Feni District
Feni District is a coastal district situated in the south-east of Bangladesh, within Chittagong Division. One of Bangladesh's smallest districts, it is strategically located along the Dhaka–Chittagong transportation corridor. Bordered by India to the north and the Bay of Bengal to the south, it serves as the sole entry point linking Chittagong, the country's primary port city, to the northern districts.
The district's population stood at 1.6 million in 2022, ranking 42nd among 64 districts and 4th least populous in Chittagong Division. Established as Bangladesh's 64th district in 1984 with its administrative hub in Feni city, it was previously a sub-division under Noakhali District. The district comprises six upazilas : Sonagazi, Fulgazi, Parshuram, Daganbhuiyan, Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar.
Deriving its name from the Feni River, the district has a rich history spanning five millennia, having been historically part of the greater regions of Noakhali, Comilla, and Tripura. It was ruled by ancient kingdoms before coming under the Muslim rule of the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century, and later the Mughals from the 17th century, when it briefly served as a frontier settlement with thriving cities. The British gained control in the late 18th century, formally establishing Feni as a sub-division in 1876. Significant infrastructure development, including schools, colleges, roads and railways, occurred in the early 20th century. Feni's students played a vital role during Bangladesh's language movement in the mid-20th century and subsequent independence war, ultimately gaining independence from Pakistan on 6 December 1971.
Etymology
While there are disagreements surrounding the matter, it is generally believed that the settlement of Feni derived its name from the river of the same name, rather than the other way around. The origin of the name "Feni" itself is surrounded by various local legends, complicating efforts to determine its true source. However, most legends commonly suggest that the name is connected to the word .The evolution of the word "Feni" or is evident in historical texts spanning several centuries. Writers and poets in the 15th and 16th centuries wrote about the area, referring to the word as both a river stream and a ghat for ferry crossing. The emergence of the word appears to be evident in the language of Muslim poets and writers, such as the 17th-century Persian book Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, where the reference to the two rivers indicates the transformation of the word into or Feni.
History
Early history
The Feni region, situated in eastern Greater Noakhali, is believed by scholars to have an ancient history, despite its relatively recent addition to the country's administrative landscape. Historical records indicate the presence of human settlements dating back five thousand years ago within this region.According to folklore, this area was once home to a flourishing society that settled near the legendary seas of or, showcasing the region's deep-rooted past. Scholars trace the arrival of Aryans to the Ganges Delta near Feni, marking a significant epoch in its history. Prehistorical discoveries in Feni dating back to the kingdom of Gangaridai further underscore Feni's importance, suggesting it may have served as a vital frontier settlement during ancient times. Historical records point to the governance of a 7th-century dynasty as part of the Samatata region. Archaeological findings suggest the presence of the Chandra dynasty, which ruled over Samatata. Additionally, evidence indicates the possible rule of the Pala Empire in Feni, notably under King Mahipala II, after whom modern Mahipal is named. The Feni-Noakhali region was part of the ancient Pattikera Kingdom, possibly serving as a trade route connecting the kingdom with Burma. The artificial lake called in Mahipal reflects the era of Vijaya Sena's rule, belonging to the Sena dynasty. During the 13th century, the kingdom of Bhulua emerged, encompassing the area that comprises the present-day Noakhali region.
Arrival of Islam and Muslim rule
During the medieval era, the arrival of Sufis from Arabia and Central Asia profoundly influenced Bengal's coastal regions. Promoting values of tolerance and love, they amalgamated Islamic teachings with local customs, shaping a distinctive cultural identity. By the onset of the Middle Ages, Muslims formed the majority in the Noakhali region, despite the absence of Muslim rule.During the rule of Muhammad bin Tughluq, eastern Bengal came under the Delhi Sultanate's jurisdiction. Under the governance of Bahram Khan, who ruled over eastern Bengal during the Tughlaq dynasty, the Bhulua or Greater Noakhali region was administratively linked to Sonargaon, one of the three administrative divisions of Bengal within the Delhi Sultanate. Ships laden with salt would depart from the ports of Bhulua and Jugidiya for overseas destinations.
Following Bahram's demise in 1338, Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah proclaimed the independence of eastern Bengal at Sonargaon. After the establishment of the independent Sultanate of Sonargaon, Fakhruddin set up a military camp in Feni while aiming to conquer Chittagong, overseeing the construction of a mosque and excavation of a reservoir in the region. In an effort to enhance connectivity within his realm, he contributed to the construction of a lengthy highway from Chandpur to Chittagong, passing through Comilla and Feni. In later times, a significant portion of this old highway in the Feni region was incorporated into the DhakaChittagong Trunk Road.
During a period of instability in Bengal, the rise of Tripura as a regional power saw its king extending control over parts of Feni, Comilla, and Sylhet, capitalising on the opportunity presented by Raja Ganesha's seizure of power in Bengal.
In historical accounts, it is suggested that Rasti Khan, who served under Ruknuddin Barbak Shah, governed areas extending from Feni to the northern regions of Chittagong. Additionally, during the medieval period, the Kingdom of Tripura exerted significant influence over the Feni and Comilla regions, with the eastern part of Feni being part of the district of Tripura during the British colonial period, which also encompassed the modern district of Comilla.
During the medieval era, a nobleman belonging to the Sur Dynasty named Nizam Shah established a kingdom called Jafarabad along the banks of the Feni River. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, territorial disputes arose between the Kingdoms of Tripura and Arakan, with Arakan initially seizing control of Chittagong and extending influence up to the Feni River. Following conflicts, Mogh settlements were established in southern Feni-Noakhali, but they fled when the Mughals conquered Chittagong in 1666, who also drove out Portuguese settlers in the region who arrived in late 16th century.
Mughal era and rule of the Nawabs
Greater Noakhali fell under Mughal rule after they invaded the Bhulua Kingdom—which stretched as far as a portion of Comilla—and ousted its king Ananta Manikya in 1611, led by Subahdar Islam Khan. To ensure control over the newly acquired territories, the Mughals set up a police station, serving as the administrative hub of the area, at the mouth of the Feni River in Jugidiya. Its jurisdiction extended over significant portions of present-day Sonagazi and Companiganj. This station served as the frontier outpost of the Mughal province of Bengal in the far southeast during that period, facing repeated attacks from the Arakan Kingdom.The Feni region was pivotal during the Mughal conquest of Chittagong, acting as the border with Arakan-held territory. Having been under Mughal control for fifty years, Feni was strategically fortified along the riverside to repel potential Arakanese attacks. After the Mughal conquest of Chittagong, they established a thriving city called Amirgaon in southern Feni, but it was eventually swallowed by the Feni River.
After the death of Aurangzeb's, the Mughal Empire began to fragment, leading to the rise of Nawabs in Bengal in the early 18th century. Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, seeking to boost tax revenue, divided Feni's largest pargana. Under his rule, the East India Company established a textile mill in southern Feni's Jugidiya area. Toward the Nawab era's end, a new administrative unit, Chakla Roshnabad, was formed, spanning parts of Sylhet and Comilla, extending to the Feni River's southern bank. Shamsher Gazi, who ruled Chakla Roshnabad, emerged as a notable figure, significantly influencing Feni's history.
Influence of the East India Company
Long before the Battle of Plassey, which handed control of Bengal to the East India Company, a French company established a significant textile mill in Jugidiya, a hub for various industries, near the mouth of the Feni River. In 1765, the East India Company gained the authority to collect taxes in Jugidiya and other areas by becoming the official tax collector for the Mughal emperor, thereby legitimizing its control over the region.In 1770, the East India Company's ineptitude and exploitative tax policies precipitated a severe famine. Concurrently, the coastal Feni-Noakhali region was devastated by a catastrophic cyclone and tidal surge, resulting in widespread displacement and destruction. The important settlement of Jugidiya was all but submerged. Despite the implementation of the Permanent Settlement system in 1793, much of Feni-Noakhali remained under direct East India Company control, with armed enforcement of high land revenue collection. In the same year, the Manikya king of Tripura acquired land rights in the Roshnabad estate under the new system, including parts of Feni, compelling anti-English landowners to cede their land.