Sreemangal (Bengali: শ্রীমঙ্গল, romanized: Srimongol) is an upazila of Moulvibazar District[1] in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. It is located at the southwest of the district, and borders the Habiganj District to the west and the Indian state of Tripura to the south. Sreemangal is often referred to as the 'tea capital' of Bangladesh, and is most famous for its tea fields. Other than tea, the rubber, pineapple, wood, betel, and lemon industries also exist in the upazila.[2]
History
It is believed that the upazila was named after Sri Das and Mangal Das; two brothers who settled on the banks of the Hail Haor.[3] A copper plate of Raja Marundanath from the 11th century was found in Kalapur. During an excavation at Lamua, an ancient statue of Ananta Narayan was dug out. In 1454, the Nirmai Shiva Bari was built and still stands today. Sreemangal thana was established in 1912. The central town later became a pourashava in 1935. In 1963, two peasants were killed by police officers which kicked off the Balishira peasant riots. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Pakistani army reached Sreemangal on 30 April setting houses on fire and committing atrocities against women. The East Pakistan Rifles camp and Wapda office premises were among the two mass killing sites. Two mass graves remain in Bharaura with a memorial in North Bharaura.[1]
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sreemangal Upazila had 65,165 households and a population of 318,025. 74,603 (23.46%) were under 10 years of age. Sreemangal had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 48.33%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1004 females per 1000 males. 39,757 (12.50%) lived in urban areas.[4] Ethnic population was 13,460 (4.23%), of which Santal were 2,796, Khasi 1,665 and Manipuri 735.[5]
As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Sreemangal has a population of 230,889. Males constitute 51.76% of the total population, and females 48.24%. This Upazila's 18+ population is 124,778. Sreemangal has an average literacy rate of 29.8% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate. About 58% of this sub district's people are Muslims while 41% are Hindus and others are Christians and Buddhist.[citation needed]
Economy and tourism
Madhobpur Lake is one of the main tourist attractions in the area,[6][7][8] and is home to the Great White-Bellied Heron, the only confirmed site in Bangladesh.[9] The Baikka beel is also a nearby body of water and home to the Large-billed reed warbler.[10] Sreemangal has been nicknamed the tea capital of Bangladesh, due to the number of tea gardens in the area, and is the place of origin of the Seven Color Tea.[3] The Bangladesh Tea Research Institute in Sreemangal has made a number of contributions in evolving and standardising the quality of tea, and introducing its research findings to the tea industry of Bangladesh.[11] Pineapples from the Sreemangal area are known for their flavour and natural sweetness.[citation needed] In 2010, the Hum Hum waterfall was discovered and has attracted visitors from all over Bangladesh to Razkandi forest.
Administration
Sreemangal Upazila is divided into Sreemangal Municipality and nine union parishads: Ashidron, Bhunabir, Kalapur, Kalighat, Mirzapur, Rajghat, Satgaon, Sindurkhan, and Sreemangal. The union parishads are subdivided into 108 mauzas and 208 villages.[4]
Sreemangal Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 20 mahallas.[4]
According to Banglapedia, Victoria High School, founded in 1924, Bhunabir Dashrath High School & College Founded in 1896, is a notable secondary school.[1] The Jamia Luthfia Anwarul Uloom Hamidnagar is a notable madrasa and Islamic centre in the Sylhet region.
^Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2000). The birds of Assam. Guwahati: Gibbon Books & World Wide Fund for Nature-India, North-East Regional Office. p. 48. ISBN9788190086615.
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