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Bhola District:Map Bhola District (barisal division) an offshore island with an area of 3403.48 sq km, is bounded by lakshmipur and barisal districts on the north, bay of bengal on the south, Lakshmipur and noakhali districts, meghna (lower) river and Shahbazpur Channel on the east, patuakhali district and tentulia river on the west. Zahiruddin, Patila, Dhalchar, Kukri-Mukri and such other chars of different sizes have formed at the river mouths. Annual average temperature highest 32.7°C and lowest 11.6°C. Annual rainfall 2360 mm (1997). Bhola (Town) consists of 9 wards and 17 mahallas. It has an area of 12.16 sq km. The town has a population of 39964; male 52.39%, female 47.61%. The literacy rate among the town people is 63.9%. Bhola Municipal town was established in 1920. The town has four dakbungalows.

Administration Bhola sub-division was established under Noakhali district in 1845. At that time its administration centre was at Amania of Daulatkhan. The sub-division was included in Barisal district in 1869.The sub-division was then consisted of Daulatkhan and Burhanuddin Hat Thanas and three outposts such as Taltali, Gazipur and Tazumuddin. The sub-divisional head quarters was shifted from Daulatkhan to Bhola in 1876. It was elevated to a district on 1 February 1984. The district now consists of 7 upazilas, 60 union parishads, 409 mouzas, 460 villages, 5 municipalities, 45 wards and 62 mahallas. The upazilas are bhola sadar, daulatkhan, burhanuddin, tazumuddin, manpura, lalmohan and charfasson.

Historical events Many people of the district, especially of Charfasson and Tazumuddin, lost their lives in a devastating cyclone and tidal bore in 1970. During the war of liberation a battle between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was fought at Ghuigarhat (Bhola Sadar) in which 121 freedom fighters were killed. In another encounter at Bangla Bazar about 80 members of the Pak army were killed.

Marks of War of Liberation Memorial sculpture at Char Jangla.

Population 1676600; male 51.17%, female 48.83%; Muslim 93.42%, Hindu 6.50%, Christian 0.02%, Buddhist 0.02% and others 0.04%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 21.47%; male 25.60%, female 17.05%. Educational institutions: government college 3, non-government college 18, government high school 6, non-government high school 95, junior high school 63, government primary school 424, non-government primary school 548, madrasa 169, kinder garden school 5, government technical institution 1, non-government technical institute 1.

Cultural organisations Club 353, public library 5, cinema hall 23, literary society 26, women's organisation 65, theatre group 10, co operative society 301, women's club 2, shilpakala academy 1, literary academy 1.

Newspapers and periodicals Dailies 2 (Ajker Bholabani, Daily Banglar Kantha), weekly 1 (Dvipabani), Weekly Lalsurya (extinct), monthly 1.

Religious institutions Mosque 2200, temple 123, tomb 4, math 5, akhra 1.

Main occupations Agriculture 38.74%, fishing 5.9%, agricultural labourer 24.52%, wage labourer 4.67%, business 9%, service 4.47%, construction 1.11%, others 11.59%.

Land use Land under cultivation 158923 hectares, single crop 18.57%, double crop 52.03%, treble crop 29.40%; total land under irrigation 8.53%.

Land Control Landless peasants 15%, marginal 49%, intermediate 29%, 7% rich.

Mineral resources A gas field has been traced at Kachi Union under Burhanuddin Upazila. It has been named Shahbazpur Gas Field. Quantity of gas 0.5938 TCF of which 0.3340 TCF gas is procurable.

Value of Land The market value of land of the first grade is about Tk.7500 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, potato, onion, chilli, garlic, mustard seed, nut, betel leaf, betel nut.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Tobacco, linseed.

Main fruits Coconut, jackfruit, papaya, amra, banana.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 330, dairy 25, poultry 224, hatchery 88, shrimp cultivation 1.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 239 km, semi pucca 143 and mud road 5161 km.

Traditional transports Palanquin (extinct) and bullock cart (nearly extinct).

Manufactories Rice mill, ice factory, saw mill, flour mill, oil mill, soap factory, bread and biscuit factory, welding, lathe machine.

Cottage industries Weaving, goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, bamboo work, wood work, mat work, tailoring.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 180, most noted of which are Bank Hat, Deola, Ramnewaz, Charfasson, Goldar, Letorganj, Chairman Bazar, Daulatkhan Hat, Bangla Bazar, Ramaganj, Hariganj, Nazirpur, Yasinganj, Tazumuddin, etc; fair 6, most noted of which are Bhuban Thakur Mela (Tazumuddin) and Krishna Prasad Mela (Manpura).

Main exports Paddy, betel nut chilli and fish.

NGO activities asa, brac, proshika, caritas, action aid, Vision, Char Development Project, Bandhujan Parishad, RASA, Coast, Social Development.

Health Centres District Hospital 1, Upazila Health Complex 7, Health and Family Planning Centre 41, Satellite Clinic 11. [Md. Sakhaowat Hossain]