Narsingdi District

Narsingdi, a district under the jurisdiction of Dhaka division is popularly known for its textile craft industustries. Narsingdi is a district with about 1140.76 sq km area situated in central Bangladesh. The district is located in between 90’34’ and 90’59’ east longitudes and in between 23’46’ and 24’15’ north latitudes. The district of Narsingdi is located 50 km north-east of Dhaka and bounded by Narayanganj and Brahmanbaria districts on the south, Kishoreganj district on the north, Gazipur district on the west and Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj districts on the east. Total population of the district is  1895984 divided by 974026 male and 921958 female. The district is consists of 6 upazilas of which Raipura is the largest with about 312.77. sq km of the area and Palash is the smallest upazila with about 94.43 sq km area of the whole district. Other than upazilas, the district is divided into 3 municipalities, 27 wards, 69 union parishads, 55 mahallas, 652 mouzas and 1060 villages. The majority numbers of people follow Islam in terms of religion which is 1781817 along with 112900 Hindu, 149 Bhuddist, 82 Christian and  1036 others. Average literacy rate of the district is 29.57%. The parcentages of male and female Literacy is accordingly 35.03% and 23.66%. Notable water bodies of the district are, Meghna, Haridhoa, Arial Khan, Kalagachhia, Paharia, Shitalakshya and the old Brahmaputra.

In Earlier days the district of Narsingdi district was a part of greater Dhaka District as a sub-division untill 1984 when it was turned into a district. In 1969, in the times of the mass upsurge Narsingdi gone through huge massacar. Back then on 29 December on Hatidia Bazar at Monohordi police fired indiscriminately on procession. Many people were injured along with the death of Three people. During the liberation war, on 5 April 1971, 3 people were killed and more than hundred of shops were burnt with  rocket launcher conducted by the Pakistani army on the Narsingdi town. A man was brutally killed by the soilders of Pakistani army on 29 April at Gashidia under Shibpur upazila. Freedom fighter Abul Bashar along with another 4 were killed in a direct battle between the Pakistani army and the freedom fighters on 14 July at the Belabo sadar. An encounter occurred in the middle of August between the freedom fighters and the Pakistani army at village Doshdona under Shukundi union. 4 Pak soldiers were killed by the freedom fighters in this process. Another battle was held between the Pakistani army and the freedom fighters at the end of October at Chalandia, a village of Shibpur Upazila. In this battle, 2 freedom fighters were killed. The freedom fighters killed many soilders of Pakistani army including a captain in a battle conducted at a place called Putia. Two freedom fighters also lost their lives in the battle. Shibpur upazila lost her two freedom fighters at the end of November during an encountert held in the upazila. The freedom fighters killed 5 Pakistani soilders by conducting a surprise attack on a Pakistani Military camp at Monohardi High School.

The economy of the district mostly depends on Agriculture. Most of the people of the district have taken agriculture as their profession. Besides that, the district is also very famous for textile craft industries. Narsingdi, a densely industrial area is the home to many textile mills. Sekerchar also known as Babuar haat situated at Narsingdi is the biggest and most popular Textile market of Bangladesh. Narsingdi is also the place of many gas fields. The gas field in the Shibpur upazila under was discovered by Petrobangla in 1990 which started producing gas comercially later in 1996. Total recoverable gas reserves of this field re-estimated by Hydrocarbon Unit is 215 billion cubic feet (6.1×109 m3). Ghorashal, the largest powerplant of Bangladesh is located in Palash Upazila of the district. Narsingdi is the home of several Jute mills and Sugar mills along with two Urea Fertilizer Industries. Narsingdi is also famous for producing quality bananas and Sugarcane.

In terms of folk culture Narsingdi shows very unique cultural activities.  Punnah, Dipanvita Bhiatrie Ditiya (occasion of putting kazol and sandal paste on the forehead of brothers by their sisters aspiring for welfare of brothers), Jamai Shasthi, etc. are the mentionable folk culture followed by the people of Narsingdi.

Upazilas

Narsingdi district is divided into 6 sub-districts or upazilas. Namely,

• Belabo Upazila
• Monohardi Upazila
• Narsingdi Sadar Upazila
• Palash Upazila
• Raipura Upazila
• Shibpur Upazila

River:

Meghna, Haridhoa, Arial Khan, Kalagachhia, Paharia, Shitalakshya and the old Brahmaputra

Notable Places:

The district of Narsingdi is full with many places of interest which are Archeologically very important. Those places are:

1. Silver coin discovered at Wari Batteshwar village (c third century AD)
2. Imitated gold coin (c. eighth century AD) discovered at village War
3. Stone image (Sena period) found at Narsingdi town
4. Silver coin of Gias Uddin Azam Shah at Algi village
5. Silver coin (Sultani period) at Panchdona
6. Three domed mosque (1524) at Ashrafpur
7. Single domed mosque (eighteenth century)
8. Tomb of Shah Monsur at Kumardi
9. Two copper plate inscriptions (seventeenth century) found at village Ashraffpur
10. Bibi Joynab Mosque (1719)
11. Parulia Mosque (1716)
12. Raghunath Mandir (c seventeenth century).

Notable Personalities:

A number of famous or established persons hails from this District who contributed in different arena of the country. A few of them are named below.

• Satish Pakrashi, freedom fighter
• Trailokaya Chakraborty
• Narayan Ch Ghosh, mathematician
• Hari Acharaya, poet
• Shamsur Rahman, author
• Alauddin Al Azad
• Birsreshtha Matiur Rahman
• Azmol Morshed
• Lalitmohan Roy
• Jitendra Mullick, donated land for Brhamandi (Govt.) High School, Narsindi College, Jitendranath Economic Relations Department (ERD) secretary
• Shariful Alam Bhuiyan, Senior Assistant Judge.

Written & Edited by Shaima Akter Sethu.