Brahmanbaria ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া
—  District  —
Location of Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°57′10″N 91°07′00″E / 23.9528°N 91.1167°E / 23.9528; 91.1167Coordinates: 23°57′10″N 91°07′00″E / 23.9528°N 91.1167°E / 23.9528; 91.1167
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Chittagong Division
Area
• Total	1,927.11 km2 (744.06 sq mi)
	Bhadughar Meela = Bhadughar Boishahi Meela (14th Boishah)
Population (1991)
• Total	2,365,880
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
Literacy rate
• Total	26.6%
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
• Summer (DST)	BDST (UTC+7)
Postal code	3400
Website	http://www.dcbrahmanbaria.gov.bd/

Brahmanbaria (Bengali: ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া Bramhonbaŗia) is a district in east-central Bangladesh. It literally means the place where Brahmins reside. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. It was part of greater Comilla District until 1984.^[1]

  Geography

Brahmanbaria district is located at the east-central region of Bangladesh. It has a total area of 1927.11 km². Brahmanbaria is bounded by Kishoreganj District and Habiganj District on the north, Comilla District on the south, Habiganj District and Tripura State, India on the east and Meghna River, Kishoreganj District, Narsingdi District and Narayanganj District on the west.

The geography of the district is characterized by low-lying land with small hills and hillocks of red soil. The annual highest average temperature is 34.3 °C and lowest 12.7 °C. Total annual rainfall is 2551 mm. The main rivers of the district are the Meghna River, the Titas River,Buri and Haora.^[1]

  Administrative units

Brahmanbaria district is divided into nine Upazillas (previously known as Thanas) as below:^[2]

• Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila
• Ashuganj Upazila
• Nasirnagar Upazila
• Nabinagar Upazila
• Sarail Upazila
• Kasba Upazila
• Akhaura Upazila
• Bancharampur Upazila
• Bijoynagar Upazila(new)creat-dec 2010

  Parliament constituencies

There are six Jatiyo Shangshad constituencies in Brahmanbaria district. These constituencies and the current Members of Parliament are:^[3]

• Natioanl seat no 243 Brahmanbaria 1 (Current MP Mohammad Sayedul Haq)
• Natioanl seat no 244 Brahmanbaria 2 (Current MP Ziaul Haque Mridha)
• Natioanl seat no 245 Brahmanbaria 3 (Current MP R.A.M. Obaydul Muktadir Chowdhury)
• Natioanl seat no 246 Brahmanbaria 4 (Current MP Mohammed Shah Alam)
• Natioanl seat no 247 Brahmanbaria 5 (Current MP Shah Zikrul Ahmad)
• Natioanl seat no 248 Brahmanbaria 6 (Current MP A B Tajul Islam)

  Culture

Brahmanbaria has a rich tradition of nurturing art, education and culture. Ustad Allauddin Khan, the great musical talent of the subcontinent and the father of 'Maihar Gharana' of classical Indian music, was born in this district in 1862.^[4]

Ustad Ayet Ali Khan established the Alauddin Music College in 1957 Brahmanbaria and Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin established the Alauddin Sangitayan in 1975. Mohorshee Monomohan Dutta is also a remarkable name for his "Molaya" music. Sachin Dev Burman (better known as SD Burman), the renowned musician of the subcontinent, spent some time in Brahmanbaria. Umesh Chandra Roy was one of the greatest musicians of Alauddin Music institute.

Al Mahmud, one of the leading poets of modern Bengali, was born in Brahmanbaria in 1936.^[5][6]

Well-known painter Mr. Ripon's home district was Brahmanbaria . One of the most respected and well known military official in the Bangladesh army, Major General Shakil Ahmed who was killed in the BDR mutiny in 2009 was also from Brahmanbaria

  History

During the Mughal era, Brahmanbaria was famous for producing quality cloth Muslin. Brahmanbaria was made one of the 3 Sub-divisions of Comilla District by the British rulers in 1860.^[1] Brahmanbaria Municipality was established in 1868. It became part of East Pakistan in 1947 which eventually became independent Bangladesh in 1971.

During the 19th century, Brahmanbaria produced great nationalist leaders like Nawab Syed Shamsul Huda, who became president of All India Muslim League in 1921, and Barrister Abdur Rasul a front ranking leader of Indian National Congress.f

Upon encouragement of Oli Ahad, a pioneer Language Movement leader who hailed from Brahmanbaria, the movement obtained momentum in this district in 1952.^[7]

Mostafa Kamal (Bir Sreshtho) obtained martyrdom in an encounter at Daruin of Akhaura during the War of Independence in 1971.^[8]

Newspapers: Locally published newspapers and periodicals Daily Brahmanbaria (1992) which has been published by Md. Nurul Hossain. Daily Pratibedan (1993), Daily Ajker Halchal (1997), Daily Titas Kantha (1999), Daily Samatat Barta (2000), Daily Dindarpan (2000); Md. Nurul Hossain also published Weekly Titas, Weekly Deshdarpan Edited and Published by Journalist, Poet and Rhyme Writer, Jurist and Educationist Dr Mohammed Yeasin Khan LLB Honours, LLM, PhD (England),now an Advocate-on-Record of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, who in his PhD thesis ‘Protection and Promotion of Human Rights for Peace and Development’ recommended a new doctrine of world peace: ‘The Man for Man Theory of World Peace’(1981), Weekly Penbridg (1999), Fortnightly Charch (1997); Periodicals- Sahitya Academy Patrika, Nasirnagar Barta, Sarail Barta, Muktaprabaha; extinct- Bangabandhu (1875, Kalikachha), Usha (1893), Hira (1894), Sudhakar (nineteenth century), Santan (1913), Palli Pradip (1920, Kalikachha), Al Bushra (1921), Prajabandhu (1920), Chunta Prakash (1926), Tripura Prakash (1301 BS), Rayat Bandhu (1929, Kalikachha), Jayanti (nineteenth century), Sebak (1957), Parichaya (1964), Samaj (1966), Pari (1966), Vhela (1967), Tridhara (1967), Pratinidhi (1970), Pratibedan (1979),Renessa (1988), Belaseshe (1992, Sarail)

  References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Musa, Muhammad. Brahmanbariar Itibrittyo, Shetu Prokashoni, Brahmanbaria,1998.
2. ^ Upazilas of Brahmanbaria. Bangladesh Government.
3. ^ Parliament Members from Brahmanbaria.Bangladesh Government.
4. ^ Allauddin Khan, The music of India, by Reginald Massey. Abhinav Publications, 1996. ISBN 81-7017-332-9. Page 142-143.
5. ^ Poetry, by Hakim Arif, from Banglapedia
6. ^ Bangladeshi Novels by Subrata Kumar Das
7. ^ Ahmed, Monowar. Bhasha Andoloner Shochitro Dolil, Agamee Prokashani, pp. 110 ISBN 984-401-147-7
8. ^ The Listing of Martyr and Details of their Martyrdom Bir Sreshtho - The Highest Gallantry Award

  External links

• Banglapedia Article on Brahmanbaria
• Samatata
• Zia Fertilizer at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria
• Titas Gas & BGFCL

Divisions and districts of Bangladesh Barisal Division Barguna Barisal Bhola Jhalokati Patuakhali Pirojpur Chittagong Division Bandarban Brahmanbaria Chandpur Chittagong Comilla Cox's Bazar Feni Khagrachari Lakshmipur Noakhali Rangamati Dhaka Division Dhaka Faridpur Gazipur Gopalganj Jamalpur Kishoreganj Madaripur Manikganj Munshiganj Mymensingh Narayanganj Narsingdi Netrokona Rajbari Shariatpur Sherpur Tangail Khulna Division Bagerhat Chuadanga Jessore Jhenaidah Khulna Kushtia Magura Meherpur Narail Satkhira Rajshahi Division Bogra Jaipurhat Naogaon Natore Nawabganj Pabna Rajshahi Sirajganj Rangpur Division Dinajpur Gaibandha Kurigram Lalmonirhat Nilphamari Panchagarh Rangpur Thakurgaon Sylhet Division Habiganj Maulvibazar Sunamganj Sylhet