Habiganj District


Habiganj, formerly known as Habibganj, which was named after its founder Syed Habib Ullah of Taraf Kingdom, is a district of the Sylhet Division in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. Between the thirteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Habiganj was part of the state of Nasirabad, now called Mymensingh. At present, it is a district of Sylhet Division.
With the passage of time, Habibganj turned into Habiganj. During the British Raj, Habiganj was established as a Thana in 1790, under Dhaka district. Until 1896, Habiganj's administrative centre was in Court Andar, Laskarpur. On 12 September 1874 it came under Sylhet district. Habiganj was declared as subdivision in 1867. On 7 April 1893, according to Notification #273 of Assam Provincial Government, Habiganj Thana was established. Habiganj was rejoined with East-Bengal in 1911. Then the Office of the Circle Officer was established in 1960. On 1 March 1984 Habiganj was established as a District. Md. Kamrul Hasan is the Deputy Commissioner.
At present Habiganj consists of 9 upazilas, 6 municipalities, 54 wards, 78 union parishads, 124 mahallas, 1241 mouzas and 2076 villages.

History

Chaklapunji

All the reported prehistoric records of Bangladesh are associated with the Lalmai hills and the higher areas of Sylhet, Habiganj, and Chittagong and Madhupur tract. The prehistoric site of Chaklapunji tea garden, near Chandirmazar of Chunarughat. Habiganj has also revealed a significant number of prehistoric tools from the bed of a small ephemeral stream known as Balu nadi. Angularity and freshness of the fossil wood artifacts suggest that they did not come from a great distance and probably came from nearby hillocks. Typologically, technologically, and morphometrically, the artifacts are more or less the same as those found in the Lalmai area. The Fossil wood assemblages of Lalmai and Chaklapunji can be classified into two groups:
  1. Pre-neolithic assemblages without polished tools ;
  2. Neolithic assemblages.

    Battle of Jilkua 1581 A.D

From the time of the conquest of Sylhet and Taraf by Muslim s in 1302-22 A.D., to the time of the annexation of the territory of Sylhet to the Mughal Empire in 1612 A.D. little is known with any certainty about this ruling power in the district, excepting that Amar Manikya king of Tripura raj while digging a tank in his capital called upon Syed Musa, son of Syed Shah Mikail to contribute labourers. Syed Musa refused to accept this subordination and Tripurah claim. Tripura King attacked Taraf and a battle took place at Jilkua village to the south of Chunarghat in which Syed Musa and his son Bairam were taken prisoner in 1581 A.D. Syed Musa suffered imprisonment in Tripura capital but Syed Bairam was set free. By the middle of the 15th century, when all the divisions of the Laur territory were united under the headship of Baniachung house it seems the Muslim area of Taraf passed under the control of Baniachung, which now became very powerful to include in its territory, the whole of present Sunamganj and Habiganj subdivisions.

Battle of Bara Bhuiyans and Mughal

In Baniachang a battle occurred between Anwar Khan and Hussain Khan with the Mughal army in the 17th century, which can be found in the Bahrastan-i-Gayebi.

Fort of Putijuri

fled Bukai Nagar Fort and established a shelter at Putijuri on the foot of the Giripal. He also established a fort at Putijuri, which was extremely important for defense. The Mughal army took the advantage when Khwaja Osman's brother was absent from the fort, and finally defeated the Khwaja Osman's army at the village called Dhalamvapur, Maulvi Bazar District.

Indian National Congress

In the second session of the Congress held in Calcutta in 1886, the Indian National Congress was able to attract representatives from Habiganj District.

Liberation War of 1971

Habiganj is the historical place where the Mukti Bahini started their first guerrilla movement against oppression of Pakistani Army.

War at Teliapara Tea Garden

On 4 April 1971, during Bangladesh Liberation War the senior army officers assembled at the headquarters of 2nd East Bengal at Teliapara, a semi hilly area covered by tea gardens where General MAG Osmani, Lieutenant Colonel Abdur Rob, Lieutenant Colonel Salahuddin Mohammad Reja, Major Kazi Nuruzzaman, Major Khaled Mosharraf, Major Nurul Islam, Major Shafat Jamil, Major Mainul Hossain Chowdhury, and others were present.
At this meeting four senior commanders were entrusted with the responsibility of operational areas. Sylhet-Brahmanbaria area was placed under the command of Major Shafiullah, Comilla-Noakhali area was given to Major Khaled Mosharraf while Chittagong-Chittagong Hill Tracts was given to Major Ziaur Rahman and Kushtia-Jessore area was placed under command of Major Abu Osman Chowdhury. In the meeting the organization concept of the freedom fighter forces and the command structure were chalked out under the command of General MAG Osmani.

War at Ajmiriganj

During the War of Liberation in 1971 an 18 hours direct encounter between the freedom-fighters and the Pakistani-army was held on 16 November 1971, in which freedom-fighter Jagatyoti and 11 villagers were killed by the Pakistani-army.

Demography

As per district administration report the total population is 2,089,001 of 926,531 male and 904,022 female. Category by religion 80.23% Muslim, 19.12% Hindu, 0.05% Buddhist, 0.13% Christian and 0.47% others. Life Expectancy: 56 years both male and female. Age Breakdown: 42% ; 26% ; 16% ; 9% ; 5% ; and 2%. Birth Rate: 33.0 per 1,000. Death Rate: 11.4 per 1,000. Population growth rate: 21.6 per 1,000. Infant Mortality Rate: 98.0 per 1,000 live births.
Over 98% of the population are Bengalis while the remainder are Biharis, Khasias, Meiteis and Tripuris.
The Twipra or Tipperah are the original inhabitants of the state of Tripura. The Royal family of the Debbarma ruled the state of Tripura for more than 2,000 years till the kingdom was joined with the India in 1949.
The original Meitei homeland is Manipur, once a sovereign state and now the north-eastern state of India. In the early days, Manipur had different names such as Kangleipak, Kangkleipang, Kanglei, Meitrabak, and Mekhali. During the reign of Maharaj Garibniwaz, Meiteis arrived here. The Khasia is a Mongolite ethnic group. The Khasi descended to the Khasia hills and Jaintia hills from Cherrapunji and Shilong regions. They migrated to Habiganj from Assam where they arrived some 500 years ago.

Upazila

Habiganj District comprises nine Upazilas ;
Habiganj is located at. Its area is 2,636.58 km² and bounded by Sunamganj District to the north, Tripura of India and Maulvibazar District to the east, Balaganj Upazila of Sylhet to the north-east, Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj districts to the west.
This part of Bangladesh is characterized by alluvial plains which are dissected by various connecting rivers as well as streams, lakes; and it is vulnerable to both flood and drought. The land is devoted mainly to agriculture due to its fertile alluvial soils.

Land

Cultivated agricultural land: 1,54,953 hectare. Forestland 95 11,644 hectare. For crops 51.6% single-crop, 38.7% double-crop and 9.7% triple-crop; fallow 521 hectares. Its rivers include Barak, Bheramahana, Gopala, Kalni, Kalishiri, Khowai, Korangi, Kushiara, Meghna River, Ratna, Shwasanali, shutki, sonai, Korangi, Shutang, Tentulia, Jhingri, Bizna and Yojnal.

Economy

Rashidpur gas field, Bibiana gas field and Habiganj gas field. The approximate stock of these gas fields is 5.5 Trillion Cubic Feet. Habiganj gas field lies in Madhabpur Upazila. This field was also discovered by Pakistan Shell Oil Company in 1963. The structure measures 12x5 square km with a vertical closure of 300 m which has a roughly sub-meridian axis tilted slightly eastward at the northern end. Total recoverable gas reserve of this field re-estimated by Hydrocarbon Unit is. Commercial gas production from this field was commenced in 1968 and till 31 August 2006 total or 35.42 percent of reserves has been recovered.

Education

There are total 16 Colleges of which 1 College, 3 Government colleges, 1 Polytechnic institute; 13 Colleges, 6 and 99 High Schools; 14 Junior Schools; 732 and 711 Primary Schools; 96 Madrasah; and 6 Satellite Schools in this district.

Literature and culture

Habigang is famous for folk Literature: Mahuya Sundari and Dhupar Path.
Local newspapers: Daily Habiganj Express, Daily Pravakar, Pratidener Bani, weekly Swadhikar, Swadeshbarta, Drishtikon, Daily Khowai, Habiganj Samachar, Janatar Dalil, Parikrama, fortnightly Prayas, The Daily Habiganjer Ayna and Mritika.
Defunct local newspapers: monthly Moitri, weekly Projapati, Sree Sree Sonar Gauranga, Palli Bani, weekly Shahid, weekly Jagaran, monthly Avijatrik.

Sports

The Habiganj Adhunik Stadium is the largest stadium in Habiganj. The 25,000-capacity venue is used for cricket and football.

Notable people