Kushtia District (; ) is an administrative district of the Khulna Division in southwestern Bangladesh. It is also known as the capital of literature and culture. It is also referred to as the land of renowned poets and storytellers. The district headquarters is located in Kushtia. Geographically, it lies at the center of North Bengal and South Bengal.
In 1947, Kushtia District (undivided) was established as a district of East Pakistan. At the time of its establishment, it was part of the Rajshahi Division. When Khulna Division was established in 1960, it became a district under that division. In 1984, Kushtia District was divided to form Chuadanga and Meherpur District. In 2015, it received the Best Digital Service Award. The district's Tiler Khaja (2023) and Kumarkhali Bedsheet (2024) received recognition as geographical indications.
History
Kushtia district was formerly the eastern part of Nadia district, and was the heart of the ancient region of Vanga. Ruled originally by the Palas and Senas, Kushtia fell under Muslim rule with the capture of Nabadwip by Bakhtiyar Khilji. Kushtia remained an integral part of the Bengal Sultanate and Mughal Empire, initially being part of the Sarkar of Mahmudabad in the Bengal Subah. Kushtia was made part of Nadia district during British rule. It inspired all indigo farmers in Kushtia to refrain from paying government taxes.
During the Partition of India in 1947, three sub-divisions of Nadia district i.e. Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur were made into a new district of Kushtia in the then East Pakistan. The town once again became attractive for development in 1954 with the establishment of the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project (also known as G-K Project) headquarters and a number of government offices. The G-K Project is a large surface-irrigation system, with the first crop under this project grown in 1962–63.
The district of Kushtia had significant contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War. A 147-member company of the 27th Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army reached Kushtia on 25 March 1971 from its base at Jessore cantonment. They initially captured the local police station and settled an outpost there, but soon faced considerable resistance from a group of police, ansars, students and local people. By 1 April, the Pakistani army was completely overpowered and the Mukti Bahini took control of Kushtia and emerged victorious in the Battle. Later on 17 April 1971 the Bangladesh Government in-exile formally announced Proclamation of Independence at Baidyanathtala. Subsequently, battles between the Pakistan Army and the rebels occurred at many places of the district including Bangshitala of Kumarkhali Upazila, and Daulatpur Upazila.,
After the independence of Bangladesh several different development projects were undertaken in the district of Kushtia. On 22 November 1979 the foundation stone of The Islamic University was laid at Shantidanga – Dulalpur under the districts of Kushtia and Jhenidah. However, In 1982 the university was shifted to Gazipur and admission of students began in the session of 1985–86. Later, on 10 January 1990, the university shifted back to its original site at Shantidanga Dulalpur. In 1984, two subdivisions of Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur, were named separate districts.
Geography
Kushtia District has an area of 1608.80 square kilometres and is bounded by Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna districts to the North, by Chuadanga, Jhenaidah districts to the South, by Rajbari District to the East, and by West Bengal and Meherpur District to the West.
Ganges, Gôŗai-Modhumoti, Mathabhanga, Kaligônga, and Kumar are the main rivers flowing through the district. The average high temperature is 37.8 °C and the average low is 9.2 °C. Annual rainfall averages 1,467 millimetres.
Administrative divisions
thumb|Kushtia District upazila geocode map
Kushtia district is divided into 6 upazilas, 7 police stations, 5 municipalities, 67 union councils, 710 mauzas and 979 villages.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! No.
! Upazila
! Area (sq km)
! Population (people) Census-2022
! Constituency
! Union
|-
! 01
| Kushtia Sadar Upazila
| 316.26
| 5,60,952
| Kushtia-3
| 14
|-
! 02
| Kumarkhali Upazila
| 258.38
| 3,73,734
| rowspan="2" | Kushtia-4
| 11
|-
! 03
| Khoksa Upazila
| 115.60
| 1,43,827
| 09
|-
! 04
| Mirpur Upazila
| 296.31
| 3,63,080
| rowspan="2" | Kushtia-2
| 13
|-
! 05
| Bheramara Upazila
| 153.72
| 2,25,041
| 06
|-
! 06
| Daulatpur Upazila
| 461
| 4,82,965
| Kushtia-1
| 14
|}
Demographics
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Kushtia District had 565,339 households and a population of 2,149,692 with an average 3.77 people per household. Among the population, 363,166 (16.89%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1336 people per km<sup>2</sup>. Kushtia District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 69.01%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1036 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 21.26% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 2,117.