Kamalganj Upazila


Kamalganj is an upazila of Moulvibazar District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.
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Etymology

There was a local zamindar by the name of Kinkar Nath Ray who appointed a naib by the name of Kamal Narayan in order to develop the land. Kamal established a ganj named after himself. In 1922, Kamalganj was made a thana and in 1983, an upazila.

History

Kamalganj was a part of the ancient Ita Kingdom founded by Raja Bhanu Narayan. The final raja of the Ita Kingdom, Raja Subid Narayan lost a battle in 1610 in which the region became under the rule of Khwaja Usman. However, this rule was short-lived after Mughal General Islam Khan I's attack in 1612. The battle between the Mughal Empire and Khwaja Usman was held in Patanushar, Kamalganj. This led to the death of Afghan leader Khwaja Usman.
A peasant rebellion against zamindar of Prithimpasa led by Manipuri leader Panchanan Singh, Baikunthanath Sharma,Themba Singh and Qasim Ali was held in the 1900s in Bhanubil, Kamalganj.

Demographics

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Kamalganj Upazila had 63,936 households and a population of 290,108. 9.19% of the population were under 5 years of age. Kamalganj had a literacy rate of 74.88%: 77.60% for males and 72.35% for females, and a sex ratio of 94.49 males for every 100 females. 39,791 lived in urban areas.
According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Kamalganj Upazila had 51,895 households and a population of 259,130. 62,862 were under 10 years of age. Kamalganj had a literacy rate of 48.61%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1028 females per 1000 males. 30,197 lived in urban areas. Ethnic population was 23,134, of which Manipuri were 15,672, Khasi 1046 and Santal 916.
As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Kamalganj has a population of 191,672. Males constitute 50.98% of the population, and females 49.02%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 102,877. Kamalganj has an average literacy rate of 28.6%, compared to the national average of 32.4%.
Majority of the residents are Bengalis although there is a minority of indigenous peoples such as the Khasi, Manipuris, Bishnupriya Manipuris, Tripuris and Garos.

Ethnicity and religion

UpazilaMuslimHinduOthers
Kamalganj Paurashava16,9312,4752,927
Adampur Union24,9724,057464
Alinagar Union19,78511,189306
Islampur Union19,9449,659903
Kamalganj Union19,0634,413238
Madhabpur Union11,44619,274751
Munsi Bazar Union12,1786,7621
Patanushar Union22,6612,7592
Rahimpur Union2631415135118
Shamsernagar Union2620511,944115

? Muslim majority ? Hindu majority
Bengali Muslims are the majority but there is a large Bengali Hindu minority. Ethnic population is 28,383 of which Manipuri are 15708.

Economy and tourism

Kamalganj is home to many tourist attractions and natural geography. It contains many tea gardens. Almost around there are fourteen tea garden here.Kamalganj is mainly famous for its natural beauty.  This natural place has many tourist spots viz the Lawachara National Park,Madhabpur Lake, Bir Shrestho Hamidur Rahman Monument,Hum Hum Waterfall, Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf,Camillia Lake,Noor Jahan Tea Garden Other sites include the mausoleums of Shah Kala in Bhadair-Deul, Shah Ghayb and Shah Ghazi Malik in Bhadair-Deul. The ruins of the Ita Kingdom can be found across Kamalganj. The forts of Khwaja Usman, his grave and false tomb can be found in Patanushar in the areas of Srisurya and Usmangarh.

Administration

Kamalganj Upazila is divided into Kamalganj Municipality and 9 union parishads: Adampur, Ali Nagar, Islampur, Kamalganj, Madhabpur, Munshi Bazar, Patanushar, Rahimpur, and Shamshernagar. The union parishads are subdivided into 116 mauzas and 253 villages.
Kamalganj Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 27 mahallas.

Notable residents