Overview
Manikganj district is an administrative region in the Dhaka division of central Bangladesh. Manikganj subdivision was established in May 1845. Manikganj subdivision was first under Faridpur district (created in 1811). Manikganj subdivision was incorporated from Faridpur district to Dhaka district in 1857 to resolve administrative complexities. Manikganj was upgraded to a district on 01 March 1984.
Origin of the name Manikganj District
Originally the word manik came from the Sanskrit word ‘manikya’. Manik is ruby Padmarag. The word ganj is French. There is no village or mouza called Manikganj. Before the creation of the subdivision in 1845, the name of Manikganj was not found in any historical account or official documents.
Legend has it that in the first half of the eighteenth century, a Sufi saint named Manik Shah came to the village of Maniknagar in Singair upazila and established a khanka to spread Islam. Later he left this khanka and went to the shrine of Darvesh Haider Sheikh in Harirampur upazila and came to the desolate pasture on the banks of Ichhamati in present day Maniknagar and established a khanka. A settlement was formed here around this khanka.
Maniknagar is a memorial of Manik Shah. In his last life, Manik Shah left the second khanka and reached the shores of Dhaleshwari with the intention of returning to the court of the spiritual guru at Dhamrai. The natural scenery of the place is his choice. He set up a khanka here. Devotees of the first and second khankas also used to come here and take initiation. Manikshah was revered by all, irrespective of caste or creed, for his miraculous qualities. Even the bandits did not approach the khankar with any nefarious intention.
So besides the devotees, the merchants also used to rest and spend the night here. In this way settlements and mokams were established on the banks of Dhaleshwari centered on Manik Shah’s khanka. Some say that the name Manikganj originates from the name of the mighty Pathan Sardar Manik Dhali. Some say that Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was named after the traitor Manik Chand in gratitude to the British.
Details of Manikganj District
Area: 1378.99 sq. Km
Constituency:
Manikganj district is divided into three parliamentary seats.
| 01 | Manikganj-1 | Daulatpur, Ghior and Shibalaya |
| 02 | Manikganj-2 | Singair, Harirampur and Manikganj Sadar three unions |
| 03 | Manikganj-3 | Saturia and seven unions of Manikganj Sadar |
Population:
| Total population | 14,47,298 |
| Male | 7,02,807 (48.5%) |
| Female | 7,44,491 (51.5%) |
| Gross Birth Rate | 18.3 (per thousand) |
| Gross mortality rate | 5.0 (per thousand) |
| Total number of voters | 11,10,695 |
| Male: | 5,52,721 (49.8%) |
| Female: | 5,57,984 (50.2%) |
Upazila and police station:
There are 7 upazilas in Manikganj. Daulatpur, Ghior, Shibalaya, Singair, Harirampur, Manikganj sadar, and Saturia
| Municipalities | 02 |
| Unions | 65 |
| Villages | 1668 |
| City Corporation | None |
| Primary schools | 648 |
| Secondary schools | 158 |
| Madrasas | 28 |
| Colleges | 31 |
| Mouza | 1357 |
| Rivers | Main 05 |
Wetlands and Rivers
There are several rivers in Manikganj district. Several important rivers of this district. 1) Padma 2) Jamuna 3) Dhaleshwari 4) Ichhamati 5) Kaliganga
Closed watershed above 20 acres and above 20 acres: 16 above 20 acres, and 65 below 20 acres.
| Open waterways | 22 |
| Hats and bazaars | 121 |
| Total land | 120797.32 hectares. |
| Total cultivable land | 107817 hectares. |
| Union Land Office | 66 |
| Paved road | 264 km |
| Raw road | 2261 km |
| Housing | 17 proposed, 13 implemented. |
| Shelter projects | 13 |
| Model villages | 22 |
| Ferry/boat wharf | 49 |
List of Upazila based Unions in Manikganj District
Manikganj Sadar Upazila (10)
|
Betila-mitra |
Jagir |
Atigram |
|
Hatipara |
Tenant |
Navagram |
|
Dighi |
The average |
Putail |
|
Krishnapur |
Shibalaya Upazila (7)
|
Shivalaya |
Teota |
Uthli |
|
Shimulia |
Mahadevpur |
Ulail |
|
Arua |
Ghior Upazila (7)
|
Ghior |
Sand dunes |
Holy |
|
Baniajuri |
Drain |
Singuri |
|
The big one |
Daulatpur Upazila (8)
|
Chakmirpur |
God | Khalshi |
| Baghutia | Zionpur |
Bachamara |
|
Kaliya |
Charkatari |
Saturia Upazila (9)
|
Baraid |
Saturia |
Dhankora |
|
Dighulia |
Absolutely |
Spleen |
|
Dargram |
Fukurhati |
The sand |
Singair Upazila (11)
|
Singair |
Chandahar | Joy Mandap |
|
Baira |
Charigram |
Jamsha |
| Strength | Jamirta |
Sayesta |
|
Talebpur |
Dhalla |
Harirampur Upazila (13)
|
Lachha Ganj |
Sutalari | Dust |
|
Shed |
Gala |
Gopinathpur |
| Azimnagar | Balla |
Kanchanpur |
|
Bone marrow |
Bold |
Baira |
|
Ramakrishnapur |
Interested Places in Manikganj District:
- Aricha Ghat in Manikganj district is one of the places of interest in this area. Vehicles used to cross this ghat before the Jamuna bridge.
- Baliati Zamindar Bari Saturia: The contribution of the zamindars of Baliati is worth mentioning in the history of antiquities of Baliati Palace, Manikganj district. The zamindars of Baliati have left a legacy of more than a hundred years from the first half of the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century which has especially enriched the antiquities of the district.
- Teota Zamindar Bari, Shibalaya: The Teota Zamindar Bari of Shibalaya Upazila under Manikganj Upazila was the home of Babu Hemshankar Roy Chowdhury, Babu Joy Shankar Roy Chowdhury Ping and two siblings. They managed the zamindari at Teota.
- Dhankora zamindar’s house, Saturia.
- Nahar Garden, Kamata, Saturia.
Geographical location and size:
North Sirajganj, Tangail district. To the south are Faridpur, Rajbari, and Dhaka districts. Formerly Dhaka district. Pabna and Rajbari districts in the west.
| Area | 1378.99 sq. Km. |
| Education | 56% (literacy rate) |
| Health Sadar Hospital | 01 |
| Upazila health centers | 06 |
| Diabetic Hospital | 01 |
| Maternal and Child Welfare Centers | 02 |
| community clinics | 116 |
| Agriculture | Cultivable agricultural land – 107897 hectares. |
Liberation War of 1971 in Manikganj
Captain Abdul Halim Chowdhury and Abdul Matin Chowdhury led the war of liberation in Manikganj district in 1971.
On 29 October, a group of freedom fighters attacked several boats carrying Pakistani infiltrators in the northwest corner of Golaidanga village in Boldhara union of Singair upazila and a fierce battle took place in Nuruni Ganga (Kaliganga canal). In that battle 25 Pak soldiers were killed and many were wounded. Veer Muktijoddha Engineer Tabarak Hossain Ludu led the operation, he was the commander of the Ludu group of the freedom fighters. None of the freedom fighters were killed in the battle of Golaidanga, which was one of the most important liberation wars against the Pakistani army in Manikganj.
When the freedom fighters moved elsewhere at the end of the war, the Pak army brought more troops and set fire to about 1600 houses around the village and killed 99 local innocent people, most of them old men, women and children. After the battle, on 13 November, Singair upazila was liberated from the Pak-occupied army. In the last week of November, new groups of freedom fighters entered different parts of Manikganj and defeated the Pakistani army in several battles.
On 14 December 1971, a group of Pak troops advancing towards Dhaka entered the village of Burundi in Manikganj Sadar Upazila. A group of freedom fighters led by Shahadat Hossain Biswas Badal (Mujib Bahini) were preparing to attack them at a suitable place. Goes. On 14 December the then Manikganj subdivision (now Manikganj district) was liberated.
The Muktijoddha Sangsad Sontan Command was formed in 2017 to keep the spirit of the liberation war intact from generation to generation. The founding convener of this command is Shariful Islam Dhala, son of late Abul Kalam, a heroic freedom fighter of Saturia Upazila, and Member Secretary is Mamun Chowdhury, son of Dr. Julmat Ali Mia Muzaffar, a heroic freedom fighter of Arua Union of Shibalaya Upazila.
Economical Places:
There are a total of 166 hats and markets. 54 fairs (fairs) were held in Manikganj. “Manikganj Vijay Mela” – (Manikganj), “Bahadia Baishakhi Mela, (Bahadia)” Joymantap Madhur Mela, (Joymantap) Bahadia Bazar “Majhi Barir Mela” – (Diabari), “Zinda Shah Mela” – (Jhitka), “Belal / Billal Paglar Mela “- (Harganj),” Rauth Jatra Mela “- (Katigram),” Poush Mela “- (Atigram),” Bathimuri Mela “- (Bathimuri),” Baher Paglar Mela “- (Bangla),” Baher Paglar Mela “- (Mahadevpur),” Sadhur Mela “- (Dakshin Jamsha),” Sadhanota Mela “- (Maluchi), Nimaichan’s Mela (Balirtek)” Aziz Paglar Mela “- (Kachidhara),” Baruni Mela “- (Batni) Famous and beloved throughout Manikganj Mahadevpur Bazar, Barangail Bazar, Baira Bazar, Jhitka Bazar, Jamsha Bazar, Diabari Bazar, Ghior Bazar, Singair Bazar, Bangla Bazar, Maluchi Bazar (Balla Bazar), Intajganj Bazar, Batni Bazar, Amtali Bazar, Daulatpur Bazar , Kalia Bazar is the famous market of Manikganj.
Prominent personalities of Manikganj:
- Rafiquddin Ahmed, Language Martyr.
- Haruna Rashid Khan Munnu, former Member of Parliament and Minister. Top businessmen, politicians and social workers of Bangladesh.
- Khandaker Delwar Hossain, language soldier, one of the organizers of the liberation war, former Member of Parliament, Chief Whip. Former Secretary General, BNP.
- Dr. Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-winning economist, philosopher.
- Justice AKM Nurul Islam, former Vice President and Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
- Hiralal Sen, the father of film in the subcontinent, is a photographer.
- Khan Ataur Rahman, composer, singer, filmmaker, music director, lyricist, producer.
- Masood Ali Khan, actor.
- Mumtaz Begum, Musician, Member of Parliament.
- Kishorilal Roy Chowdhury.
- Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen, collector of ancient manuscripts, writer, researcher.
- Munir Chowdhury, martyred intellectual, academician, playwright, literary critic, linguist.
- Shamsuzzaman Khan, former Director General, Bangla Academy.
- Faruk Ahmed, popular playwright.
- Nina Hamid, renowned folk artist.
- Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Bangladesh’s first Test captain, Member of Parliament.
- Amalendu Biswas is the pioneer of the folk culture journey of Bangladesh. Renowned traveler.
- Syed Abul Maqsood is a literary and regular columnist of Prothom Alo.