Jamalpur is a district in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. The main Jamalpur town consists of 12 wards and 80 mahallas. The municipality was established in 1869. The area of the town is 53.28 km². The town has a population of 116754; male 51.06%, female 48.94%. Density of population is 2191 per km². Literacy rate among the town people is 43.60%. It has a railway junction. Jamalpur, city in northern Bangladesh, in Dhaka Division. The city is located on the Brahmaputra River, 140 km (87 mi) north of Dhaka, the national capital. Jamalpur is an important market center for the rice, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, and mustard produced in the region. The city is connected by road, rail, and river with Dhaka and the rest of the country. It has two colleges affiliated with Dhaka University. Population (1991) 110,954.
Geography
Jamalpur (Town) consists of 12326 wards and 80 mahallas. The municipality was established in 1869. The area of the town is 53.28 km². The town has a population of 116754; male 51.06%, female 48.94%. Density of population is 2191 per km². Literacy rate among the town people is 43.60%. It has a railway junction and three dak-bungalows.
Administration
Administration Jamalpur district was established in 1978. The district consists of 7 upazilas, 6 municipalities, 68 union parishads, 57 wards, 224 mahallas and 1532 villages. The upazilas are Jamalpur sadar, Bakshiganj, Dewanganj, Islampur, Madarganj, Melandaha and Sarishabari. The municipalities are Jamalpur Sadar, Sarishabari, Melandaha, Madarganj, Islampur and Dewanganj.
Archaeological Heritage
Archaeological heritage and relics Tomb of Shah Jamal, tomb of Shah Kamal, Dayamoye Mondir, five domed Raspal Jame Mosque at Sarishabari (nineteenth century), Narapara Fort at Sarishabari (sixteenth century). Pingna Madrasa in Sarishabari (Emperor Shahjahan's period),kendua kalibari.
Historical Event of Importance
Historical events Fakir Sannyasi Rebellion (1772–1790), Indigo Resistance Movement (1829), famine (1874) and construction of rail way (1899).
Population
Population 2089366; male 50.58%, female 49.42%; Muslim 97.74%, Hindu 1.98%, Christian 0.10%, Buddhist 0.04% and others 0.14%; ethnic nationals: Garo, Hodi, Kurmi and Mal.
Religious Institution
Religious institutions Mosque 3340, temple 47, church 39, tomb 13, most noted which are Shailerkandha Jame Mosque, Gaouripur Kachari Jame Mosque, tomb of Shah Jamal, dargah of Shah Kamal and Dayamayee Mondir.
Educational Institution
Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 39% male 53% and female 25%. Educational institutions: government college 5, non-government college 20, government secondary school 7, non-government secondary school 224, madrasa 113, junior high school 38, government primary school 588, non-government primary school 390, kinder garden school 13, law college 01, homeopathy college 01, agricultural research centre 01. Noted institutions: Ashek Mahmud College, Jamalpur Zila School,Dewangonj Government High School, Singhajani Girl's High School,Balijuri F.M.High School(1910)Madargonj, Nandina Govt Pilot High School(1935),Nandina Girl's High School,Nandina Model Boy's High School,Nandina Rameza Mumin Girl's High School,A.K memorial college Dewanganj,Nandina Degree College, Pingna Madrasa in Sarishabari (Emperor Shahjahan's period), Pingna English High School (1896), Sarishabari Ranidinmoni Model High School (1920), Balridia Primary School (1869), Pogaldigha Primary School (1890), Hazrabari High School Locally published newspapers and periodicals Dailies 1, weekly 10, fortnightly 1, monthly 1, quarterly 1; extinct: Monthly Pallimangal (1922), Hanif (1903), Jamalpur Barta, Pallibani.Digpait Samsul Haq Degree College,Digpait,Jamalpur,Digpait D.K. High School,Digpait, Jamalpur. Sanakoir Ideal College, Sanakoir,Sharishabari, Jamalpur.
Cultural Institution
Cultural organisations Club 139, public library 2, cinema hall 18, stadium 1, public hall 1, upazila auditorium 6, orphanage 448, literary society 4, women's organisation 5, theatre group 6, Shilpakala Academy 1.
Occupation
Main occupations Agriculture 44.01%, transport 1.39%, fishing 1.26%, agricultural labourer 18.6%, wage labourer 2.86%, commerce 10.62%, service 10.84% and others 10.42%.
Agriculture
Land use Total cultivable land 186058.87 hectares; single crop 19.57%, double crop 70.29% and treble crop 10.14%; land under irrigation 29%.
Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 6500 per 0.01 hectare.
Main crops Paddy, jute, sugarcane, mustard seed, peanut, wheat, sweet potato, tobacco, betel leaf, chilly, pulse and various vegetables.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, sesame, aus paddy, kaun, china, indigo and barley.
Main fruits Jackfruit, banana,pineapple,watermelon, latkon, tetul, kodbel, bangi etc.
Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 51, dairy 379, poultry 899.[4]
Transport
Communication facilities Roads: pucca 772.67 km, semi pucca 120.55 km, mud road 3374.90 km; railways 108.50 km; waterways 68-nautical-mile (126 km). Traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage, soari, buffalo cart, small boat, dinga made of palm tree, and bullock cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.
Main hats, bazars and fairs The most noted hats and bazars are Nandina, Balijuri, Baxiganj, Islampur, Melandaha, Sarisabari, Dewanganj, Gutail, Tarakandhi, Jamalpur; most noted fairs are Jamalpur Mela,Dewanganj Austomi Mela, Nandina mela, Gouripur Kachari Baishaki Mela, Bagerhaut Mela & Balijuri Eid Mela(one of the leargest fair in Bangladesh)
Export
Main exports Jute, tobacco, mustard seed, peanut, leather, egg, pulse, betel leaf & handicrafts.
NGOs
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, proshika, caritas, World Vision, Gonoshahajjo Sangstha, Proships, unnayan sangha.
Health
Health centres General hospital 01, upazila health complex 06, family welfare centre 39, rail way hospital 2, union health centre 28 and leprosy clinic 7.
Subdivisions
- Dewanganj Upazila
- Baksiganj Upazila
- Islampur Upazila
- Jamalpur Sadar Upazila
- Madarganj Upazila
- Melandaha Upazila
- Sarishabari Upazila