Atpara Upazila

Atpara Upazila, Netrakona, with an area of 195.13 sq km, is bounded by barhatta upazila on the north, madan and kendua upazilas on the south, mohanganj upazila on the east netrokona sadar upazilas on the west. Main rivers are Mogar, Banari, Dhali, Ghora utra. Tushai and Nurundi rivers are almost silted; noted haors: Nagara, Ganesh, Kamrail and Dhaliban; noted beels: Atashi beel, Gama beel, Elsi beel and Kafanga beel.

Atpara Town stands on the bank of the Magara, consists of two mouzas. It is an area of 9.04 sq km. The town has a population of 7825; male 51.88%, female 48.12%. The density of population is 865 per sq km. The literacy rate among the town people is 25.4%. The town has one auditorium, two dackbungalows, one public library.

Administration:

Atpara thana, now an upazila, was established in 1926. The upazila consists of seven union parishads, 139 mouzas and 175 villages.

 

Archaeological heritage and relics :

Three domed Saramushia-Haripur Mosque (Mughal period), remnants of building and Shiva Mondir of Roy Bari (zamindar) of Rameshwarpur and the remnants of seven buildings on the Nurundi River bed.

 

Population

120491; male 51.15%, female 48.85; Muslim 97.08%, Hindu 2.78% and others 0.14%.

 

Religious institutions

Mosque 218, temple 44 and sacred place 1.

 

Literacy and educational institutions

Average literacy 24%, male 29.1% and female 18.7%. Educational institutions: college 2, high school 14, junior high school 5, madrasa 17, government primary school 55, non-government primary school 41, satellite school 7, community school 3.

 

Cultural organisations

Rural club 42, public library 2, cinema hall 1, auditorium 1, shilpakala academy 1 and playground 5.

 

Main occupations

Agriculture 56.02%, fishing 2.11%, agricultural labourer 21.74%, wage labourer 2.43%, commerce 7.33%, service 2.68% and others 7.69%.

 

Land use

Total cultivable land 14492.11 hectares; fallow land 5183.36 ha; single crop 30%, double crop 53% and treble crop land 17%; land under irrigation 69%.

 

Land control

Among the peasants 10.95% are landless, 24.61% marginal, 31% small, 24% intermediate and 9.44% rich.

 

Value of land

The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately 10000 Taka per 0.01 hectare.

 

Main crops 

Paddy, wheat, mustard seed, chilly, brinjal, onion, garlic, pulse, linseed, sesame, betel leaf, vegetables and potato.

 

Extinct or nearly extinct crops

Jute, tobacco, sweet potato, arahar, khesari, mug and mas kalai.

 

Main fruits

 Jack-fruit, mango, jam (black berry), banana, lotka (dubi), litchi, olive, coconut, betel nut, papaya, tetul, boroi, jambura (grave fruit) etc.

 

Fisheries, dairies, poultries

dairy 1, poultry 255 and fishery farm 12.

 

Communication facilities

Roads- pucca road 5 km, semi pucca 7 km mud road 265; water ways 50 km.

 

Traditional transport

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

 

Manufactories

Boiler mill 1, saw mill 10, chira mill 2, oil mil 1, spices mill 2, ice cream factory 3 rice and flour mill 25.

 

Cottage industries

Bamboo works 225, goldsmiths 25, blacksmith 245, potteries 275, wood workers 180, tailoring 225 and welding 12.

 

Main hats, bazars and fairs

Hats and bazars are 17 the most noted are Teligati, Nazirganj, Brajer Bazar, Avoylasha and Lalchand Bazar; fair- 2

 

Main exports

Paddy, betel leaf, banana, fish, leather, dubi, olive and jambhura (grape fruit).

 

NGO activities

Operationally important NGOs are brac, grameen bank, asa, proshika, Gram Unnayan Sangstha, Swabalambi, Jana Unnayan Sangstha, Atta Karma Sangsthan Jubo Kalyan Samiti and Jatiya Torun Sangha.

 

Health centres

Modern hospital 1, upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 2, family planning centre 2, Red Crescent hospital 1.

Source: Banglapedia