Khagrachhari District

Khagrachari is a district in Chittagong Division, South eastern Bangladesh. It included under Chittagong Hill Tracts region.

Khagrachhari খাগড়াছড়ি 𑄈𑄉𑄴𑄢𑄍𑄧𑄢𑄨
District
Nickname(s):  প্রাকৃতিক সৌন্দর্যের রাণী (The Queen of Natural Beauty)/উপত্যকার শহর (The City of Valleys)
Motto(s):  বৈচিত্র্যে সৌন্দর্য (Beauty Lies in Diversity)
Location of Khagrachhari District within Bangladesh
Expandable map of Khagrachhari District
Coordinates: 23.0417°N 91.9944°E
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Chittagong Division
Government
• MP	Kujendra Lal Tripura (Awami League)
• Deputy Commissioner	Protap Chandra Biswas
• Mayor of Khagrachhari	Rafiqul Alam
Area
• Total	2,749.16 km^2 (1,061.46 sq mi)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	613,917
• Density	220/km^2 (580/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Khagrasoria
Time zone	UTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code	4400
HDI (2018)	0.593[1] medium · 14th of 21
Website	www.khagrachhari.gov.bd

History

The Chittagong Hill Tracts was under the reign of the Tripura State, the Arakans & the Sultans in different times before it came under the control of the British East India Company in 1760. Although the British got the authority of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1760, they had no authority besides collecting nominal taxes. Until 1860, two kings or chiefs governed the internal administration of this region. In 1860, another circle was formed in present Khagrachhari zila, inhabited by the Tripura population. The chief or the Raja of this circle was selected from the minority Marma population. The circle was named after the Tripura dialect the Mun Circle, but later, the 'Mun dialect', was changed and renamed as Mong Circle. In 1900 the British offered independent status to Chittagong Hill Tracts recognizing the culture and language of the hill tracts population. But during The Partition of Indian sub-continent this status was abolished and became part of East Bengal, ruled under Pakistan. Then, the name of this subdivision was Ramgarh with its headquarters at Khagrachhari. It was upgraded to zila in 1983. The zila headquarters is located on the bank of the 'Chengi' stream (meaning Chhara in local language) which was full of Catkin plants (meaning Khagra in local language). It is believed that the zila might have derived its name from the above two words 'Khagra' and 'Chhara'. Khagrachhari Local Govt. Council was established on 6 March 1989 to uphold the political, social, cultural, educational and economic right and to expedite the process of socio-economic development of all residents of Khagrachhari Hill District. According to 'Peace Accord' this council was renamed as “Khagrachari Hill District Council (KHDC)” by the Act-10 of 1998. Now this council has been regarded as the main focal point of administration as well as development activities of the district.

Geography

Khagrachari is a hilly area. It is bounded by the tripura state of India on the north, Rangamati and chittagong districts on the south, Rangamati district on the east, Chittagong District and Tripura state of India on the west. Notable hill ranges are Golamoon, Chotto Panchari, Karmi Mura, Lutiban, Kuradia, Bhanga Mura, Jopisil.

It has three rivers, namely Chengi, Feni and Maini. Chengi is the longest river in Khagrachhari. The main ethnic groups living in the district are Tripuris, Chakmas, Bengalis and Marmas.

Demographics

According to Bangladesh Population Census 2011, total Population is 6,13,917, with an annual growth rate of 1.54%; male 3,13,793, female 300,124; Muslim 3,82,849, Hindu 89,102, Buddhist 1,39,603 Christian 2157 and others 207. Indigenous communities such as Tipra/Tripuri(Tripura), Rakhaine, Chakma, Marma and Tanchangya belong to this zilla.[2] [3]

As per the 2011 Census, there were a total of 316,987 indigenous people in the district (51.63%).[4]

Subdivisions

Upazilas under this district are:

1. Dighinala Upazila
2. Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila
3. Lakshmichhari Upazila
4. Mahalchhari Upazila
5. Manikchhari Upazila
6. Matiranga Upazila
7. Panchhari Upazila
8. Ramgarh Upazila
9. Guimara Upazila[5]

Administration

Khagrachhari district consist of 3 Paurashava,9 Upazila/Thana,38 Union,122 Mauza,27 Ward,153 Mahalla and 1,702 Villages. The upazilas are Dighinala, Khagrachhari Sadar, Lakshmichhari, Mahalchhari, Manikchhari, Matiranga, Panchhari, Ramgarh and Guimara.

Deputy Commissioner (DC): Protap Chandro Biswas[6]

Chairman of Hill District Council: Mr. Kongjari Chowdhury

Economy

Most of the people live on Jhum cultivation. There are also people of various professions like teacher, farmer and businessmen. Tourism is becoming a strong income source for the local.

Main sources of income Agriculture 59.92%, non-agricultural labourer 9.33%, industry 0.44%, commerce 10.67%, transport and communication 1.11%, service 7.94%, construction 0.92%, religious service 0.24%, rent and remittance 0.37% and others 9.06%.[7]

Education

Literacy rate (7+ year) 46.1%; male 51.9%, female 40.1%. Rate of school going student is 83%.There have 18 colleges, 71 high schools,13 madrasa and different kinds of educational institutions.

Noted educational institutions:

• Khagrachhari Government College (1974)
• Matiranga Degree College (1992)
• Ramgarh Government Degree College (1980)
• Panchhari College (1990)
• Dighinala Government College
• Khagrachhri Cantonmet public school and college(2006),
• Panchhari High School and College (1981)
• Khagrachhari Government High School (1957)
• Tabalchhari TK High School (1952)
• Ramgarh Government High School (1952)
• Rani Nihar Devi Government High School (1976)
• Dighinala Government High School
• Choto Merung High School(1975)
• Khagrachhari North Khobongpodia Government Primary School (1905)[8][9]

Religious composition (2011)

Source[10]

Religion	1991	2001	2011	Perc 2011	PGR 91-11
Muslim	162,504	228,753	274,258	44.7%	68.8%
Hindu	57,158	86,351	103,195	16.8%	80.5%
Christian	939	3,745	4,070	0.7%	333.4%
Buddhist	121,631	206,473	231,309	37.7%	90.2%
Others	256	342	1,085	0.2%	323.8%
Total	342,488	525,664	613,917	100.0%	79.3%

Religion in Khagrachhari (2011)[11]

  Islam (44.7%)

  Buddhism (37.7%)

  Hinduism (16.8%)

  Christianity (0.7%)

  Tribal Religions (0.2%)

Archaeological heritage and relics

Among the archaeological heritages and relics, Rajbari of the Mong Circle and Dighi (large pond) of Dighinala (excavated by Gobindo Manikko exiled king of Tripura) are notable.[12]

Transport

Palanquin, elephant cart, buffalo cart, horse carriage, bullock cart and country boat were the traditional transports once found in the rural area of the zila. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct except country boat. Now-a-days, all the upazilas are connected to the zila headquarters by metalled roads. Bus, minibus, three wheelers, pickup van ply over the zila. Chander Gari (local four wheeled jeep) is a popular transport used to ply in the hill area of the zila.[12]

Climate

Temperature and Rainfall: The annual average temperature of the zila varies from maximum 34.6 °C to minimum 13 °C and the average annual rainfall is 3031 mm.

Member of tenth Parliament

Khagrachhari Seat 298: Kujendra Laal Tripura (from Awami League).[13][14] Before Kejendra Laal Tripura, Jatindra Laal Tripura and then Wadud Bhuiyan was the Member of Parliament of Khagrachhari Seat 298. He was also the Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board at that period. Wadud Bhuiyan was two times MP.A.K.M alim Ullah was two times MP

Notable persons

1. Kujendra Lal Tripura[15][16]
2. Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura[17][18]
3. Jatindra Laal Tripura[19][20]

See also

• Postal Codes
• Alutila Cave
• Palashpur
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Tripuri people

References

1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
2. খাগড়াছড়ি জেলা. Khagrachhari District. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
3. http://www.bbs.gov.bd/site/page/47856ad0-7e1c-4aab-bd78-892733bc06eb/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8
4. ৪৭ জেলায় আদিবাসীর সংখ্যা কমেছে!. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 July 2020.
5. "Guimara upazila office works from a room of the union parishad". The Business Standard. 10 November 2019.
6. খাগড়াছড়ির নতুন ডিসি প্রতাপ চন্দ্র বিশ্বাস. PaharBarta.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 July 2020.
7. Begum, M. E. A.; Miah, MA Monayem; Rashid, M. A.; Islam, M. T.; Hossain, M. I. (7 April 2019). "Economic analysis of turmeric cultivation: evidence from Khagrachari district". Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research. 44 (1): 43–58. doi:10.3329/bjar.v44i1.40902. ISSN 2408-8293.
8. "Khagrachari Government College". kgc-edu.gov.bd. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
9. "Khagrachhari District". Banglapedia. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
10. "Is this the Bangladesh we wanted? Analyzing the Hindu Population Gap (2001-2011)". 12 April 2014.
11. "Official Census Results 2011 page xiii" (PDF). Bangladesh Government. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
12. http://www.bbs.gov.bd/site/page/47856ad0-7e1c-4aab-bd78-892733bc06eb/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8
13. "9th Parliament Member's List". Archived from the original on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
14. "List of All MPs". Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
15. "AL's Kujendra Lal Tripura retains Khagrachhari". Dhaka Tribune. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
16. "Constituency 298_10th_En". parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
17. "ICIMOD – International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)". Retrieved 8 February 2020.
18. "Chairman of Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura distributing bamboo saplings among marginal farmers in Rangamati town as Chief Guest recently". The New Nation. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
19. "Taskforce on CHT refugees to meet Oct 5". The Daily Star. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
20. "Constituency 298". parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 8 February 2020.