adjacent Hizla Upazila of Barisal District was separated and annexed with Gosairhat Upazila. At present Gosairhat Upazila consists of 8 unions and 98 mauzas. There is an Upazila Health Complex consists of a 31 bedded hospital and 7 family planning clinics.

Gosairhat Upazila makes with Damudya, Bhedarganj upazila and Shakhipur thana the 222th electoral constituency of Bangladesh, identified as Shariatpur-3. In the 2001 parliamentary elections, Abdur Razzak of the Bangladesh Awami League was elected as the Member of Parliament. His main opposition came from Shafiqur Rahman Kiron of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Economy

Agriculture is the main sources of economy which contribution is almost 70.86% as of 2001 census. Other sources are livestock, forestry, fishery, business, hawking, transport & communication and non-agricultural labor. Main crops are paddy, chilly, jute, paan (betel leaf) and "khejurer gur" (date tree molasses). Betel leaf is mostly exported to Dhaka and abroad also.

Rural economy of Gosairhat are operated by local 11 big "hat"s and bazaars of which most noted are "DasherJangal" bazaar, "Kodalpur" bazaar," Nagerpara" bazaar and "Jushirgaon hat" and "Kacharir hat". Peasants come with there products for sale in "hat"s which sit twice in a week.

Education

As of 2001 census average literacy rate of Gosairhat upazila is 32.0% (7+ years), where national average is 46.2%. cite web| accessdate = September 03 | accessyear = 2007 | url = http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/ce_uzila.pdf | title = Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Upazila/Thana-2001| publisher= Population Census Wing, BBS.] . The male literacy rate is 34.3% and female is 28.3%. There are 45 government primary schools and 28 non-government primary schools (from grades 1 to 5), 9 non government high schools (from grades 6 to 10), one degree college (from grades 11 to tertiary) and 8 madrasahs in this upazila. The Idilpur Pilot High School established in 1894, is the oldest institution of education in the upazila. Education is mainly offered in Bangla. English is also taught as a compulsory subject. A large number of muslim families send their children to attend part-time courses or even to pursue full-time religious education, which is imparted in Bangla and Arabic in Madrasahs and Maktabs.

Culture

Independence Day (March 26), International Mother Language Day (February 21) and Victory Day (December 16) are celebrated across the Upazila with due honor followed by cultural functions. Many schools organize fair and festivals which are enjoyed by citizens from all level of society. All educational institutions arrange annual sports competition and cultural functions which held generally in the winter.

Pohela Baishakh, is popularly celebrated by "baisakhi mela" (fair)cite web
last =
first = Banglapedia
date =
url = http://banglapedia.org/ht/P_0023.HTM
title = Pahela Baishakh
format =
accessdate = 2006-09-27] and cultural programs across the upazila. The businessmen renew their business relationship with customers by opening "halkhata" where a new book of accounts opens and closed the old one. The customers are invited and offered sweets and paan in this occasion. In Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha large number of Muslims attend prayers in mosques and visit the homes of relatives and friends. The Durga Puja is the most important Hindu festival of the year, where large processions of Hindus perform devotional songs, dances, prayers and ceremonies for Goddess. The most popular dress for women is sari or salwar kameez while men usually prefer traditional shirt-pant, panjabi and lungi.

Major national newspapers published in Dhaka, including the Daily "Ittefaq", "Prothom Alo", "Noya Digonta", "Inqilab" and "Janakantha", are available in Gosairhat. There is also a press club in Gosairhat. Satellite television channels like "NTV, Channel i, ATN Bangla, Channel One, Ekushe TV, RTV, Boishakhi, Bangla vision" as well as terrestrial television channel Bangladesh Television are available in the upazila. Radio programs are also very popular to the farmers. There are 18 clubs, one public library and one cinema hall in the upazila. The Royal Sporting Club is noted for it's participation in soccer. Football, volleyball, kabbadi, cricket are widely played by the students and young people of Gosairhat.

Dal-Bhat is the main food of the people of Gosairhat. Fish, meat, mixed vegetables are also eaten with bhat. Some people also take roti, "pôroţa", bread, bhaji in the breakfast. Panta bhat and "alu vorta" (mashed potato) with dal and "pora morich" (burn chilly) is one the dish which is taken as breakfast by most of the village people. "Biryani" and chicken roast or polow, "korma" and meat "rejala" are commonly offered to visiting bridegrooms and as well as in wedding and birthday celebrations.

Rasgulla, sandesh, cham cham, mishti doi, "kalo jaam", "amerti" and "bundia" [http://www.giftmela.com/products.php?catagory_id=25&product_catagory=Sweets] are available in sweetmeat stalls and are fond of all types of people. "Pitha"s like "bhapa pitha", "puli pitha", "pati sapta pitha", "pakan pitha", and "chitai pitha"s are eaten in winter season and celebration of the new crops. Jatra, circus, puppet shows are also arrange for entertainment in winter season.

Notable personalities

* Late Siraujuddin Ahmed: Eminent Muslim League leader of the then East Pakistan.
* Alhaj Shamsur Rahman (Shahjada Mia): Industrialist, donors of many educational institution and social activities.
* Mohammad Shamsul Alam: An eminent civil servant who is famed for infrastructural development of Gosairhat.
* Mosharraf Hossain, Executive Consultant and former M.D. of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd., an eminent banker.

ee also

* Districts of Bangladesh
* Divisions of Bangladesh
* Upazilas of Bangladesh

References