History

Habiganj is the name of a historical district where rivers like Khowai, Karangi Sutang, Bijna, Ratna etc. are associated with the memory of Syed Nasir Uddin [R:}, a follower of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal {R:}.  Syed Habib Ullah, son of Syed Hedayet Ullah, a descendant of Syed Sultan, the great poet and founder of the historical Sultansi Habeli, established a ganj or bazaar on the banks of the river Khowai.  According to its name, it became Habibganj from Habibganj.  During the British rule, Habiganj was declared a subdivision.  Habiganj Thana was formed on April 19 through Notification No. 23 of the Assam Provincial Government.  The office of the Circle Officer (Development) was later established in 1970 and the last one was upgraded to a district on 01 March 1984 (18 Falgun 1390 Bangla).During the British Raj, Habiganj was established as a Thana (police precinct) in 1790, under Dhaka district (1779–1793).

In the second session of the Congress held in Calcutta in 1886, the Indian National Congress was able to attract representatives from Habiganj District. Until 1896, Habiganj’s administrative centre was in Court Andar, Laskarpur. On 12 September 1874 it came under Sylhet district (part of Assam). Habiganj was declared as subdivision in 1867. On 7 April 1893, according to Notification #273 of Assam Provincial Government, Habiganj Thana (Administrative unit) was established. Habiganj was rejoined with East-Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1911. Then the Office of the Circle Officer (Development) was established in 1960.

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

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.

District Administration:

Deputy Commissioner:
   Ishrat Jahan
   Mobile: 01715109939
   Phone (Office): 0831-62100
   Email: dchabiganj@mopa.gov.bd
   Fax: 0731-61205
   Batch (BCS): 22
   Date of joining the current workplace: 03-06-2020
  —————
District Police

Superintendent of Police ( S.P) :
  SM Murad Ali
   Mobile: 01320118700
   Phone (Office): 083162101
   Email: sphabigonj@police.gov.bd
   Fax: 083162102
   Batch (BCS): 24
   Date of joining the current workplace: 07-12-2021
  —————–

 District Health Department

  Civil Surgeon:
  Dr. A K M Mostafizur Rahman
  Mobile: 01720496039
   Phone (Office): 083162002
   Email: habiganj@cs.dghs.gov.bd
   Fax: 083162002
   Date of joining the current workplace: 08-25-2019

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 (1909), weekly Projapati (1909), Sree Sree Sonar Gauranga (1329 BS), Palli Bani (1940), weekly Shahid (1948), weekly Jagaran (1955), monthly Avijatrik (1966).

  Basic information:

  Area: 2638.58 sq km.
  Borders:
  Sunamganj and Sylhet districts on the north, Moulvibazar district on the east, Tripura state of India and
  Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria districts on the west.

   Population: 18,30,554 (compiled according to the latest census).
   Male: 9,26,531 and
   Female: 9,04,022.

   Population density: 693 people per square kilometer.

   Literacy rate among the town people is 455%.

   Number of households: 3,21,900.

   Landless: 23%.

   Upazila: 09
   Habiganj Sadar,
   Lakhai,
   Madhabpur,
   Chunarughat
    Nabiganj,
    Ajmirgonj
    Baniachong
    Bahubal
    Shayestaganj

   Administrative police station: 09

   Naval Police Station: 02. Madana (Lakhai) and Markuli (Baniachang).

   Municipality: 06
   Habiganj Sadar,
   Madhabpur,
   Chunarughat,
   Nabiganj,
   Shayestaganj
   Ajmiriganj

   Agricultural arable land: 1,54,953 hectares (80.22% of total land).

   Forest land: 11,644 hectares (4.53% of total land).

   Tea garden: 24 Total area – 15,603.24 hectares.  About one crore kg of tea leaves are produced annually
    from 24 tea gardens.

   Rubber garden: 03.

   1. Rupaichhara-Bahubal (1971).  Half of it is in Habiganj and the rest is in Srimangal.  According to the 1971
      census, its area is 2000 acres.

   2. Shahjibazar-Chunarughat (198).  Rubber is currently being cultivated on 2004 acres of land.

   3. Satgaon Rubber Garden – The 200 acre garden started in 1971 is located in Habiganj district.

   Main rivers:
   Kushiyara, Khowai, Sutang, Ratna, Shutki, Sonai, Karangi, Jhingri, Bheramohana, Barak, Bijna etc.

   Places of interest:

  1) Teliapara Tea Garden, Liberation War Memorial adjacent to Madhabpur.

   2) Tomb of Syed Nasir Uddin (Rah.) Of Sipahsalar, Murarband, Chunarughat.

   3) Tomb of Syed Solaiman Fateh Ghazi (Rah.), Shahjibazar, Madhabpur.

  4) Rema-Kalenga Sanctuary, Chunarughat.

   5) Uchail – Shankarpasha Shahi Mosque (1493-1511 AD), Habiganj Sadar.

  6) Bithangal Akhra, Baniachang.

   7) Satchhari protected forest area.

Natural resources: natural gas, silica sand, sand.

   Gas field: 03

   1) Rashidpur Gas Field – Discovery – 1970.

   2) Habiganj Gas Field – Discovery – 1973.

   3) Bibiana Gas Field – Discovery – 1997.

   The amount of gas from 3 gas fields is 5.5 trillion cubic feet (approximately).

    Educational Institutions:

   College – 18 (Government 3, Private 15).

   Medical College- 1 { Government}

   Technical School and College-1.

   Secondary School – 119 (Government – 8, Private-111).

   Primary Education Institutions – 1443 (Government Primary Schools – 632).

   Madrasa-52 (Ibtedai Madrasa-25 among them).

   Admission rate of school going children is 95%.
   Health related

   Hospital 100 beds – 01.

   Hospital 31 beds – 08 (Upazila Health Complex).  Of these, hospitals are being upgraded to 50-bed
   hospitals.

   Sub-health center – 16 (outpatient healthcare is provided).

   Revenue matters

   Upazila Revenue Office – 08

   Union Land Office – 36

   Dedicated and civilian property – 17,991.6 acres. 

 Main sub-castes: Karmakar, Bhowmik, Baury, Saotal, Munda, Mridha, Oriya, Tanti, Kanda, Dadan, Rikiashan Kayari, Goala, Parsi, Telangana, Relikhasia, Manipuri, Tripura, Garh, Painka, Baraik Shabar, Keut, Boon  , Naik, Bania, Jhara, Chauhan, Rudrapal, Kharia, Rautia, Kanu, Bhuiyan, Tantubay, Kanhar, Chhatri, Ahir, Rajbangshi, Shukvadya, Bhumij, Bihari, Ganju, Rabidas Mahali, Bakti, Jangli, Telugu, Bhojpuri, Utka Upja  They live in Madhabpur, Chunarughat, Bahubal and Nabiganj upazilas of Urang district.  Their total population is 84,020.

Archaeological heritage

• Liberation War { 1971} memorial At Teliapara, Madhobpur
• Syed Nasir Uddin {R:} Shipahsalar Dargah Sharif, Murarbond,Chunarughat
• Shah Solaiman Fateh Gazi{ R:} Dargah Sharif
• Shankarpasha Shahi Masjid, Uchail, Habigonj
• Jami Mosque, Bahubal
• Jami Mosque, Bahubal
• Bithangal Akhra, Baniachang
• Ancient Rajbari (1737–38) at Puranbagh, Baniachang
• Bagala Matar Mandir, Habiganj
• Bibir Dargah Mosque, Baniachang
• Dorga-tila, Mira-tila and Tangee-tila, Nabiganj
• Foltoli-tila and water fountain, Nabiganj
• Kalibari, Habiganj Sadar
• Kuri-tila, Black-stone and an Ancient Rajbari, Dinarpur, Nabiganj
• Mashulia Akhra, Habiganj Sadar
• Putijuri Jami Mosque, Bahubal
• Ramakrishna Ashram, Habiganj Sadar
• Shagor Dighi, Baniachong
• Sham-baoul Akhra and Doulotpur Akhra, Baniachang

 Source Curtesy:

                District administration, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistic, Bangladesh Land River Commission etc.