Mymensingh District

Mymensingh (Bengali: ময়মনসিংহ) is a district in Mymensingh division, Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by the Meghalaya state of India and the Garo Hills, on the south by Gazipur District, on the east by the districts of Netrokona and Kishoreganj, and on the west by the districts of Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail.[2] Mymensingh town is the district headquarters.

Mymensingh ময়মনসিংহ
District
Mymensingh District
Office of the District Commissioner of Mymensingh
Nickname(s):  মমিসিং
Location of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Mymensingh District
Coordinates: 24°38′3″N 90°16′4″E
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Mymensingh Division
Government
• Deputy Commissioner	Md. Mizanur Rahman
Area
• Total	4,363.48 km^2 (1,684.75 sq mi)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	5,210,272
• Density	1,200/km^2 (3,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mumishinga
Time zone	UTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code	2200
HDI (2018)	0.562[1] medium · 19th of 21
Website	http://www.mymensingh.gov.bd/

History

Maimansingh, a district of British India, was in the Maimansingh division of Eastern Bengal and Assam. It occupies a portion of the alluvial valley of the Brahmaputra east of the main channel (called the Jamuna) and north of Dacca. The administrative headquarters are at Nasirabad, usually called Mymensingh town. Area, 6332 sq mi Pop. (1901) 3,915,068, showing an increase of 12.8% in the decade. The district is for the most part level and open, covered with well-cultivated fields, and intersected by numerous rivers.

The district was acquired by the East India Company with the Dewani Grant from the Mughal Emperor in 1765. At that time its greater part was included in the Niabat (Sub-Province of Dhaka) and a small portion in the Zamindaries of Atia, Kagmari, Pukuria and Patilandaha (of Rahahahi Zamindari). At the time of Permanent Settlement, it included northwest Garo-Hills and the Brahmandaria Subdivision of the Present Comilla district but did not include north Tangail and north-west part of Jamalpur. In 1799 Taluk Amirabad was transferred to Tippera (Comilla). In 1809, Patiladaha, situated north-east of the Brahmaputra came to district form Rangpur. In 1811, the river Banar and Brahmaputra were declared boundary between Dhaka and Mymensingh district and the river Brahmaputra and Meghna as boundary between Tippera (now Comilla) and Mymensingh and Dhaka. In 1811 west Gar-Hills were transferred to Rangpur district. In 1812 Patiladaha, was retransferred to Rangpur. In 1830, Parganas Sarail, Daudpur, haripur, Bejra, and Satarakhandal, were transferred to Tippera and Public convenience. In 1855, due to change in river course part or Serajganj thana was transferred from Mymensingh to Pabna and in 1866, the whole of it was transferred to Pabna. In 1866, thana Dewangajn was transferred to Mymensingh from Bogra and thana Atia from Dhaka. In 1867 for the administrative convenience boundaries of five subdivisions (including Tangail) and Thanas were notified. In 1874 on the basis of survey, the district boundaries were notified. In 1874 the Jamuna (or Daokoba) River was declared the western boundary between Mymensingh and Bogra and as such, 165 villages were transferred to Bogra. In 1875, the Brahmaputra was Made the boundary between Mymensingh and Rangpur and the portion of Patiladaha, east of the river, was transferred to this district form Rangpur. In 1877, the Jamuna was declared the boundary between Pabna and Mymensingh, in the west. On the first of December 1969, Tangail subdivision was separated from Mymensingh and a new District of Tangail was formed.[3] Then in 1977 another new district Jamalpur (including Sherpur) was formed.

Timeline

• 1772 1790 Fakir and Sannyasi revolt
• 1787 Floods
• 1788 Famines
• 1897 Earthquake
• 1905 Swadeshi Movement
• 1947 Breakdown of British India
• 1971 Liberation war
• 2015 8th division of Bangladesh

Administrative divisions

Inside map of Mymensingh District with Bengali text

Mymensingh district was established in 1787,[4] which was later on reorganised into six districts, namely, Tangail, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Netrokona, and Mymensingh. Currently, Mymensingh district has a city corporation, eight municipalities and thirteen upazilas. One of the most eminent District Magistrate and Collectors of Mymensingh district was Gurusaday Dutt, Esq., ICS, the first Indian to come first in any part of the Open Competitive Services Examination then held in England.

No.	Upazila (subdistrict) name	Area (square kilometre)	Population
1	Bhaluka	444.05	264,991
2	Trishal	338.98	336,797
3	Haluaghat	356.07	242,339
4	Muktagacha	314.71	321,759
5	Dhobaura	251.05	157,027
6	Fulbaria	402.41	345,283
7	Gaffargaon	401.16	379,803
8	Gauripur	374.07	247,945
9	Ishwarganj	286.19	306,977
10	Mymensingh Sadar	388.45	566,368
11	Nandail	326.13	328,847
12	Phulpur	580.21	459,046
13	Tara Khanda	----1	-----

Major zamindaris of Mymensingh (before 1947)

• Susanga (Maharaja) (3rd in the Order of Precedence in the Government House of Calcutta before 1947)
• Muktagagacha (also called Mymensingh) (Maharaja)
• Ramgopalpur (Raja)
• Gouripur (Babu)
• Kalipur (Babu)
• Malotipur

Geography

The district covers an area of 4363.48 km², with several small valleys between high forests.

The temperature ranges from 12 to 33 °C, and the annual rainfall averages 2,174 mm.

It is at the foot of Garo hills of Meghalaya, and includes some chars (sandy islands) founded on the bed of the Old Brahmaputra River and also some ancient forests of mainly a single wood tree, the sal tree.

The city of Mymensingh stands on the bank of the Old Brahmaputra, as the 1897 Assam earthquake changed the main flow from Brahmaputra to the Jamuna River which flows west of the greater Mymensingh region. After about hundred years, a port city of sea vessels from England lost its status as the river became a seasonal flow. Some former residences of colonial officials along the side of the river in the city are nowadays government buildings.

The area of Greater Mymensingh, the north front line is just at the foot of Garo hills of Meghalaya of India, the south this area excludes The Gazipur District, the east ends in the rich watery land of Bangladesh as native calls 'Hawor', the west ends in the ancient single wood forest (e.g. Muktagacha, Fulbaria and Valuka upazilas) and the Chars of Jamalpur District sided north-west of Mymensingh district.

Forests

The Madhupur jungle is a slightly elevated tract, extending from the north of Dhaka district into the heart of Mymensingh; its average height is about 60 ft above the level of the surrounding country, and it nowhere exceeds 100 ft. The jungle contains abundance of sal, valuable both as timber and charcoal. The main benefits of sal is that it can absorb carbon more than any other native trees, so it helps mitigate the severe pollution of Dhaka city. The only other elevated tract in the district is on the northern border, where the Susang Durgapur situated in Netrokona district (part of Greater Mymensingh). Actually the Haluaghat upozilla of Mymensingh is border with India and Garo hills of Meghalaya. They are for the most part covered with thick thorny jungle, but in parts are barren and rocky.

Rivers

The Jamuna forms the western boundary of Mymensingh for a course of 94 m. It is navigable for large boats throughout the year; and during the rainy season it expands in many places to 5–6 m in breadth. The Brahmaputra enters Mymensingh at its north-western corner near Karaibari, and flows south-east and south until it joins the Meghna a little below Bhairab Bazar. The gradual formation of chars and bars of sand in the upper part of its course (mainly influenced by The Great Assam Bengal Earthquake 1897) has diverted the main volume of water into the present channel of the Jamuna, which has in consequence become of much more importance than the Brahmaputra proper. The Meghna only flows for a short distance through the south-east portion of the district, the eastern and south-eastern parts of which abound in marshes.

Climate

Climate data for Mymensingh
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	24.0 (75.2)	27.7 (81.9)	31.8 (89.2)	33.4 (92.1)	32.1 (89.8)	31.0 (87.8)	31.2 (88.2)	31.2 (88.2)	31.1 (88.0)	30.8 (87.4)	28.7 (83.7)	25.8 (78.4)	29.9 (85.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	17.5 (63.5)	20.7 (69.3)	25.1 (77.2)	27.8 (82.0)	27.9 (82.2)	28.0 (82.4)	28.5 (83.3)	28.5 (83.3)	28.4 (83.1)	27.2 (81.0)	23.4 (74.1)	19.6 (67.3)	25.2 (77.4)
Average low °C (°F)	11.0 (51.8)	13.8 (56.8)	18.4 (65.1)	22.3 (72.1)	23.7 (74.7)	25.0 (77.0)	25.8 (78.4)	25.8 (78.4)	25.5 (77.9)	23.6 (74.5)	18.2 (64.8)	13.5 (56.3)	20.6 (69.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	12 (0.5)	17 (0.7)	46 (1.8)	110 (4.3)	286 (11.3)	469 (18.5)	401 (15.8)	398 (15.7)	311 (12.2)	179 (7.0)	18 (0.7)	2 (0.1)	2,249 (88.6)
Average relative humidity (%)	42	36	32	46	61	75	74	75	72	68	55	46	57
Source: National newspapers

Railroads

A branch line of the Eastern Bengal railway runs north from Dhaka through Nasirabad etc.

Town

Mymensingh town, earlier known as Nasirabad, is on the west bank of Brahmaputra River. The population is around 225,811. Having Bangladesh Agricultural University,[5] Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh Engineering College, Teachers Training College-Women, Teachers Training College-Both, Government Laboratory High School, Mymensingh, Mymensingh Zilla School, Govt. Mumenunnesa College, Ananda Mohan College, huge bridge on Brahmaputra river, two medical colleges (Mymensingh Medical College,[6] Community Based Medical College), eight high schools, Raj bari, and surrounding farm lands, Mymensingh is one of the best places for living and educating children in Bangladesh. Because there are very few fuel run-vehicles, sound pollution and air pollution levels are very low. There is no public boys college in Mymensingh town; however, every year many students from the town are admitted to various universities and medical colleges in Bangladesh. Mymensingh Girls Cadet College is the nation's first military high school for girls. Much land occupied by various churches in Mymensingh city in relation to number of followers.

Religious institutions include 2,362 mosques, 1,020 temples, 600 Buddhist temples, and 36 churches.

Zainul Udyan beside the river Brahmaputra, Circuit House Park, Botanical Garden, BAU, Shoshi Lodge are the places visited in the city.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Mymensingh District had a population of 5,110,272. Males constituted 49.69% of the population and females 50.31%. Muslims formed 95.79% of the population, Hindus 3.58%, Christians 0.56% and others 0.07%. Mymensingh District had a literacy rate of 43.49% for the population 7 years and above.[7]

References

1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
2. Samar Pal (2012). "Mymensingh District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
3. Bangladesh District Gazetters Mymensingh
4. The Central Administration of the East India Company 1773–1834
5. Encyclopædia Britannica
6. Mymensingh Medical College website
7. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011: Zila Report – Mymensingh" (PDF). Table P01 : Household and Population by Sex and Residence, Table P05 : Population by Religion, Age group and Residence, Table P09 : Literacy of Population 7 Years & Above by Religion, Sex and Residence. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Retrieved 14 December 2018.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mymensingh". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.