Satkhira Sadar Upazila

Satkhira Sadar Upazila (satkhira district) with an area of 400.82 sq km, is bounded by kalaroa upazila on the north, debhata and assasuni upazilas on the south, tala upazila on the east and west bengal of India on the west. Main rivers are ichamati, Betua, Labangabati, and Kholpatua; Pansayar canal and Dadbhanga Beel are notable.

Satkhira (Town) a municipal town, consists of 9 wards and 31 mahallas. The area of the town is 27.84 sq km. The town has a population of 86372; male 51.75%, female 48.25%; population density per sq km 3102. Literacy rate among the town people is 49.7%. The main business centre of the town is Sultanpur Bazar (old name Pransayar Bazar).

Administration Satkhira Sadar thana was turned into an upazila in 1984. The upazila consists of 17 union parishads, 147 mouzas and 235 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics Shahi Mosque and Hozrakhana at Baikari, Labsa Mosque, tomb of Mosran Dewan, Dargah of Maichampa, Pancha Mandir (1797), Tahsil Office and Sri Sri Jagannatha Deva Mandir at Zhaudanga, Chhaigharia Jora (joint) Shiva Mandir.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass killing site: homestead of Dinesh Karmakar and the adjacent pond (backside of the Satkhira Government School), Bankal and Gangni Bridge.

Population 344444; male 51.3%, female 48.7%; Muslim 83.73%, Hindu 15.97%, Christian 0.18%, Buddhist 0.01% and others 0.11%.

Religious institutions Mosques 389, temple 15, church 2 and tomb 3, most noted of which are Sultanpur Shahi Mosque, tomb of Champa, Kali Mandir and Kal Bhairav Mandir at Brahmarajpur.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 34.6%; male 43% and female 25.7%. Educational institutions: college 11, high school 37, madrasa 48, government primary school 140, non-government primary school 48, blind school 1, retarded school 1, law college 1, homeopathy college 1, PTI 1, vocational training institute 1, technical school 1, vehicle driving training school 1, tailoring training centre 4, kindergarten 11, art school 4, music school 11, judo and karate school 6, computer and typing training school 7, orphanage 12. Noted educational institutions: PNP Collegiate School (1846), GN Government Primary School (1818).

Locally published newspapers and periodicals Dailies: Kafela, Patradut, Satkhira Chitra; weeklies: Dakhinayan, Satkhira Digest, Sahajatri, Ajker Satkhira, fortnightly Annesan (extinct), monthly Chharar Dak; quarterly: Ikkhan, Dakhiner Janala, Saumma; extinct periodicals: Masjed (1917), Annandamayee (1926), Korok (1962). Besides more than three hundred literary little magazines were published during the period from 1965 to 1999.

Cultural organisations Club 31, public library 3, cinema hall 3, literary society 10, theatre group 21, theatre stage 1, opera party 3, circus party 1, women’s organisation 5.

Main occupations Agriculture 35.31%, agricultural labourer 25.79%, wage labourer 2.05%, industry 1.18%, commerce 15.82%, service 7.83%, transport 3.24%, construction 1.26% and others 7.52%.

Land use Total cultivable land 25728.45 hectares, fallow land 485.63 hectares; single crop 22.5%, double crop 69.32% and treble crop land 8.18%; cultivable land under irrigation 20388 hectares.

Land control Among the peasants 6.14% are landless, 58.3% small, 28.24% intermediate and 7.32% rich; cultivable land per head 0.09 hectare.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Tk 7000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, potato, pulse, mustard seed, kachu (aroid) and vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Local varieties of paddy (nearly extinct).

Main fruits Mango, black berry, jackfruit, banana, papaya, litchi, coconut, guava, palm, lemon, jamrul, kul and safeda.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 122, dairy 8, fishery 215, shrimp cultivation 194, hatchery 11.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 84 km, semi pucca 98 km and mud road 550 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), bullock cart (nearly extinct) and boat.

Manufactories Textile mill 1, ice factory 8, flour mill 3, biscuit factory 8, fish processing factory 5, cold storage 2, welding 75.

Cottage industries Weaving 8, goldsmith 97, blacksmith 120, potteries 81, wood work 156, bamboo and cane work 265, mat work 89, tailoring 287 and jute and cotton work 73.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 67, most noted of which are Abader Hat, Bangdaha Hat, Zhaudanga Bazar, Sultanpur Bazar; fairs 7, noted of which Gurpukur Mela, Bhairab Mela, Rakhal Mela,Chaitra Samkranti Mela and Rath Mela.

Main exports Paddy, rice, cotton, shrimp, handicrafts and kul.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, CARE, Bangladesh Vision,caritas, grameen bank, asa, World Vision, Barsa, Chetana Prataya, Banaphul, Swadesh, Uttaran, Pragati, Mayer Anchal, Kheya, Usha, Parapar, Jubo Academy Satkhira, Seeds.

Health centres Zila sadar hospital 1, child hospital 1, Islami Bank community hospital 1, health and family welfare centre 14, mother and child welfare centre 1.
[Tripti Mohan Mallik, Banglapedia]