Jessore District

Jessore District যশোর জেলা
District
Jashore District
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Khulna Division
Area
• Total	2,606.94 km2 (1,006.55 sq mi)
Elevation	7 m (23 ft)
Population (2011 Census)
• Total	2,764,547
Website	jessore.gov.bd

Jessore District , officially known as Jashore District, ^[1] is a district in the southwestern region of Bangladesh. It is bordered by India to the west, Khulna District and Satkhira District to the south, Magura and Narail to the east, and Jhenaidah District to the north. The district produces a variety of crops year-round. Date sugar, called patali, is made from the sap of locally grown date trees. It is cooked, thickened and crystallised using a traditional method. Patali is mainly produced in Khajura, but many date trees are cultivated in the Keshabpur Upazila and Manirampur Upazila areas. Jessore (town) is the capital of the district.

Jessore district was established in 1781. It consists of 4 municipalities, 36 wards, 8 upazilas, 92 unions, 1329 mouzas, 1477 villages and 120 mahallas. Upazilas are Abhaynagar Upazila, Bagherpara Upazila, Chaugachha Upazila, Jessore Sadar Upazila, Jhikargachha Upazila, Keshabpur Upazila, Manirampur Upazila, and Sharsha Upazila.

History

Jessore district once belonged to the ancient Janapada kingdom of Samatat Janapada. In the 15th century, Jessore was a part of the kingdom of Pratapaditya.

The fiscal administration was then in English hands, having been transferred to the East India Company with that of the rest of Bengal in 1765.^[2]

British administration was finally established in Jessore district in 1781 when the governor-general ordered the opening of a court at Murali near Jessore.^[2] In 1947, Jessore was divided between India and (then) Pakistan. Except for the Bangaon and Gaighata thanas, the district became part of East Pakistan.^[3]

The Bengali soldiers stationed at Jessore cantonment mutinied against the Pakistan Army on 29 March 1971. They were led by Captain Hafiz Uddin and Lieutenant Anwar in an uprising where 300 soldiers were killed. The rebels killed 50 Pakistani soldiers with machine gun fire at Chanchara.

On 6 December 1971, Jessore became the first district of Bengal to be liberated from Pakistani forces. And Jessore is the first digital district in Bangladesh.

Geography

Jessore District encompasses 2606.98 km². It is bounded by Jhenaidaha and Magura districts at the north, Satkhira and Khulna districts at the south, Narail and Khulna districts at the east, and West Bengal of India at the west. Major rivers that flow through this region are the Bhairab, Teka, Hari, Sree, Aparbhadra, Harihar, Buribhadra, Chitra, Betna, Kopotakkho, and the Mukteshwari.^[4][5]

Demographics

Jessore District had a population of 2,764,547 at the 2011 Census. 85.5% of the population are Muslims, 14.21% are Hindus and the remaining 0.29% practise another religion.

The main occupations are agriculture 39.84%, agricultural labourer 24.13%, wage labourer 2.68%, commerce 11.99%, service 8.66%, industry 1.41%, transport 3.11% and others 8.18%.

Jessore District's administrative framework was established in 1781. It consists of the following eight Upazilas

(data from Banglapedia):

The upazilas are further divided into 9 municipalities, 36 wards, 92 unions, 1329 mouzas, 1434 villages and 120 mahallas.

Economy

Points of interest

• The Capital City of flower in Bangladesh, Godkhali Jhikargachha Upazila...
• Katakhal Bangabandhu Park Jhikargachha Upazila...
• At Abhaynagar Upazila, there is a small village called Dhoolgraam. It once had a magnificent complex of 17 Hindu temples, but only one remains today. Most of the temples were destroyed by the Bhairab River. A beautiful terracotta design can be seen all over the temple. It is considered a very holy place by Bengali Hindus.

The main gate of the house of Michael Madhusudan Dutta at Sagardari village in Jessore. This house is currently being used as a museum.

• In Vaatnogor at Abhaynagar Upazila, ruins of eleven temple complex, dedicated to Lord Shiva, remains. Though the central temple is partially destroyed, the site still shows the majesty of Bengal's glorious past.
• A terracotta plaque bearing the image of Mallinath, a female tirthankar (saint) of the Jain religion, was found at the Mound of Dam Dam Peer in Manirampur Upazila.^[6]
  

  Mound of Dam Dam Peer in Manirampur Upazila.
  It is believed to be the most ancient relic discovered from this part of the world.^[7] The Department at Khulna said that the plaque is at least 1800 years old. It is currently kept at the Khulna Museum.^[8][9]
• Besides, "Neelkuthi" at village Joypur & "Kachari Ghar" are important Archaeological sites in Manirampur

Chanchra Shiva Temple

• Near the town of Jessore is the suburb Chanchra. A Chanchra Rajbari once stood but has deteriorated. Visitors can see the Lord Shiva Temple, which is almost restored; the remains of the Dosh Mohabid-da Temple, unique in Bengal; and Jora Shiv Temple at Murali in a deteriorated condition.
• Imam Bara, at Murolir Mor beside the Dhaka-Khulna Highway, is a historical building constructed by Hazi Muhammad Mohsin.
• The Jessore Collectorate Building, in Doratana, is one of the oldest buildings in Jessore.
• Shaagordaari is the birthplace of the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta. His large villa consists of a huge garden, a small museum and houses. The front gate has a solid sculpture work. The Kopotak-kho River is at a stone's throw away.
• Near Jessore Sadar Upazila village Hamidpur has an ancient mosque, known as "Shani mosque." It is an example of the high architecture of Muslim Sultani period.
• Godkhali kalibari
• Panchpukur Baganchara
• Binodia Park
• Jessore Boat-club
• Jess-garden Park
• Rajgong Baor
• Vobodaho Bil
• Gazir Dorgah
• Jessore Airport, Jessore Cantonment and Air Force Base Matiur Rahman.
• India's daul at Kesobpur
• Khanjalir Dighi
• Mirzanagar Hammamkhana
• Avaynogor's Khanjahan Ali Jame Mosque
• Jamidar Bari at Shridhorpur
• Konnadah Archajjo Baor at Sarsha
• Benapole port
• Fakhir Tika at Godkhali
• Shimulia Mission (Saheb Bari)
• Grave of Birshrestho Lance Nayek Noor Muhammad Sheikh
• Khatura Baor
• Moktarpur Lalu Babu Jamidar Bari

Solo Khada Jamidar Bari, House and birthplace of Ratna Gorva awarded by British Govt. and her son former Health minister of India Dr. Nil Ratan Dhor and his brother Jebon Ratan Dhor

Transport

Jessore has communication links with nearby districts. It has highways for transportation to West and East Bengal.

Jessore is a junction on the broad gauge-based network of the Eastern Railway. The network has links extended into Indian territory. Service linking the capital Dhaka and the Indian city Kolkata was to start April 2008. Jessore is about midway along the route.

The Jessore Airport, near the city, is an airfield for the Bangladesh Air Force. Alongside military service, its runway caters to seven commercial flights daily which includes US Bangla, Novo and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, for domestic flights.

Education

Media

Notable residents

• Ahmed Ali Enayetpuri- Islamic scholar and Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
• Bobita, actress;
• Dinesh Chandra Chattopadhyay - Writer and editor
• Haridasa Thakur - great Vaisnava Saint, acarya of the Holy Name.
• Jatin Bala - Dalit author
• Michael Madhusudan Datta – poet and dramatist;
• Mashiur Rahman – politician of the Awami League;
• Mahendra Lal Bose – philanthropist and educationist;
• Mashrafe Mortaza, cricketer, Bangladesh cricket team;
• Munshi Mohammad Meherullah- Muslim poet, religious leader and social reformer ;
• Syed Rasel, cricketer, Bangladesh cricket team;
• Suvra Mukherjee- former first lady of India, wife of President Pranab Mukherjee.

See also

• Khulna Division

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jessore District.

Talbaria Degree College is situated 8 km away from the Jessore main town and education board. It was established in 2005.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jessore.

External links

• Official website