Kamalganj Upazila

Kamalganj কমলগঞ্জ
Upazila
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Sylhet
District	Moulvibazar
Government
• MP (Moulvibazar-4)	Vacant
Area
• Total	485.26 km^2 (187.36 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Total	290,108
• Density	600/km^2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonyms	Kamalganji, Komolgonji, Khomolgoinji
Website	RTV Online

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| timezone = BST | utc_offset = +6 | postal_code_type = Postal Code | postal_code = 3220^[2] | area_code = 08623^[3] | website = kamolganj.moulvibazar.gov.bd | footnotes = }}

Kamalganj (Bengali: কমলগঞ্জ) is an upazila of the Moulvibazar District^[4] in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Etymology

There was a local zamindar by the name of Kinkar Nath Ray who appointed a naib by the name of Kamal Narayan in order to develop the land. Kamal established a ganj (treasured neighbourhood) named after himself. In 1922, Kamalganj was made a thana and in 1983, an upazila.^[5]

History

Kamalganj was a part of the ancient Ita Kingdom founded by Raja Bhanu Narayan. The final raja of the Ita Kingdom, Raja Subid Narayan lost a battle in 1610 in which the region became under the rule of Khwaja Usman. However, this rule was short-lived after Mughal General Islam Khan I's attack in 1612.^[6] The battle between the Mughal Empire and Khwaja Usman was held in Patanushar, Kamalganj. This led to the death of Afghan leader Khwaja Usman.^[7]

A peasant rebellion (krishokproja bidraho) against zamindar of Prithimpasa led by Manipuri leader Panchanan Singh, Baikunthanath Sharma ,Themba Singh and Qasim Ali was held in the 1900s in Bhanubil, Kamalganj.^[8]

Demographics

Religions in Kamalganj Upazila (2022)[9]
Religion			Percent
Islam			68.77%
Hinduism			30.22%
Christianity			0.81%
Other or not stated			0.20%

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Kamalganj Upazila had 51,895 households and a population of 259,130. 62,862 (24.26%) were under 10 years of age. Kamalganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 48.61%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1028 females per 1000 males. 30,197 (11.65%) lived in urban areas.^[10] Ethnic population was 23,134 (8.93%), of which Manipuri were 15,672, Khasi 1046 and Santal 916.^[11]

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Kamalganj has a population of 191,672. Males constitute 50.98% of the population, and females 49.02%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 102,877. Kamalganj has an average literacy rate of 28.6% (7+ years), compared to the national average of 32.4%.^[12]

Manipuri Cultural Complex in Kamalganj

Majority of the residents are Bengalis although there is a minority of indigenous peoples such as the Khasi, Manipuris, Bishnupriya Manipuris, Tripuris and Garos.^[13]

Economy and tourism

Kamalganj is home to many tourist attractions and natural geography. It contains many tea gardens. Almost around there are fourteen (14) tea garden here.Kamalganj is mainly famous for its natural beauty.  This natural place has many tourist spots viz the Lawachara National Park,Madhabpur Lake, Bir Shrestho Hamidur Rahman Monument,Hum Hum Waterfall (Rajkandi Reserve Forest), Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf,Camillia Lake,Noor Jahan Tea Garden Other sites include the mausoleums of Shah Kala in Bhadair-Deul (near Shamshernagar Rail Station), Shah Ghayb (north of Bhanugach Rail Station) and Shah Ghazi Malik in Bhadair-Deul. The ruins of the Ita Kingdom can be found across Kamalganj. The forts of Khwaja Usman, his grave and false tomb can be found in Patanushar in the areas of Srisurya and Usmangarh.

Administration

Unions of Kamalganj Upazila

Kamalganj Upazila is divided into Kamalganj Municipality and 9 union parishads: Adampur, Ali Nagar, Islampur, Kamalganj, Madhabpur, Munshi Bazar, Patanushar, Rahimpur, and Shamshernagar. The union parishads are subdivided into 116 mauzas and 253 villages.^[10]

Kamalganj Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 27 mahallas.^[10]

Notable residents

• Chowdhury Gulam Akbar, writer, was born in Dargahpur village in 1921.^[14]
• Mohammad Keramat Ali, former Member of the Pakistan National Assembly
• Surendra Kumar Sinha, 21st Chief Justice of Bangladesh
• Ashraf Hussain, poet, writer, researcher
• Khwaja Usman, Mughal opponent and Baro-Bhuyan chieftain

Gallery

• 
  Bhanugach railway station
• 
  Safat Ali Senior Fazil Madrasah, Keramatnagar

See also

• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh

References

1. National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 404. ISBN 978-9844752016.
2. "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.
3. "Bangladesh Area Code". Stockholm, Sweden: Rebtel.com. 18 October 2024.
4. Shah Abdul Wadud (2012). "Kamalganj Upazila". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
5. উপজেলা পটভূমি. Government of Bangladesh (in Bengali). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
6. "Patabhumi". Zilla Parishad. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
7. "Bhougolik Porichiti". Moulvibazar Gov. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
8. "Itihash". Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
9. Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Moulvibazar (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-284-9.
10. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Maulvibazar" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
11. "Community Tables: Maulvibazar district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
12. "Population Census Wing, BBS". Archived from the original on 27 March 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
13. "Aitihya". Government of Bangladesh (in Bengali). Retrieved 24 September 2018.
14. Gibran, Soaib Ahmed (2012). "Akbar, Chowdhury Golam". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

External links

• Website of Kamalganj Upazila