Khagrachhari District

Khagrachhari District (), officially Khagrachhari Hill District, is a district in the Chittagong Division of Southeastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.

Etymology

The zila headquarters is located on the bank of the Chengi river (meaning Chhara in local language) which was full of Catkin plants (meaning Khagra in local language). It is believed that the zila might have derived its name from the above two words 'Khagra' and 'Chhara'.

History

The Chittagong Hill Tracts was loosely under the reign of the Tripura State, the Arakans & the Sultans in different times before it came under the control of the British East India Company in 1760. Although the British got the authority of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1760, they had no authority besides collecting nominal taxes. Until 1860, two kings or chiefs governed the internal administration of this region. In 1860, another circle was formed in present Khagrachari zila, inhabited by the Tripura population. The chief or the Raja of this circle was selected from the minority Marma population. The circle was named after the Tripura dialect the Mun Circle, but later, the 'Mun dialect', was changed and renamed as Mong Circle. In 1900 the British offered independent status to Chittagong Hill Tracts recognizing the culture and language of the hill tracts population. But during the Partition of India, this status was abolished and became part of East Bengal, ruled under Pakistan. Then, the name of this subdivision was Ramgarh with its headquarters at Khagrachari. It was upgraded to zila in 1983. Khagrachari Local Govt. Council was established on 6 March 1989 to uphold the political, social, cultural, educational and economic right and to expedite the process of socio-economic development of all residents of Khagrachari Hill District. According to 'Peace Accord' this council was renamed as "Khagrachari Hill District Council (KHDC)" by the Act-10 of 1998. Now this council has been regarded as the main focal point of administration as well as development activities of the district.

Geography

Khagrachari is a hilly area. It is bounded by Tripura state of India on the north and west, Rangamati district to the east and Chittagong District to the southwest. Notable hill ranges are Golamoon, Chotto Panchari, Karmi Mura, Lutiban, Kuradia, Bhanga Mura, Jopisil.

It has three rivers, namely Chengi, Feni and Maini. Chengi is the longest river in Khagrachhari. The main ethnic groups living in the district are Tripuris, Chakmas, Bengalis and Marmas.

Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Khagrachhari District had 169,526 households and a population of 714,119 with an average 4.14 people per household. Among the population, 144,968 (20.30%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. Khagrachhari had a literacy rate of 71.80%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 100.27 males to 100 females. Approximately, 41.74% of the population lived in urban areas. The population density was 260 people per km<sup>2</sup>.

As per the 2022 Census, there were a total of 349,390 (48.93%) indigenous people in the district. The population of major ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: Chakma 175,165, Tripura 98,500 and Marma 74,210.

{| class="wikitable"

|+Population by ethnicity in Upazila

! Upazila

! Bengali

! Chakma

! Marma

! Tripura

! Others

|Dighinala Upazila

|39 %

|style="background: yellow" |53.4 %

| 0.06%

| 7.38%

|0.52%

|Guimara Upazila

| 35.6%

| 7.37%

|style="background: blue"| 38.1%

| 18.79%

| 0.14%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

|style="background:green" | 40.8%

| 27.1%

| 10.9%

| 20.99%

| 0.30%

|Lakshmichhari Upazila

| 25.8%

|style="background: yellow" |51.3%

| 21.8%

| 0.46%

| 0.64%

|Mahalchhari Upazila

| 37%

|style="background: yellow" | 43.5%

| 15.31%

| 3.97%

| 0.22%

|Manikchhari Upazila

|style="background:green" |73.6%

|1.93%

| 18.7%

| 5.60%

| 0.17%

|Matiranga Upazila

|style="background:green" |76.1 %

| 3.12%

| 2.07%

| 18.68%

| 0.03%

|Panchhari Upazila

| 33%

|style="background: yellow" | 44.1%

| 3.12%

| 19.36%

| 0.42%

|Ramgarh Upazila

|style="background:green" | 73.1%

|2.77%

| 10.6%

| 13.28%

| 0.25%

thumb|Major ethnic group by unions in Khagrachhari

{| class="wikitable"

|+Population by ethnicity in Union

! Upazila

! Union

! Bengali

! Chakma

! Tripura

! Marma

! Others

| rowspan=6 |Khagrachhari Upazila

|Khagrachhari Paurashava

|style="background:green "|41,223

|11,191

|2,527

|3,699

|235

|Bhaibonchhara Union

|1,846

|8,469

|style="background: darkorange "|10,713

|1,695

|13

|Golabari Union

|style="background:green "|6,543

|1,707

|3,991

|2,905

|31

|Kamalchhari Union

|4,285

|style="background: yellow "|7,603

|1,184

|2,887

|20

|Khagrachhari Union

|1,222

|2,677

|style="background: darkorange "|3,723

|2,718

|Perachhara Union

|379

|5,290

|style="background: darkorange "|6,438

|888

|29

| rowspan=3 |Ramgarh Upazila

| Ramgarh Paurashava

|style="background: green "|24,675

|1,363

|83

|1,987

|104

| Patachhara Union

|style="background: green"|8,439

|4,558

|1,542

|1,930

|20

| Ramgar Union

|style="background: green"|11,310

|2,144

|56

|2,529

| rowspan=8 |Matiranga Upazila

|Matiranga Paurashava

|style="background:green "|26,863

|922

|1,232

|297

|Amtali Union

|style="background:green "|7,102

|2,508

|12

|Baranal Union

|style="background:green "|8,855

|268

|1,151

|825

|Belchhari Union

|style="background:green "|11,844

|246

|2,321

|171

|19

|Gumti Union

|style="background:green "|11,007

|2,901

|Matiranga Union

|1,555

|373

|style="background: darkorange "|11,335

|644

|Tabalchhari Union

|style="background:green "|17,597

|707

|1,256

|403

|Taindang Union

|style="background:green "|11,524

|1,425

|943

|269

| rowspan=5 |Dighinala Upazila

|Babuchhara Union

|2,074

|style="background: yellow "|12,927

|336

|25

|54

|Boalkhali Union

|style="background:green "|9,220

|8,275

|4,066

|22

|112

|Dighinala Union

|455

|style="background: yellow "|14,359

|20

|24

|Kabakhali Union

|style="background:green "|9,185

|8,717

|26

|Merung Union

|style="background:green "|24,082

|17,340

|4,075

|11

|14

| rowspan=3 |Guimara Upazila

|Guimara Union

|style="background: green "|6,418

|1,170

|5,941

|4,738

|21

|Hafchhari Union

|style="background: green "|11,384

|1,547

|1,706

|11,294

|52

|Sindukchhari Union

|1151

|1,210

|2,360

|style="background:blue "|4,261

| rowspan=3 |Lakkhichhari Upazila

| Barmachhari Union

|75

|style="background: yellow"|4,704

|81

|1,943

|28

| Dulyatali Union

|2,326

|style="background: yellow"|3,275

|1,943

| Lakkhichhari Union

|4,591

|style="background: yellow"|5,957

|37

|2,038

|140

| rowspan=4 |Mahalchhari Upazila

|Kiyangghat Union

|1,708

|style="background: yellow "|7,225

|12

|Mahalchhari Union

|style="background:green "|9,411

|5,483

|759

|2,853

|92

|Maischhari Union

|style="background:green "|6,946

|3,267

|1,172

|2,400

|43

|Mubachhari Union

|67

|style="background: yellow "|5,382

|14

|2,222

|13

| rowspan=4 |Manikchhari Upazila

|Batnatali Union

|style="background: green "|10,282

|26

|1,158

|3,661

|Jogyachhola Union

|style="background: green"|9,158

|397

|2,580

|1,312

|Manikchhari Union

|style="background: green"|21,657

|747

|116

|6,276

|63

|Tintahari Union

|style="background: green"|15,573

|319

|459

|3,182

|56

| rowspan=5 |Panchhari Upazila

|Chengi Union

|182

|style="background: yellow "|7,035

|1,490

|206

|Latiban Union

|72

|4,335

|style="background: darkorange "|4,899

|950

|Logang Union

|2,572

|style="background: yellow "|6,759

|2,901

|114

|73

|Panchhari Union

|style="background:green "|12,742

|9,298

|1,926

|459

|203

|Ultachhari Union

|style="background:green "|7,105

|2,843

|2,079

|424

🟩 Bengali majority 🟨 Chakma majority 🟧 Tripura majority 🟦 Marma majority

{| class="wikitable"

|+Largest ethnic group in Union and Municipality

! Ethnic group

! Union

! Municipality

|Bengali

|22

|Chakma

|10

|Tripura

|Marma

|Total

|38

Bengali in Khagrachhari

According to 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest group in Khagrachhari District (51.07%).

They are largest ethnic group in Matiranga Upazila (76.10%), Manikchhari Upazila (73.57%), Ramgarh Upazila (73.14%) and Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila (40.77%).

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! Population

! Percentage of Bengali

|Matiranga Upazila

| 96,352

| align='center' |76.10%

|Manikchhari Upazila

|56,670

|align=center| 73.57%

|Ramgarh Upazila

|44,424

|align=center| 73.14%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

|55,505

|align=center| 40.77%

|Dighinala Upazila

|45,020

|align=center| 39.00%

|Mahalchhari Upazila

|18,133

|align=center| 36.95%

|Guimara Upazila

|18,955

|align=center| 35.59%

|Panchhari Upazila

|22,678

|align=center| 33.02%

|Lakshmichhari Upazila

|6,992

|align=center| 25.76%

Chakma in Khagrachhari

According to 2022 census, Chakmas are the largest indigenous group in Khagrachhari District (24.53%).

They are the largest ethnic group in Dighinala Upazila (53.38%), Lakshmichhari Upazila (51.33%), Panchhari Upazila (44.04%) and Mahalchhari Upazila (43.52%).

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! Population

! Percentage of Chakma

|label1 = Islam

|value1= 46.59

|color1= green

|label3 = Hinduism

|value3 = 16.76

|color3 = orange

|label2 = Buddhism

|value2 = 35.93

|color2 = yellow

|label4 = Christianity

|value4 = 0.62

|color4 = blue

|label5 = Other

|value5 = 0.10

|color5= Magenta

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" |Religion

! colspan="2" |1941

! colspan="2" |1981

|Tribal

|73,324

|96.26%

|Islam 15x15px

|712

|0.94%

|89,630

|32.19%

|162,504

|47.44%

|228,753

|43.52%

|274,258

|44.18%

|332,687

|46.59%

|Buddhism 15x15px

|139,166

|49.98%

|121,631

|35.51%

|206,473

|39.28%

|231,309

|37.68%

|256,600

|35.93%

|Hinduism 16x16px

|26,907

|6.78%

|48,160

|17.30%

|57,158

|16.69%

|86,351

|16.43%

|103,195

|16.81%

|119,706

|16.76%

|Christianity 21x21px

|0%

|637

|0.23%

|939

|0.27%

|3745

|0.71%

|4,070

|0.66%

|4,407

|0.62%

|Others

|207

|0.27%

|868

|0.30%

|256

|0.09%

|342

|0.06%

|1,085

|0.18%

|719

|0.10%

!Total Population

!76,171

!100%

!278,461

!100%

!342,488

!100%

!525,664

!100%

!613,917

!100%

!714,119

!100%

{| class="wikitable"

|+Population by religion in Upazila

! Upazila

!vMuslim

! Buddhist

! Christian

! Hindu

! Others

|Dighinala Upazila

|35.70 %

|style="background: yellow" |54.54 %

| 0.33%

| 9.41%

| 0.35%

|Guimara Upazila

| 30.60%

|style="background: yellow" | 46.74%

| 0.12%

| 22.51%

| 0.15%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

| 34.98%

|style="background: yellow" | 38.50%

| 1.75%

| 24.76%

| 1.76%

|Lakshmichhari Upazila

| 20.07%

|style="background: yellow" |77.73 %

| 0.13%

| 2.07%

| 0.13%

|Mahalchhari Upazila

| 30.94%

|style="background: yellow" | 61.67%

| 0.41%

| 6.93%

| 0.46%

|Manikchhari Upazila

|style="background:green" |68.01 %

|21.50 %

| 0.29%

| 10.15%

| 0.34%

|Matiranga Upazila

|style="background:green" |73.94 %

| 5.58%

| 0.42%

| 19.73%

| 0.74%

|Panchhari Upazila

| 30.78%

|style="background: yellow" | 47.25%

| 0.50%

| 21.46%

| 0.60%

|Ramgarh Upazila

|style="background:green" | 65.48%

|14.63 %

| 0.41%

| 19.16%

| 0.73%

thumb|Largest religion by unions in Khagrachhari District

{| class="wikitable"

|+Population by religion in Union

! Upazila

! Union

! Muslim

! Buddhist

! Hindu

! Others

| rowspan=6 |Khagrachhari Upazila

|Khagrachhari Paurashava

|style="background:green "|34,561

|15,925

|7,936

|453

|Bhaibonchhara Union

|1,491

|10,180

|style="background: darkorange "|10,640

|212

|Golabari Union

|style="background:green "|5,869

|4,701

|4,454

|73

|Kamalchhari Union

|4,204

|style="background: yellow "|10,020

|1,158

|293

|Khagrachhari Union

|1,202

|style="background: yellow "|5,399

|3,642

|61

|Perachhara Union

|286

|style="background: yellow "|6,187

|5,883

|344

| rowspan=3 |Ramgarh Upazila

| Ramgarh Paurashava

|style="background: green "|20,829

|2,296

|4,793

|287

| Patachhara Union

|style="background: green"|8,068

|3,729

|4,550

|142

| Ramgarh Union

|style="background: green"|10,873

|2,862

|2,291

|14

| rowspan=5 |Dighinala Upazila

|Babuchhara Union

|1,786

|style="background: yellow "|13,024

|547

|69

|Boalkhali Union

|6,809

|style="background: yellow "|9,271

|5,473

|142

|Dighinala Union

|395

|style="background: yellow "|14,408

|36

|27

|Kabakhali Union

|style="background:green "|9,112

|8,706

|50

|69

|Merung Union

|style="background:green "|23,111

|17,551

|4,761

|99

| rowspan=3 |Guimara Upazila

|Guimara Union

|4,457

|6,328

|style="background: darkorange "|7,470

|33

|Hafchhari Union

|10,952

|style="background: yellow "|13,064

|1,933

|34

|Sindukchhari Union

|886

|style="background: yellow "|5,501

|2,587

|11

| rowspan=3 |Lakkhichhari Upazila

| Barmachhari Union

|61

|style="background: yellow "|6,653

|99

|18

| Dulyatali Union

|1,532

|style="background: yellow"|5,989

|22

|11

| Lakkhichhari Union

|3,855

|style="background: yellow"|8,461

|440

| rowspan=4 |Mahalchhari Upazila

|Kiyangghat Union

|1,348

|style="background: yellow "|7,452

|145

|Mahalchhari Union

|7,299

|style="background: yellow "|9,171

|2,095

|33

|Maischhari Union

|style="background:green "|6,537

|5,961

|1,289

|41

|Mubachhari Union

|style="background: yellow "|7,682

|11

| rowspan=4 |Manikchhari Upazila

|Batnatali Union

|style="background: green "|10,011

|3,746

|1,370

|Jogyachhola Union

|style="background: green"|9,093

|1,709

|2,412

|238

|Manikchhari Union

|style="background: green"|18,877

|7,408

|2,557

|14

|Tintahari Union

|style="background: green"|14,404

|3,694

|1,478

|14

| rowspan=8 |Matiranga Upazila

|Matiranga Paurashava

|style="background:green "|25,326

|1,509

|2,351

|136

|Amtali Union

|style="background:green "|6,957

|15

|2,559

|95

|Baranal Union

|style="background:green "|8,591

|1,197

|1,302

|15

|Belchhari Union

|style="background:green "|11,670

|494

|2,224

|213

|Gumti Union

|style="background:green "|10,894

|2,809

|206

|Matiranga Union

|1,166

|1,020

|style="background: darkorange "|11,547

|177

|Tabalchhari Union

|style="background:green "|17,518

|1,120

|1,311

|14

|Taindang Union

|style="background:green "|11,492

|1,705

|875

|89

| rowspan=5 |Panchhari Upazila

|Chengi Union

|154

|style="background: yellow "|7,173

|1,482

|111

|Latiban Union

|67

|style="background: yellow "|5,224

|4,822

|146

|Logang Union

|2,472

|style="background: yellow "|6,866

|3,068

|13

|Panchhari Union

|style="background:green "|11,378

|9,938

|3,260

|42

|Ultachhari Union

|style="background:green "|7,068

|3,248

|2,109

|32

{| class="wikitable"

|+Largest Religion in Union and Municipality

! Religion

! Union

! Municipality

|Islam

|18

|Buddhism

|17

|Hinduism

|Total

|38

Islam

According to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Khagrachhari district(46.59%).

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! Population

! Percentage of Islam

|Matiranga Upazila

| 93,618

| align='center' |73.94%

|Manikchhari Upazila

|52,387

|align=center| 68.02%

|Ramgarh Upazila

|39,775

|align=center| 65.48%

|Dighinala Upazila

|41,217

|align=center| 35.70%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

|47,620

|align=center| 34.98%

|Mahalchhari Upazila

|15,186

|align=center| 30.94%

|Panchhari Upazila

|21,141

|align=center| 30.78%

|Guimara Upazila

|16,295

|align=center| 30.60%

|Lakshmichhari Upazila

|5,448

|align=center| 20.07%

Buddhism

According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the second largest in Khagrachhari District(35.93%).

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! Population

! Percentage of Buddhism

|Lakshmichhari Upazila,

|21,103

|align=center| 77.73%

|Mahalchhari Upazila

|30,267

|align=center| 61.67%

|Dighinala Upazila

|62,960

|align=center| 54.54%

|Panchhari Upazila

|32,452

|align=center| 47.25%

|Guimara Upazila

|24,894

|align=center| 46.74%

|Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila

|52,412

|align=center| 38.50%

|Manikchhari Upazila

|16,557

|align=center| 21.50%

|Ramgarh Upazila

|8,887

|align=center| 14.63%

|Matiranga Upazila

|7,068

| align='center' |5.58%

Hinduism

According to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Khagrachhari district(16.76%).

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right hover-highlight"

! Upazila

! Population

! Percentage of Hinduism

Administration

Khagrachhari district consist of 3 Paurashava, 9 Upazila/Thana, 38 Union, 122 Mauza, 27 Ward, 153 Mahalla and 1,702 Villages. The upazilas are Dighinala, Khagrachhari Sadar,

Lakshmichhari, Mahalchhari, Manikchhari, Matiranga, Panchhari, Ramgarh and Guimara.

Deputy Commissioner (DC): Md. Shahiduzzaman

Chairman of Hill District Council: Mr. Kongjari Chowdhury

Economy

Most of the people live on Jhum cultivation. There are also people of various professions like teacher, farmer and businessmen. Tourism is becoming a strong income source for the local.

Main sources of income Agriculture 59.92%, non-agricultural labourer 9.33%, industry 0.44%, commerce 10.67%, transport and communication 1.11%, service 7.94%, construction 0.92%, religious service 0.24%, rent and remittance 0.37% and others 9.06%.

Education

Rate of school going student is 44.07%. There are 18 colleges, 71 high schools, 13 madrasa and different kinds of educational institutions.

Noted educational institutions:

Khagrachhari Government College (1974)
Matiranga Degree College (1992)
Tabalchari Greenhill College (2009)
Ramgarh Government Degree College (1980)
Panchhari College (1990)
Dighinala Government College
Khagrachhri Cantonmet public school and college (2006),
Panchhari High School and College (1981)
Khagrachhari Government High School (1957)
Tabalchhari Kadamtoli High School (1952)
Matiranga Pailot High school
Gomti B.K High school
Santipur High School
Amtoli High school
Taindong High School
Matiranga Girls High School
Khadachora High School
Bornal Moktizodha High School
Matiranga Reacidencial High School
Ramgarh Government High School (1952)
Rani Nihar Devi Government High School (1976)
Dighinala Government High School
Choto Merung High School (1975)
Thakurchara High School (1979)
Khagrachhari North Khobongpodia Government Primary School (1905)

Archaeological heritage and relics

Among the archaeological heritages and relics, Rajbari of the Mong Circle and Dighi (large pond) of Dighinala (excavated by Gobinda Manikya Bahadur exiled king of Tripura) are notable.

Transport

Palanquin, elephant cart, buffalo cart, horse carriage, bullock cart and country boat were the traditional transports once found in the rural area of the zila. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct except country boat. Now-a-days, all the upazilas are connected to the zila headquarters by metalled roads. Bus, minibus, three wheelers, pickup van ply over the zila. Chander Gari (local four wheeled jeep) is a popular transport used to ply in the hill area of the zila.

Notable persons

A. K. M. Alim Ullah
Wadud Bhuiyan
Kujendra Lal Tripura
Jotindra Lal Tripura
Birendra Kishore Roaza
Kalparanjan Chakma
Upendra Lal Chakma
Monika Chakma
Basanti Chakma
Supradip Chakma
Aungmraching Marma
Anai Mogini
Anuching Mogini

Notes

References

External links

Kagrachhari District mapped on OpenStreetMap, retrieved 29 December 2021.
Chittagong Hill Tracts mapped on OpenStreetMap, retrieved 29 December 2021. (inset are its three districts: Khagrachhari, Rangamaai, and Bandarban)

Etymology

History

Geography

Demographics

Bengali in Khagrachhari

Chakma in Khagrachhari

Islam

Buddhism

Hinduism

Administration

Economy

Education

Archaeological heritage and relics

Transport

Notable persons

See also

Notes

References

External links