About Tangail District

Tangail District (dhaka division) with an area of 3424.39 sq km, is bounded by jamalpur district on the north, dhaka and manikganj districts on the south, mymensingh and gazipur districts on the east, sirajganj district on the west. Main rivers: jamuna, dhaleshwari, Jhenai, Bangshi, Lohajang, Turag. Madhupur forestry and Sukhipur and Ghatail hillocks are notable. Average annual temperature: maximum 33.3°C, minimum 12°C; annual rainfall 1467 mm.

Tangail (Town) consists of 9 wards and 63 mahallas. The area of the town is 35.22 km. Tangail Municipality was established in1887. It has a population of 128543; male 51.25%, female 48.75%. Density of population is 3650 per sq km

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Administration Tangail subdivision was established in 1870 and was turned into a district in 1969. The district consists of 11 upazilas, 8 municipalities, 72 wards, 211 mahallas, 103 union parishads, 2431 villages. 

The upazilas are tangail sadar, basail, bhuapur, delduar, ghatail, gopalpur, kalihati, madhupur, mirzapur, nagarpur, sakhipur.

Archaeological relics and monuments Atia Mosque (1608), Sagardighi, Ichamati Dighi, Nagarpur Dighi, Khamarpara Mosque, Dhanbari Mosque (1685).

Tourist attraction National Park at Madhupur, bangabandhu jamuna multipurpose bridge (Bhuapur).

Historical events Kagmari Conference (1957), Sannyasi revolt (1850), Peasant revolt (1858). During the Liberation War in 1971 Abdul Kader Siddiqui of Tangail independently led military operations against Pakistan army. His group was named Kaderia Bahini after its leader. This bahini led many successful guerrilla operations in Tangail. Kader Siddiqui himself was wounded at the Makrar battle near Balla village. The most noted successful operation of the Kaderia Bahini was the capture of a Pakistani ship with huge amount of arms and ammunitions at Bhuapur. In 1996, a devastating tornado caused heavy damage to a few villages.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass killing site 4, memorial 1.

Religious institutions Mosque 3865, temple 735, church 44, place of pilgrimage 1, tomb 4.

Population 3253961; male 50.02%, female 49.98%; Muslim 91.52%, Hindu 7.86%, Christian 0.40%, others 0.22%; Garo, Banshi and Koch are noted ethnic.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 29.6%; male 36.1%, female 22.4%. Educational institutions: science and technology university 1, university college 3, law college 1, homeopathy college 1, government college 4, non-government college 48, polytechnic institution 1, medical assistant training school 1, government high school 4, non-government high school 341, primary education training institute 1, satellite school 86, nursing institute 2, police academy 1, madrasa 174, junior school 40, government primary school 937, non-government 395, teachers' training school 1, community primary school 145, NGO operated school 1304. Noted institutions: Karatia Sadat University College (1926), Kumudini Government Womens' College (1943), Mirzapur Cadet College, Bharateshewari Homes, Bindubashini Government Boys' High School (1880) and Bindubashini government Girls' High School (1882).

Locally published newspapers and periodicals Daily 9, weekly 14, fortnightly 3, monthly 2 and quarterly 1; most noted are the Dainik Mufassal, Dainik Deskotha, Dainik Majlumer Kantha, Ajker Telegram, weekly Tangail Barta, weekly Khamos, weekly Mou Bazar, weekly Purbakash, fortnightly Madhubani, weekly Janatar Kantha, quarterly Adalat. Extinct: Monthly Akbar-a-Islamia (1883), monthly Nabajug (1890), weekly Hitokari (1892), weekly Samachar (1936), weekly Hakkatha (1936), Bulletin Bangla, Satyakatha, weekly Janata (1954), Sahitya Patrika Ballark (1970), fortnightly Sanket (1973).

Cultural organisations Club (with rural) 757, public library 5, cinema hall 38, theatre group 8, drama stage 2, literary society 7, women's organisation (with co-operative) 107.

Main occupations Agriculture 49.53%, fishing 1.05%, agricultural labourer 17.28%, wage labourer 2.53%, weaving 1.68%, industry 1.71%, commerce 9.56%, transport 2.14%, service 6.67%, others 7.85%.

Land use Total cultivation land 338653 hectares, fallow land 17466 hectares; forestry 11087 hectares; single crop 19%, double crop 50% and treble crop land 31%; land under irrigation 60%.

Land control Among the peasants, 27% are landless, 29% small, 24% marginal, 17% intermediate and 3% rich; cultivable land per family 0.59 hectare.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 8000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops  Paddy, jute, sugarcane, wheat, mustard seed and pulse.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Aus paddy, indigo, kaun china.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, litchi, pineapple.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 446, dairy 189, poultry 538, hatchery 8.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 691 km, semi pucca 222 km and mud road 7062 km; embankment 86 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart, panshi nauka (luxurious boat) and Gaina nauka (passenger boat). These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Tangail Cotton Mills, Islam Jute Mills and some other medium size mills and factories.

Cottage industries Tangail sari is most famous at home and abroad. Besides weaving there are some brass, pottery and bamboo and cane industries in the district.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 205, most noted of which are Balla, Pakulia, Nalin, Alenga, Hamidpur, Gopalpur, Lauhati, Shialkol, Mirzapur, Baro Choana, Karatia, Bazidpur and Rampur.

Main exports Jute, pineapple, banana, sugarcane and sari.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, proshika, caritas, SSS, nijera kari and asa.

Health centres Hospital 6, upazila health complex 10, union health complex 59, school health clinic 1, TB clinic 1, mother and child welfare centre 1.