Manirampur Upazila

Manirampur মনিরামপুর
—  Upazila  —
Manirampur Location in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°1′N 89°14′E / 23.017°N 89.233°E / 23.017; 89.233Coordinates: 23°1′N 89°14′E / 23.017°N 89.233°E / 23.017; 89.233
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Khulna Division
District	Jessore District
Area
- Total	444.7 km2 (171.7 sq mi)
Population (1991)
- Total	326,093
- Density	733/km2 (1,898.5/sq mi)
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
Website	Official Map of Manirampur

Manirampur (Bengali: মনিরামপুর) is an upazila of Jessore District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Jessore Sadar Upazila on the north, Kalaroa and Jhikargachha upazilas on the west, Abhaynagar Upazila on the east, and Dumuria and Keshabpur upazilas on the south.

Geography

Manirampur is located at 23°01′00″N 89°14′00″E / 23.0167°N 89.2333°E / 23.0167; 89.2333. Manirampur is one of the largest upazilas of Bangladesh with an area of 444.72 square kilometres (171.7 sq mi). Important low-lying areas include the Jhealdaha, Kedaria, Monaharpur and Moshihati beels. The main rivers in Manirampur are the Hari and Vodra rivers. It is situated 12 miles (19 km) from the District town.

Political history

The upazila's members of parliament (MP) were: Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya (AL), beginning in 1973; Afsar Siddiqui (BNP), beginning in 1979; Mufti Wakkas (JP), beginning in 1986; Tipu Sultan (AL), beginning in 1991, Tipu Sultan (AL), beginning in 1996; Mufti Wakkas (Jamat-e- Ulamai Islam), beginning in 2001; Tipu Sultan (AL), beginning in 2008.

The chairman of the upazila as of 2009 was Swapon Kumar Bhattyacharya.

The current mayor of Manirampur municipality is Shaheed Iqbal.

The upazila has produced one minister, Sarat Chandra Mojumder (1955–58), and one State Minister of Religious Affairs, Mufti Wakkas, who held office under Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Administration

Manirampur thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. It consists of one municipality, 9 wards, 17 union parishads, 246 mouzas and 249 villages. The union parishads are: Monirampur, Jhapa, Durbodanga, Monoharpur, Nehalpur, Kultia, Rohita, Shyamkur, Chaluahati, Dhakuria, Hariharnagar, Khedapara, Moshinagar, etc.

The upazila has one 32-bed upazila health complex and two union health centers, one at Nehalpur and the other at Rajgong.

Freedom fighters

During 1971, more than 25 freedom fighters sacrificed their lives from this upazilla. Shaheed Fazlul Karim is one of them from Gopalpur village and Dr. Anisur Rahman, Dr. Din Ali and Md. Azizur Rahman are others from Nowali village of Morshemnagar union.

A brief history of the martyr in the Liberation War 1971. Dr. Anisur Rahman was a noted person, dedicated his life for the sake of people until he died in October, 1971. He was born in the village of Nowali under Morshemnagar union in 1951, educated up to the matriculation and started his work as a doctor for the villagers. As the Liberation War of Bangladesh started in March 25, 1971, he organized and guided the villagers to stand against the Pakistani army. On 26 October 1971, a group of Rajaker stormed his village and took him away with some others namely Dr. Din Ali, Md. Azizur Rahman, were shot-down on the way to Rajgonj. Dr. Anisur Rahman was kept sleepless whole night at the Rajakor camp in Rajgonj. In the morning, Afser-the area commander of Rajakor brutally killed him with bianate-a sharp knife attached with the top of a rifle. His dead body was taken back to the village and was buried next to his home. Only his son Md. Aminur Rahman (Sagor) was survived and he is presently serving as teaching staff at Rajgonj College nearby. He was only 6 days old during the time his father was killed. The graveyard of Dr. Anisur is almost way to extinct but still remains an unleashed memory of his life and work. Every year, people around the villages celebrate the national victory day by 16 December and the national independence day by 26 March, keeping him in their hearts with respect (narrated by Md. Akramuzzaman, PhD research at Lund University, Sweden).

Razakars

This upazilla produced some 'Kulangar' Razakars including from specific villages.

Prior to 1971

Shaheed Asad from Chinetola village was killed during the "non-cooperative movement or oshohojog andolon" of 1969. He was buried in that village.^{[citation needed]}

1971 Liberation War

Manirampur thana was controlled by Sector 8 of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The sector's headquarters was at Benapole and it was commanded by Major Abu Osman Chowdhury (April 10 – July 17, 1971) and then Major MA Manzur (August 14, 1971 – February 14, 1972).

Demographics

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Manirampur had a population of 326,093. Males constitute 51% of the population, and females 49%. The population of people eighteen years or older was 168,903, and the total number of households was 59,615. Manirampur had an average literacy rate of 29.1% (for people seven years or older), compared with the national average of 32.4%.^[1]

Educational Institutes

There are several educational institutions: Manirampur College, Manirampur Girls College,Palashi Degree College, Rajgong College, Khanpur College, Nehalpur College, Mashihati College etc. Mashihati High School was established in 1918, started at the "Kachari Ghar" of "Mallick Bari" of village Kultia. Subsequently, Kultia Boys Primary School, Mashihati High School, Kultia Girls Primary/High School and Mashihati Degree College,Chandipur High School, Hostel, huge play grounds, large ponds, Post Office, Bank, Teacher's quarters, a small market place- all of them located within around 200–250 metres (660–820 ft) from each other, became an educational complex, known as the Oxford of 96 villages.

Dhakuria pratapkati M.L. High School was established in 1939. One of the oldest primary schools in this thana is situated in Parala.

Sights

The most notable place to see in Manirampur is Vabodah Sluis Gate, and Jhapa (Rajgong) Baor. The most notable Hat-bazars in this upazilla are Nehalpur, Manirampur, Gopalpur, Khatuadanga (Tetultala), Konakhola, Dhakuria, Rajganj and Chinetola. Rampur village is famous because it looks almost like an island. It is surrounded by Jhapa Baor and Khajura Baor. The famous Kapatakkha River also flows beside this area. Nehal pur High School is a famous school at Nehaql pur, which is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) distance from Monirampur upazila.

Archeological sites

A terracotta plaque bearing the image of Mallinath, a female tirthankar (saint) of the Jain religion, was found at Dam-dam-pir in Manirampur upazila. It is believed to be the most ancient relic discovered from this part of the world. The archaeology department at Khulna said that the plaque is at least 1800 years old. It is currently kept at the Khulna Museum.

Produce

Rice and vegetables are the main crops. The area is famous for its date-sugar, called "patali" in Bengali.

Cultural Organizations

Mosiahati: SIMANA (A Cultural Organization); Halarghat Moha Swasan; Mosiahati Sanaskritick Parisad; Mosiahati Theater. Monirampur Shilpi Gosthi-Monirampur Bazar. "kanthashilol", Main, Road, Manirampur, Jessore.

Noted Personalities

Dr. Captain Jibon Ratan Dhar- Served in British Army during WWI. He was born in the village. Later on he became a Deputy Minister of Jail of West Bengal government in 1952, and he became a full minister of Health under Dr. Bidhan Chandra in 1962.

Sarat Chandra Mojumder was born in Poradanga village in 1897. He completed his Matriculation examination from Panjia high school in 1920 and B.L. degree from Calcutta University in 1927. For a brief period, he worked as a teacher in Moshihati High school. In 1954, he became a MP on the ticket of Pakistan National congress and later on became a minister (1955–1958) of East Pakistan Government.

Dr. Md. Abdul Wahab MBBS [RMC], MRCP. Professor of Medicine Holy family Medical college. He is the first MRCP holder in Manirampur Upazila. He is the son of Late Alhajj Md Fazlul Karim of village Hasadanga.

One of the notable village is Parala (under Durbadanga union) that produced Educationist and former MP Pijush Kanti Bhattyacharya; Current Upazilla Chairman Swapon Bhattyacharya; Graduate during British period, Head Master Fazlul Karim BA (Calcutta University); Prominent lawyer Anwarul Karim, Physician and researcher G M Monawar Hosain MBBS (DMC), MS (Australia), PHD (USA), currently in Texas; Mechanical Engineer Delawar Hossain MBA, MS (Canada), currently in Calgary, Canada; Afroza Begum, MBBS (DMC), MD (USA), Pediatrician, currently working in Houston, USA; BSc Engineer Motiur Rahman and Biotechnologist G M Rabiul Islam MSc, MS (Belgium), teacher at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Village Bagdob- CEO; Khulna District Council A.N Ahammad Ali,Faisal Mohd Shahneoaz, Technical Manager (National ID), Bangladesh Election Commission Secretariat, and S.M Fahad MBBS (Rajshahi Medical college) Omar Faruque Rassel, MSS Rajshai University, Enrollment Officer at Agargaon Passport Office MRP & MRV Project Under IRIS JV. Village Mubarakpur- Plastic Surgeon Mirnal Kanti Das MBBS (DMC), MS; and Shahapur(Rampur)village- Plant Breeding Specialist Md Golam Rasul, M. Sc(Ag), PHD (Japan) presenty working at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur. Village Hanuar- BSc Engineer Rabiul Islam from BUET, currently at Toronto. .

Village Poradanga: Manabendra Datta, MBBS (DMC), MD (USA) currently at USA. Village Mohohorpur produced Golam Rabbani MA, MS (UK), currently working with 'Total Gas' in UK. Village Masna produced Engg. Mosharraf Hossain (BUET) and Chandipur produced Dr. Suraiya Khanam MBBS (Rajshahi).

Engr. Abdullah Al-Mamun Khan BSc. (EE), Pakistan, MSc.(IT & Telecom), Greece from village Bantbila currently working in a IT software company in Athens. Dr. Mehedi Hassan Tazmir MD (Ukrine) from village Agorhati. Kumar Krishna Biswas was born in Bahadurpur, under Haridas Kathi Union. He obtained his BBA & MBA and at present, he is pursuing PhD in the Newcastle University (Australia).

From the village of Nowali under Morshemnagar union, Moslem Uddin Sarder-the muktijudda (freedom fighter) commander, cancer specialist Dr. Toffazzal Hossain (Sylhet Medical College), Md. Akramuzzaman is now pursuing PhD degree in international affairs at Lund University, Sweden. Bharatpur is the birth place of Prof. Karim and his brother Abul Kashem, Dr. Ershad, and present UP chairperson Ad. Abdul Gafor. Parkhajura is one of the largest villages under Morshemnagar union and is the home of Dr. Dulal Chandra Dutta, Anesthesist Dr. Hasina Begum Moly, and Md. Abdur Rashid-former UP Chairman.

References

1. ^ "Population Census Wing, BBS.". Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20050327072826/http://www.bangladeshgov.org/mop/ndb/arpc91_v1/tables04.htm. Retrieved November 10, 2006.