Sherpur

Sherpur ("City of the Lion") is a District of Bangladesh. It was the site of the historic rebellion of the "Pagal Panthis" against the British East India Company in the early 19th century.

Sherpur District (Dhaka division) with an area of 1363.76 km², is bounded by Garo hills of Meghalaya (India) on the north, Mymensingh and Jamalpur districts on the south, Mymensingh district on the east, Jamalpur district on the west.

Annual average temperature maximum 33.3°C, minimum 12°C; annual rainfall 2174 mm; main rivers are Old Brahmaputra, Mrigi, Malijee, Bhogai, Chellashali and Maharashi. Shal, Segun and Gazari forests are notable.

herpur town

Sherpur (Town) stands on the bank of the Mrigi. It was established in the seventeenth century. It consists of 9 wards and 56 mahallas. The area of the town is 23.39 km². The town has a population of 78749; male 52.22%, female 47.78%; density of population is 3367 per km². Literacy rate among the people is 38.6%. During the Mughal period Regional Administrative Centre was established in the town. Magistrate Court and Thana (Police Station) were established in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Sherpur Municipality was established in 1869. The Telegraph Office and the Munsif Court were established in 1885 and 1887 respectively. Queen Victoria Memorial Academy was established in 1887 and Govinda Kumar Peace Memorial Institute was established in 1919.

Administration

Sherpur district was established in 1984; earlier it was a subdivision under the Mymensingh district. The district consists of one municipality, five upazilas, 51 union parishads, 2 municipalities, 18 wards, 73 mahallas, 458 mouzas and 699 villages. The upazilas are Jhenaigati, Nakla, Nalitabari, Sherpur Sadar and Sreebardi.

Archaeology

Archaeological heritage and relics Garh Jaripar Fort (c 1486-91 AD), tomb of Darvish Jarip Shah, Baraduari Mosque, tomb of Hazrat Shah Kamal (1644 AD), tomb of Sher Ali Gazi, Mughal Mosque at Kasba, Ghagra Laskar Bari Mosque, Maisaheba Mosque, residences of Nay Ani, Arai Ani and Pouney Tin Ani Zamindars.

Historical events

Sherpur region was a part of the kingdom of the Kamrupa in the ancient time. During the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar this area was called "Dashkahania Baju". During the first part of the seventeenth century the Gazis of Bhawal occupied Dashkahania area from the descendants of Isa Khan. Doshkahania Pargana was named Sherpur after Sher Ali Gazi, the last jaghirdar of the Gazi dynasty. Fakir-Sannyasi Revolts were held against the East India Company and the local zamindars from the time of warren hastings to lord cornowalis; Tipu Shah, leader of the Fakir Movement, declared sovereignty in the area and established his capital at Gajripa. Peasant conferences were held in 1906, 1914 and 1917 at Kamarer Char of Sherpur under the leadership of Khos Muhammad Chowdhury. The communists revolted against the systems of Nankar, Tonk, Bhawali, Mahajani, Ijaradari during 1838-48 in Sherpur. In 1897 a devastating earth quack changed the course of the Brahmaputra towards the west and forced to merge it with the Jamuna; it also caused serious damages to many old buildings.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass killing site: Ahmednagar (Jhenaihati), Jhaughara (Sherpur), Bidhaba Para (Nalitabari), Kayari Road (Jhenaigati).

Population

Population 1246511; male 50.87%, female 49.13%; Muslim 95%, Hindu 4%, Christian 0.5% and others 0.5%; ethnic nationals: Garo, Koch, Hajong, Banai and Rajbanshi. These ethnic nationals have their own languages.

Main occupations Agriculture 46.51%, fishing 1.45%, agricultural labourer 23.61%, wage labourer 3.01%, commerce 9.5%, service 3.14%, transport 1.32% and others 11.46%.

Religious institutions Mosque 1403, temple 79, church 15, tomb 15, sacred place 1.

Education

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 32.4%; male 38.6% and female 26.2%.

Educational institutions: government college 3, non-government college 11, government high school 3, non-government high school 92, junior high school 27, government primary school 358, non-government primary school 275, madrasa 194, agricultural training institute 1, nursing training institute 1, vocational training institute 1. Noted educational institutions are Sherpur Victoria Memorial Academy (1887), Govinda Kumar Peace Memorial Institute (1919), Chandrakanta Government Primary School (1944), Sherpur Government Girl's High School (1952), Sherpur Government College (1964).

Media

Locally published newspapers and periodicals Weekly Sherpur, Weekly Dashkahania, Weekly Chalti Khabar, Sahityaloka, Barshati, Ra, etc; extinct: Biddaunnati Sadhini (1865), Weelky Biggapani (1865), Weekly Charybarta (1881), Bangasuridh (1881), Samskriti Sanjibini, fortnightly Kishore (1957-58), Monthly Daxina (1967), Probaha, Angan, Muktangan, Ganabarta, Aunnesa, Uccharan, Sancharan.

Cultural organisations Club 93, public library 4, drama stage 3, theatre group 15, literary society 5, women's organisation 30, cinema hall 13, Shilpakala Academy 1, Shishu Academy 1.

Agriculture and land

Land use - Total cultivable land 106544 hectares; fallow land 716 hectares; single crop 19%, double crop 68.6% and treble crop 12.4%; land under irrigation 65%.

Land control Among the peasants, 21% are landless, 40% small, 35% intermediate and 4% rich; cultivable land per head 0.07 hectare.

The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Tk 5000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops - Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, potato, peanut, sugarcane and vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops - Kaun, local varieties of aus and aman paddy, linseed and sesame.

Main fruits - Mango, jackfruit and black berry.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries - Dairy 63, poultry 102, fishery 131, hatchery 12.

Transport

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 492.32 km, semi pucca 154.42 km and mud road 1889.23 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), bullock cart and horse carriage (nearly extinct), boat.

Industry

Manufactories - Ice factory 23, sawmill 47, wheat mill 27, flower mill 11, oil mill 28, rice mill 332, bidi factory 2

Cottage industries - Weaving 20, bamboo work 1010, goldsmith 130, blacksmith 145, potteries 477, wood work 499, tailoring 819, welding 82.

Hats, bazars and fairs - Hats and bazars are 99, most noted are Sherpur, Nalitabari, Nakla, Sreebardi, Nanni, Tin Ani; large fair 11, most noted of which are Charantala Mela and Baroni Mela (Kalidaha).

Main exports - Paddy, jute, vegetables, rubber, stone, sand, bamboo.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are CARE, brac, proshika, asa, Gonoshahajjo Sangstha, caritas, World Vision, SPS and SDS.

Health

Health centres Zila sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 5, health and family planning centre 52, diabetic centre 1, maternity and child welfare centre 1, tuberculosis satellite centre 1, leprosy satellite centre 1, mission hospital 1, Gana Sastha centre 2, safe community programme 1, satellite clinic 17, TB clinic 1, non-government clinic 2. Source: www.banglapedia.com

tatistics

Area

Land use Area (in Acre)

Total Land Area 333484

Cultivable Area 249988

*Fallow Land 222999
*Area Under Forest 16021
*Area Irrigated 129423
*Area Under River 2330

2. Storage Facility

Commodity No. of godown Capacity (M. Ton)

FoodSeedFertilizer 20

4

- 16300

1250

-

3. Utilities

Name of Items Total No. Length (in Km.)

RiversMetal RoadSemi Metal RoadKutcha RoadRail RoadHat BazaarF/C Center 12

15

10

137

-

99

1 182

149

95

1685

-

-

15

4. Irrigation Facilities

Name of Items Total No. Irrigated Area (acre)

Tubewell

Power Pump

Low Lift Pump

Shallow TubewellDeep TubewellTraditionalTotal 11524

115

376

4397

696

5000

15857 2549

4026

11639

66587

36083

8539

129423

5. Social Information

Name of Items Total Numbers

Clubs and institutions

Community CenterCo-operative SocietyProfessional SocietyPost OfficeBank BranchesNGOsMosquesMandirsChurchesPagodasMarriage RegisterTea EstateLivestock FirmsPoultry FirmsHatcheryHandloomBamboo & CaneCarpentryJute/Cotton FiberBlack SmithPotterGold SmithOthersUprooted PersonsTelephonesHousehold with Gas 135

47

1813

28

95

36

110

1254

60

18

1

257

-

48

106

15

161

887

446

70

262

356

113

806

19655

777

355

6. Educational Institution

No. of Teachers No. of Students

KindergartenPrimary SchoolJunior High SchoolSecondary High SchoolCollegeUniversityTeachers trainingPhysical TrainingHomeo Medical CollegeUnani InstitutePolytechnic InstVocational InstituteBlind/Disable SchoolMass Education CenterIbtedaye MadrasaDakhil MadrasaAlia MadrasaFazil MadrasaKamil MadrasaForquania MadrasaHafizia MadrasaQaumi MadrasaTol CollegePali CollegeGirls School/College 9

608

29

77

12

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

40

218

47

9

6

1

250

40

11

-

-

15 71

2310

196

847

264

-

-

-

-

-

13

-

-

40

784

610

160

128

4

317

85

95

-

-

169 1335

175474

5157

25682

8507

-

-

-

-

-

116

-

-

1600

31908

11305

2897

2263

34

8098

1947

2062

-

-

647

7. Health

Name of Items Doctors Nurse/HA No. of Beds

HospitalsClinicsFWCMaternity CentrePrimary Healthcare 44

6

8

1

-

60

6

22

1

1

174

-

-

10

-

8. Agricultural Product

Name of Items| Area (Acre) Production (M.Ton)

RiceWheatJuteSugar CaneTobaccoTeaFish CatchEggsMilk Sweet Meat

PulseVegetableOnion GarlicTurmericSugarSalt 307746

26518

13236

2169

208

-

-

-

-

-

3073

7992

1015

278

287

-

-

202241

21682

9390

414689

108

-

5346

5555

1803

543

4712

38215

2687

985

2059

-

-

9. Development Projects

Name of Items Total Number

Poverty AlleviationRehabilit of DesFamily PlanningEducationAgriculture & FoodRoad & CommunicationHealthTotal 28

17

81

1

159

77

316

36

2398

References

Source : www.Bangladeshgov.orgEdited by: Shaquib Al Hasan,B.Pharm, PartIV(2006-07),University of Dhaka,Dhaka,Bangladesh.