Noakhali District, Bangladesh
Noakhali district is located in the south eastern part of Bangladesh. The previous name of Noakhali region was “Bhulua/Sudharam”. Once, the agriculture of the north eastern part of Bhulua was seriously affected by floods of the river of Dakatia flowing from the Tripura hill tracts. To protect the hervests a canal was excavated in 1660 from the Dakatia through Ramganj, Sonaimuri and Chaumuhani to divert water flow to the junction of the rivers Meghna and Feni. After excavating this long canal Bhulua was renamed Noakhalo after "Noa" (New) and "khal" (Canal) in 1668. The Noakhali district was formed in 1821. The Geo position of the district is between 22˚06’ to 23˚17’ North latitudes and between 90˚38’ to 91˚35’ east longitude. In the fetal tornado and high tide in 1970, about three lac people died in the region.
Bordered By: Noakhali District is bordered by Comilla district to the north, The Bay of Bengal and the Meghna Estaury to the south, Feni and Chittagong district to the east, Bhola and Lakshmipur district to the west.
Administration: The area of Noakhali District is 3685.87 Sq Km. It is under Chittagong Division. There are 08 Municipalities in Noakhali named Bashurhat, Kabirhat, Senbag, Chaumohoni, Noakhali, Chatkhil, Sonaimuri and Hatia. The number of Upazilla (sub district) in Noakhali district is 09, named- Sudharam, Begumgonj, Senbag, Companygonj, Chatkhil, Hatia, Sonaimuri and Subornachar containing 91 Unions, 882 Mauzas and 967 Villages.
Population: The total population of Noakhali district is 31,08,083 (Male- 14,85,169 and Female- 16,22,914). Sex ratio is 92:100, Population Density 843/Sq Km and annual growth rate is 1.86%.
Literacy: The Literacy Rate of Noakhali district is 51.30% (Male- 51.40% and Female- 51.20%), school attendance rate is 52.40% for 5 to 24 years age group.
Other Important Data: The postal code of Noakhali district is 3800 and NWD Code is 0321. Total Parliament seat in Noakhali is 06. During the liberation war, Noakhali was under Sector Number 02. Urbanization rate of the district is 15.98%. The average maximum temperature of the region is 34.4˚ C and minimum 14.4˚ C and average rainfall is 3302 mm.
Rivers: Meghna, Dakatia, Feni, Muhuri, Seloneah, Bhabaniganj etc.
Agro Products: Paddy, Jute, Wheat, Coconut, Betel Nut, Peanuts, Yam, Onion, Garlic, Maize, Oil seeds etc.
Remarkable Personalities from Noakhali District
Raja Laksmanmanikya, Abdul Malek Ukil (Politician), Abdul Hakim (Poet), Professor Munir Chowdhury (Leading intellectual and a pioneer in modern theater in Bangladesh), Prof. Kabir Chowdhury, Shamser Ghazi, Barister Aminul Hoque (Politician), Muzaffor Ahmod Chowdhury, (Founder Member of All India Communist Party), Motaher Hossain Chowdhury (Writer), Birshrestha Ruhul Amin, Sarjent Jahurul Hoque, Abdus Sakur, (Writer), Obaidul Quader (Politician), Dilara Jaman (Actress), Barrister Mowdud Ahmed (Politician), Major General M. A. Monjur (Sector Commander during Bangladesh War of Independence) Ramendu Majumder (Leading Intellectual in the areas of art, culture and drama), Ferdousy Majumder (Actress), Professor Ehtashem Haider Chowdhury (Martyred intellectual), A T M Samsuzzaman (Actor) etc.