Sreemangal (Bengali: শ্রীমঙ্গল, romanizedSrimongol) is an upazila of Moulvibazar District.[4] in Sylhet Division, 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.[5]

Sreemangal
শ্রীমঙ্গল
Tea gardens of Sreemangal
Sreemangal Railway station
Adi nilkonto tea cabin
Nickname: 
Tea Capital
Location of Sreemangal
Country Bangladesh
DivisionSylhet
DistrictMoulvibazar
Government
 • MP (Moulvibazar-4)Vacant
 • Upazila ChairmanVacant
Area
 • Total
450.73 km2 (174.03 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
361,801
 • Density800/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Sreemangali, Srimangali, Srimongoli
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
3210[2]
Area code08626[3]
Websitesreemangal.moulvibazar.gov.bd

History

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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.[6] 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.[4]

Geography

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Sreemangal is located at 24°18′30″N 91°44′00″E / 24.3083°N 91.7333°E / 24.3083; 91.7333. It has 65,165 households and total area 450.73 km2. It is bordered by Moulvibazar Sadar to the north, Tripura to the south, Kamalganj to the east and Chunarughat, Nabiganj and Bahubal to the west.[6]

Climate

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Climate data for Srimangal (1991–2020, extremes 1905-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 31.8
(89.2)
34.8
(94.6)
38.0
(100.4)
43.3
(109.9)
38.5
(101.3)
36.5
(97.7)
39.2
(102.6)
37.2
(99.0)
37.7
(99.9)
36.1
(97.0)
35.0
(95.0)
31.9
(89.4)
43.3
(109.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25.0
(77.0)
28.3
(82.9)
31.7
(89.1)
32.8
(91.0)
32.2
(90.0)
32.3
(90.1)
32.4
(90.3)
32.8
(91.0)
32.6
(90.7)
31.7
(89.1)
29.7
(85.5)
26.5
(79.7)
30.7
(87.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.2
(61.2)
19.5
(67.1)
23.9
(75.0)
26.4
(79.5)
27.1
(80.8)
27.8
(82.0)
28.0
(82.4)
28.2
(82.8)
27.8
(82.0)
26.2
(79.2)
22.1
(71.8)
17.9
(64.2)
24.3
(75.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6)
12.4
(54.3)
17.4
(63.3)
21.2
(70.2)
23.0
(73.4)
24.8
(76.6)
25.3
(77.5)
25.3
(77.5)
24.8
(76.6)
22.3
(72.1)
16.6
(61.9)
11.8
(53.2)
19.6
(67.3)
Record low °C (°F) 4.0
(39.2)
2.8
(37.0)
8.4
(47.1)
13.5
(56.3)
18.2
(64.8)
18.9
(66.0)
22.0
(71.6)
21.4
(70.5)
20.8
(69.4)
15.7
(60.3)
9.0
(48.2)
5.2
(41.4)
2.8
(37.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7
(0.3)
31
(1.2)
74
(2.9)
213
(8.4)
449
(17.7)
446
(17.6)
352
(13.9)
329
(13.0)
265
(10.4)
174
(6.9)
30
(1.2)
16
(0.6)
2,386
(93.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 1 3 5 12 19 22 23 22 19 10 2 1 139
Average relative humidity (%) 80 73 70 75 80 84 85 85 85 85 82 81 80
Mean monthly sunshine hours 202.9 220.6 234.1 223.6 195.7 140.0 144.8 157.5 159.7 216.7 239.8 222.0 2,357.4
Source 1: NOAA[7]
Source 2: Bangladesh Meteorological Department (humidity 1981-2010)[8][9]

Demographics

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Sri Sri Sreemangal Kali Temple in Sreemangal.
Religions in Sreemangal Upazila (2022)[10]
Religion Percent
Islam
59.13%
Hinduism
39.49%
Christianity
1.33%
Other or not stated
0.05%

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, 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.[11] Ethnic population was 13,460 (4.23%), of which Santal were 2,796, Khasi 1,665 and Manipuri 735.[12]

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

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Madhobpur Lake is one of the main tourist attractions in the area,[13][14][15] and is home to the Great White-Bellied Heron, the only confirmed site in Bangladesh.[16] The Baikka beel is also a nearby body of water and home to the Large-billed reed warbler.[17] 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.[6] 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.[18] 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

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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.[11]

Sreemangal Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 20 mahallas.[11]

Education

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According to Banglapedia, Victoria High School, founded in 1924, Bhunabir Dashrath High School & College Founded in 1896, is a notable secondary school.[4] The Jamia Luthfia Anwarul Uloom Hamidnagar is a notable madrasa and Islamic centre in the Sylhet region.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 404. ISBN 978-9844752016.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh Area Code". China: Chahaoba.com. 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Chowdhury, Gopal Dev (2012). "Sreemangal Upazila". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  5. ^ উপজেলার ঐতিহ্য. Srimangal Upazila (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. ^ a b c "Upazilar Potbhumi". Srimangal Upazila. Retrieved 12 Oct 2019.
  7. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Srimangal". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Climate of Bangladesh" (PDF). Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Normal Monthly Humidity". Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  10. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Moulvibazar (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-284-9.
  11. ^ a b c "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Maulvibazar" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  12. ^ "Community Tables: Maulvibazar district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
  13. ^ "Five Places to Go this Summer". The Daily Star. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  14. ^ Haider, M H. "DANGEROUSLY beautiful". The Daily Star. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  15. ^ Nakshi, Paromita. "Tourism Sector of Bangladesh: Potentials to Bring in Tk. 819 Billion by 2023". Bangladesh News Online. Dhaka Insider. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  16. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2000). The birds of Assam. Guwahati: Gibbon Books & World Wide Fund for Nature-India, North-East Regional Office. p. 48. ISBN 9788190086615.
  17. ^ "Rare Bird in Baikka Wetland", Daily Prothom Alo Archived 2012-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Minuddin Ahmed; AFM Badrul Alam (January 2003). "Bangladesh Tea Research Institute". In Sirajul Islam (ed.). Banglapedia. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. Retrieved May 12, 2016.