Mehendiganj Upazila
Encyclopedia
Mehendigonj is an Upazila of Barisal District
in the Division of Barisal
, Bangladesh
. Mehendigonj is popularly known as Patarhat by the local people.
The river Meghna is sourrounded by this small island causing erosion every year during monsoon. The popular towns such as Ulania, Kaliganj in the east are in serious danger. Dhaka Mehendigonj Rakkha Committee called a meeting to protect Mehendigonj against erosion in June 2008. About 9,480 people of 1,343 families have become homeless due to erosion. Besides, the rivers have gobbled up 10501 acres (42.5 km²) of land, 17 schools and colleges, three madrasas, 22 mosques and temples, 1,222 ponds, 18 kilometer roads, 42 business establishments, three big hats and 500 acres (2 km²) of betel nut groves. Mehendigonj has a history of its own in education and culture, trade and commerce, agriculture and artistry. Its contribution to the national achievement and growth is immense. But the Meghna, the Tentulia and the Mashkata have become the 'fait accompli' of three lakh people of the upazila. The mighty rivers have already swallow the hearths and homes and everything of most of the areas of several unions including Gubindapur, Jagalia, Darirchar-Khajuria, Bhashanchar and Andermanik.
A documentary titled Mehendigonj of Barisal at Estuary of Meghna based on river erosion directed by Fuad Chowdhury. The documentary portrays the severity of river erosion in monsoon season (July-September). Only in 2007, 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land was engulfed by the river Meghna, making around forty thousand people landless, specially affecting women's privacy and security. Hardly any initiative can be seen to rehabilitate these affected people and to stop the river erosion. Local people are helping each other with their limited resources.
In the last 300 years, the feudal landlord (Jamidars) of Ulania
of Mehendigonj built an estate of 100 magnificent architectural building which are also under the threat of Meghna erosion.
, Mehendigonj has a population of 304,364. Males constitute are 154,400 of the population, and females 149,964. Mehendigonj has an average literacy rate of 70% (7+ years), and the national average of 46.5% literate.
Barisal District
Barisal is a district in southern Bangladesh. It is also the headquarters of Barisal Division.-Geography and climate:Latitude: 22.75, Longitude: 90.36, Altitude: 4....
in the Division of Barisal
Barisal Division
Barisal Division is located in south-central Bangladesh, with an area of 13,644.85 km2, and with a population of 8,147,000 at the 2011 Census . It is bounded by Dhaka division on the north, the Bay of Bengal on the south, Chittagong division on the east and Khulna division on the west...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Mehendigonj is popularly known as Patarhat by the local people.
Geography
Mehendigonj is located at 22.8319°N 90.5333°E . It has 55128 units of house hold and total area 435.79 km².The river Meghna is sourrounded by this small island causing erosion every year during monsoon. The popular towns such as Ulania, Kaliganj in the east are in serious danger. Dhaka Mehendigonj Rakkha Committee called a meeting to protect Mehendigonj against erosion in June 2008. About 9,480 people of 1,343 families have become homeless due to erosion. Besides, the rivers have gobbled up 10501 acres (42.5 km²) of land, 17 schools and colleges, three madrasas, 22 mosques and temples, 1,222 ponds, 18 kilometer roads, 42 business establishments, three big hats and 500 acres (2 km²) of betel nut groves. Mehendigonj has a history of its own in education and culture, trade and commerce, agriculture and artistry. Its contribution to the national achievement and growth is immense. But the Meghna, the Tentulia and the Mashkata have become the 'fait accompli' of three lakh people of the upazila. The mighty rivers have already swallow the hearths and homes and everything of most of the areas of several unions including Gubindapur, Jagalia, Darirchar-Khajuria, Bhashanchar and Andermanik.
A documentary titled Mehendigonj of Barisal at Estuary of Meghna based on river erosion directed by Fuad Chowdhury. The documentary portrays the severity of river erosion in monsoon season (July-September). Only in 2007, 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land was engulfed by the river Meghna, making around forty thousand people landless, specially affecting women's privacy and security. Hardly any initiative can be seen to rehabilitate these affected people and to stop the river erosion. Local people are helping each other with their limited resources.
In the last 300 years, the feudal landlord (Jamidars) of Ulania
Ulania
Ulania is an Union of Mehendiganj Upazila in the District and Division of Barisal, Bangladesh. Ulania is best known for its culture, tradition, education, sports etc. Some of well known Bengali writers, politicians came from this union. The well known Chowdhury family can be found in the centre of...
of Mehendigonj built an estate of 100 magnificent architectural building which are also under the threat of Meghna erosion.
Demographics
As of the 2001 Bangladesh census2001 Bangladesh census
In 2001, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, conducted a national census in Bangladesh, ten years after the 1991 census. They recorded data from all of the districts and upazilas and main cities in Bangladesh including statistical data on population size, households, sex and age distribution,...
, Mehendigonj has a population of 304,364. Males constitute are 154,400 of the population, and females 149,964. Mehendigonj has an average literacy rate of 70% (7+ years), and the national average of 46.5% literate.
Administrative
Mehendigonj thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. It consists of one municipality, 9 Wards, 13 Unions, 11 Mahallas, 124 Mauzas, 155 villages and 58,719 households.Unions
- Alimabad
- Andher Manik
- Bhashanchar
- Biddanandapur
- ChandpurChandpurChandpur is one of the most important city in Bijnor district, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.Chandpur is 140 km from the capital of New Delhi, 110 km from Meerut, and 38 km from Gajraula on National Highway 24 ....
- Char Ekkaria
- Char Gopalpur
- Darirchar Khajuria
- GobindapurGobindapurGobindapur was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Kalikata and Sutanuti...
- Jangalia
- LataLata- People :* Lata Mangeshkar, an Indian playback singer* Lata Pada, Bharatanatyam dancer* Latha Sethupathi, South Indian film actress* Lata , a famous Telugu writer- Places :* Lata Mountain, the highest point in American Samoa...
- Mehendiganj
- UlaniaUlaniaUlania is an Union of Mehendiganj Upazila in the District and Division of Barisal, Bangladesh. Ulania is best known for its culture, tradition, education, sports etc. Some of well known Bengali writers, politicians came from this union. The well known Chowdhury family can be found in the centre of...