Netrokona District

Netrokona, the district on the eastern side of Brahmaputra stream is nothing but a district full of rich diversity and a long history to celebrate with an area of 2810 square kilometres. Different theoretical dissertations and reviews also revealed that this particular region appeared habitable when this specific territory arose from the womb of the sea.

The present existing Netrokona district possesses and blessed with tributaries like Kangsha, Shomeshwari, Ganeshwari, Maheshwari, Gorautro and many more. Interestingly, most of the tributaries flowing through the heart of Netrokona originated from Garo Hill. And all of these tributaries had some role in constituting Netrokona.

Netrokona geographically is positioned in between of  from 24º35´ to 25º10´    north latitudes  and from 90º30´ to 91º15 eastern longitudes.

The district is ringed on the west by Mymensingh, on the east by Sunamganj, on the south by Kishoreganj and Mymensingh, and on the north by an Indian state named Meghalaya which is also a part of seven sisters seeking independence.

Netrokona was a part of the greater Mymensingh district, and at one time it was renowned as the Kaliganj Thana of Mymensingh. In a place called Natorkona, not so far from the central city, somewhat 7-8 Kilometers northwest (Probable distance), English people started conducting a survey and in that very Natorkona, a new subdivision, and it’s administrative headquarter were established. Due to the distorted pronunciation Of Natorkona by the British, the whole name initially turned into Netrokona which now exists in real. Some expert revealed that it might not come out as the actual reason after naming the region. Moreover, they also added a shred of supporting evidence like the river Mogra which flows stitching the heart of the city Possesses a distinctive eye-shaped bend (the Bengali alternative of the word “eye” is Netra). Hence, the name came into being and existing ceaselessly.

Netrokona Sub-division was first settled in 1882 and was ameliorated to a district in 1984. With 22,29,464 people according to the Bangladesh population consensus 2011 and 10 Upazilas, Netrokona Possesses an agrarian economic culture and a population dependent mostly upon agriculture to earn as more than 52% people of the district is directly associated with agriculture, and this district also has five municipalities including Netrokona, Mohongonj, Durgapur, Kendra and Modon and 86 Unions.

Importantly, Netrokona embezzles total eight border outposts as it shares a border with the country India.  Major Abu Taher (August- November), and squadron leader M. Hamidullah (November to December operated the liberation war operation in this region in 1971, and they both were responsible for the sector no.11, which includes Netrokona. The sector was divided into six sub-sectors. The present freedom fighters of Netrokona fought from Baghmara to Maheshkhala under the command of Baghmara, Rangra, Maheshkhala sub-sector. Among them, Nazmul Haque Tara, Tofazzal Hossain Chunnu, Captain Matiur Rahman and others were in charge of the sub-sector.  The people of this land fought valiantly against the enemy party and wiped the enemies out of the area what is nothing but the evidence of the brevity of the people of this land.

Netrokona managed to maintain a 39.44% literacy rate. On January 30, 2017, in a regular cabinet conference (Chaired by the prime minister herself) a policy got approved to establish Sheikh Hasina University in Netrokona district and later in 2018 the university officially got settled and started enlightening the region with education. Initially, it was supposed to be established as a university of science and technology, but later it was proclaimed to be settled as a comprehensive university.

Remarkably, this district Netrokona is also home to various ethnic communities like the divisional district Mymensingh. Major ethnic groups incorporate Garo, Hajong, Hodi and Bana. According to the Bangladesh population consensus, 2011, male and female ratio stands chronologically 49.84%: 50.16%.

Shah Sultan Rumi globetrotted to Netrokona in 1053 CE where he sermonized the religion of Islam to the local community. He is considered to have been the earliest Sufi pietist to have globetrotted to Bengal. During the Mughal reign, a three-domed mosque was built in present Atpara. In 1880, the British kingdom approved a particular area as a mahakuma administrative territory. And this administrative territory started productive and effective work hours on January 3, 1882, when the region was formally attributed as Netrakona Mahakuma. During the British reign, Shyam Biswas, an egregious Bengali Hindu landlord, who used to be bloody, brutal and stinging towards the inhabitants living in his land. He had his own rules implemented upon the people of the territory, such as no one being tolerated to cross his front yard wearing shoes or slippers. From the village of Amati Social campaigners who at the same time more prone to social advocacy, Sonafor Uddin, Muktul Husayn Khan, Shariat Khan, Anfar Uddin, Manfar Uddin and Jafar Uddin planned beautifully and  made people stand against this humiliation and such heinous nasty belief the landlord possesses and executed the plan in a proper manner.  Their revolt was ere long followed in other parts of the district.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, freedom fighters attacked the Atpara Thana on August 19 1971. They murdered the Officer-in-Charge of the Thana as well as a notable number of Razakars, and they also managed to loot arms and ammunition from the police outpost. On October 7, a bloody battle took place in Atpara, leading to the death of three more Razakars.

The Government of Bangladesh ameliorated Netrakona Mahakuma to Netrokona District on January 17 1984.

Upazilas:

• Atpara Upazila
• Barhatta Upazila
• Durgapur Upazila
• Khaliajuri Upazila
• Kalmakanda Upazila
• Kendua Upazila
• Madan Upazila
• Mohanganj Upazila
• Netrokona Sadar Upazila
• Purbadhala Upazila

Main Rivers:

Dhanu, Dhalai, Ghorautra, piyain, Gunai, Someshwari.

Place to Interest

• Durgapur
• Birishiri
• Haor
• Madanpur Mazar
• Ranikong Mission

Notable Persons

• Abu Taher
• Ahsan Habib
• Akhlakul Hossain Ahmed
• Bari Siddiqui
• Golam Samdani Koraishi
• Helal Hafiz
• Humayun Ahmed
• Jalal Uddin Talukder
• Kanha,
• Khalekdad Chowdhury
• Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
• Mustafa Jabbar
• Nirmalendu Goon –
• Raushan Yazdani,
• Shahabuddin Ahmed,

Written by Niaz Mahmud Sakib.