Narayanganj District

{{Short description|District of Bangladesh in Dhaka Division}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Narayanganj District | native_name = নারায়ণগঞ্জ জেলা | native_name_lang = bn | official_name = | type = | image_skyline = {{Multiple image | border = | total_width = 300 | caption_align = center | perrow = 1/2/2/1 |image4 = Sunshine from bird's eye.JPG |image2 = পানাম নগর 03.jpg |image3 = Boro Sardar Bari - 10.jpg |image1 = DG 36 -08 SONA KANDA FORT 16 CE NTURY MUGAL ERA BANDAR NARAYAN GONJ IMG 5467.jpg |image5 = গোয়ালদি মসজিদ 3.jpg |image6 = Hajiganj-fort1.jpg }} | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = Clockwise from top-left: [[Sonakanda Fort]], Choto Sardar Bari, [[Goaldi Mosque]], [[Hajiganj Fort]], Skyline of Narayanganj City and [[Sonargaon|Panam Nagar]] | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_shield = | nickname = Dundee of Bangladesh | motto = | mottoes = | map_caption = | image_map1 = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|type=shape-inverse|id=|frame-width=200|frame-height=220|stroke-width=1|zoom=9|frame-align=center|frame-lat=23.7|frame-long=90.5|title=Narayanganj District}} | map_caption1 = Expandable map of Narayanganj District | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Narayanganj District in Bangladesh | coordinates = {{coord|23.60|90.50|region:BD|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Bangladesh}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Divisions of Bangladesh|Division]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Dhaka Division|Dhaka]] | established_title = | established_date = | seat_type = Headquarters | seat = [[Narayanganj]] | leader_party = | leader_title = [[Deputy Commissioner (Bangladesh)|Deputy Commissioner]] | leader_name = Md. Manjurul Hafiz | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2022">{{Cite book |url=http://nsds.bbs.gov.bd/storage/files/1/Publications/PHCensus/Dhaka/District%20Report%20Narayanganj%20Full.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Narayanganj |date=June 2024 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |isbn=978-984-475-281-8 |series=District Series |location=[[Dhaka]] |pages=}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 684.35 | area_metro_km2 = | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref name="2022census" /> | population_total = 3909138 | population_as_of = [[2022 Bangladeshi census|2022]] | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_demonyms = | population_note = | timezone1 = [[Bangladesh Standard Time|BST]] | utc_offset1 = +06:00 | postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in Bangladesh|Postal code]] | postal_code = 1400 | website = | footnotes = | area_code = 0671 | iso_code = BD-40 | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | blank_name_sec2 = | blank_info_sec2 = | image_map = BD Narayanganj District locator map.svg }} '''Narayanganj District''' ({{langx|bn|নারায়ণগঞ্জ জেলা|nārāẏoṇgoñjo jela}}) is a district in central [[Bangladesh]] which is a part of [[Dhaka Division]].<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite Banglapedia |author=Bhuiyan, Mokammal H |article=Narayanganj District}}</ref> It is the smallest district in Bangladesh. It is home to the ancient city of one of the oldest industrial districts in the country. The district lies on the banks of the [[Shitalakshya River]] and the [[Meghna River]]. It is an industrial hub and plays an important part in the country's [[jute]] trade, plant processing and sector. It is nicknamed the "[[Dundee]] of Bangladesh" due to the presence of many jute mills.

==History== Narayanganj had the same history as much of the rest of the [[Dhaka]] area. Formerly ruled by the [[Pala Empire|Palas]] and [[Sena dynasty|Senas]], the region became part of the Muslim [[Bengal Sultanate]] in the 14th century. [[Sonargaon]], the capital of Bengal during the reign of Isa Khan, is in the district. Later the region was taken over by the Mughals as the [[Bengal Subah]]. The district is named after ''Bicon Lal Pandey'', a Hindu religious leader who was also known as ''Benur Thakur'' or ''Lakshmi Narayan Thakur''. Pandey acquired ownership of the region from the [[British East India Company]] in 1766 after the [[Battle of Plassey]]. He declared the marketplaces on the banks of the [[Shitalakshya River|Shitalakshya river]] as [[Financial endowment|endowed property]] to pay for expenses for the worship of [[Narayana|Narayan]]. Subsequently, the region was named ''Narayanganj''.<ref name="Banglapedia" />

;Important developments * The post office was established in 1866. * The Narayanganj municipality was officially founded on 8 September 1876. * Dhaka–Narayanganj telegraph service was set up in 1877. * Telephony was introduced by the [[Bank of Calcutta|Bank of Bengal]] in 1882.

It grew in importance in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, due to the influx of the Portuguese and the English. The first to develop was the west bank of Shitalakshya. Narayanganj only became important in the nineteenth century, when the Rally Brothers started a company exporting jute to the west in 1830, aided by a company from [[Assam]]. By 1908, 18 European companies, and two Indian companies were trading in jute from Calcutta.<ref name="Banglapedia" />

With the [[Pakistan Movement|formation of Pakistan]] in 1947, the economy transformed from being mainly a jute production to including jute milling due to the location of most existing jute mills in India.<ref>{{cite Banglapedia |author=Mufakharul Islam |article=Jute Industry}}</ref> This followed the establishment of a number of mills in and around Narayanganj that gave the local economy a great boost.

During the War of Independence, the [[Pakistan Army]] massacred 139 people in Fatulla Thana on 29 November 1971. Eight days earlier, members of the Mukti Bahini and other freedom fighter groups fought the Pakistan Army in which one freedom fighter was killed.

Formerly a sub-district of the [[Dhaka District]], Narayanganj became a district on 15 February 1984.

==Administrative areas== Narayanganj Zila consists of 1 city corporation and 5 upazilas (Narayanganj Sadar, Bandar, Rupganj, [[Sonargaon]] and Araihazar). [[Narayanganj City Corporation]] is subdivided into 27 wards and 184 city mahallas. Upazilas are subdivided into 39 unions, 759 mauzas and 1172 villages. There are also 5 paurashavas, subdivided into 45 paura wards and 209 paura mahallas.<ref name="census2022" /> The areas and populations (at the 2022 Census) of the upazilas are:[[File:নারায়ণগঞ্জ জেলার অভ্যন্তরীণ মানচিত্র.svg|300px|thumbnail|right|Internal map of Narayanganj District.]]

{|class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Upazila !! Union !! Mouza !! Village !! Area !Population (2022) |- | 1 ||[[Narayanganj Sadar Upazila]] || 10 || 55 || 450 || 100.74 km2 |1,770,734 |- | 2 || [[Sonargaon Upazila]] || 11 || 352 || 899 || 171.67 km2 |551,841 |- | 3 || [[Bandar Upazila]] || 05 || 90 || 780 || 54.39 km2 |414,019 |- | 4 || [[Araihazar Upazila]] || 12 || 184 || 438 || 181.07 km2 |467,547 |- | 5 || [[Rupganj Upazila]] || 09 || 146 || 434 || 176.48 km2 |704,869 |} There are also 7 police stations here, which are: Narayanganj Sadar, Bandar, Fatulla, [[Siddhirganj]], Rupganj, Sonargaon and Araihazar. All the upazilas have more or less similar characteristics.

==Administration== [[File:Narayanganj District upazila geocode map - Small Area Atlas Bangladesh.svg|thumb|Narayanganj District upazila geocode map]]

* '''Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation: Dr. Salina Hayat Ivy''' * '''Chairman of Zila Porishod:''' Babu Chandan Shil * '''Deputy Commissioner (DC):''' Md. Manjurul Hafiz * '''Chairman Of Bandar Upazila:''' M A RASHID * '''Chairman Of Sonargaon Upazila:''' Advocate Shamsul Islam Bhuiyan

==Economy== The district pioneered in merchandising yarn and dyeing items. The cottage industry, like weaving, is abundant in this district. International trading, import and export business, shipyard brickfields, etc. create employment opportunities for the people which facilitate additional income to the household population. The small and medium industries of cotton are increasing day-by-day which fills the employment aids to the local people. The [[rural economics|rural economy]] of Narayanganj is mostly based on agriculture. According to Bangladesh Bank, the district is ranked third in the nation in terms of gross national income (GNI) and possession of wealth. Nowadays Network marketing is the best position here. So, the economy of Narayanganj has been increasing day by day and also contributing to nation-building initiatives.

==Demographics== {{Historical populations |align=center |percentages=pagr |1974 |1067026 |1981 |1356728 |1991 |1754804 |2001 |2173948 |2011 |2948217 |2022 |3909138 |footnote= Sources:<ref name="2022census" /><ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCenZilz2011/Zila-Narayanganj.pdf |title=Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Narayanganj |website=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=2022-07-03 |archive-date=2019-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427092344/http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCenZilz2011/Zila-Narayanganj.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}

According to the [[2022 Bangladeshi census|2022 Census of Bangladesh]], Narayanganj District had 1,023,175 households and a population of 3,909,138 with an average 3.78 people per household. Among the population, 684,724 (17.52%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 5,712 people per km2. Narayanganj District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 79.24%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of almost 939 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 40.52% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 1,267.<ref name="2022census">{{Cite book |url=https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/2023-11-20-05-20-e6676a7993679bfd72a663e39ef0cca7.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |date=November 2023 |isbn= |volume=1 |pages=}}</ref><ref name="census2022" />

===Religion=== {{bar box |title=Religions in Narayanganj District (2022)<ref name="2022census"/> |titlebar=#Fcd116 |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=left |bars= {{bar percent|[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]]|green|95.22}} {{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]]|darkorange|4.71}} {{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.07}} }}

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Religion in present-day Narayanganj district ! rowspan="2" |Religion ! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="1941religion">{{cite web |title=Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/37365/GIPE-020591.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y}}</ref>{{rp|96–97}}{{Efn|1941 figures are for Narayanganj, Fatullah, Baidyabazar, Rupganj and Araihazar thanas of erstwhile Dhaka district. District and thana borders have shifted since 1941.}} ! colspan="2" |1981<ref name="census2011" /> ! colspan="2" |1991<ref name="census2011"/> ! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="census2011" /> ! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="census2011" /> ! colspan="2" |2022<ref name="2022census" /> |- !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% !{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}} !% |- |[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]] [[File:Star and Crescent.svg|15x15px]] |420,140 |72.91% |1,236,101 |91.11% |1,624,772 |92.59% |2,057,398 |94.64% |2,802,567 |95.06% |3,722,125 |95.22% |- |[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|16x16px]] |149,650 |25.97% |107,605 |7.93% |112,769 |6.43% |115,157 |5.30% |144,105 |4.89% |184,309 |4.71% |- |[[Christianity in Bangladesh|Christianity]] [[File:Christian cross.svg|21x21px]] |6,090 |1.06% |11,966 |0.88% |14,116 |0.80% |695 |0.03% |963 |0.03% |1,511 |0.04% |- |Others{{efn|Including [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Ad-Dharmi]]s, or not stated}} |349 |0.06% |1,056 |0.08% |3,147 |0.18% |698 |0.03% |582 |0.02% |1,193 |0.03% |- !Total Population !576,229 !100% !'''1,356,728''' !100% !1,754,804 !100% !2,173,948 !100% !2,948,217 !100% !3,909,138 !100% |}

In 2011, the district had 95.06% Muslims and 4.89% Hindus. The district of Narayanganj has 3080 mosques, 269 temples, 10 churches and 4 [[Buddhist temples]]. There are around 1,500 Christians and 1,000 Buddhists in the district. Moreover; there is an institute called 'Narayanganj Institute of Islam', which conducts research activities on comparative religions.

==Places of interest== * [[BSCIC Jamdani Village]] * ancient city of [[Sonargaon]] * The Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) embankment * Shaira Garden near Nazimuddin Bhuiyan Degree College at Madanpur * The [[Bangladesh Engineering and Ship Building Corporation]] at Sonakanda on the east bank of the [[Shitalakshya River]] * [[Zinda Park]] * Narayanganj City Park, Purbachal City.

==Flora and fauna==

===Flora=== Almost the whole of Narayanganj district lies on the meander flood plain. Most of this area is now flooded only by rainwater. Only minor areas near the [[Old Brahmaputra]], [[Meghna]], [[Shitalakshya River|Shitalakshya]] and [[Dhaleshwari River|Dhaleswari]] rivers are affected by river water and receive fresh silt deposits. A wide variety of soils occurs in this district.

===Fauna===

====Mammals==== Mammals that are commonly seen in the district are [[Indian pipistrelle]] (''Pipistrellus coromandra'').

====Birds==== The most common birds of the district include [[Oriental magpie robin|doel]], [[Common myna|salik]], crow and duck.

====Fish==== In the river, canals, [[beel]]s, and ponds there are various kinds of fish, but because of water pollution, it is very hard to see fish in the river.

==See also== {{Commons category|position=left}} * [[Districts of Bangladesh]] * [[Divisions of Bangladesh]] * [[Upazilas of Bangladesh]] * [[Administrative geography of Bangladesh]] * [[Upazila Nirbahi Officer]] * [[Jolshiri Abashon]]

== Notes == {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References== {{Reflist|36em}}

==External links== * {{commons-inline}} * {{wikivoyage inline}}

[[Category:Narayanganj District]] [[Category:Districts of Dhaka Division]] [[Category:Districts of Bangladesh]] [[Category:Districts and regions of Greater Dhaka]]