Sunamganj District

Sunamganj (Bengali: সুনামগঞ্জ) is a district located in north-eastern Bangladesh within the Sylhet Division.[4]

Sunamganj District
সুনামগঞ্জ জেলা
Sunamganj District
Clockwise from top-left: Pagla Jame Mosque, Kalirdeep Beel, Surma River near Jamalganj, Tanguar Haor, Tekerghat Hills
Location of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh
Location of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Sunamganj District
Coordinates: 25.030869°N 91.403761°E / 25.030869; 91.403761
Country Bangladesh
DivisionSylhet Division
Government
  Deputy CommissionerMohammad Abdul Ahad[1]
Area
  Total3,747.12 km2 (1,446.77 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)[2]
  Total2,695,495
  Density720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Sunamganji, Shunamgonji, Shunamgoinji
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
3000
HDI (2019)0.573[3]
medium · 20th of 20
Websitewww.sunamganj.gov.bd

History

In the ancient period, Sunamganj was part of the Laur Kingdom. After the conquest of Sylhet (Kingdom of Gauiurh) in 1303 by Muslims under the spiritual guidance of Shah Jalal, Shah Kamal Quhafah established a capital in Shaharpara with the aid of his twelve disciples and his second son, Shah Muazzamuddin Qureshi, who also maintained a second sub-administration office at Nizgaon on the bank of the river Surma, present day Shologhar (there is now Shologhar Masjid and madrasa) in Sunamganj town, which was administered by one of his descendants. Between the latter part of 1300 CE and 1765 CE, the present-day Sunamganj district was a part of Iqlim-e-Muazzamabad, i.e. the state of Muazzamabad, which was an independent state until 1620 when it was conquered by the mighty Mughal of Delhi. The last sultan of Muazzamabad was Hamid Qureshi Khan, who was a descendant of Shah Kamal Quhafah and he was widely known by his appellation of Shamsher Khan. After the fall of Jalalabad (present-day Sylhet), Shamsher Khan, accepted the post of Nawab-cum-Fauzadar and remained so until his death at the Battle of Giria on 29 April 1740 along with Sarfaraz Khan, Nawab of Bengal.[5]

Administration

District

District Administrator is appointed from amongst non-civil servants, usually from amongst the member of political party that is in power at the time of appointment and endorsed by the central government. Deputy Commissioner is appointed from amongst career civil servants, who administers all subordinate branches of the administration such as upazillah parishad[6] Mr.Black was the first district commissioner of Sunamganj.[7]

Subdistricts

Sunamganj District comprises 12 sub-districts or upazilas:

During the late British colonial period, Sunamganj was a subdivision and contained six thanas; Sunamganj Sadar, Tahirpur, Chhatak (inc. Duarabazar), Derai, Jagannathpur and Dharmapasa.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1981 1,428,787    
1991 1,708,563+1.80%
2001 2,013,738+1.66%
2011 2,467,968+2.05%
2022 2,695,495+0.80%
Sources:[2][9]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Sunamganj District had a population of 2,695,495, 15.0% of whom lived in urban areas. The household size was 5.1. The population density was 719 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 64.8%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.[2]>

Religions in Sunamganj district (2022)[2]
Religion Percent
Muslims
88.16%
Hindus
11.67%
Other or not stated
0.15%
Religion in present-day Sunamganj district[lower-alpha 1]
Religion Population (1941)[10]:36–37 Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[9] Percentage (2011)
Islam 417,505 65.45% 2,144,535 86.89%
Hinduism 217,993 34.17% 319,376 12.94%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 2,399 0.38% 4,057 0.17%
Total Population 637,897 100% 2,467,968 100%

Muslims make up 88.16% of the population, while Hindus are 11.67% of the population.[2]

Education

University

Medical College

Healthcare

The district has 12 government hospitals and 22 health centers. The infant mortality rate is 62 per 1000 child births. The average lifespan of the district's residents is 62 years.[7]

Notable people

Shah Abdul Karim is a Bangladeshi Baul musician and Songwriter

Notes

  1. Sunamganj subdivision of Sylhet district
  2. Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

References

[13]

  1. pmis.mopa.gov.bd/pmis/Forms/dclist.php
  2. Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. viii, 28, 30, 39, 44, 46. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  4. Ashfaq Hossain (2012). "Sunamganj District". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  5. Ali, Syed Murtaja, Hazrat Shah Jalal and Sylheter Itihas, 66: 1988
  6. "Cabinet Division – Bangladesh – List of the Deputy Commissioners". Cabinet.gov.bd. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  7. "একনজরে সুনামগঞ্জ | সুনামগঞ্জ জেলা | সুনামগঞ্জ জেলা". www.sunamganj.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2017-06-17.
  8. Assam District Gazetteers - Supplement. Vol. 2. Shillong. 1915. p. 26.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Sumamganj" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  10. "Census of India, 1941 Volume IX Assam Province" (PDF). 1941.
  11. Zahangir Alom (September 7, 2014). "Sunset Of A Music Maestro". The Daily Star.
  12. একুশে পদক পাচ্ছেন সুনামগঞ্জের সুষমা দাস. sunamkantha.com (in Bengali). February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  13. বিপ্লবী বামপন্থী মানিকদা (in Bengali).
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