Hatia-Nijhum Island is being illuminated with electricity at a cost of Tk 400 crore. After 50 years, 30,000 customers are being connected to electricity services in the form of 15 MW power plants. It is learned that the cost of this project will be 364 crore 36 lakh 15 thousand taka. Of this, the government will provide 60 crore 8 lakh 31 thousand taka and 13 crore 46 lakh 64 thousand taka with the own funds of the organization. According to the project officials, 1,100 trucks will be used to transport the goods of the project. Large lorries weighing 20 tons will also be used. A floating ferry has been brought in as the only means of communication with the mainland is by river. Mashiur Rahman, a sub-divisional engineer in charge of residential engineer in Hatia Power Department, said that before independence, the government of Pakistan started Hatia Power Plant with five diesel engines in Hatia.
But many of these older engines are out of order. After the present government came to power, the government kept the power plant running with 3 new engines at the request of local MP Ayesha Ferdous. On the other hand, people of 11 unions of Hatiyar including Nijhum Island are deprived of electricity facilities. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited Hatia on the initiative of Upazila Awami League early last year. At that time, he promised to provide 100% electricity to Hatia. Then Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia Island 100% Reliable and Sustainable Electrification Project. The project cost is estimated at 364 crore 38 lakh 15 thousand taka. It was approved at the ECNEC meeting on 3 February. The chief engineer of the project, Farooq Ahmed, told Manabzamin that only the distribution department would be developed through the project approved by the government.
The contract for production was signed with a company called Desh Energy Limited. They will initially build a plant with a capacity of 15 MW in Hatiya.
Hatia Upazila Awami League president Dwipbandhu Mohammad Ali said the people of Hatia had a dream that 100% power would be developed in Hatia. By setting it up, the people of Hatia will have a great change in their way of life. Noakhali-6 MP Ayesha Ferdous said she was grateful to the Prime Minister for implementing the demand after repeatedly raising it in Parliament.
According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Hatiya Upazila had 91,013 households and a population of 452,463. 144,508 (31.94%) were under 10 years of age. Hatiya had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 34.21%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1021 females per 1000 males. 86,514 (19.12%) lived in urban areas.[7][8]
Economy
The upazila consists of 52 markets and bazaars. They include Oskhali, Afazia, Tamruddi, Chowmuhani, Sagaria, Jahajmara, Sonadia chowrasta, Char Chenga, Maijdee Bazar and Nalchira Bazar. Most people are employed in agriculture and fishing, and a few professions are government or non-governmental jobs. All banks are run by the government including Krishi Bank, Sonali Bank Limited, and Janata Bank Limited.
The main exports include rice, coconut, betel nut, banana, betel leaf, chili, Hilsa, and other types of fish.
The union parishads are subdivided into 44 mauzas and 62 villages.[9] Hatiya Upazila is represented as the Noakhali-6 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Chairmen
List of chairmen
Name
Notes
Mahadi Hasan (Present- Sonadiya Union)
Professor Muhammad Waliullah
Muhammad Mahbub Murshid Liton
Present
Healthcare
There is one Upazila Health Complex and 10 family planning centres. Notable NGOs operating in this area are Grameeen bank, Dwip Unnoyan Songstha, Brac, Proshika, Heed Bangladesh, CARE, and Caritas. There is also some private diagnostic center with Hatiya Doctor's Lab (Founder-Dr.Md.Iqbal Ansari – 1995)
Education
Institutions of higher education include Hatiya Dwip Government College and three non-governmental colleges. Some of the schools include:
Hatiya Darul Uloom Kamil Madrasa
Sukhchar Azharul Uloom Fazil Madrasa
Hatiya Rahmania Fazil Madrasa
Char Renga Islamia Fazil Madrasa
Char Kailas Hadia Fazil Madrasa
Tamruddin Ahmadia Fazil Madrasa
Jahazmara Sirajul Uloom Alia Madrasa
Chowmuhani Tabarakia Alim Madrasa
Burir Char Ahmadia Alim Madrasa
Char King Muhammadia Dakhil Madrasa
Sonadia Abdul Bari Dakhil Madrasa
Jahazmara Women's Dakhil Madrasa
Haji Fazil Ahmad Dakhil Madrasa
Khaserhat Majidia Dakhil Madrasa
Nalchira Sayyid Ahmad Dakhil Madrasa
Burirchar Shaheed Ali Ahmed Memorial High School
A.M High School
Oskhali K.S.S. High School
Tamaraddi high school and college
Facilities
Hatiya Upazila has orphanage facilities across its territory. These include Hatiya Island Orphanage, Darul Aitam Oskhali and the Jahazmara Orphanage.[10]
^"Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024.