Gopalpur Upazila

Gopalpur Upazila (tangail district) with an area of 193.37 sq km, is bounded by madhupur upazila on the north, ghatail and bhuapur upazilas on the south, Ghatail and Madhupur upazilas on the east, sarishabari and Bhuapur upazilas on the west. Main rivers are Jhinai, atrai and Bairan; main depressions are Helancha Beel, Barashila Beel and Gaila Beel.

Gopalpur (Town) consists of 9 wards and 35 mahallas. The Gopalpur municipality was established in 1974. It has an area of 23.12 sq km. The town has a population of 52131; male 50.72%, female 49.28%. The literacy rate among the town people is 40%. It has one dakbungalow.

Administration The Gopalpur thana, now an upazila, was established in 1920. The upazila consists of one municipality, 10 union parishads, 162 mouzas and 146 villages. 

Archaeological relics and monuments Khamarbari Mosque and Anandamoi Kali Mondir.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass killing site 1, mass grave 1, memorial 1.

Population 252747; male 50.98, female 49.2%; Muslim 95.5%, Hindu 4.4% and others 0.1%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 28.4%; male 33.8%, female 22.7%. Most noted are Gopalpur College, Suti V.M. High School, Jhoail Rani Hemantakumari High School.

Locally published newspapers and periodicals Gopalpur Barta, Boiran Sahitya Patra.

Main occupations Agriculture 53.35%, agricultural labourer 20.59%, wage labourer 2.15%, industry 9.31%, hawker 1.87%, service 3.98%, others 8.75%.

Land use Total land under cultivation 15510 hectares; single crop11%, double crop 49% and treble crop land 40%.

Land control Among the peasants 40% are landless, 30% small, 20% intermediate and 10% rich.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 6000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, pulse, onion and garlic.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Linseed, kaun, china, barley, local varieties of paddy.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana and litchi.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 54, diary 30 and poultry 12.

Traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage and dhuli. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Gopalpur Textile Mill.

Cottage industries Goldsmith 50, blacksmith 75, potteries 250, bamboo work 250, carpenter 300 and welding 25.

Main hats, bazars and fairs The most noted hat is Gopalpur Konabari Hat. Noted fairs are Gopalpur Mela on the occasion of boat race, Rath Mela at Dastala of Sutikangal, Aumbubachi Mela.

Main exports Jute, paddy, pulse, leather, mustard seed, onion.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, SDS and SIDO.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 2, family planning centre 7.