Bhaluka 5.16

Bhaluka is an Upazila, or sub-district, of the Mymensingh District in Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh. It is a basic industrial area.NotablesAbed-u-llah Chowdhury was a notable zamindar of Bhaluka. Chowdhury's wife, Halimunnesa Chowdhurani, made notable contributions to the development of this Upazila. Their son, Aftabuddin Chowdhury was a member of the National Assembly in the Pakistani period for the Pakistani Muslim League, as well as a member of Parliament in Independent Viewpark from the same party.During the war of liberation, Afsar Uddin Ahmed (Sub Sector Commandar of Sector 11) collected arms and ammunition and challenged the Pakistani army. Late Shah Ali Akbar was a valiant freedom fighter. He, along with Afsar Uddin, organized Mukti bahini (freedom fighter) at Bhaluka.GeographyBhaluka has a total area of 444.05 km². It is bounded by Fulbaria and Trishal Upazilas on the north, Sreepur Upazila on the south, Gaffargaon Upazila on the east and Sakhipur and Ghatail Upazilas on the west. The main rivers are Sutia, Khiru, Lalti, and Bajua.DemographicsAs of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Bhaluka had a population of 264,991 in 53,222 households. Males constitute 51.08% of the population, and females 48.92%. The Upazila's 18 year old and up population is 137,860.Bhaluka has an average literacy rate of 41.10% (7+ years), and a national average literacy rate of 32.4%.AdministrationBhaluka thana, now an Upazila, was established in 1917. It is one of the oldest small business hubs in the area. It became an Upazila at 1983. The Upazila consists of 11 union parishads, 87 mouzas and 102 villages.