Khulna

Khulna District (khulna division) with an area of 4394.46 sq km, is bounded by jessore and narail districts on the north, the bay of bengal on the south, bagerhat district on the east, satkhira district on the west. Annual average temperature is 35.5°C and lowest 12.5°C; annual rainfall is 1710 mm. The main rivers are Rupsa-Pasur, Bhairab, Shibsha, Dharla, Bhadra, Ball, and Kobadak. Forest: sundarbans (166814 hectares).

Khulna (Town) consists of 38 wards and 183 mahallas. The area of the town is 20.60 sq km. It has a population of 1227239; male 52.79%, female 47.21%; density of population is 59574 sq km. The literacy rate among the town people is 59.1%.

Khulna

Administration Khulna district was established on 1882. It consists of 9 upazilas and 5 thanas, 71 union parishads, 2 municipalities, 47 wards, 188 mahallas, 747 mouzas and 1106 villages. The upazilas are batiaghata, dacope, dumuria, dighalia, koyra, paikgachha, phultala, rupsa, terokhada; tahans are khalishpur, khan jahan ali, kotwali, daulatpur, sonadanga.

Historical events 16 December of 1971, Independent Bangladesh was established but Khulna was under the control of Pakistan Army. Next on 17 December as the Pakistani Army surrendered in the Circuit House ground then Khulna got her Independence. Pir Khan Jahan Ali came to preach Islam in this district about 400 years ago. In 1926 Mahatma Gandhi came to Khalishpur to inspire the Swadeshi Movement.

Marks of War of Liberation Sculpture 1 (Bir Bangali), Monument 5, Mass grave 3.

Religious institutions Mosque 1500, Tomb 4, Temple 646, Church 22, Place of pilgrimage 3, Monastery 1.

Population 2334285; male 51.87%, female 48.13%; Muslim 73.49%, Hindu 25.74%, Christian 0.67%, Buddhist 0.04%, and Others 0.06%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 43.9%; male 52.2%, female 34.6%. Educational institutions: university 1, university college 1, medical college 1, Bangladesh Institute of Technology 1, teacher's training college 1, regional public administration training institute 1, polytechnic institute 1, vocational institute 1, homeopathic college 1, social welfare training centre 1, madrasa 205, government college 5, non-government college 42, government. secondary school 9, non-government secondary school 248, lower secondary school 107, government primary school 625, non-government primary school 79, community primary school 34, satellite primary school 63, NGO operated school 199, primary teacher's institution 1.

Newspapers and periodicals Dailies: Tribiun, Janmobhumi, Anirban, Probaho, Purbanchal, Janabarta, Tatthya, Rajpather Davi, Satya Khabar, Hizbullah, Pathaker Kagoz, Juger Sathi, Kalantor, Viswabarta, Mail; Weeklies: Khulna, Rupsa, Padoddhoni, Chhayapath, Ganobani; Periodicals: Purushottomadyuti, Shikar, Padatik. Extinct Periodicals: Agami, Ityadi, Deshkal.

Cultural organisations Club 345, public library 5, museum 1 (Khulna Divisional Archaeological Museum), drama stage 5, cinema hall 21, theatre group 100, magic organisation 3, literary society 15, cultural organisation 20.

Main occupations Agriculture 25.11%, fishing 1.66%, agricultural labourer 11.3%, wage labourer 7.15%, industry 16.38%, transport 4.09%, constructions 1.53%, service 18.93%, others 12.22%.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is around Tk 12000 (per 0.01 hectare).

Main crops Paddy, jute, sesame, betel nut, and vegetable.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Sesame.

Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, banana.

Fisheries, dairies, and poultries Chingri Gher 3,409, dairy 498, poultry 447, hatchery 348.

Communication facilities Railway 36 km, pucca road 400 km, semi pucca 350 km, mud roads 3575 km; waterways 470 nautical mile.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), horse carriage and bullock cart (nearly extinct), and boats.

Manufactories Paper mill, hard board mill, textile mill, match factory, shipyard, steel mill, cable mill, rice mill, flour mill, ice factory, press mill, saw mill etc.

Cottage industries Handloom, bamboo work, goldsmith, potteries, carpenter, tailoring.

Main exports Paddy, rice, jute, sesame, betel nut, gur, mango, jackfruit, prawn.

NGO activities brac, Care, Prodipan, nijera kari, asa, caritas, Progoti.

Health centres Medical college hospital 1, district sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 9, TB hospital 1, infectious disease hospital 1, christian missionary hospital 1, salvation army (NGO) hospital 1, chest disease niramoy centre 1, railway hospital at kopilmuni 1, jail hospital 1, police hospital 1.
Source: Banglapedia