Manikganj District (; ) is a district in central

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

and part of the

Dhaka Division Dhaka Division () is an Divisions of Bangladesh, administrative division of Bangladesh. Dhaka serves as the capital city of Dhaka Division, the Dhaka District and Bangladesh. The division remains as a population magnet, and covers an area of 20, ...

. Manikganj is called the land of rivers & cultural heritage of central Bangladesh.It was established in 1845 as a subdivision of

Faridpur District Faridpur District () is a district in south-central Bangladesh. It is a part of Dhaka Division. It is bounded by the Padma River to the northeast. The district was named for its headquarters, the city of Faridpur, Bangladesh, Faridpur, which its ...

, then in 1953, it was transferred to

Dhaka District Dhaka District () is a Districts of Bangladesh, district in central Bangladesh, and is the densest district in the nation. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, rests on the eastern banks of the Buriganga River ...

for administrative purposes. Finally in 1984, Manikganj was declared a full district.

History

Manikganj subdivision was established in 1845. It was transferred from Faridpur District to Dhaka District in 1853. In 1984, Manikganj subdivision was promoted to a full district.

War of Liberation

The liberation war in 1971 in Manikganj District was organized and led by

Abdul Halim Chowdhury Abdul Haleem Chowdhury (1 February 1928 – 7 October 1987) was a politician of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, MP, and government minister. He is a retired captain of the Pakistan Army and fought in the 1971 war and established Halim Bahini. ...

, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Principal Abdur Rouf Khan, and other heroes of the district. On 29 October 1971, at the northwest corner of Golaidanga village, the Baldhara union (a group of freedom fighters) in

Singair Upazila Singair () is an upazila of Manikganj District in the Division of Dhaka Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geography Singair is located at . It has 65,058 households and total area 221.45 km2. Demographics According to the 2011 Bangladesh census ...

attacked boats carrying intruding Pakistani soldiers and a terrible battle occurred on the Nuruni Ganga (canal of Kaliganga river). Eighty-one Pakistani soldiers were killed, and many others were injured. The operation was led by freedom fighter Engr Tobarak Hossain Ludu, commander of the Mukti Bahini Lodu group. None of the Mukti Bahini freedom fighters were killed during this battle, which was a significant liberation fight against the Pakistani military in Manikgonj. After this short-duration battle, the Mukti Bahini freedom fighters left the battlefield, and the Pakistani ranks were reinforced with more soldiers. They burnt 160 houses surrounding the area of Golaidanga village and killed 9 local people who were primarily elderly and stayed at home. Some local young boys helped freedom fighters in that ambush. After the Golaidanga fight, Singair Upazila became free from Pakistani occupation on 13 November 1971. In the last week of November 1971, fresh groups of freedom fighters entered different areas of Manikganj and defeated Pakistani troops in a few battles. On 14 December 1971, a group of Pakistan Bahini moving toward Dhaka entered Barundi village in

Manikganj Sadar Upazila Manikgonj Sadar () is an upazila of Manikganj District in the division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geography Manikgonj Sadar is located at . It has a total area of 214.81 km2. Demographics At the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Manikganj Sadar Upa ...

. Meanwhile, a group of liberation forces (''Mujib Bahini'') under the leadership of Shahadat Hossain Biswas Badal was preparing to attack them within the suitable place. Understanding this, the Pakistani soldiers immediately left the village, leaving two soldiers behind. One of them was arrested by the liberation forces at night on 14 December 1971, and the other was arrested by the same group after a small fight the next day. The then sub-division was declared free on 13 December.

Daulatpur–Saturia tornado

On 26 April 1989, Manikganj was the site of the

Daulatpur–Saturia tornado The Daulatpur–Saturia tornado was an intense tornado that occurred in Manikganj District, Bangladesh on April 26, 1989. While it was destructive and extremely deadly, there is great uncertainty about the death toll. Official estimates from the ...

, which became the deadliest tornado in recorded history. 1,300 people were initially reported as having been killed, with 12,000 injured. The towns of Saturia and Manikganj were leveled, and about 80,000 people were made homeless.

Geography

Manikganj comprises an area of . Annual average temperatures reach a maximum of 36 °C and a minimum to 12.7 °C with the annual rainfall total being . There are several rivers in the Manikganj District, including the

Padma River The Padma () is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the eastern and main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River, near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is situated on the banks ...

Kaliganga River The Kaliganga () is a river in Bangladesh that runs for . The Kaliganga branches off from the Brahmaputra River The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Southwestern China, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh. It is known a ...

Jamuna River The Jamuna River () is one of the three main rivers of Bangladesh. The two other major rivers in Bangladesh are the Padma and the Meghna. The Jamuna is the lower stream of the Brahmaputra River, which originates in Tibet as Yarlung Tsangpo, ...

Dhaleshwari River The Dhaleshwari River ( , ''Dhôleshshori'') is a distributary, long, of the Jamuna River in central Bangladesh. It branches off the Jamuna near the northwestern tip of Tangail District into a north branch that retains the name Dhaleshwari and m ...

, and

Ichamati River Ichamati River () (also spelt Ichhamati), is a trans-boundary river which flows through India and Bangladesh and also forms part of the boundary between the two countries. The river is facing siltation leading to thin flow of water in the dry sea ...

Demographics

According to the

2022 Census of Bangladesh The 2022 Bangladeshi census () was a detailed enumeration of the Bangladeshi population constituting the sixth national census in the country. It was scheduled to be held in June 2022, was conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, and th ...

, Manikganj District had 393,524 households and a population of 1,558,025 with an average 3.91 people per household. Among the population, 259,616 (16.66%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,126 people per km². Manikganj District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 71.17%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1072 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 14.74% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 909.

Religion

Manikganj District has 3,575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

temples, and a pagoda. The Hindu population has fallen from nearly 150,000 in 1981 to 130,000 in 2011, but increased to 139,000 in 2022.

Economy

There are total 166 haats and bazars in the district, including: * Baira Bazar * Bahadia Bazar * Bangala Bazar * Barangail Bazar * Butni Bazar * Diabari Bazar * Gilonda Bazar * Gheor Bazar * Ghosher Bazar * Ghosta Bazar * Intazganj Bazar * Jamsha Bazar * Jhitka Bazar * Maluchi Bazar (Balla Bazar) * Mohadebpur Bazar * Sakrail Bazar * Singair Bazar In addition, 54 fairs (''Mela'') are held in Manikganj, including: * Afaz Paglar Mela (Bathaimuri) * Aziz paglar Mela (Kachidhara) * Bahadia Boishakhi Mela (Bahadia) * Baher Paglar Mela (Bangala) * Baher Paglar Mela (Mohadebpur) * Baruni Mela (Butni) * Belal/Billal Paglar Mela (Harganj) * Joymontop Modhor Mela (Joymontop) * Kanu Promaniker Mela (Manta, Manikganj Sadar) * Majhi Barir Mela (Diabari) * Manikganj Bijoy Mela (Manikganj) * Poush Mela (Atigram) * Rowth Jatra Mela (Katigram) * Sadur Mela (Singair) * Sadhur Mela (South Jamsha) * Sadhinota Mela (Maluchi) * Sonatoni Nobo Torun jubo Songgho Soroswati puja (Katigram) * Zinda Shah Mela (Jhitka) * গড়পাড়া Imam Bari Muharramer Mela (Garpara, Manikganj Sadar) * গড়পাড়া বুড়িপুজোর মেলা (Garpara, Manikganj Sadar)

Places of interest

Baliati Zamindari Baliati Zamindar Bari () is in the village of Baliati, in Saturia Upazila in Manikganj District, Bangladesh. It is the palace of the Zamindars, the Baliati Zamindari who ruled over a large area. The Baliati Jamindar Bari is located at . His ...

Home, Saturia File:Baliati Palace.jpg, Baliati Palace File:Baliati Palace 2.jpg, Baliati Palace File:Baliati Palace - backside.jpg, Baliati Palace - backside * Padmar Par, Harirampur * Teota Jamindar Bari,

Shivalaya upazila Shivalaya (, ''Shibaloy'', meaning "Home of Shiva") is an upazila of Manikganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geography Shivalaya is located at . Shivalaya's total area is 199.07 km2. Demographics According to the 2011 Cen ...

* Taota Noboratna Modh, Shibalaya * Narayan Sadhur Asrom * Historical Shrine and Mosque of Machaine Village * Kabiraj Bari * Beutha Bridge * Betila Palace * Betila Mondir

Subdivisions

The district's

upazila An ''upazila'' ( pronounced: ), formerly called ''thana'', is an administrative division in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a district. It can be seen as an analogous to a county or a borough of Western countries. Rural upazilas ...

s are: * Daulatpur Upazila *

Ghior Upazila Ghior () is an upazila (sub-district) of Manikganj District of central Bangladesh, located in the Dhaka Division. It is located at and is named after the town of Ghior. It is home to the Tarra Bridge, an overpass above the Dhaleshwari River, whic ...

Harirampur Upazila Harirampur () is an upazila of Manikganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geography Harirampur is located at . It has 33,513 households and a total area of 245.42 km2. Demographics According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh ...

Saturia Upazila Saturia () is an upazila of Manikganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The administrative center is located in Saturia. Geography Saturia is located at . It has 40,644 households and total area 140.12 km2. Demographics Acco ...

Shivalaya Upazila Shivalaya (, ''Shibaloy'', meaning "Home of Shiva") is an upazila of Manikganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geography Shivalaya is located at . Shivalaya's total area is 199.07 km2. Demographics According to the 2011 Cen ...

Education

There are 27 colleges in the district, including

Government Debendra College Government Debendra College is a public college in Manikganj, Manikganj District, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. It offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. It also has a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) program. It is affiliated with Bangl ...

, which was founded in 1942, and the private NPI University of Bangladesh, which was founded in 2016. There is one medical school: Colonel Malek Medical College. According to Banglapedia, notable secondary schools in the district include: * Baliati Iswar Chandra High School (founded 1919) * Bajpara High School (1995) * Barangail Gopal Chandra High School (1924) * Dhankora Girish Institution (1917) * Diabari High School * Dhulla B. M. High School (1920) * Ghior D. N. Pilot High School (1929) * Hatipara High School * Ibrahimpur Iswar Chandra High School (1923) * Jamirtta S. G. High School (1921) * Jhitka Ananda Mohan High School (1926) * Joymontop High School (1921) * Kellai Monsur Uddin ML High School (1956) * Manikganj Government High School (1884) * Manikganj Model High School (1925) * Muljan High School (1978) * Nali Bararia Krishna Chandra High School (1915) * Patgram Anath Bandhu Government High School (1915) * Teota Academy (1891) * Terosree K. N. Institution (1922) The madrasa education system includes two fazil madrasas and one kamil madrasa—Manikganj Islamia Kamil Madrasa, founded in 1953. The technical education system includes the Government Textile Vocational Institute Manikganj.

Notable people

* Khan Asifur Rahman Agun – singer * Begum Badrunnessa Ahmed – politician and social worker, was raised by the zamindar of Paril *

Naib Uddin Ahmed Naib Uddin Ahmed (1925 – 14 December 2009) was a Bangladeshi photographer best known for his work during the Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, arm ...

– photographer, was born in Paril village in 1925 *

Rafiq Uddin Ahmed Rafiq Uddin Ahmed () (30 October 1926 – 21 February 1952) was a protester killed during the Bengali Language Movement that took place in East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) in 1952. He is considered a martyr in Bangladesh. Early life Ahmed ...

– Bengali language movement martyr, was born in Paril village in 1926 * Mir Quasem Ali – war criminal, was born in Munshidangi village in 1952 *

Momtaz Begum Momtaz Begum (; born 5 May 1961) is a Bangladeshi folk singer and politician. She served as the member of parliament representing the Manikganj-2 constituency from 2014-2025 and Reserved Women's Seat-21 from 2009–2013. Referred to as "''T ...

– singer and politician, was elected to Parliament from constituency

Manikganj-2 Manikganj-2 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh. Since 6 August 2024 the constituency is vacant. Boundaries The constituency encompasses Harirampur and Singair upazilas, and four union pari ...

* Amalendu Biswas – stage actor, lived in Jabar village * Aruna Biswas – television and film actress, calls Manikganj her hometown * Parbati Sankar Roy Choudhury – zamindar, administered his family's estates from Teota *

– politician, was born in Elachipur village in 1928 *

Bulbul Chowdhury Bulbul Chowdhury (1 January 1919 – 17 May 1954), real name Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury, was a Bengali dancer of British India, and later East Pakistan. He is primarily regarded as a pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh, as a founding figure of dan ...

– dancer, attended Manikganj High School *

Munier Choudhury Abu Naeem Mohammad Munier Choudhury (27 November 192514 December 1971) was a Bangladeshi educationist, playwright, literary critic and political dissident. He was a victim of the mass killing of Bangladeshi intellectuals in 1971. Early life an ...

– educator, dramatist, and literary critic, was born in Manikganj in 1925 *

Hemanta Kumari Debi Maharani Hemanta Kumari Devi (1276 engali calendar 1869 AD – 27 Asharh 1349 engali calendar 11 July 1942 AD) was a Bengali philanthropist. She was born in Dhulla village, Manikganj District, Manikganj district, Bangladesh. She is particu ...

– Zamindar, was born in Dhulla village in 1869 *

Sumita Devi Sumita Devi () (born Hena Bhattacharya) also known as Nilufar Begum (February 2, 1936 - January 6, 2004) was a Bangladeshi actress. In 45 years of her career, she acted in around 200 films and 150 radio and television dramas. She was an artist at ...

– actress, was born in Manikganj district in 1936 * Nina Hamid – folk singer *

Khandaker Delwar Hossain Khondkar Delwar Hossain (1 February 1933 – 16 March 2011) was a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician. He served as the secretary general of the party. He was elected five times as a Member of Parliament from constituency Manikganj-1 (Ghior ...

– politician, was elected to Parliament from constituency

Manikganj-1 Manikganj-1 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh since 2024 by Salauddin Mahmud of the Awami League. Boundaries The constituency encompasses Daulatpur, Ghior, and Shivalaya upazilas. Hist ...

* Khandkar Manwar Hossain – statistician * A. K. M. Nurul Islam – Vice President of Bangladesh (1986–1989), is buried in Harirampur *

Mohammad Kaykobad Mohammad Kaykobad () is a Bangladeshi computer scientist, educator, author, and columnist. Along with Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, he started the national mathematics olympiad. He was a professor of computer science and engineering in Bangladesh Univer ...

– computer scientist, graduated from Manikganj Government High School and Debendra College *

Mohammad Ali Reza Khan Mohammad Ali Reza Khan is a Bangladeshi ornithologist. Education Khan completed his HSC from Manikganj Debendranath College. He completed his Ph.D. in Ornithology from Bombay University (now University of Mumbai) in 1977 under the supervis ...

– ornithologist, graduated from Manikganj Debendranath College * Mubarak Ahmad Khan – scientist * Muhammad Siddiq Khan – librarian, was principal of Manikganj Debendra College *

Shamsul Islam Khan Shamsul Islam Khan (known as Naya Miah; died on 22 January 2006) was a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Manikganj-4 constituency and a former minister of industries at the first Khaled ...

– Bangladeshi Minister of Industry (1991–1996), was elected to Parliament from constituency

Manikganj-4 Manikganj-4 is a defunct constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh abolished in 2006. Members of Parliament Shamsul Islam Khan died in January 2006. Moinul Islam Khan Moinul Islam Khan is a Bangladesh ...

Shamsuzzaman Khan Shamsuzzaman Khan (29 December 1940 – 14 April 2021 ) was a Bangladeshi academician, folklorist, and writer who served as president of the Bangla Academy from June 2020 until his death in April 2021. He also served as the director general of the ...

– academician and folklorist, was born in Manikganj district * Zahid Maleque – Bangladeshi Minister of Health and Family Welfare, was elected to Parliament from constituency

Manikganj-3 Manikganj-3 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh. Since 6 August 2024 the constituency is vacant. Boundaries The constituency encompasses Saturia Upazila and all but the three southernmost unio ...

Tareque Masud Tareque Masud (6 December 1956 – 13 August 2011) was a Bangladeshi independent film director, film producer, screenwriter and lyricist. He first found success with the films ''Muktir Gaan'' (1995) and '' Matir Moina'' (2002), for which he won t ...

– film director and producer, died in a crash on the N5 highway at Joka *

Harunur Rashid Khan Monno Harunur Rashid Khan Monno (17 August 1932 – 1 August 2017) was a Bangladeshi industrialist and politician. He served as the chairman of his conglomerate, Monno Group of Industries. He was elected a member of parliament and a minister (withou ...

– industrialist and former member of parliament (1991–1996) *

Mishuk Munier Ashfaque Munier (September 24, 1959August 13, 2011; known as Mishuk Munier) was a Bangladeshi media specialist and broadcast journalist. He was known for his photography direction and for being the cofounder of the global news channel The Real Ne ...

– journalist, died in a crash on the N5 highway at Joka *

Khan Ataur Rahman Khan Ataur Rahman (known as Khan Ata; 11 December 1928 – 1 December 1997) was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer, best known for his role in the film '' Jibon Theke Neya'' (1970). He ...

– actor, filmmaker, and composer, was born in Ramkantapur village in 1928 * Naimur Rahman Durjoy – cricketer and politician, was born in Manikganj in 1974 *

Kaniz Fatema Roksana Syeda Kaniz Fatema Roksana was Bangladesh's Biman Airlines' second female pilot. She died on 5 August 1984 in a plane crash in a marsh near Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, ...

– first Bangladeshi women pilot *

Kiran Chandra Roy Kiran Chandra Roy is a Bangladeshi Baul folk singer. In 1997, he won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer and the BACHSAS Best Singer Award for his performance in the film '' Dukhai''. He is also a lyricist and music compo ...

– folk singer, attended Patgram Anath Bandhu High School and Manikganj Debendra College *

Ranadaprasad Saha Rai Bahadur Ranada Prasad Saha (, ; 15 November 1896 – May 1971), also known as R. P. Saha, was a Bengali businessman, entrepreneur, soldier, philanthropist, social worker, and humanitarian. He founded educational institutes like Bharateswari ...

– businessman, established Debendra College in 1942 *

Dinesh Chandra Sen Rai Bahadur Dinesh Chandra Sen () (3 November 1866 – 20 November 1939)Sengupta, Subodh Chandra (ed.) (1988) ''Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan'' (in Bengali), Kolkata: Sahitya Sansad, p.208 was a Bengali writer, educationist and researcher of ...

– educator, writer, and folklorist, was born in Bogjuri village in 1866 *

Hiralal Sen Hiralal Sen (, ''Hiralal Shen''; 2 August 1868 – 26 October 1917) is generally considered one of India's first filmmakers. In 1903, he filmed the popular ''Alibaba and Forty Thieves'', the first full-length Indian film. A noted photographer, ...

– filmmaker, was born in Bogjuri village in 1866 *

Amartya Sen Amartya Kumar Sen (; born 3 November 1933) is an Indian economist and philosopher. Sen has taught and worked in England and the United States since 1972. In 1998, Sen received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions ...

– economist, made a few visits to his ancestral home (on his mother's side) in Manikganj *

Kiran Shankar Roy Kiran Shankar Roy, also credited as Kiron Sankar Roy (; 25 October 1891 – 20 February 1949) was an Indian politician, academic, and freedom fighter. He was one of the leading figures of the Swaraj Party in the anti-British independence move ...

- Politician, Freedom Fighter, Academic, Barrister * Nahid Hasan Manna - Soldier, Bangladesh Army

Notes

References

External links

* {{authority control Districts of Bangladesh