Durgapur Upazila

Durgapur Upazila, with an area of 293.42 sq km, is bounded by Meghalaya (State of India) on the north, netrokona sadar and purbadhala upazilas on the south, kalmakanda upazila on the east, dhobaura upazila on the west. The Garo hills and valleys are on the northern part of the upazila. Main rivers are Someshwari, kangsa, Old someshwari.

Durgapur (Town) The town is now a municipality with an area of 10.8 sq km and population 20491; male 50.95%, female 49.05%. It has 9 wards and 27 mahallas. Literacy rate among the town people is 47.5%.

Administration

Durgapur thana was established in 1874 and was turned into an upazila in 1982. The upazila consists of 7 union parishads, 134 mouzas and 225 villages. The Union parishads belongs to Durgapur are-

• Bakaljora Union
• Birisiri Union
• Chandigarh Union
• Durgapur Union
• Gawakandi Union
• Kakairgara Union
• Kullagara Union

Historical events

At the end of the nineteenth century Hajong Revolt occurred under the leadership of Mona Sarder protesting against the compulsion of labour in in the Hatikheda free of cost. tonk movement (1942-43) and tebhaga movement (1946-47) occurred under the leadership of Comrade moni singh. Later these revolutions spread all over East Bengal.

Population

169135; male 50.49%, female 49.51%; Muslim 80%; Hindu 12%, Christian 8%. Ethnic national: Garo and Hajong 850 families.

Religious institutions

Mosque 267, temple 18 and church 5.

Literacy and educational institutions

Average literacy 23%; male 18.1% and female 17.8%. Educational institutions: college 2, high school 18, government primary school 58, non-government primary school 70, low cost school 6, madrasa 26, NGO operated school 28, kinder garden school 2, satellite school 10. Noted old educational institutions: Birishiri Picinal High School (1892), Birishiri Mission Girl's High School (1899), SKPS High School (1918), Gujirkona High School (1946), Durgapur Entrance School (1879), Upendra Biddyapit (1913-14).

Cultural organisations

Rural club 40, public library 1, cinema hall 1, playground 14, theatre stage 2, theatre group 3, and women's organisation 1.

Main occupations

Agriculture 46.73%, fishing 1.77%, agricultural labourer 25.17%, wage labourer 4.29% commerce 8.96%, service 2.91%, and others 10.17%.

Land use

Total cultivable land 18962.36 hectares, fallow land 699.72 hectares; single crop 17%, double crop 72% and treble crop 11%; land under irrigation 76%.

Land control Among the peasants

36% are landless, 31% small, 25% intermediate and 8% rich.

Value of land

The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 6000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops

Paddy, jute, corn and cotton.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops

Linseed, sweet potato, sesame and pulses.

Main fruits

Jackfruit, mango, black berry (jam).

Fisheries, dairies, poultries

Fishery 14, dairy 6.

Communication facilities

Roads: pucca 18 km, semi pucca 37 km and mud road 495 km; waterways 15 nautical mile.

Traditional transport

Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart, buffalo cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories

Flour mill 4, ice factory 2, saw mill 32.

Cottage industries

Weaving 17, goldsmith 26, woodwork 65, blacksmith 27, tailoring 237, welding 22, potteries 37.

Hats, bazars and fairs

Hats and bazars 28, most noted are Durgapur, Zhanjail, Shivaganj, Gujir Kona; fairs 3

Main exports

Rice, ceramic clay.

NGO activities

Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, proshika, caritas, World Vision.

Health centres

Upazila health complex 1, sub health centre 1 and family planning centre 7.

(Source: Banglapedia, Wikipedia and others)