Akhaura Upazila

Akhaura (Bengali: আখাউড়া) is an upazila of Brahmanbaria District, a district under Chittagong, 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.

Akhaura Railway Police Station

Akhaura Upazila Parishad

Akhaura আখাউড়া
Upazila
Akhaura Railway Station
Akhaura Location in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°52′05″N 91°12′30″E
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Chittagong Division
District	Brahmanbaria District
Government
• Municipal Mayor	Takjil Khalifa Kajal
• Upazila Chairman	Muslem Uddin
Area [1]
• Upazila	98.04 km^2 (37.85 sq mi)
• Urban	8.22 km^2 (3.17 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Upazila	145,215
• Density	1,500/km^2 (3,800/sq mi)
• Urban	36,262
Time zone	UTC+6 (BST)
Postal Code	3450
Website	akhaura.brahmanbaria.gov.bd

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

Pakistani Eastern Command plan for the defence of East Pakistan from 1967 to 1971 (generic representation—some unit locations not shown.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh, when Pakistan Army planners predicted India would launch its main attack in the east along the Akhaura–Brahmanbaria axis, it had no brigades available to cover this area, and Pakistan Army moved its 27th brigade from Mymensingh to Akhaura after retaining two battalions of 27th brigade at Mymensingh to form the 93rd Brigade to defend 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][6]

Demographics

As of the 2011 Bangladesh Census, there were 145,215 inhabitants across 27,831 households in Akhaura Upazila. There were 93 males (48.3%) to every 100 females (51.7%). Children (0-14) made up 40.7% of the population. The vast majority of the population were adherents of Islam (94.2%), with 5.8% being adherents of Hinduism. The average literacy rate was 52.8% for those aged 7 and above, compared to a national average of 47.1%.[1][7]

Points of interest

• Kharampur Mazar Sharif, the mausoleum of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Gesudaraz (R), is a pilgrimage site for devotees.[2]

Transport

Akhaura Railway Station.

Akhaura Checkpost Road

Plans are underway to have Akhaura connected to Agartala, India via railway by 2017.[8][9]

In year 2013-14, Bangladesh exported TK 2.26 billion through the Akhaura Land Port to India.[10]

Education

Shahid Shriti Degree College.

See also: Education in Bangladesh

There 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

• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh

References

1. "Population and Housing Census 2011: Zila Report: Brahmanbaria" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. October 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
2. Udin, Mohammad Mofiz (2012). "Akhaura Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
3. Salik, Siddiq, Witness to Surrender, pp126
4. Team, Editorial (17 December 2017). "Why Do India Celebrate 'Vijay Diwas' On 16th December". SSBToSuccess. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
5. "About us". Liberation War Museum. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
6. Team, Editorial (17 December 2017). "Why Do India Celebrate 'Vijay Diwas' On 16th December". SSBToSuccess. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
7. "District Statistics 2011: Brahmanbaria" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. pp. 16–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016.
8. "Agartala-Akhaura railway link to connect India and Bangladesh; will be completed by 2017 - The Economic Times".
9. "India approves new railway link with Bangladesh". TwoCircles.net. 21 September 2011.
10. "No export, import at Akhaura port on July 25, 26". bdnews24.com. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2020.