Narayanganj

Narayanganj (Bengali: নারায়ণগঞ্জ Naraeongônj) is a city in central Bangladesh. It is in the Narayanganj District, near the capital city of Dhaka and has a population of about 2.2 million. It is the third-largest city in Bangladesh. The city is on the bank of the Shitalakshya River. The Port of Narayanganj is an important shipping and industrial center.[1] It is also a center of business and industry, especially the jute trade and processing plants, and the textile sector of the country. It is nicknamed the Dundee of Bangladesh due to the presence of its many jute mills. (Dundee was the first industrialised 'Juteopolis' in the world.[2])

This article is about the city. For the district, see Narayanganj District.
Narayanganj
City
From top: City Skyline, Port of Narayanganj,
Tobm of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah ,
Baro-Bhuyan Palace of Lord Isa Khan, Historical Panam City, Hajiganj Fort in City East
Narayanganj
Location in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°37′N 90°30′E
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka Division
DistrictNarayanganj District
Government
 • TypeNarayanganj City Corporation
 • City MayorDr.Salina Hayat Ivy
Area
 • City33.57 km2 (12.96 sq mi)
 • Water48.56 km2 (18.75 sq mi)
Elevation
3 m (10 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • City1,572,386
 • Density47,000/km2 (120,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
2.2 million
Time zoneUTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
Postal code
1420
Area code(s)0671
Calling Code02

History

The city got its name from Bicon Lal Pandey, a Hindu religious leader who was also known as Benur Thakur or 'Lakhsmi Narayan Thakur'. He leased the area from the British East India Company in 1766 following the Battle of Plassey. He donated the markets and the land on the banks of the river as Devottor or 'Given to God' property, bequeathed for maintenance expenses for the worship of the god Narayan.[1]

A post office was set up in 1866, and Dhaka-Narayanganj telegraph service was started from 1877. The Bank of Bengal introduced the first telephone service in 1882.

Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. ca 1410

The Narayanganj Municipality was incorporated on 8 September 1876. The first hospital of the area of Narayanganj Victoria Hospital was established in 1885 by the Municipality with financial contributions from Harakanta Banerjee.

Narayanganj City Corporation was established on 5 May 2011 unifying three former municipalities: Narayanganj Municipality, Siddhirganj Municipality and Kadam Rasul Municipality.[3] The mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) is Dr Selina Hayet Ivy.

See also

References
  1. "Narayanganj". Banglapedia.
  2. "Jute Industry in Dundee and India". Dundee (UK).
  3. "History & Facts - Narayanganj City Corporation". ncc.org.bd. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

  1. Population and Housing Census 2011 - Volume 3: Urban Area Report (PDF), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Aug 2014
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