Chandpur District


Chandpur District is a district in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. Established on 15 February 1984, it is famously known as the "Home of Hilsa" due to its vast production and trade of Hilsa fish.

Geography

The district is situated at the confluence of the Padma, Meghna, and Dakatya River. As of 2026, major riverbank protection projects have been completed to safeguard the district from erosion. The "Molhead" in Chandpur Sadar is a significant geographical and tourist landmark where the three major rivers meet.

Education

By 2026, Chandpur has emerged as a key educational hub in the region. Notable institutions include:

Economy and Infrastructure

The economy of Chandpur is primarily driven by fisheries, agriculture, and trade.
  • Fisheries: Chandpur is the largest hub for Hilsa fish in Bangladesh, and its port serves as a primary distribution point.
  • Infrastructure: As of 2026, the proposed Shariatpur–Chandpur Bridge project has reached critical development stages. This project is vital for connecting the Chittagong Division with the south-western districts of Bangladesh. The Chandpur River Port has been modernized with a multi-storey terminal to facilitate safer and faster river transport.

Administrative divisions

The district is divided into 8 upazilas:
  1. Chandpur Sadar Upazila
  2. Hajiganj Upazila
  3. Faridganj Upazila
  4. Matlab Uttar Upazila
  5. Matlab Dakshin Upazila
  6. Kachua Upazila
  7. Shahrasti Upazila
  8. Haimchar Upazila

History

During the rule of the Baro-Bhuiyans, this region was occupied by Chand Ray, the Zamindar of Bikrampur and son of Kedar Ray. According to historian J. M. Sengupta, the region was named Chandpur, following the name of Chand Ray. On the other hand, others say that the name of this region comes from Chand Faqir of Purindapur mahalla of Chandpur, Bangladesh. It is said that an administrator named Shah Ahmed Chand came here from Delhi in the fifteenth century and established a river port.
In 1779 AD, Major James Rennel, a British surveyor, drew a map of Bengal during the British rule and included an obscure town called Chandpur. At that time, there were offices and courts at a place called Narsinghpur south of Chandpur. The confluence of the Padma and the Meghna was about 60 miles south-west of the present place. This area has now disappeared due to the game of breaking the Meghna river.
The first Chandpur subdivision was formed in 1878 as a result of administrative reorganization during the British rule. On 1 October 1896, Chandpur city was declared as a municipality. It was declared as Chandpur district on 15 February 1984.

Geography

The geological structure of the district dates back to the Pleistocene and Holocene eras. The geographical history of the district can be traced back to the ancient maps of East India compiled by Perguitar.

Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Chandpur District had 635,431 households and a population of 2,635,748 with an average 4.09 people per household. Among the population, 545,365 inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,602 people per km2. Chandpur District had a literacy rate of 78.23%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1144 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 26.23% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 2,863.
Muslims make up 94.41% of the population, while Hindus are 5.56% of the population. The Hindu population has remained relatively constant at 145,000 while its percentage has decreased.

Administrative subdivisions

Upazilas

Chandpur District is divided into the following sub-districts :
  1. Chandpur Sadar Upazila
  2. Faridganj Upazila
  3. Haimchar Upazila
  4. Hajiganj Upazila
  5. Kachua Upazila
  6. Matlab Dakshin Upazila
  7. Matlab Uttar Upazila
  8. Shahrasti Upazila

Education

Notable residents