# Bhola Island > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bhola_Island > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bhola_Island.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhola_Island > Source revision: 1320471710 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Largest island of Bangladesh}} {{Infobox islands | name = Bhola | image_name = Bhola River by Jabber 2.JPG | image_caption = River and flatlands of Bhola | image_size = | map = Bangladesh | map_caption = Bhola Island (Bangladesh) | native_name = | native_name_link = | nickname = | location = [Bay of Bengal](/source/Bay_of_Bengal) | coordinates = {{coord|22|30|N|90|45|E|scale:500000_type:island_region:BD-A|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = 1295 |area_footnotes = |coastline_km = 550 |coastline_footnotes = | length_km = 90 | width_km = 25 | highest_mount = Unnamed | elevation_m = 10 |elevation_footnotes = | demonym = Bholaiya | country = Bangladesh | population = 1,800,000 | population_as_of = 2020 | density_km2 = 1078 | ethnic_groups = [Bengalis](/source/Bengalis) | additional_info = |population_footnotes={{Cite book|title=Bangladesh population and housing census 2011 : zila report Bhola|date=2015 |publisher=Parisaṃkhyāna Byuro, Bangladesh. Parisaṃkhyāna Byuro. Statistics and Informatics Division.|isbn=978-984-33-8653-3|location=[Dhaka]|oclc=978250366}} |local_name= |country_admin_divisions_title=[Division](/source/Divisions_of_Bangladesh) |country_admin_divisions=[Barisal Division](/source/Barisal_Division) |country_admin_divisions_title_1=[District](/source/Districts_of_Bangladesh) |country_admin_divisions_1=[Bhola District](/source/Bhola_District) |languages=[Bengali](/source/Bengali_language) }} '''Bhola Island''' (also called '''Dakhin Shahbazpur''') is the largest island of [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh) with an area of {{cvt|1295|km2}} and a coastline of {{cvt|324|km}}.{{cite web|url=https://world-islands.net/details/bhola/ |title=Bhola |access-date=8 August 2024 |website=world-islands.net|date=10 December 2023 }} It accounts for most of the land area of [Bhola District](/source/Bhola_District) in [Barisal Division](/source/Barisal_Division).{{cite Banglapedia |author=Hossain, Mohammad Sakhaowat|article=Bhola District}} ==Geography== [[File:The delta of Ganges by J. Rennel.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px| South Shahbajpur Island (marked as DECCAN SHABAZPOUR l.) which is now Bhola Island in 1778 map by [James Rennell](/source/James_Rennell)]] It is situated at the mouth of the [Meghna River](/source/Meghna_River). There are ferry and launch services from [Dhaka](/source/Dhaka) and [Barisal](/source/Barisal).{{cite web|title=About Bhola Island|url=http://www.bholaschildren.org/index.php/about-bhola-island/about-bholas-island|website=Bhola's Children|access-date=23 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208064953/http://bholaschildren.org/index.php/about-bhola-island/about-bholas-island|archive-date=8 February 2015}} The Island is {{convert|130|km|0|abbr=off}} long and has a population of 1.7 million. A 1776 map indicates that it was oval-shaped yet it is currently more elongated because of [erosion](/source/erosion) by the [Meghna River](/source/Meghna_River). It is only {{convert|6|ft|m}} above ocean level at the most elevated point.{{cite news |last1=Doyle|first1=Alister|title=Sonar to help slow Bangladesh erosion in Ganges delta|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-bangladesh-idUSKBN0EZ18C20140624|work=Reuters|access-date=23 May 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002084345/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/24/us-environment-bangladesh-idUSKBN0EZ18C20140624|url-status=live}} Due to its low elevation, large parts of the island have already been inundated by [sea level rise](/source/sea_level_rise), and the island is at serious risk of disappearing entirely. ==Culture== [[File:ভোলা হাজার বছরের মসজিদ.jpg|thumb|[Mughal-era](/source/Mughal_Bengal) mosque near Majhi Bari, South Dighaldi Union of Bhola Island.]] According to the 2011 census, 96.7% are Muslim, 3.3% are Hindu. Bhola Island is known for its [Buffalo curd](/source/Dahi_(curd)) (doi) which is unique in Bangladesh. The process that has been used has remained unchanged. It is made in traditional clay pots and the process takes 18 hours. It is popular in the Island and is served in special occasions such as weddings, festivals and other special occasions.{{cite news |last1=Seraj|first1=Shykh|title=Buffalo Curd: Heritage of Bhola|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/country/buffalo-curd-heritage-bhola-70884|date=19 March 2015|work=[The Daily Star](/source/The_Daily_Star_(Bangladesh))|access-date=29 May 2015}} ==Energy== The Island has faced chronic power issues, although natural gas was discovered in Shahbazpur in 1994. The government decided to build a power plant which is expected to fully operational by August 2015. The state-owned [Power Grid Company of Bangladesh](/source/Power_Grid_Company_of_Bangladesh) (PGCB) is installing a high voltage transmission line from Bhola Island to Borhanuddin Island.{{cite news |last1=Khan|first1=Sharier|title=Big boost for Bhola|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/big-boost-for-bhola-38844|date=8 March 2015|work=The Daily Star|access-date=29 May 2015}} ==Media== There are 14 community radio stations on air.{{cite news |last1=Rahman|first1=Jahangir|title=Community radio as change agent|url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/02/13/80939|work=The Financial Express |access-date=23 May 2015}} ==History== In 1970, it was affected by the devastating [Bhola cyclone](/source/1970_Bhola_cyclone) which completely devastated the southern half of the island and also destroyed the rice crop. In October 1975, it was home to the last human being naturally infected with ''variola major,'' the more virulent of the two types of [smallpox](/source/smallpox). When a toddler named [Rahima Banu](/source/Rahima_Banu) became infected with the virus, the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization) sent a team to vaccinate 18,150 individuals who lived within a 1.5-mile radius of her home, which prevented the spread of the virus and eliminated it.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Steven |title=How Humanity Gave Itself an Extra Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/magazine/global-life-span.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=The New York Times}} In 1995, half of the island became flooded, leaving 500,000 people homeless.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092602582.html "In Flood-Prone Bangladesh, a Future That Floats"], Emily Wax, ''The Washington Post'', 27 September 2007 In 2005, floods affected over half a million people on the island. Significant floods in the months and years before had caused severe erosion and led to a number of rivers overflowing. As of 2009 a number of the island's inhabitants were living in the slums of [Dhaka](/source/Dhaka).{{cite web|last= Catie Leary|title= 7 places forever changed by eco-disasters: Bhola Island |url=http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/7-places-forever-changed-by-eco-disasters/bhola-island |publisher=[Mother Nature Network](/source/Mother_Nature_Network) | date = 16 October 2009 |access-date=2 June 2017}} ==See also== * [List of islands of Bangladesh](/source/List_of_islands_of_Bangladesh) * [https://www.bhola.gov.bd/en/site/page/aItD-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE List of sub-districts in Bhola] ==References== {{reflist|2}} Category:Geography of Bhola District Category:Islands of Bangladesh Category:Islands of the Bay of Bengal --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bhola Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhola_Island) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhola_Island?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.