From top to bottom: 1. The city skyline from "Suparibagan"; 2. The Open Stage of Tangail Poura Uddan; 3. Tangail District Court Building; 4. The city gate, Shamsul Huq Toron"; 5. DC Lake at District Headquarters
Tangail originates from the Bengali word tanga, meaning horse carts; long lines of horse carts were standard in the area in the early 19th century,[7] as these were the favoured mode of transport for passengers and cargo.[8]
The Tangail Airdrop was a successful battalion-size operation by India's Para Commandos, mounted on 11 December 1971, by the 2nd Battalion (Special Operations) (2 PARA) of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh. The operation's main objective was capturing Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna River, which would cut off the Pakistani 93rd Brigade, which was retreating from Mymensingh in the north to defend the capital of East Pakistan, Dhaka, and its approaches. The paratroop unit was also tasked to link up with the advancing Maratha Light Infantry on the ground to advance toward the East Pakistani capital.
This was later restructured into four wards - Ward No. 1 (Central), 2 (Betka), 3 (Dighulia), and 4 (Santosh) - and then, in 1988, into six wards with the addition of Wards 5 (Zila Sadar) and 6 (Kazipur).
The first city election was held in November 1887 when the citizens elected eight ward commissioners from four wards. The Subdivision Commissioner of Tangail, Shashi Shekhar Dutt, was appointed as the first administrator of Tangail City. The city needed to be better developed, lacking paved roads and roadside lamps; subsequently, the regional zamindars and subdivision board provided financial support to dig ponds, lakes, and canals, creating a safe water supply.[10]
Electricity was established in the city in the early 1930s. Paved roads were constructed in the 1960s, connecting the town to Dhaka. Simultaneously, bridges and culverts were installed.[11]
The Bangladeshi government is planning to expand the city to a total area of 81.75 km2.[citation needed]
Geography and climate
The city of Tangail is in Dhaka Division, Central Bangladesh. The town lies in a low-lying floodplain near the Jamuna River, south of the high plateau of the Madhupur tract. The average elevation of Tangail is 14 meters (49 feet).[16] Tangail experiences a Tropical savanna climate(Köppen: Aw) with a hot, humid tropical wet season (monsoon season) and warm, dry winter with high humidity year-round. The yearly average temperature in Tangail is 27.5 °C, and the average rainfall is 1817 mm.
Climate data for Tangail (1991–2020, extremes 1982-present)
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Tangail Paurashava had 37,607 households and a population of 167,412. 30,882 (18.45%) were under 10 years of age. Tangail has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 71.78%, compared to the national average of 59.5%, and a sex ratio of 976 females per 1000 males.[20]
Sports
At the city's centre, the multipurpose Tangail Stadium regularly hosts sporting events.[21] The stadium has hosted national events.[citation needed]
It takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to reach Tangail from Dhaka (about 98 km away) via Kaliakair and Tongi. Several bus lines operate between Tangail and Dhaka's Mohakhali (মহাখালী) bus terminal. The Nirala, Dhaleshwari, Jathika, and High Choice bus lines are among them.[citation needed]
Tangail contains numerous parks, including Tangail Poura Uddan (one of the city's most-visited places), DC Lake, SP Park, and Soul Park. The town also contains part of the Madhupur National Park, one of Bangladesh's oldest national parks.
Abdul Mannan, the home and family planning minister (1972–1975), MNA (1970), and MP (1996–2001). He established the Tangail General Hospital, Govt. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib College, and Atia College.