The divisions of Bangladesh are further divided into districts or zilas (Bengali: জেলা).[1] The headquarters of a district is called the district seat (Bengali: জেলা সদর, romanized: zila sadar). There are 64 districts in Bangladesh. The districts are further subdivided into 495 subdistricts or upazilas.[2]
History
editBefore independence, Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) had 19 districts.
English spelling change
editIn April 2018, the government changed the English spelling of five districts to avoid inconsistencies in the Bengali and English spellings and to make them consistent with the Bengali pronunciation. The spellings have been changed from Bogra to Bogura, Barisal to Barishal, Jessore to Jashore, Chittagong to Chattogram and Comilla to Cumilla.[3]
Administration
editDeputy commissioner
editA Deputy Commissioner (DC), popularly abbreviated to 'DC,' serves as the executive head of the district. Individuals appointed to the role are selected by the government from the Deputy Secretary BCS Administration Cadre.
District councils
editA district council (or zila parishad) is a local government body at the district level.[4] The Bengali word parishad means council and zila parishad translates to district council.
The functions of a district council include the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. They are also responsible for building hospitals, dispensaries, schools, and other educational institutions. In addition, district councils oversee health facilities and sanitation projects, as well as the installation of tube wells for drinking water. They also manage rest houses and coordinate activities among the Union Parishads within the district.
Timeline of creation
edit- 1666
- 1769
- 1772
- 1781
- 1786
- 1787
- 1790
- 1797
- 1815
- 1821
- 1832
- 1860
- Hill Tracts district is split from Chittagong district.[5]
- 1882
- Khulna District is split from Jessore district .[18]
- 1947
- Kushtia District is established Because of the Partition of Bengal in 1947 before that it is a part of Nadia District.[19]
- 1969
- Tangail District is split from Mymensingh district.[11]
- Patuakhali district is split from Barisal district.[20]
- 1971
- Dhaka Division: Dhaka district, Faridpur district, Mymensingh district, Tangail district
- Chittagong Division: Hill Tracts district, Chittagong district, Comilla district, Noakhali district, Sylhet district.
- Rajshahi Division: Bogra district, Dinajpur district, Rajshahi district, Rangpur district, Pabna district.
- Khulna Division: Barisal district, Jessore district, Khulna district, Kushtia district, Patuakhali district
- 1984
- Magura district was split from Jessore district.
- Brahmanbaria and Chandpur districts were split from Comilla district.[21]
- Sirajganj district was split from Pabna district.[22]
- Sherpur district was split from Jamalpur district.
- Netrokona and Kishoreganj districts were split from Mymensingh district.[11]
- Lakshmipur and Feni districts were split from Noakhali district.[23][24]
- Sunamganj, Habiganj and Maulvibazar districts were split from Sylhet district.[7]
- Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts were split from Dinajpur district.[10]
- Jhenaidah and Narail split from Jessore district.
- Cox's Bazar district was split from Chittagong district.[25]
- Satkhira and Bagerhat districts were split from Khulna District.
- Meherpur and Chuadanga districts were split from Kustia District.
- Prirojpur and Jhalokati District were spilt from Barisal district.
- Bhola and Barguna District were spilt from Patuakhali district.
List of districts
edit| Division | District | Established | Area (km2)[26] | Population (2022)[27] | Density (/km2)[27] | No. of Upazila [2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barisal | Barguna | 1984 | 1,831 | 1,010,530 | 552 | 6 |
| Barishal | 1797 | 2,785 | 2,570,450 | 923 | 10 | |
| Bhola | 1984 | 3,403 | 1,932,514 | 568 | 7 | |
| Jhalokati | 1984 | 707 | 661,161 | 935 | 4 | |
| Patuakhali | 1969 | 3,221 | 1,727,254 | 536 | 8 | |
| Pirojpur | 1984 | 1,278 | 1,198,193 | 938 | 7 | |
| Chittagong | Bandarban | 1981 | 4,479 | 481,109 | 107 | 7 |
| Brahmanbaria | 1984 | 1,881 | 3,306,559 | 1,758 | 9 | |
| Chandpur | 1984 | 1,645 | 2,635,748 | 1,602 | 8 | |
| Chittagong | 1666 | 5,283 | 9,169,464 | 1,736 | 15 | |
| Comilla | 1790 | 3,146 | 6,212,216 | 1,974 | 17 | |
| Cox's Bazar | 1984 | 2,492 | 2,823,265 | 1,133 | 9 | |
| Feni | 1984 | 990 | 1,648,896 | 1,665 | 6 | |
| Khagrachhari | 1983 | 2,749 | 714,119 | 260 | 9 | |
| Lakshmipur | 1984 | 1,440 | 1,938,111 | 1,346 | 5 | |
| Noakhali | 1821 | 3,686 | 3,625,252 | 984 | 9 | |
| Rangamati | 1983 | 6,116 | 647,587 | 106 | 10 | |
| Dhaka | Dhaka | 1772 | 1,464 | 14,734,025 | 10,067 | 5 |
| Faridpur | 1815 | 2,053 | 2,162,876 | 1,054 | 9 | |
| Gazipur | 1984 | 1,806 | 5,263,474 | 2,914 | 5 | |
| Gopalganj | 1984 | 1,469 | 1,295,053 | 882 | 5 | |
| Kishoreganj | 1984 | 2,689 | 3,267,630 | 1,215 | 13 | |
| Madaripur | 1984 | 1,125 | 1,293,027 | 1,149 | 5 | |
| Manikganj | 1984 | 1,384 | 1,558,024 | 1,126 | 7 | |
| Munshiganj | 1984 | 1,004 | 1,625,418 | 1,618 | 6 | |
| Narayanganj | 1984 | 684 | 3,909,138 | 5,712 | 5 | |
| Narsingdi | 1984 | 1,150 | 2,584,452 | 2,247 | 6 | |
| Rajbari | 1984 | 1,092 | 1,189,821 | 1,089 | 5 | |
| Shariatpur | 1984 | 1,174 | 1,294,561 | 1,103 | 6 | |
| Tangail | 1969 | 3,414 | 4,037,608 | 1,183 | 12 | |
| Khulna | Bagerhat | 1984 | 3,959 | 1,613,079 | 407 | 9 |
| Chuadanga | 1984 | 1,174 | 1,234,066 | 1,051 | 4 | |
| Jashore | 1781 | 2,607 | 3,076,849 | 1,181 | 8 | |
| Jhenaidah | 1984 | 1,965 | 1,771,304 | 902 | 6 | |
| Khulna | 1882 | 4,394 | 2,613,385 | 595 | 9 | |
| Kushtia | 1947 | 1,609 | 2,149,692 | 1,336 | 6 | |
| Magura | 1984 | 1,039 | 1,033,115 | 994 | 4 | |
| Meherpur | 1984 | 742 | 705,356 | 951 | 3 | |
| Narail | 1984 | 968 | 788,673 | 815 | 3 | |
| Satkhira | 1984 | 3,817 | 2,196,581 | 574 | 7 | |
| Mymensingh | Jamalpur | 1978 | 2,115 | 2,499,737 | 1,182 | 7 |
| Mymensingh | 1787 | 4,395 | 5,899,052 | 1,342 | 13 | |
| Netrokona | 1984 | 2,794 | 2,324,856 | 832 | 10 | |
| Sherpur | 1984 | 1,365 | 1,501,853 | 1,101 | 5 | |
| Rajshahi | Bogura | 1821 | 2,899 | 3,734,300 | 1,288 | 12 |
| Joypurhat | 1983 | 1,012 | 956,430 | 945 | 5 | |
| Naogaon | 1984 | 3,436 | 2,784,598 | 811 | 11 | |
| Natore | 1984 | 1,900 | 1,859,921 | 979 | 7 | |
| Chapai Nawabganj | 1984 | 1,703 | 1,835,527 | 1,078 | 5 | |
| Pabna | 1832 | 2,376 | 2,909,622 | 1,225 | 9 | |
| Rajshahi | 1772 | 2,425 | 2,915,013 | 1,202 | 9 | |
| Sirajganj | 1984 | 2,402 | 3,357,708 | 1,398 | 9 | |
| Rangpur | Dinajpur | 1786 | 3,444 | 3,315,238 | 963 | 13 |
| Gaibandha | 1984 | 2,115 | 2,562,232 | 1,212 | 7 | |
| Kurigram | 1984 | 2,245 | 2,329,161 | 1,037 | 9 | |
| Lalmonirhat | 1984 | 1,247 | 1,428,406 | 1,145 | 5 | |
| Nilphamari | 1984 | 1,547 | 2,092,567 | 1,353 | 6 | |
| Panchagarh | 1984 | 1,405 | 1,179,843 | 840 | 5 | |
| Rangpur | 1772 | 2,401 | 3,169,615 | 1,320 | 8 | |
| Thakurgaon | 1984 | 1,781 | 1,533,894 | 861 | 5 | |
| Sylhet | Habiganj | 1984 | 2,637 | 2,358,886 | 895 | 9 |
| Moulvibazar | 1984 | 2,799 | 2,123,445 | 759 | 7 | |
| Sunamganj | 1984 | 3,747 | 2,695,495 | 719 | 12 | |
| Sylhet | 1782 | 3,452 | 3,857,037 | 1,117 | 13 | |
| Total | 147,556 | 164,924,071 | 82,892 | 495 | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bangladesh – Government and society". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Upazilla List". Bangladesh National Portal. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "English spelling of five districts changed". The Independent (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ Kamal Siddiqui. "Local Government". In Sirajul Islam (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ a b Harun, Jasim (2012). "Chittagong District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ খান, শামসুজ্জামান (2014). আব্দুল জলিল, মুহম্মদ (ed.). বাংলাদেশ লোকজ সংস্কৃতি গ্রন্থমালা : রংপুর. বাংলা একাডেমি.
- ^ a b Hossain, Ashfaq (2012). "Sylhet District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Mahbubar Rahman, Md. (2012). "Rajshahi District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Siddiqi, Mahibbullah (2012). "Jessore District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Hossain, Ashfaq (2012). "Dinajpur District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ a b c এক নজরে জেলা [District at a Glance]. Mymensingh District (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Siddiqi, Mamun (2012). "Comilla District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Saiful Islam, KAM (2012). "Barisal District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Reza, Masud (2012). "Faridpur District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Lipi, Jahanara (2012). "Noakhali District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Nazmul Haq, Md (2012). "Bogra District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Shariful Alam, Md (2012). "Pabna District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Mallik, Sandipak (2012). "Khulna District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Kushtia District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ Jerin, Iffat (2012). "Patuakhali District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Brahmanbaria District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Sirajganj District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Lakshmipur District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Feni District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ Siddiqi, Mahibbullah (2012). "Cox's_Bazar District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Table 3.2.3: Area, Number of Household, Enumerated Population and Density with Rank by Division and Zila, 2011" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Population and Housing Census 2011 National Report - Volume 1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011. pp. 27–28. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.