Sandwip Thana's status was upgraded to an upazila (sub-district level) in 1984. The construction works of a Bangladesh Navy fleet headquarters at the Sandwip Channel with ship berthing facilities is also going on as part of the Forces Goal 2030.[3] In 2010, the Government of Bangladesh announced a plan to build a dam in Urir Char to reclaim land as it had suffered greatly from Tropical Storm One and the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone among other natural disasters.[4]
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sandwip upazila had 56,617 households and a population of 278,605. 71,657 (25.72%) were under 10 years of age. Sandwip had an average literacy rate of 51.47%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1166 females per 1000 males. 52,982 (19.02%) of the population lived in urban areas.[5][6]
According to the 1991 Bangladesh census, Sandwip had a population of 272,179. Males constituted 49.68% of the population, and females 50.32%. The population aged 18 or over was 122,499. Sandwip had an average literacy rate of 35% (7+ years), against the national average of 32.4%.[7]
Administration
Sandwip Upazila is divided into the Sandwip Municipality and 15 union parishads: Amanullah, Azimpur, Bauria, Digghapar, Gachhua, Haramia, Harispur, Kalapania, Magdhara, Maitbhanga, Musapur, Rahmatpur, Santoshpur, Sarikait, and Urirchar. The union parishads are subdivided into 39 mouzas and 34 villages.[8]
Sandwip Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 10 mahallas.[8]
In total, the Upazila has 149 state primary schools, one junior high school, 4 colleges, 1 girls college, 19 kindergartens and 3 girls high schools. There are 9 dakhil madrasas, 3 alim madrasas, 3 fazil madrasas and four Kamil madrasas. Notable madrasas include the Bashiria Ahmadia Alhaj Abu Bakar Sidiqque Fazil Madrasa, founded in 1902, and the Kashgar Islamia Fazil Madrasa which was founded in 1929. The upazila has a literacy rate of 51.5%.
Facilities
Small ship building yard at the coastal area.
The upazila is home to 10 orphanages, including one governmental orphanage. It also has 295 mosques which serve the majority Sunni Muslim population that inhabit the sub-district. Some notable mosques include the Shahabanu Mosque, Faqir Shah mosque, the Sandwip Town Jame Mosque, Sandwip Town Bazar Mosque and the Abdul Ghani Chowdhury Mosque. There are 32 haat bazaars and two canals. 26 post offices and 10 banks can also be found here.
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Bangladesh
