About Mirsarai

Mirsharai Upazila under Chittagong District  is a well known upazila in Bangladesh. Its area is 482.88 square kilometers which is surrounded by Tripura State of India, Chagalnaiya and Feni sadar upazilas on the north, Sitakunda and Sandwip upazilas on the south, Fatikchhari upazila on the east, Sonagazi and Companiganj (Noakhali) upazilas on the west. Main river is Feni; Sandwip Channel is notable; canal 30, most noted of which are Isakhali, Mahamaya, Domkhali, Hinguli, Koila Govania and Mayani Khal. The hills range on the northern and eastern side of this upazila along the bank of the Feni River extended up to Chittagong and the Chittagong hill tracts.

Administration: Mirsharai thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. The upazila consists of 16 union parishads, 100 mouzas and 207 villages.

Mirsharai town consists of two mouzas. It has an area of 10.12 square kilometers. The town has a population of 10856; male 51.49% and female 48.51%; population density per square kilometers 1073. Literacy rate among the town people is 32%. The town has two dakbungalows.

Mirsarai in Google map

Historical events: Fakruddin Mobarak Shah established the Muslim rule in this region in 1340. During the region of Hossain Shah and Nasrat Shah (Sultans of the Gaur), Paragal Khan and Chhuti Khan were the rulers of this region. Later on Nizam Shah, brother of Sher Shah (emperor of Delhi), became its ruler. Nizampur Pargana was named after him and the total area of Mirsharai came under the jurisdiction of Nizampur Pargana. From the beginning of 16th century this area was one of the centers for practicing Bangla literature; most noted poets and writers include Sayed Sultan, Kabindra Poromessor, Srikor Nandi, Daulat Uzir Bahram Khan. Most of the time from 1580 to 1666, this region was under the control of the Arakans. The place at Mirsharai Thana, where Bujurgo Umed Khan (son of Subeder Syesta Khan) landed after crossing the Feni River, was named as Bujurgo Umed Nagar. After the conquest of Chittagong, this region came permanently under the Mughals rule. Towards the end of the British rule, Durgapur and Karerhat of Mirsharai upazila were the main centers of the revolution of Chittagong. During the War of Liberation many direct encounters between the Pak army and the freedom fighters were held at Shuvopur Bridge, Higuli Bridge, Auchi Miah Bridge and Mostannagar.

There are one mass grave, one memorial monument, two mass killing sites as the marks of the War of Liberation.

Religious institutions: Mosque 640, tomb 50, temple 128 and Buddhist temple 9, most noted of which are Chhuti Khan Mosque (16th century), Daulat Bibi Mosque (16th century), Mahadia Mosque (1780), Nai Duari Mosque (18th century), Hamidullah Khan Mosque (19th century), Mazars of Shah Zayed (R) (806 AH), Awal Kazi Moakkel (R), Hazrat Shah Badal (R), Hazrat Chinki Mostan (R), Hazrat Mia Noor Ali Shah (R), Sufi Noor Mohammad Nizampuri (R) and Hazrat Mir Gaffar Khan; Jagannath Mandir (Abu Torab Bazar), Kali Mandir (Karerhat), Hazisharai Mandir and Newanpur Mandir.

Archaeological heritage and relics: Hinguli Court Parr (embankment) built by Arakani Moghs, Valukia Dighi, Chuti Khan Mosque, Poragol Khan Dighi, Nai Duari (nine-door) Mosque, Daulat Bibi Mosque and Mahania Mosque.

Population & its division: The total populations are about 325712; male 49.97%, female 50.03%; Muslim 84.9%, Hindu 13.97% and others 1.13%.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 37.2%; male 45.1% and female 29.3%. Educational institutions: college 4, high school 46, junior school 4, madrasa 38, government primary school 145, non-government primary school 55, madrasa 1, satellite school 8 and kindergarten school 8.

Newspapers and periodicals: Khoborica, Mashik Mirsharai; irregular: Mirsharai Chitra, Mirsharai Kantho, Alokito Campus;

Cultural organizations: Press club 1, club 63, public library 1, theatre group 2, playground 70, stadium 1, music school 3.

Occupations: Agriculture 34.06%, forestry 2.23%, agricultural labourer 15.86%, wage labourer 3.39%, commerce 10.8%, service 16.89%, fishing 1.32%, transport 2.37% and others 11.26%.

Use of lands: Total cultivable land 22,896.40 hectares, fallow land 147713 hectares; single crop 38.91%, double crop 42.46% and treble crop land 18.63%. Cultivable lands under irrigation 6,917.85 hectare.

Main crops: Paddy, potato, bean, tomato, pumpkin and radish. Extinct or nearly extinct crops are Sugarcane, jute, mustard, pulse, linseed, kalai sesame and peanut.

Main fruits: Mango, black berry, jackfruit, banana, papaya and litchi.

Fisheries & dairies: Poultries Fishery 100, poultry 131 and hatchery (fish) 1.

Communication facilities: Roads- pitch 193 km, semi pitch 119 km and mud road 1500 km; railways 16 km; waterways 11 nautical miles.Traditional transport Palanquin, Shampan boat and bullock cart..These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories & Cottage industries: Carpet industry, pipe mill, ice factory, etc. Weaving 903, goldsmith 110, blacksmith 100, potteries 100, bidi 4, tailoring 250, wood work 150, bamboo work 200 and sanitary 20.

Hats, bazars and fairs: Hats and bazars are 30, most noted of which are Mohajan Hat, AbuTorab Bazar, Kamar Ali Bazar, Boro Daroga Hat, Karer Hat, Baryar Hat, Shantir Hat, Jorarganj, Mithachara, Fakir Hat, Abur Hat and Bamonsundar Daroga Hat. Fairs are 5- Ekushey Boi Mela, Boishaki Mela & others.

Main exports goods: Bamboo, wood, fish, paddy, potato, banana and vegetables.

NGO activities: operationally important NGOs are Proshika, BRAC, Asa, Sheba, Grameen Bank, ICDDRB, CARE, Hunger Project, DORP, Opca, IPSA, Fatema Palli, Swasthya Shikkha Centre and Eva.

The people & the administration of Mirsarai are trying to develop their eco-social situation. And we believe that our Mirsarai will be a great place as like as heaven.

Note: If you have more & latest information, please send us an e-mail at mirsaraiblog@gmail.com

Source: Wikipedia, google & others blog