Divisions of Bangladesh


Divisions are the first-level administrative divisions in Bangladesh. As of 2024, there are eight divisions of Bangladesh, each named after the major city within its jurisdiction that also serves as the administrative seat of that division. Each division is divided into several districts which are further subdivided into upazilas, then union councils.

History

Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the country had four divisions: Chittagong Division, Dacca Division, Khulna Division, and Rajshahi Division. In 1982, the English spelling of the Dacca Division was changed into Dhaka Division to more closely match the Bengali pronunciation.
In 1993, Barisal Division was split off from Khulna Division, and in 1995, Sylhet Division was split off from Chittagong Division. On 25 January 2010, Rangpur Division was split off from Rajshahi Division. On 14 September 2015, Mymensingh Division was split off from Dhaka Division and added as the eighth division. In 2015, the process started to create two more divisions: Comilla Division and Faridpur Division. In October 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the formation of two new divisions, Meghna and Padma, named after the eponymous rivers, in the places of Comilla and Faridpur Divisions. However, these names were later rejected.

The Divisional Commissioner

Divisional Commissioner is the administrative head of a division. Divisional Commissioner is appointed by the government from an Additional Secretary level officer of the Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Cadre. The role of a Divisional Commissioner's office is to act as the supervisory head of all the government offices situated in the division. A Divisional Commissioner is given the direct responsibility of supervising the revenue and development administration of a division. The Divisional Commissioner is assisted by several Additional Divisional Commissioners, Senior Assistant Commissioners and other bureaucratic officials.

List of divisions

The following table outlines some key statistics about the eight divisions of Bangladesh as found in the 2011 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Proposed divisions

Two more divisions have been proposed to ease down administrative work load due to increase in population: Their formation was confirmed in October 2021 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, on 17 December 2024, the Public Administration Reform Commission of the Interim government of Bangladesh recommended the creation of the Comilla division and Faridpur division, and the integration of Tangail and Kishoreganj district into Mymensingh Division.
According to the commission the proposed divisions are as follows:
DivisionCurrent Districts Proposed DistrictsChanges
Barisal6 Districts: Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Jhalokathi, Patuakhali, Pirojpur6 Districts: Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Jhalokathi, Patuakhali, Pirojpur
Chattogram11 Districts: Bandarban, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Khagrachhari, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, Rangamati5 Districts: Bandarban, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Khagrachhari, Rangamati6 districts removed and moved to new Comilla Division: Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Comilla, Feni, Lakshmipur, Noakhali
Dhaka13 Districts: Dhaka, Faridpur, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Kishoreganj, Madaripur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Tangail6 Districts: Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Narsingdi5 districts removed and moved to new Faridpur Division: Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari
2 districts removed and moved to Mymensingh Division: Kishoreganj, Tangail
Khulna10 Districts: Bagerhat, Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Khulna, Kushtia, Magura, Meherpur, Narail, Satkhira10 Districts: Bagerhat, Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Khulna, Kushtia, Magura, Meherpur, Narail, Satkhira
Mymensingh4 Districts: Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur6 Districts: Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Tangail2 districts added from Dhaka Division: Kishoreganj, Tangail
Rajshahi8 Districts: Bogura, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Natore, Chapai Nawabganj, Pabna, Rajshahi, Sirajganj8 Districts: Bogura, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Natore, Chapai Nawabganj, Pabna, Rajshahi, Sirajganj
Rangpur8 Districts: Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangpur, Thakurgaon8 Districts: Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangpur, Thakurgaon
Sylhet4 Districts: Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Sylhet4 Districts: Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Sylhet
FaridpurNew proposed division5 Districts: Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari5 districts separated from Dhaka Division
ComillaNew proposed division6 Districts: Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Comilla, Feni, Lakshmipur, Noakhali6 districts separated from Chattogram Division

Evolution of Bangladesh administrative divisions

Administrative geography

East Pakistan inherited 17 districts from British Bengal.
In 1960, Lower Tippera was renamed Comilla.
In 1969, two new districts were created with Tangail separated from Mymensingh and Patuakhali from Bakerganj.
East Pakistan's districts are listed in the following.
DivisionEast Pakistani DistrictCurrent Bangladeshi Districts
Dacca DivisionDacca DistrictDhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi
Dacca DivisionFaridpur DistrictFaridpur, Gopalganj, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur
Dacca DivisionMymensingh DistrictMymensingh, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sherpur
Dacca DivisionTangail DistrictTangail
Chittagong DivisionHill Tracts DistrictRangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban
Chittagong DivisionChittagong DistrictChittagong, Cox's Bazar
Chittagong DivisionComilla DistrictComilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria
Chittagong DivisionNoakhali DistrictNoakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur
Chittagong DivisionSylhet DistrictSylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj
Rajshahi DivisionBogra DistrictBogra, Joypurhat
Rajshahi DivisionDinajpur DistrictDinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh
Rajshahi DivisionRajshahi DistrictRajshahi, Nawabganj, Natore, Naogaon
Rajshahi DivisionRangpur DistrictRangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha
Rajshahi DivisionPabna DistrictPabna, Sirajganj
Khulna DivisionBakerganj DistrictBarisal, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Bhola
Khulna DivisionJessore DistrictJessore, Jhenaidah, Narail, Magura
Khulna DivisionKhulna DistrictKhulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat
Khulna DivisionKushtia DistrictKushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga
Khulna DivisionPatuakhali DistrictPatuakhali, Barguna