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Kulaura Upazila

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Kulaura
কুলাউড়া
Upazila
Location of Kulaura
Coordinates: 24°31′N 92°2′E / 24.517°N 92.033°E / 24.517; 92.033
Country Bangladesh
DivisionSylhet
DistrictMoulvibazar
Government
 • MP (Moulvibazar-2)Vacant
 • Upazila ChairmanVacant
Area
 • Total545.73 km2 (210.71 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total397,746
 • Density730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Kulaurian , Kulauri
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
3230[2]
Area code08624[3]
Websitekulaura.moulvibazar.gov.bd

Kulaura (Bengali: কুলাউড়া), is the biggest upazila (subdistrict) of the Moulvibazar District in north-eastern Bangladesh.[4] The total area of this upazila is 545 km2. Hakaluki Haor, the largest marsh wetland in Sylhet Division and one of the largest in Bangladesh is partially located there.

Economy and tourism

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Kadipur Shiv Bari Temple

Kulaura is home to many tourist attractions and natural geography. It contains many hills, tea gardens and the largest haor in Asia; the Hakaluki Haor. Kadipur Shib Bari Temple is the largest Hindu temple in Sylhet situated at Kulaura. Hindu goddess Durga's sculpture of 1000 hands is inside the temple. There is also a ISKCON temple in Rangirkul, Kulaura known as "Rangirkul Bidyashram" & a CTS temple at Pushainagar. Other sites include the Prithimpassa Nawab Estate, Rabir Bazar Jame Masjid, and the mausoleums of Haji Pir in Sharifpur, Shah Hamid Faruqi in Kaukapon and Shah Helimuddin Qurayshi Chowdhury Bazar.

Geography

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Kala pahar is located in the Longla ridge of the Hararganj-Singla range.

The location of Kulaura upazila is 24.5167 degrees north latitudes up to 92.0333 degrees East longitude. The Area size 679.25 square kilometers (262 square miles). Barolekha, Juri and Fenchuganj Upazilas on the north, Rajnagar and Kamalganj upazila on the west, Tripura of India on the south, Tripura and Assam in the east of Kulaura.

The largest Haor of in Asia, 'Hakaluki's most of area is under Kulaura. Also Longlia, Gualzoor etc. are the notable Haor. The highest peak in the Sylhet region, Kala pahar, can be found in Kulaura Upazila.

History

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The Rabir Bazar Jame Masjid.

Many archaeological sites and relics such as the Vidia Ashram in Rangirkul, Gagan Tila, Chand Gram Dighi and the copper plates of Bhatera provide evidence for early settlements in Kulaura.[5]

The East India Company first heavily influenced their trading of tea in Kulaura.[6][7] It became an important location for tea cultivation in Bengal and major export. Local entrepreneurs also started founding their estates such as Nawab Ali Amjad Khan who established the Rungicherra (also Rungichara) Tea Estate.

In the anti-British Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, 300 sepoys who revolted against the British, looted the Chittagong Treasury and took shelter with Nawab Gous Ali Khan of Prithimpassa. The treasury remained under rebel control for several days.[8] Abdul Ghafur, grandfather of Ali Haydar ibn Ali Gawhar, of Kanihati was present during the mutiny.[9]

In 1921, the non-cooperation movement also spread to Kulaura after being established by Purnendu Kishore Sengupta in Vidia Ashram, Rangirkul. In 1939, there was an anti-British protest held in Nabin Chandra School. Many students were attacked and expelled by the British forces based in Kalapani Haor.[5]

In 1950, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, visited Prithimpassa and stayed for four days at the palace and went wildlife hunting in the Estate forests alongside Khwaja Nazimuddin and Ayub Khan.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Kulaura was the centre of the Battle of Gazipur in Gazipur Tea Garden. The battle raged from the 4th to the 5th of December 1971 and was a prelude to the Battle of Sylhet. The Pakistani army camped in Kulaura Hospital and Nabin Chandra School and killed over 100 Bengali freedom fighters and civilians. Chiral Muchir Bari, bank of Padma Dighi of Ali Amjad High School were experienced mass killings. A graveyard in Chatolgaon hosts many martyrs.[5]

Demographics

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Religions in Kulaura Upazila (2022)[10]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 79.25%
Hinduism
 
 19.05%
Christianity
 
 1.70%
Other or not stated
 
 0.01%

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Kulaura Upazila had 66,465 households and a population of 360,195. 93,400 (25.93%) were under 10 years of age. Kulaura had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 51.88%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1049 females per 1000 males. 27,491 (7.63%) lived in urban areas.[11] Ethnic population was 11,804 (3.28%), of which Khasi were 4,311.[12]

At the 1991 Bangladesh census, Kulaura had a population of 339,673, of whom 171,346 were aged 18 or older. Males constituted 51.09% of the population and females 48.91%. Kulaura had an average literacy rate of 28.8% (7+ years) compared to the national average of 32.4%.[13]

Administration

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Kulaura Upazila is divided into Kulaura Municipality and 13 union parishads: Baramchal, Bhatera, Bhukshimail, Brammanbazar, Hazipur, Joychandi, Kadipur, Kormodha, Kulaura, Prithimpassa, Rauthgaon, Sharifpur, and Tilagaon Union. The union parishads are subdivided into 128 mauzas and 447 villages.[11]

Kulaura Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 26 mahallas.[11]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 404. ISBN 978-9844752016.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh Area Code". China: Chahaoba.com. 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ Samir Uddin Ahmed (2012). "Kulaura Upazila". 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 8 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Samir Uddin Ahmed (January 2003). "Kulaura Upazila". In Sirajul Islam (ed.). Banglapedia. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Colleen Taylor Sen (2004). Food Culture in India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-313-32487-1.
  7. ^ "Tea Industry". Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  8. ^ "Rare 1857 reports on Bengal uprisings". Times of India.
  9. ^ Sreehatter Itibritta – Uttorangsho (A History of Sylhet), page 263-264, Achyut Charan Choudhury; Publisher: Mustafa Selim; Source publication, 2004
  10. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Moulvibazar (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-284-9.
  11. ^ a b c "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Maulvibazar" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  12. ^ "Community Tables: Maulvibazar district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
  13. ^ "Population Census Wing, BBS". Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
  14. ^ "Britain's first woman mayor of Bangladeshi origin". Dhaka Tribune. Dhaka. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
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