Kaliganj , Gazipur , Bangladesh 5.01

The ancestor of the Gazi Dynasty of Chaura, Karforma Sahib established settlements at Chaura after receiving jaigir from the emperor of Delhi. The Bhuiyans of Gazi Dynasty established their control over the Bhawal region from their headquarters at Chaura. On 25 July 1971 the freedom fighters destroyed Nalchhata Railway Bridge, Bandhakhola Railway Bridge and the electric pole at Tiria of Nagari union to disrupt the movement of the Pak army. An encounter between the freedom fighters and the Pak army was held at a place near the Sombazar Canal on 18 November in which a number of Pak soldiers were killed; the freedom fighters also took control over the WAPDA Power House Army Camp, Police Station and Arikhola Railway Station Camp. On 1 December, the Pak army killed nearly 100 officers and other staff of Khalapara National Jute Mills. On 12 December the freedom fighters launched attack on the Pak army camp at Ghorashal and surrounded the Pak soldiers. On 14 December battles were fought between the joint forces (freedom fighters and the allied forces) and the Pak army at Pubail and Nalchhata; 7 Pak soldiers were killed in the Nalchhata battle and so were about two soldiers of the allied forces.

Religious institutions Mosque 395, temple 19, church 6.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 54.9%; male 56.9%, female 52.8%. Educational institutions: college 5, secondary school 37, primary school 121, madrasa 29. Noted educational institutions: Kaliganj Sramik College (1970), Kaliganj Government RNN Pilot High School (1889), Rajendra Narayan High School, St. Nicholas High School (1920), Chupair High School (1925), Khoisra High School (1926), Tumulia St. Mary’s Girls’ High School (1941), Begum Rabeya Ahmed Girls’ High School.

Newspapers and periodicals Kaliganj Barta (defunct).

Cultural organisations Library 32, club 30, cinema hall 3, theatre group 1, cultural organisation 9, women’s society 6. Udichi and Khelaghar are notable.

Tourist spots Nagari St. Nicholas Church, Panjora St. Anthony Church, Shooting Spot at Babur Bari of Baktarpur.

Main sources of income Agriculture 47.89%, non-agricultural labourer 2.89%, commerce 14.85%, transport and communication 3.85%, service 13.28%, rent and remittance 4.57% and others 12.67%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 68.27%, landless 31.73%; agricultural landowner: urban 43.95% and rural 70.04%.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, potato, sweet potato, pulse, bitter gourd, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, kalai, mug, mustard, sugarcane.

Main fruits Jackfruit, papaya, pineapple, litchi, mango, guava.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 17, dairy 204, poultry 395, hatchery 3, others 2.

Communication facilities Pucca road 72 km, semi-pucca road 28 km, mud road 570 km; railway 15 km; waterway 13.50 nautical miles.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Cement factory, marble factory, tiles factory, stone crushing factory, brick field.

Cottage industries Blacksmith, potteries, weaving, cane work, bamboo work, wood work, jute work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 28, fairs 10, most noted of which are Kaliganj, Pubail, Katarganj, Ghorashal, Charsindur hats; Aowrakhali Bazar, Ulukhola Bazar, Dolaner Bazar and Satiani Mela, Nagari St. Anthony Mela.

Main exports Paddy, vegetables.

Access to electricity 55.16% (urban 81.84% and rural 53.23%) of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Natural resources Kamta Gas Field; the total forest area of the upazila is 35 hectors.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 92.20%, tap 0.82%, pond 0.20% and others 6.78%. The presence of arsenic in an tollerable level has been detected in 87 shallow tube-well water in a survey conducted in 2000.

Sanitation 56.24% (rural 55.21% and urban 70.42%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 28.97% of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 14.80% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 1, union health centre 2, family planning centre 7, Red Crescent Hospital 3, Islamic Foundation Hospital 1, clinic 3, missionary hospital 1, veterinary hospital 1.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika.