Meherpur District
Meherpur District
মেহেরপুর জেলা | |
|---|---|
Image of Mujibnagar Memorial | |
Location of Meherpur District in Bangladesh | |
Expandable map of Meherpur District | |
| Coordinates: 23°45′N 88°42′E / 23.75°N 88.70°E | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Khulna |
| Headquarters | Meherpur |
| Area (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 741.62 km2 (286.34 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 705,356 |
| • Density | 950/km2 (2,500/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Meherpuri |
| Time zone | UTC+06:00 (BST) |
| Postal code | 7100 |
| Area code | 0791 |
| ISO 3166 code | BD-39 |
| HDI (2019) | 0.644[3] medium · 5th of 20 |
| Website | meherpur |
Meherpur District (Bengali: মেহেরপুর জেলা) is a northwestern district of Khulna Division in southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by West Bengal, India in the west, and by the Bangladeshi districts of Kushtia and Chuadanga to the east.[4] Pre-independence Meherpur was a subdivision of Nadia district.[5] The district has an area of 716.08 square kilometres (276.48 sq mi).
History
According to Ashraf Siddiqui, the district is named after the 16th century dervish Meher Ali Shah.
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed and solemnly sworn in Meherpur's Baidyanathtala village (later renamed as Mujibnagar), on 17 April 1971 under the leadership of Tajuddin Ahmed and Syed Nazrul Islam. The entire Proclamation ceremony was organised by local leaders under the supervision of Momeen Chowdhury and MM Rustom Ali.[6] Meherpur became a district in 1983 under CMLA Hussain Muhammad Ershad's decentralization programme.[6]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 325,314 | — |
| 1981 | 401,727 | +3.06% |
| 1991 | 491,917 | +2.05% |
| 2001 | 591,436 | +1.86% |
| 2011 | 655,392 | +1.03% |
| 2022 | 705,356 | +0.67% |
| Sources:[2][7] | ||
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Meherpur District had 195,322 households and a population of 705,356 with an average 3.59 people per household. Among the population, 104,284 (14.78%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 951 people per km2. Meherpur District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 68.14%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1074 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 22.53% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 161.[2]
| Religion | 1941[8]: 84–85 [a] | 1981[7] | 1991[7] | 2001[7] | 2011[7] | 2022[2] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Islam | 109,443 | 70.94% | 389,094 | 96.86% | 479,654 | 97.51% | 576,962 | 97.55% | 640,751 | 97.77% | 690,349 | 97.87% |
| Hinduism | 41,487 | 26.89% | 6,569 | 1.64% | 6,299 | 1.28% | 6,779 | 1.15% | 7,870 | 1.20% | 8,497 | 1.20% |
| Christianity | 3,104 | 2.01% | 5,857 | 1.46% | 5,802 | 1.18% | 7,389 | 1.25% | 6,627 | 1.01% | 6,478 | 0.92% |
| Others [b] | 240 | 0.16% | 207 | 0.04% | 162 | 0.03% | 306 | 0.05% | 144 | 0.02% | 32 | 0.01% |
| Total Population | 154,274 | 100% | 401,727 | 100% | 491,917 | 100% | 591,436 | 100% | 655,392 | 100% | 705,356 | 100% |
In 2022, Muslims formed 97.87% of the population, Hindus 1.20%, and Christians 0.92%. Other religions were 0.01%.
Economy
Main sources of income: Agriculture 68.95%, non-agricultural labourer 3.24%, industry 0.87%, commerce 13.83%, transport and communication 2.21%, service 3.81%, construction 1.03%, religious service 0.14%, rent and remittance 0.59% and others 5.33%.[4]
See also
- Mujibnagar Upazila
- Upazilas of Bangladesh
- Districts of Bangladesh
- Divisions of Bangladesh
- Upazila
- Thana
- Administrative geography of Bangladesh
Notes
- ^ Meherpur and Gangani thanas of Nadia district
- ^ Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated
References
- ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Meherpur (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-241-2.
- ^ a b c d e Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report (PDF). Vol. 1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database". Global Data Lab. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ a b Md Abu Hasan Farooque (2012). "Meherpur District". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Nadia keeps a date with history". The Times of India. Aug 19, 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ a b Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Proclamation of Independence". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Meherpur" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF). Retrieved 13 August 2022.