Zakiganj Upazila
Upazila in Sylhet, Bangladesh
Zakiganj
জকিগঞ্জ
Upazila
Fields in Zakiganj
Fields in Zakiganj
Location of Zakiganj
Coordinates: 24°52.7′N 92°22.3′E / 24.8783°N 92.3717°E / 24.8783; 92.3717
Country Bangladesh
DivisionSylhet
DistrictSylhet
Area
 • Total
265.68 km2 (102.58 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total
267,317
 • Density1,006.2/km2 (2,605.9/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Zakiganji, Zokigonji, Zokigoinji
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
3190[2]
Area code08232[3]
WebsiteWebsite

Zakiganj (Bengali: জকিগঞ্জ) is an upazila of Sylhet District in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.[4]

History

There are a few theories behind the name of Zakiganj. The first is that it is derived from Shah Zaki, a pir who established a khanqah on the banks of the Kushiyara River. A ganj, a Perso-Bengali suffix meaning 'marketplace' or 'neighbourhood', was then set up around the khanqah. In memory of Shah Zaki, nearby places are named Pirerkhal and the village Pirerchok. Another theory is that it is named after a man named Ghulam Zaki Majumdar, whose brother Karim Majumdar is who Karimganj district is said to have been named after.[5]

Zakiganj was established as a thana in 1947 and was previously a part of the greater Karimganj district. Along with Karimganj, Zakiganj was to be a part of the Dominion of India, but this was prevented by a delegation led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[6] In the aftermath of the Bangladesh War of Separation of 1971, mass graves were found in Atgram Bazar and Kaliganj Bazar. Zakiganj became an upazila on 1 August 1983.[4]

A 17th-century stone inscription was found in the Ghayebi Dighi Masjid in Barothakuri, and it is now on display at the Bangladesh National Museum.[7]

Geography

Zakiganj is located at 24°52′40″N 92°22′20″E / 24.8778°N 92.3722°E / 24.8778; 92.3722. It has a total area of 265.68 km2 (102.58 sq mi).

It is situated on the north bank of the Kushiyara River, opposite Karimganj town of Assam, India.[8]

Demographics

Religions in Zakiganj Upazila (2022)[9]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 90.49%
Hinduism
 
 9.50%
Other or not stated
 
 0.01%

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Zakiganj Upazila had 50,236 households and a population of 267,317. 11.00% of the population were under 5 years of age. Zakiganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 76.25%: 78.46% for males and 74.24% for females, and a sex ratio of 92.78 males for every 100 females. 51,413 (19.23%) lived in urban areas.[9]

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Zakiganj Upazila had 40,548 households and a population of 237,137. 65,802 (27.75%) were under 10 years of age. Zakiganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 49.39%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1,021 females per 1,000 males. 20,806 (8.77%) lived in urban areas.[10][11]

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Zakiganj has a population of 174,038. Males constitute 50.55% of the population, and females 49.45%. This upazila's eighteen-and-up population is 85,935. Zakiganj has an average literacy rate of 30.8% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.[12] 81.47% of people of Zakiganj were Muslim, 18.47% were Hindu, and 0.05% were Buddhist, Christian, and others.[13]

Points of interest

Derivation of Kushiyara River and Surma River from Barak River of India

Administration

Zakiganj Upazila is divided into Zakiganj Municipality and nine union parishads: Barahal, Barathakuri, Birorsri, Kajalshar, Khaskanakpur, Kolachora, Manikpur, Sultanpur, and Zakiganj. The union parishads are subdivided into 108 mauzas and 278 villages.[10]

Zakiganj Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 25 mahallas.[10]

Upazila chairmen

List of chairmen
Number Name Term
01 Alhaj Shabbir Ahmad
02 Alhaj Iqbal Ahmed Tapadar
03 Luqman Uddin Chowdhury Current
Vice-chairman Mawlana Muhammad Abdus Sabur Current

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 404. ISBN 978-9844752016.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh Area Code". China: Chahaoba. 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Bangladesh". 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 18 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Upazila History". Zakiganj Upazila. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  6. ^ Ali, AMM Shawkat (15 August 2004). "Bangabandhu's death anniversary special: As I look back". Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Zakiganj". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  8. ^ জকিগঞ্জের ওপারে স্থাপনা তৈরি করছে ভারত, এপারে বাধা. Amar Desh (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 9 May 2010.
  9. ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Sylhet (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-269-6.
  10. ^ a b c "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Sylhet" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  11. ^ "Community Tables: Sylhet district" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  12. ^ "Population Census Wing, BBS". Archived from the original on 27 March 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  13. ^ "Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics". 2010-03-26. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
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