Narsingdi Sadar Upazila (narsingdi district) with an area of 213.44 sq km, is bounded by palash, shibpur and raipura upazilas on the north, araihazar upazila on the south, bancharampur and Raipura upazilas on the east, Palash and rupganjupazilas on the west. Main rivers are Arial Khan, Meghna, Haridhoa.
Narsingdi (Town) consists of 9 wards and 33 mahallas. The area of the town is 14.76 sq km. Narsingdi municipality was established in 1972. The town has a population of 42023; male 54.52%, female 45.48%; density of population per sq km is 2847. Literacy rate among the town people is 51.6%.
Administration Narsingdi thana, now an upazila, was established in 1930. The upazila consists of two municipalities (Sadar and Madhabdi), 18 wards, 48 mahallas, 14 union parishads, 203 mouzas, 270 villages.
Archaeological heritage and relics Stone image (Sena period) discovered at Narsingdi Town, silver coin of Gias Uddin Azam Shah at Algi Village, silver coin (Sultani period) at Panchdona, copper plate inscription of Bhoj Barmadeva discovered at village Belabo, 29 silver coins (1011 AH) discovered at Laskar Para, tomb of Kabul Shah, tomb and mosque of Hazrat Shah Osman.
Historical events On 5 April 1971, three persons were killed on the spot and hundreds of shops were burned to ashes by a rocket bomb. Many lives and properties were lost in the battles at Panchdona and Madabdi between the freedom fighters and the Pak army. Satish Pakrashi was imprisoned for 20 years for direct involvement in the swadeshi movement.
Marks of War of Liberation Mass grave 3.
Population 451335; male 52.61%, female 47.39%; Muslim 91.22%, Hindu 8.65%, Christian 0.02%, Buddhist 0.02% and others 0.09%; ethnic nationals: Santal 641.
Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 24%; male 25.03% and female 21.05%. Educational institutions: college 6, teacher's training college 2, technical college 1, youth development training centre 1, high school 23, junior high school 3; noted institutions: Balapur High School (1905), Sir KG Gupta High School (1919), Narsingdi Government Girls' High School (1934), Satir Kalikumar High School (1901).
Cultural organisations Club 20, cinema hall 5, public library 7.
Locally published newspapers and periodicals Dainik Uttap, Dainik Grameen Darpan, Weeklies: Narsingdir Khabar, Khorak, Sandesh.
Main occupations Agriculture 19.48%, fishing 2.31%, transport 3.54%, agricultural labourer 9.26%, wage labourer 5.09%, handloom 8.75%, industry 4.41%, service 12.61%, commerce 20.27% and others 14.28%.
Land use Total cultivable land 14484.01 hectares; fallow land 5852.69 hectares; single crop land 51.80%, double crop 45.61% and treble crop land 2.59%.
Land control Among the peasants 35% are landless, 30% small, 24% intermediate and 11% rich.
Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk. 5000 per 0.01 hectare.
Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, potato, onion and garlic.
Extinct or nearly extinct crops Sesame, linseed, indigo, and tobacco.
Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, papaya, black berry and banana.
Fisheries, dairies, poultries Dairy 50, poultry 45, fishery 101.
Communication facilities Roads: pucca 80.97 km, semi pucca 48.06 km and mud road 270 km; waterways 20 nautical mile; railways 7.5 km.
Traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart and horse carriage. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.
Manufactories Jute mill 4, textile mill 10, flour mill 8, ice factory 2, printing press 40, power loom factory 250, dying mill 30, welding 11.
Cottage industries Weaving 20, bamboo work 8, goldsmith 160, blacksmith 57, wood work 200, tailoring 202, iron work 15, automobile garage 15.
Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 27, most noted of which are Madavdi Hat, Shekherchar Bazar, Karimpur Bazar; fairs 3 (Baul Mela, Kabul Shah Mela and Manchdona Mela).
Main exports Paddy, jute, mustard seed, banana, garlic and potato.
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, CARE, grameen bank, Red Crescent and BAVS.
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