Netrokona District

Netrokona (Bengali: নেত্রকোণা) is a district of the Mymensingh Division in northern Bangladesh.

Netrokona
নেত্রকোণা
District of Bangladesh
Netrokona District
Clockwise from top-left: Netrokona Circuit House, house of Nirmalendu Goon, Someshwari River near Durgapur, Birishiri lake, Teligati-Atpara road
Location of Netrokona District in Bangladesh
Location of Netrokona District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Netrokona District
Coordinates: 24.88°N 90.73°E / 24.88; 90.73
Country Bangladesh
DivisionMymensingh Division
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerAnjana Khan Majlis
Area
 • Total2,743.64 km2 (1,059.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Total2,324,856
 • Density850/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Netrokoni, Netrokonese
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Websitehttp://www.netrokona.gov.bd/

Etymology

The headquarters of Netrokona District was located at the end of the Mogra River and was called Natorkona. Many people believe that over a period of time, Natorkona became Netrakona.[2]

Geography

Netrokona is situated in the northern part of Bangladesh, along the border with the Indian state of Meghalaya. There are five main rivers in Netrokona: Kangsha, Someshawri, Dhala, Magra, and Teorkhali. It is a part of the Surma-Meghna River System. Much of the district becomes a haor during the monsoon.[3]

The total area of Netrokona District is 2,744.28 km2 (1,059.57 sq mi) of which 9.17 km2 (3.54 sq mi) is under forest. It lies between 24°34’ and 25°12’ north latitudes and between 90°00’ and 91°07’ east longitudes.[2]

Netrokona District is bounded by the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, India on the north, Sunamganj District on the east, Kishoreganj District on the south and Mymensingh District on the west.[2]

Netrokona Pouroshabha is a municipal town, established in 1887 and with 13.63 km2.

History

Shah Sultan Rumi migrated to Netrokona in 1053 CE where he preached the religion of Islam to the local people. He is believed to have been the earliest Sufi saint to have visited Bengal. During the Mughal period, a three-domed mosque was constructed in modern-day Atpara. In 1880, the British Raj approved the area as a mahakuma administrative region.[4] It was effective on 3 January 1882 when the region was officially named as Netrakona Mahakuma before that it was named by Kaliganj. During the British period, Shyam Biswas, a Bengali Hindu zamindar, was noted to be very cruel and abusive towards the inhabitants living in his land. He had certain regulations, such as no one passing his front yard wearing shoes or slippers. Social reformers from the village of Amati, Sonafor Uddin, Muktul Husayn Khan, Shariat Khan, Anfar Uddin, Manfar Uddin and Jafar Uddin organised people against this humiliation, rising against Biswas. Their revolution was soon followed in other parts of the district.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, freedom fighters attacked the Atpara Thana on 19 August 1971. They murdered the Officer-in-Charge of the Thana as well as a number of Razakars, and they also looted arms and ammunition from the Thana. On 7 October, a battle was fought in Atpara, leading to the death of three more Razakars.

The Government of Bangladesh converted Netrakona Mahakuma to Netrokona District on 17 January 1984.[2]

Administration

Netrokona district is divided into ten upazilas.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 1,211,792—    
1981 1,442,142+2.52%
1991 1,730,935+1.84%
2001 1,988,188+1.40%
2011 2,229,642+1.15%
2022 2,324,856+0.38%
Sources:[1][2]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Netrokona District had 548,449 households and a population of 2,324,856, 15.5% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 832 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 66.1%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.[1]

Religions in Netrokona district (2011)[2]
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 89.78%
Hindus
 
 9.30%
Christians
 
 0.82%
Other or not stated
 
 0.10%
Religion in present-day Netrokona district[lower-alpha 1]
Religion Population (1941)[6]: 96–97  Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[2] Percentage (2011)
Islam 578,501 70.71% 2,001,732 89.78%
Hinduism 219,633 26.85% 207,430 9.30%
Tribal religion 18,301 2.24% 2,226 0.11%
Christianity 1,578 0.19% 18,200 0.82%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 73 0.01% 54 0.00%
Total Population 818,086 100% 2,229,642 100%

Muslims are the largest population with 89.78%, while Hindus are the largest minority with 9.30%. There is a small minority of Christians who are 0.82% of the population. The district of Netrakona consists of 3146 mosques, 958 temples, 183 churches and eight Buddhist temples. Hindus are most concentrated in the haors bordering Sylhet.[2]

Bengalis are the dominant group present here. The ethnic minority population is 25,247, mainly Garo, Hajong, Hodi and Bana people.[5]

Economy

The economy of Netrakona is largely agrarian. Susang Durgapur, an Upazila of Netrakona, is one of the major sources of the country's China-Clay used for ceramic products. Its vast water bodies (Haor) provide a wide variety of fish. Bara Bazar and Choto Bazar is commerce centre of Netrakona.

Tourist attractions
  • Durgapur : The Garo hills of Durgapur is the most popular tourist attraction of Netrakona.
  • Birishiri : There is a Tribal Cultural Academy. And also have a historical big pond called Sagor Dighi.
  • Haor : Haor is a large area of water spaces. Biggest haor is located in Mohongonj and Khaliajuri . Dingaputa is one of the biggest haor among them.
  • Madanpur Mazar (Shah Sultan Rumi): It is situated 8 km south to the Netrokona Town.
  • Ranikong Mission

Notable people

See also

Notes
  1. Netrakona subdivision of Mymensingh district
  2. Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Netrokona District.
  1. Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. viii, 28, 30, 39, 44, 46. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
  2. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Netrokona" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  3. Masud Hasan Chowdhury and Md Mahbub Murshed (2012). "Surma-Meghna River System". 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 25 October 2023.
  4. নেত্রকোনা জেলা. Netrokona District. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  5. Sarkar, Sanjay (2012). "Netrokona District". 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 25 October 2023.
  6. "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF).
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