Kalapara Upazila (, also known as Khepupara () is an

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 ...

Patuakhali District Patuakhali District (; ) is a district in south-central Bangladesh in Barisal Division. This district is the main entrance for the beach of Kuakata. History The early history of Patuakhali is little known. In medieval times, the northern part ...

in the Division of

Barisal Barisal ( or ; , ), officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal District and Barisal Divi ...

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 ...

History

The Rakhine tribe of Bangladesh first settled in this upazila. A section of the people belonging to the Buddhist Rakhine tribe of Arakan came to this upazila in quest of better living and first settled at Khepupara and Kuakata. Tradition goes that the Rakhines on excavating wells traced fresh water in the area and thereby settled there. The Rakhine word 'kansai' means 'beach of fate'. The place was named as Kansai after this. The place was subsequently renamed as Kuakata (digging of well) after the wells dug out by the Rakhines. The upazila though named as Kalapara, the upazila sadar is known as Khepupara. It is said that two influential Rakhine chiefs used to reside on either side of a canal running northsouth through the upazila, Kalau Magh on the eastern bank and Khepu Magh on the western side. The habitation on eastern bank of the canal was named as Kalapara after the name of Kalau Magh and that on the western bank as Khepupara after Khepu Magh.

Geography

Kalapara is located at . It has 31324 households and total area 483.08 km². The major rivers are the Andharmanik, Nilganj, and Dhankhali.

Climate

Demographics

According to the

2011 Census of Bangladesh In 2011, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics conducted a national census in Bangladesh, which provided a provisional estimate of the total population of the country as 142,319,000. The previous decennial census was the 2001 census. Data were r ...

, Kalapara Upazila had 57,525 households and a population of 237,831. 56,870 (19.94%) were under 10 years of age. Kalapara has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 52.0%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 993 females per 1000 males. 35,354 (14.87%) lived in urban areas. As of the

1991 Bangladesh census In 1991, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, conducted a national census in Bangladesh. They recorded data from all of the districts and upazilas and main cities in Bangladesh including statistical data on population size, households, sex and a ...

, Kalapara has a population of 174921. Males constitute 50.89% of the population, and females 49.11%. This Upazila's eighteen up population was 82394. Kalapara has an average literacy rate of 34.9% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.

Administration

''Kalapara'' thana was established in 1921 and was turned into an upazila in 1983. Kalapara Upazila is divided into Kalapara Municipality, Kuakata Municipality, and 12

union parishad Union council (), also known as union parishad, rural council, rural union and simply union, is the smallest rural administrative and local government unit in Bangladesh, with zila parishads (district councils) being the largest rural authori ...

s: Baliatali, Chakamaia, Champapur, Dalbugonj, Dhankhali, Dulaser, Lalua, Latachapli, Mahipur, Mihagonj, Nilgonj, and Tiakhali. The union parishads are subdivided into 58 mauzas and 239 villages. Kalapara Municipality and Kuakata Municipality are each subdivided into 9 wards. The area of the town is 19.49 km². It has a population of 16330; male 55.18%, female 44.82%. The density of population is 838 per km². The literacy rate among the town people is 39.37%. The town has one bungalow. * Member of Parliament: Muhibur Rahman Muhib *Chairman: Md Motaleb Howlader *Woman Vice Chairman: Bilkich Jahan *Vice Chairman: Mostafa *

Upazila Nirbahi Officer An Upazila Nirbahi Officer (, abbreviated as UNO) is the chief executive officer of an upazila (subdistrict) and a mid-level officer of the Bangladesh Civil Service (administration cadre), known as Bangladesh Administrative Service. A senior a ...

(UNO): Shankar Chandra Baidya.

Points of interest

Kuakata Buddhist Vihara, Kapradanga Buddhist Math (dilapidated), Mistripara Buddhist Vihara (dilapidated). *

Kuakata Kuakata () is a town of Patuakhali District, Patuakhali located in southern Bangladesh known for its panoramic Kuakata Beach, sea beach. Kuakata beach is a sandy expanse long and wide. The beach offers unobstructed views of both the sunrise an ...

, a sea beach offering decent views of the Bay of Bengal. * Earthen Fort of Kachimkhali Village in Chakamaya Union. * Earthen Fort of Newapara Village in Chakamaya Union. * Mohipur (Fishing Boat). * Buddhist monastery of Mishripara at Kuataka. * Gangamatir Char * Kaurar Char

Religious institutions

Mosque 275, temple 41, pagoda 4, Buddhist Vihara 8, church 2, ''

mazar Mazar of Al-Mazar may refer to: *Mazar (mausoleum), Muslim mausoleum or shrine Places * Mazar (toponymy), a component of Arabic toponyms literally meaning shrine, grave, tomb, etc. ; Afghanistan * Mazar, Afghanistan, village in Balkh Province * ...

'' 1. Notable institutions includes: Kalapara Jame Masjid, Kuakata Buddhist Vihara, Mazar of Pir Bashiruddin.

References

{{Upazilas of Barisal Division Upazilas of Patuakhali District Port cities and towns in Bangladesh