Laksham Upazila

Laksam (Bengali: লাকসাম) is an upazila of Comilla District (officialy "Cumilla") in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.[5]

Laksam

লাকসাম
Upazila
Laksam
Location in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°14.8′N 91°7.7′E
Country Bangladesh
DivisionChittagong Division
DistrictComilla District
Government
 • MayorMd. Abul Khair [1] (Awami League)
 • ChairmanAdvocate Alhaj Md. Yunus Bhuiyan [2]
Area
 • Total135.61 km2 (52.36 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total294,719[3]
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Websitelaksam.comilla.gov.bd
All the area and population related data's above are according to the Population and Housing Census 2011 by The Government of Bangladesh [4]

History

Laksam was made into a Upazila in 1983. On 6 April 1971 more than 200 people were at Ajgara Bazar during the Bangladesh Liberation war. The Pakistan army was defeated on 12 December 1971 in the Upazila.[5] The Upazila has experienced a water crisis due to arsenic in the groundwater.[6]

Background of the Upazila

Historically, Laksam Upazila is famous for many reasons. When the British government established a railway line in this country in 1883, a railway junction was established on the high ground in the northern part of Daulatganj. The name of the railway junction at Baratupa mouza is Laksam railway junction.[7]

Origin of naming

There are different opinions about the origin of naming Laksam. It is believed that the area was home to millions of shams, hence the name Laksam. The Arabic word shams and its meaning is sun, the sun meant the saints. So it can be said that the name Laksam originated from millions of shams. There is another proverb that Laksam has been named because of the influence of many rich people in the region.[7]

Upazila Sadar

Laksam Upazila Sadar is located in a picturesque setting on the banks of Dakatiya River, just 29 km south of Cumilla Sadar. The city of Laksham is known as the commercial city. It is one of the five largest railway junctions in Bangladesh.[8] Laksam Thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. At present the literacy rate of the upazila is 43.81%, agriculture 34.05%, 11.21% business, 13.55% employment, 3.26% transport 19.08% agricultural workers, 3.8% non-agricultural workers, 1.21% construction workers and 13.75% Depending on other professions.[7]

Geography

Laksam Upazila has an area of 135.61 km2 (52.36 sq mi).[5] It is bounded by Comilla Sadar and Barura upazilas on the north, Chatkhil, Begumganj and Senbagh upazilas on the south, Nangalkot and Chauddagram upazilas on the east, Barura and Shahrasti upazilas on the west. The main rivers are Dakatia and Little Feni.

The Dakatia River flows through the Upazila. This river comes from Tripura, India and runs over the Comilla to flow into the Meghna River near Chandpur District.[9] The river is 207 km (129 mi) long.

Health

This upazila is an arsenic prone area. So far, 3,563 arsenic patients have been identified. The Department of Public Health Engineering and NGOs are continuing to provide arsenic-free water. So far, 162 arsenic-free deep tube wells, 210 arsenic-free star tube wells and 82 arsenic-free shallow tube wells have been installed in different areas of the upazila. Besides, arsenic free water is being supplied to the municipal area from deep tube wells.[7]

Hospitals
  • Laksam General Hospital Limited[10]
  • Laksam Upazila Health Complex[11]
  • Surakkha Hospital Limited
  • Laksam Fair Health Hospital[12]

Food

The main crops of Laksam upazila are paddy, potato, eggplant, tomato and vegetables. The total cultivable land of Laksam upazila is 26.56 acres, khas land is 4.021 acres, vested property is 610.46 acres and fallow land is 275 acres. Total agricultural products produced 82,918 MT, food demand 52,193 MT. Food surplus is about 10,000 MT. There is 1 food warehouse with a capacity of 2000 MT in the Upazila.[7]

Places of interest[13]
Laksham Nawab Bari
  • Laksham Moishan Bari
  • Nawab Fayzunesa Govt. College[14]
  • Laksham Junction railway station
  • Archaeological heritage and relics Qazi Mosque with three domes[13]
  • Nawab Bari Mosque with ten domes[13]
  • Three-domed Arfannesa Mosque (1880)[13]
  • Paschimgaon Nawab Bari (Paschimgaon)[13]
  • Three-domed Afrannesa Mosque (1889)
  • Atul Chandra Zamindar's house[13]
  • Sri Sri Jagannath Bari Devalaya and Jagannath Dighi[13]
Laksham Moishan Bari

Administration

Laksham Upazila is divided into Laksham Municipality and seven union parishads: Azgora, Bakoi, Gobindapur, Laksam Purba, Kandirpar, Mudafar Gonj, and Uttarda. The union parishads are subdivided into 136 mauzas and 178 villages.[15]

Laksham Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 31 mahallas.[15]

Transport

Laksam Railway Junction, on the Akhaura-Laksam-Chittagong Line, Laksam-Noakhali Line and Laksam-Chandpur Line is one of the two biggest junctions of Bangladesh. From here people go to Chandpur District, Noakhali District.

There are 6 km of paved roads, 10 km of semi-paved roads, 200 km of unpaved roads, 24 km of waterways and 30 km of railways. Among the industrial factories, cigarette factory, rice mill and oil mill are also notable.[7]

Notable residents

Education

There are 57 government primary schools, 09 registered primary schools, 10 community primary schools, 25 secondary schools, 17 madrasas, 05 intermediate colleges and 02 degree colleges in the upazila.[7]

Here are some educational institutions situated at Laksam Upazila:

  • Al Amin Institute (High school at Dargah Road, Paschimgaon)[19][20]
  • Nawab Faizunnessa And Badrunnessa Joint High School (also known as NFBN[21] high school, situated at Paschimgaon, Laksam-Pouroshova)[22]
  • Laksam Government Pilot High School (High school at New Road)
  • Nawab Fayzunesa Govt. College Laksam (Government college at Paschimgaon)[23][24]
  • Laksam Pilot Girls High School[25][26]
  • Ajgora Hazi Altafp Ali High School And College (Academic institute at Paotali, Laksam)[27]
  • Nasratpur Government Primary School
  • Mohammadpur Government Primary School (Elementary school at Laksam-Monohorgonj Road) [28]

References
  1. Laksam Upazila Government Website
  2. Laksam Upazila Government Website
  3. Population and Housing Census 2011
  4. Population and Housing Census 2011
  5. Muhammad Nur E Alam Siddiqi (2012). "Laksham Upazila". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  6. "Comilla residents have to drink arsenic contaminated water". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  7. "লাকসাম উপজেলা এর ইতিহাস". Laksam Upazila Government Website (in Bengali). Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  8. "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  9. "Laksam, Comilla". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  10. Daktarbhai. "Daktarbhai". daktarbhai.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  11. "Organization Registry". facilityregistry.dghs.gov.bd. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  12. "Medicare 24". Medicare 24. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  13. "Laksam at a glance by Laksam.comilla.gov.bd". Laksam Upazila Government Website. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  14. https://www.nfgc.edu.bd/
  15. "District Statistics 2011: Comilla" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  16. Karim, Saydul. "Nawab Faizunnessa Chowdhurani History". Nawab Faizunnessa Government College. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
  17. Haq, Kazi Enamul (11 January 2019). "Bangladesh will astonish the world in next five years: LGRD Minister Tajul". bdnews24.com.
  18. "Biplob Bhattacharjee made national goalkeeping coach". Biplob Bhattacharjee made national goalkeeping coach | theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  19. "AL-AMIN INSTITUTE(আল আমিন ইনস্টিটিউট)". al-amin-institute.business.site. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  20. Bangladesh, Review Network. "AL AMIN INSTITUTE (Address, EIIN, Mobile Number)". amar-school.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  21. "Nabab Faizunnessa & Badrunnessa Amalgtd High School". nfbn.edu.bd. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  22. "Nawab Faizunnessa And Badrunnessa Amal High School - Sohopathi | সহপাঠী". Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  23. "National University :: College Details". www.nubd.info. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  24. https://www.nfgc.edu.bd/
  25. Bangladesh, Review Network. "LAKSAM PILOT GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL (Address, EIIN, Mobile Number)". amar-school.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  26. "Laksam Pilot Girls High School - Sohopathi | সহপাঠী". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  27. "Ajgora Hazi Altafp Ali High School And College - Sohopathi | সহপাঠী". Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  28. "Mohammadpur Government Primary School". Mohammadpur Government Primary School. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
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