Moheshkhali Upazila
Moheshkhali (Bengali: মহেশখালী) is an upazila of Cox's Bazar District[1] in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Moheshkhali
মহেশখালী | |
---|---|
From top: Adinath Buddhist Temple, Ananda Myitta Buddha Temple, Maheshkhali Bridge, Mangrove Island, Maheshkhali Hill Dried fish Village, Fish boats | |
Moheshkhali Location in Bangladesh | |
Coordinates: 21°33′N 91°57′E | |
Country | Bangladesh |
Division | Chittagong Division |
District | Cox's Bazar District |
Area | |
• Total | 362.18 km2 (139.84 sq mi) |
Population (1991) | |
• Total | 256,546 |
• Density | 708.34/km2 (1,834.6/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+6 (BST) |
Website | Official Map of Maheshkhali |
The government's ambitious project to transform Maheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal into a thriving energy hub aims to establish power plants and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal by 2027. This endeavor is driven by the objective of strengthening the country's economy and achieving self-reliance in the power and fuel sector. As a result of this initiative, the country's energy crisis will improve significantly, and the socio-economic landscape of the region will become more sustainable.
To support this transformation, the government is constructing substantial oil storage infrastructure at Kalamarchara in Maheshkhali as part of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project. This pipeline system will not only save time but also reduce expenses by approximately TK 800 crore annually. The Maheshkhali terminal will be equipped with six storage tanks, three for diesel and three for crude oil, allowing for storage capacities of approximately 115,000 tonnes of crude oil and 75,000 tonnes of diesel. This strategic storage capability will further bolster the country's energy security and reinforce its position as a robust energy hub in the region.[2] According to the Maheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi, the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project holds paramount importance to the prime minister. The successful execution of this project is expected to generate employment opportunities for the local population, leading to the eradication of unemployment in this region.[3]
Geography
Moheshkhali is located at 21.5500°N 91.9500°E. It has 33287 households and total area 362.18 km2.
Demographics
As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Moheshkhali has a population of 219520. Males constitute are 53.13% of the population, and females 46.87%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 90892. Maheshkhali has an average literacy rate of, and the national average of literate.[4]
Administration
Moheshkhali Upazila is divided into Moheshkhali Municipality and eight union parishads: Bora Moheshkhali, Chota Moheshkhali, Dhalghata, Hoanak, Kalarmarchhara, Kutubjom, Matarbari, and Shaplapur. The union parishads are subdivided into 25 mauzas and 151 villages.[5]
Moheshkhali Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 28 mahallas.[5]
Notable residents
- Badiul Alam, Vice Chancellor of University of Chittagong (2006–2009), was born in Nalbila village in 1949.[6]
- Subedar(retired) Asad Ali, Freedom fighter
- Alamgir Mohammad Mahfuzullah Farid, MP
- Md. Ishak, MP
- Jahirul Islam, MP
- Maksudul Kabir, Motivational speaker, Youth mentor, Development worker, UN employee
- Salimullah Khan, academic, essayist, and critic, grew up in Moheshkhali.[7]
- Asheq Ullah Rafiq, MP :")
- Sadh Fakir (M Ansarul Karim), Spiritual Speaker, Psychological Reformist, Analyst & Development Worker
- Master Humayun Kabir, Head Teacher, Bara Maheshkhali Girls High School, Social activist.
Master Gazi Mohammad Salahuddin School teacher of Kutubjum High School, Social Worker
References
- Mohammad Jasim Uddin (2012), "Maheshkhali Upazila", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- "Maheshkhali island to become energy mega hub". www.dhakatribune.com. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- "Maheshkhali island to become energy mega hub". www.dhakatribune.com. 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- "Population Census Wing, BBS". Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
- "District Statistics 2011: Cox's Bazar" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- "CV of Pro-Vice-Chancellor". University of Chittagong. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- স্বর্গে ঈশ্বর নাই, ঈশ্বর আছে ভাষায় [There is no God in heaven, God is in the language]. vinnochokh.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 20 July 2016.