Sunamganj District

Infobox of BD districts
native_name = Sunamganj
skyline =
skyline_size =
skyline_caption =
locator_position = left
latd = 25.00
longd = 91.24
division_name = Sylhet Division
population_as_of = 1991
population_total = 1968669
population_density = 536.48
literacy_rate = 22.3%
area_total = 3,669.58
maplink =
website = banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/S_0598.htm
website_caption = Banglapedia Article

Sunamganj is a district in north-eastern Bangladesh on the eastern bank of the river Surma. It is a part of the Sylhet administrative division.

Geography

Sunamganj town is in Bangladesh and six miles away from India. The rivers Surma River & Kushiyara River runs through it.

Annual average temperature: maximum 33.2°C and minimum 13.6°C; annual rainfall 3334 mm. There are many haors and beels in Sunamganj.

People and population

Sunamganj has a population of 1,968,669; male 50.89%, female 49.11%.

Religious context is Muslim 83.62%, Hindu 15.95%, others 0.43%

There are also some 6,643 ethnic affiliation of Manipuri, Khasia, Garo and Hajong from the nearby neighbouring countries.

History

The name Sunamganj has derived from its founder, Sipahi Sunamuddin, who established a bazaar on the bank of the river Surma. In ancient period, Sunamganj was part of Rarh Kingdom that included western part of Sylhet, Habiganj, Netrokona, Kishorganj and northern part of Mymensingh. After the conquest of Sylhet in 1303 by Muslims under the spiritual guidance of Hazrat Shah Jalal; Hazrat Shah Kamal, one of the companions of Hazrat Shah Jalal, vanquished the entire district of Sunamganj, but it was not directly governed during Hazrat Shah Kamal’s lifetime. It was his second son, Shah Moazzamuddin named Moazzamabad and administered the entire district from Shaharpara.

Sunamganj is renowned for bards and folk music. Mystic poet Hason Raja, Syed Shahnoor, Radharaman Dutta, Radhamadhav Dutta, Durbin Shah, Shah Abdul Karim, Muniruzzaman Munir, Nurul Ghani, Qari Amiruddin and many more.

In 1336 BS a devastating flood occurred as a result of breaking down a damn in Manipur. This flood is popularly known as 'White Water Flood'. A pernicious earthquake on 12 June 1897 caused heavy loss of lives and establishments.

However, the Nankar Rebellion of Sukhair in 1922-23 is notable. Many political leaders and activists of Sunamganj were involved in the anti-British movement. The leftist movement spread over the district after the partition of 1947.

During the war of liberation many encounters were held between the freedom fighters and the Pakistani Army. Sunamganj was liberated on 6 December 1971.

Education

The major schools of Sunamganj are:

* Government Jubilee High School
* Government Satish Chandra Girls High School
* HMP High School
*Bulchand High School

Important colleges are:

* Sunamganj Government College
* Sunamganj Government Girls College
* Jhigli High School

There is also a "Primary Teachers Training Institute" in Sunamganj.

Subdivisions

Sunamganj District comprises 10 sub-districts or Upazilas.

They are:

* Bishwamvarpur
* Chhatak
* Derai
* Dharampasha
* Madhyanagar
* Dowarabazar
* Jagannathpur
* Jamalganj
* Sullah
* Sunamganj Sadar
* Tahirpur
* South Sunamganj

Notable Personalities

* Hason Raja, mystic poet
* Shah Abdul Karim , mystic poet
* Shahed Ali, author and novelist.

External links

* http://www.sunamganj.co.uk
* http://www.sunamganj.com
* [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/S_0598.htm Banglapedia article on Sunamganj District]
* [http://jhigli.co.cc Amader Jhigli]

Divisions and districts of Bangladesh