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Akhaura (Bengali: আখাউড়া) is an upazila of Brahmanbaria District, a district under Chattogram, Bangladesh. Akhaura Upazila has an area of 99.28 km2. The main river that run through this upazila is the Titas River. Akhaura played an important historical role during both World War II and Liberation War of Bangladesh.[citation needed]
Akhaura
আখাউড়া | |
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![]() Shaheed Shriti Degree College, Akhaura | |
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Coordinates: 23°52′05″N 91°12′30″E / 23.86806°N 91.20833°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Division | Chittagong |
District | Brahmanbaria |
Government | |
• Upazila Chairman | Monir Hossain |
Area | |
• Upazila | 98.04 km2 (37.85 sq mi) |
• Urban | 8.22 km2 (3.17 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Upazila | 145,215 |
• Density | 1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi) |
• Urban | 36,262 |
Time zone | UTC+6 (BST) |
Postal Code | 3450 |
Website | akhaura |
The administration of Akhaura thana, now an upazila, was established in 1976. The upazila includes one municipality, five union parishads, 107 mouzas and 113 villages.[2]
History
editDuring the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh, Pakistan Army planners predicted India would launch its main attack in the east along the Akhaura–Brahmanbaria axis; however, the army had no troops in this area, so the 27th brigade at Mymensingh was moved to Akhaura, except for two battalions (which became the 93rd brigade) that were retained for the defence of Mymensingh.[3] Pakistan Army's 93,000 troops unconditionally surrendered to the Indian Army and India's local ally Mukti Bahini on 16 December 1971.[4] This day and event is commemorated as the Bijoy Dibos (Bengali: বিজয় দিবস) in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India.[5][4]
Demographics
editAccording to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Akhaura Upazila had 27,831 households and a population of 145,215. 39,836 (27.43%) were under 10 years of age. Akhaura had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 52.75%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1071 females per 1000 males. 36,262 (24.97%) lived in urban areas.[1]
Points of interest
edit- Kharampur Mazar Sharif, the mausoleum of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Gesudaraz, is a pilgrimage site for devotees.[2]
Administration
editAkhaura Upazila is divided into Akhaura Municipality and five union parishads: Dakshin Akhaura, Dharkhar, Monionda, Mogra, and Uttar Akhaura. The union parishads are subdivided into 86 mauzas and 112 villages.[1]
Akhaura Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 23 mahallas.[1]
Transport
editPlans are underway to have Akhaura connected to Agartala, India via railway by 2017.[6][7]
In 2013–14, Bangladesh exported TK 2.26 billion through the Akhaura Land Port to India.[8]
Education
editThere are several schools and colleges in Akhaura. As in 2016, there is no university in Akhaura upazila. According to Banglapedia, Bangladesh Railway Government High School, founded in 1920, is a notable secondary school.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Brahmanbaria" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ a b c Udin, Mohammad Mofiz (2012). "Akhaura Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ Salik, Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, pp126
- ^ a b Team, Editorial (17 December 2017). "Why Do India Celebrate 'Vijay Diwas' On 16th December". SSBToSuccess. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
- ^ "About us". Liberation War Museum. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Agartala-Akhaura railway link to connect India and Bangladesh; will be completed by 2017 - The Economic Times".
- ^ "India approves new railway link with Bangladesh". TwoCircles.net. 21 September 2011.
- ^ "No export, import at Akhaura port on July 25, 26". bdnews24.com. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2020.