Noakhali District

Noakhali নোয়াখালী জিলা
—  District  —
Location of Noakhali in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 22°50′N 91°06′E / 22.83°N 91.10°E / 22.83; 91.10Coordinates: 22°50′N 91°06′E / 22.83°N 91.10°E / 22.83; 91.10
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Chittagong Division
Area
- Total	3,600.99 km2 (1,390.4 sq mi)
Population (2011)
- Total	3,072,000
- Density	853.1/km2 (2,209.5/sq mi)
Literacy rate
- Total	37.11%
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
- Summer (DST)	BDST (UTC+7)
Website	Banglapedia Article

Noakhali (Bengali: নোয়াখালী জিলা) ^[1] is a district in South-eastern Bangladesh. It is located in the Chittagong Division.

Geography

Noakhali District located in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. It has a land area of 3600.99 km², and is bounded by the Comilla district in the north, the Meghna estuary and the Bay of Bengal in the south, Feni and Chittagong districts in the east, Lakshmipur and the Bhola districts in the west. The district's annual average temperature ranges from a maximum of 34.3 °C to a minimum of 14.4 °C; its annual rainfall is 3302 mm. Its main rivers are the Bamni and Meghna.^[2]

History

The ancient name of Noakhali is Bhulua. In the 1660s, the agricultural activities of the north-eastern region of Bhulua were seriously affected by floodwater of the Dakatia River flowing from the Tripura hills. To salvage the situation, a canal was dug in 1660 that ran from the Dakatia through Ramganj, Sonaimuri and Chaumuhani to divert water flow to the junction of the rivers Meghna and Feni. After excavating this long canal, Bhulua was renamed "Noakhali" after "Noa" (new) and "khal" (canal) in 1668. The Noakhali district was created in 1821.^[3]

Since 1790, Noakhali district was seriously affected many times by natural disasters including high tidal bores, tornadoes, flooding, and cyclones. In 1970, a devastating tornado and tidal bore took the lives of about 3 lakh people of the district. During the War of Liberation many direct and guerilla encounters took place between the Pakistani Armed Forces and the independence fighters. About 70 independence fighters were killed in a direct encounter with the Pakistan army on 15 June 1971, in front of the Sonapur Ahmadia School. Noakhali was liberated on 7 December 1971.

The swift currents that course down from the Himalayas, does not only bring river erosion but also opportunity: a rich bath of fertile silt that, when it reaches the Bay of Bengal, settles along the coast, gradually forming new land called "chars." The district of Noakhali has actually gained more than 28 square miles (73 km²) of land in the past 50 years.

The Bangladeshi government is finishing up the largest phase of a decades-long effort to develop nearby chars as well as building a new dam to speed up the process of creating new land for settlers.^[4]

Language

The people of Noakhali speak in an informal Bangla which is known by Noakhailla(Bengali) dialect with its own distinctive accent. The same dialect is also widely used in Feni, Laksmipur and some parts of Chandpur, Comilla, Chittagong and Bilonia of Tripara(India).^{[citation needed]}

Notable People^{[citation needed]}

• Raja Laksmanmanikya King of the kingdom of Bhulua
• Muzaffar Ahmed Founder Member of All India Communist Party and later Secretary General of All India Communist Party. Also a co-founder of CPM(India).
• Abdul Malek Ukil Former home Minister, Speaker of parliament and President of Bangladesh Awami League
• Abdur Rashid, only Bengali Muslim member of Indian Civil Service pre-1947, Government Secretary (Pakistan).
• Abdul Latif BA, BL, former General Secretary of SM Hall Students Union, Dhaka University (1930)
• Nurul Haque - Former Member of Pakistan National Assembly, Bangladesh Jatio Sangshad and central Awami League leader. He was also nominated as Governor of Noakhali.
• Sergeant Zohurul Haque - He was a co-accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case and brutally killed while in military custody.
• Barrister Moudud Ahmed Ex Vice President, former Prime Minister and a standing committee member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
• Nurul Islam Ex. President of Bangladesh Ganatontri party.
• Ali Ahmed, Founder President of Noakhali District Chatra League and first elected General Secretary of Chowmohani(Govt S A) College Students Union.
• Mr. Jainal Abedin Faruk. Chief Whip of the Opposition in Parlament and senior leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He was also General Secretary of the Chowmohani(Govt S A) College Students Union
• Barrister Abul Mansur
• Major General Abul Manzur, freedom fighter (Bir Uttom)
• General Moeen U Ahmed(Former Army Chief)
• Kamrul Ahsan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Singapore (Sonaimuri, Noakhali).

Important Personalities in the areas of Art, Culture and Education

• Abdul Hakim 17th century poet
• Professor Munir Chowdhury - Leading intellectual and a pioneer in modern theatre in Bangladesh. He was killed on 14 December 1971 by the Pakistani Army and their collaborators Razakar and Al Badar Bahini .
• Professor Kabir Chowdhury - Taught in Dhaka University. Leading intellectual and writer.
• Bosh Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury - An outstanding Professor of Physics who later became Vice Chancellor of the Dhaka University .
• Azim - A leading romantic actor in Bangla movies of the sixty's and seventy's. He also produced and directed movies.
• Rosy Samad Noted Film Actress who dominated Bangla movie world in the 60's, 70's and 80's.
• Ramendu Majumder - Leading Intellectual in the areas of art, culture and drama
• Ferdousy Majumder - Leading actress in Theatre and TV drama. A pioneer in the Bangla TV drama.
• Professor Ehtashem Haider Chowdhury - Leading intellectual who was killed on 14 December 1971
• A T M Samsuzzaman - Leading Film and TV actor for nearly four decades. In films he sets up his own unique acting style

Liberation War in Noakhali

Freedom Fighters

• Bir Shreshtho Shahid Mohammad Ruhul Amin
• Shafiq Ullah ( Sub Sector Commander) Home: Dhitpur, 4# Alaiarpur, Begumgonj Noakhali.
• Shahid Abdul Odud
• Shahid Salauddin Ahmed
• Shahid Abdur Rob
• Abdul Malek Ukil (Former Speaker) Razapur, Bander Hat, Sudharum, Noakhali.
• Serajul Alam Khan Founder of BLF and Swadhin Bangla Nucleus.
• A S M Abdur Rob (BLF)
• Fazlul Haque Badal (BLF)
• Fazle Elahi (BLF)
• Mustafizur Rahman (BLF) EX MP
• Obaidul Qader, MP (BLF)Former State Minister Sports & Cultural Affairs
• Nittya Gopal Debnath, (Advocate High Court)
• Himangshu Bhusan Banik,
• Abu Sayeed (BLF) Ex-Chairman Sirajpur UP.
• Robiul Hossain Kochi (BLF), Ex-Chairman, Noakhali Municipalty
• Shahiduddin Iskandar Kochi, Ex-Chairman, Noakhali Municipalty
• Mahmumudur Rahman Belayet (BLF) Deputy Commander Attack (BLF)
• Mostafizur Rahman (Lutu) Deputy Commander and Goanda Prodhan (BLF)
• Gazi Masihur Rahman
• Khaled Mohammed Ali (BLF)
• Mumin Ullah BSc(BLF)now advocate
• Shahid Shah Alam (Beer Uttam)
• Mohammad Tabarak Hossain (FF)
• Mir Mofijur Rahman (FF)
• Principal Irshadullah. Teature of Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman at Kolkata Islamia College. He is principal of Jogonnath College at 1967 to 1970.
• Harunur Rsahid (FF)
• Kamrul Ahasan (FF)
• Sikandar Hossain (FF)
• Mohammad Sultan Ahammad (FF)
• Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil (BLF)
• Khijir Hayat (BLF)
• Kefayet Ullah, Died
• Shahid Ullah
• Mohammed Mostafa, Died
• Abu Naser
• Abdul Baten Miah(BLF)died. Chaprashir Hat.
• Master Abu Daud FF
• Shahid Sirazul Islam
• Mizanur Rahman
• Ali Ahmed Patwary (Commander, Sector # C), Bander Hat, Sudharum, Noakhali.
• Sofi Dewan, Noannai, Bander Hat, Sudharum, Noakhali.
• Major General Abul Manzur, freedom fighter (Beer Uttom)
• Tarubala Pal, Singer, Assodia, Noakhali
• Barrister Abul Mansur
• Lt. Colonel Mahbubur Rahman (Bir Uttom)
• Md. Nurul Huq, Training Commander, Freedom Fighter.
• Shahid Sirazul Islam
• Golam Sarwar,Freedom Fighter, General Secretary, Noakhali District Chatra League (1970–72). Vice President (1972–74) and Acting President(1975) of Bangladesh Chatra League
• Delwar Hossain Sawpon
• Mukbul Ahmed, Lautali, Noakhali.
• Mostafa Bhuyan (Bataya)
• Dorji Obaidul Hoque, Chaprashir Hat
• Obaidul Hoque, Upoddi Lamchi, Chaprashir Hat.
• Sharif Ullah, Narasingha Pur, Chaprashir Hat.
• Abdul Hoque, Narasingha Pur, Chaprashir Hat.
• Nizam Uddin Faruque, BLF Noruttam pur.
• Abul Hossain (BLF)Sahjir Hat
• Nur Uddin (FF) Sahjir Hat
• Mabul Houque (FF)
• Gias Uddin Chowdhury - Malana, Chaprashir Hat
• Abdul Malek commissioner (FF)- Sreepur, Sonapur, Noakhali.

Religion

Religion in Noakhali District
Religion			Percent
Islam			96.84%
Hinduism			2.16%
Christianity			0.77%
Buddhism			0.23%

Noakhali populationw as about 80% Muslim and 19% Hindu till 1946 Noakhali riots in which the Hindus were either converted to Islam , fled or were killed.

The district of Noakhali consists 3741 mosques, 528 temples, 63 churches and five Buddhist temples.

Places of interest

• Nijhum Dweep - Nijhum Dweep is in the Southeast Side of Noakhali.
• Bazra Shahi Mosque - Bazra.
• Queen Lurther's Church - Sonapur.
• Gandhi Ashram - Joyag, Sonaimuri.
• Samadhi of Ram Thakur at Chaumohani

Prominent Educational Institutions in Noakhali

• Noakhali University of Science and Technology
• Noakhali Medical College: It is a government medical college. It was established in 2008. It is temporaryly running in Noakhali General Hospital. It admits 50 students per year and offers MBBS degree.
• Begumgonj Textile Engineering College, Noakhali

Leading Colleges,Polytechnics and Vocational Institutes

• Chaumuhani Govt S.A. College
• Noakhali Government University College
• Khalilur Rahaman Degree College. Amisha Para.
• Noakhali Government College
• Noakhali Government Girls' College
• Chatkhil Pachgoan Government College
• Medical Assistant Training Institute, Maijdee, Noakhali
• Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), Begumganj
• Noakhali Law College
• Noakhali Homiopathic Medical College
• Govt.Mujib College, Companiganj
• Sonaimuri Degree College, Sonaimuri ( The college was founded in 1969-1970 by Mr. Abdul Latif, Mr Ali Ahmed, Mr Shamsul Haque and Mr Eshaque Miah)

List of all Educational Institutions in Noakhali

See Educational Institutions in Noakhali

Development Organization

• Kolpok Foundation
• Fair Inspirit for Development (FAID)
• Theater Reacharch Foundation of Bangladesh (TRFB)
• Noakhali Rural Development Society
• Participatory Research & Action Network- PRAN
• Gandhi Ashram Trust
• Student Welfare Association of Chatkhil Upozilla
• Munshi Atar Ali Welfare Society - MAAWS, Senbag, Noakhali

References

1. ^ Encyclopedia of Britannica
2. ^ Banglapedia
3. ^ Bangladesh Portal
4. ^ http://pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=1973

• banglapedia
• www.softit.page.tl

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