Pirojpur, administratively, which belongs to the Barisal division, is in the southwest of Bangladesh and positioned across the Boleshshwar river and famous for its production of coconut, betel nut, hog plum, and guava.
Pirojpur geographically is positioned in between 22 30′ 00″ N 89 52′ 00″ E latitude and in between 22 52′-00″ N 90 13’00” E longitude. The concerned district Pirojpur is surrounded and hedged by the Boleshshwar river but to be more specific by Barisal and Gopalganj on the north, Barguna to the south and east, Jhalokathi to east, and Bagerhat as well to the west which includes the largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
The Boleshshwar river segregates Bagerhat district from Pirojpur. According to the population consensus 2011, the population of the Pirojpur district is 11,13,256. Of these, 5,48,228 are males and 5,75,029 are females. Following the same consensus report, the literacy rate of Pirojpur appears at 64.9%.
Pirojpur subdivision was ameliorated to a district on 28 October 1859. Pirojpur municipality got settled in 1855. And now Pirojpur district possesses three parliamentary constituencies, 7 Upazilas, 7 Police stations, four municipalities, and 52 Unions.
A crucial thing to know about the concerned territory is peasant sedition occurred at Singkhali in Bhandaria Upazila of Pirojpur district in 1858. The Sugandhiya Rebellion, the Tuskhali and Sinkhali Rebellions of the nineteenth century, the Molangi Rebellion, and other peasant revolts are abstract symbols and signifiers the immense brevity and awareness of the people of this region. During the British reign, the people of Pirojpur district played a pre-eminently leading role in the Foraeji movement, Swadeshi movement, Anushilan Samiti, Khilafat movement, and during the Pakistan period, in language movement and liberation war as well.
The district that exists today in the name of Pirojpur is nothing but an alluvial plateau of the Bay of Bengal. The soil that rose above being wet in the brine in the southern part of the Gangetic delta eventually over time has turned into locality, a locality with thousands of people and crowds. However, the Gangetic delta territory that makes Pirojpur naturally up is relatively young and is incorporated into the southern geographic region pleateu of Bangladesh.
Historians believe that during the Pala and Sena periods, settlements began to develop maintaining regular intervals, but during the Mughal and Sultanate periods, gargantuan settlements started developing in a particular region. However, It is also a fact that the territory in which the Pirojpur district exists today was a complete water reservoir until the nineteenth century. Remarkable entities incorporate the swamp valley of Salta of Swarupkathi, a swamp of Nazirpur and Chechri-Rampur swamp of Bhandaria.
Corresponding to naming Pirojpur, not more than one source got discovered. Helaluddin Mughal, one of the prominent impactful inhabitants of Shakhari Kathis of Nazirpur Upazila, known to be the last descendant of the Mughal dynasty. In his view, which is the most popular opinion as well, Shah Shuja, the subedar of Bengal, took refuge in the southern part of Bengal after being defeated by Mir Jumla, the general of Aurangzeb.
Interestingly, dexterous Mir Jumla’s forces, along with war specialized military, did not miss attack here as well, and Shah Shuja made an escape again and fled to Arakan with his two daughters. Being the victim of a conspiracy plot, he got killed by his enemy forces with the help of another king (Betraying perpetrator). While fleeing, his wife was left with a baby son. After a few days, they changed their location and gradually moved westwards and re-organized and made their abode at the Damodar river’s chest near today’s Pirojpur.
And the best part lies here, the name of their baby was Firoz, and after his name, people started knowing this place as Firozpur. As Language never stops and goes through a constant change, Firozpur came out as no exception. The form of the name has changed as well following the evolution of Language.
In 1790, Governor-General Cornwallis reformed the local administration system by reviewing and ameliorating the governance of India. And Pirojpur might also be a consequence of this measure. When the sub-division pirojpur was established, the administrative benefits from Parerhat port togra to the corresponding police station and from Kaukhali to the Munsefi court were also added Pirojpur Sub-division /city administration.
The pre-dominant profession of this community is farming, and the most popular earning industry is nothing but agriculture. Gunaibibi, Asman Singh’s bout are some remarkable folk tales among many of the concerned district. Except those, Amina Bibi and Nashar Malum, Palar Gaan, Adhar Mani Vaishnavi Gaan, Anath Bandhu Gaan, Abdul Gani Bayati Gaan, Kalu Molla Gaan, Khoyaz Khizir Gaan, Gazir Gaan, Krishnalila are popular. Among the folk songs, Bhatiali, Sarigan, Marfati songs, Mukunda Das songs, Palli songs, Abdul Latif songs are notable of this district, Pirojpur.
When the first population consensus took place in Pirojpur in the winter of 1872, the total number of the corresponding district population came out 3,63,000 what now is 11,13,256 (following 2011 consensus).
In his famous ‘Language Survey of India,’ Sir George Gerson has given a sample dialect of the Pirojpur area. In this region, at the beginning of the word, the dental root, the warm sound is changed to s-s-s, and the maha prana sound is pronounced as ‘h.’ Such as shial> hial, shala> hala. But most people of this region live the Barisailla dialect.
And significant of all, this district reflects diversity!
| At a glance of Pirojpur | ||
| 01 | Area | 1307.61 Square Kilometers |
| 02 | Population | 11,13,256 |
| 03 | Founding Year | 1984 |
| 03 | Density | 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi) |
| 04 | Literacy Rate | 64.77% (2011) |
| 05 | Seats in the Parliament | 2 |
| 06 | Postcode | 8500 |
| 07 | Sector in Liberation War | 9 |
Sub-divisions/Upazilas
- Bhandaria
- Kawkhali
- Mathbaria
- Nazirpur
- Nesarabad
- Pirojpur Sadar
- Indurkani
Main Rivers:
Gabkhan, Baleshwar, Damodar, Kocha, Pona, Kochakhali, Kaliganga, Sandha, Doratana
Notable places
- Tasmima Villa, Bhandaria
- Bhandaria Thana Eko Park, Bhandaria
- Aman Ullah Collage, (Baridara Complex), Khatalia Road, Bhandaria.
- Minister Bari Mosque, Bhandaria.
- Kuriana Floating Market
- Kuriana Guava Garden
- Momin Mosque.
- Chanmari Shooting Spot
- Pirojpur River View Eco Park (locally known as DC Park)
- Rayerkathi Raaj Bari
- Horiyadanga River View Eco Park, Telikhali Union, Mathbaria
Highlighted Personalities
- Ahsan Habib
- Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.
- Anwar Hossain Monju.
- Jewel Aich.
- Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia.
- Khalid Hasan Milu.
- Jannatul Ferdous Oishee.
Written by Niaz Mahmud Sakib.