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Sylhet Division: In a Glimpse

Nomenclature

There are various theories about the origin of the name Sylhet. King 'Guhak' of ancient Gaur state established a haat named after his daughter Shiladevi. Because of this, many people think that the name Silat or Sylhet can be known from 'Shilahat'. Also, according to Hindu mythology, the bones of Goddess Sati fell at 51 places in the subcontinent. Two bones of Sati also fell in Sylhet. Another name for Sati is 'Sri'; Hence the name Srihatta can be derived from 'Sri + Hadd'.

Many people also believe that the name 'Silhat' originates from the command of 'Sil Hot Jah' by Hazrat Shahjalal (RA). In 640 AD, the Chinese Buddhist scholar and traveler Hiuen Tsang mentioned Sylhet as Shi-Li-Cha-T-L. Sylhet is mentioned as 'Silahet' in the book 'Kitabul Hind' by the Muslim traveler Manishi Al Beruni in the 11th century AD. Although it was first mentioned as 'Silhet' in documents during the English period, after Cachar came under British rule in the early 19th century, it was referred to as 'Sylhet' to distinguish it from 'Silchar', the headquarters station of the district. This is how today's Sylhet name was born.

Sylhet District and Sylhet Division

Sylhet district was established on March 17, 1772. Till 1874 this district was under Dhaka division. In the same year, Sylhet was included in the newly created state of Assam. Sylhet district was included in the then East Pakistan through referendum in 1947 during the partition of the country. Sylhet district was then under Chittagong division. Greater Sylhet district was divided into 4 new districts in 1983-84.

At the time of its establishment Sylhet district along with other three districts of Greater Sylhet were under Chittagong division. In 1995, separate Sylhet division started with 4 districts of Greater Sylhet (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj). The first commissioner of the division was Mr. Mohammad Habibur Rahman.

Geographical details

Location

Sylhet division is located between 23°58'W latitude to 25°12'W latitude and 90°56'E to 92°30'E longitude. It is bordered by Meghalaya state of India to the north, Tripura state of India and Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh to the south, Assam and Tripura states of India to the east, Netrakona and Kishoreganj districts to the west.

Volume

The total area of Sylhet division is 12,558 (twelve thousand five hundred and fifty eight) square kilometers. The area of Sylhet district is 3,452 square kilometers, Sunamganj district is 3,670 square kilometers, Habiganj district is 2,637 square kilometers, Moulvibazar district is 2,799 square kilometers. In terms of area, the largest district of this division is Sunamganj and the smallest district is Habiganj.

Topography

North, east and south side of Sylhet Division is a hilly area of high mountain range. Basically: Sylhet division or ancient Srihatt is the vast area between the hills of Meghalaya, Khasia, Jaintia, Tripura. The interior border is mostly flat desert. There are jungles and small sandy dunes at places.

Many rivers flow within the division. Daughter of Nature Sylhet is a green natural land surrounded by hills, rivers and streams. Tea plantations spread across the hills within the Sylhet division.

Sylhet division at a glance

Administrative

1. Parliamentary Constituencies: Total 19 (Sylhet: 06; Sunamganj: 05; Moulvibazar: 04; Habiganj: 04)

2. Upazila: Total 41 (Sylhet: 13; Sunamganj: 12; Moulvibazar: 07; Habiganj: 09)

3. Border Upazila: Total 19 (Sylhet: 06; Sunamganj: 06; Moulvibazar: 05; Habiganj: 02)

4. Police Stations: Total 44 (Sylhet: 17; Sunamganj: 11; Moulvibazar: 07; Habiganj: 09)

Local Govternment

1. City Corporation : 01 (Sylhet City Corporation)

2. Municipalities: Total 20 (Sylhet: 05; Sunamganj: 04; Moulvibazar: 05; Habiganj: 06)

3. Unions: Total 338 (Sylhet: 105; Sunamganj: 88; Moulvibazar: 67; Habiganj: 78)

Demographics

1. Total Population: 1,10,34,863 (Sylhet: 38,57,037; Sunamganj: 26,95,495; Moulvibazar: 21,23,445; Habiganj: 23,58,886)

2. Village Population : 89,63,639 (81.23%)

3. Urban Population : 20,65,123 (18.77%)

4. Population density: 873 people per square kilometer.

5. Minorities: Manipuri, Khasia, Garo, Patra, Lusai, Hajong, Sawtal, Tripura, Tipra

6. Minority Population: 1,36,594 people (Sylhet: 16,458 people; Sunamganj: 5285 people; Moulvibazar: 73,288 people; Habiganj: 41,536 people)

Educational information

1. Education rate (above 7 years): 71.92% (Sylhet: 76.26%; Sunamganj: 64.77%; Moulvibazar: 75.74%; Habiganj: 69.32%)

2. Educational institutions: Total institutions 6,242


S.L No.

Name of the institution

Sylhet

Sunamganj

Habiganj

Moulvibazar

Total

01

Government University

03

-

-

-

03

02

Private university

05

-

-

-

05

03

Government Medical College

01

-

-

-

01

04

Private Medical College

05

-

-

-

05

05

Govt Veterinary College

01

-

-

-

01

06

Tibibaya College

01

-

-

-

01

07

Polytechnic Institute

01

-

-

01

02

08

Vocational Institute

01

01

01

01

04

09

Cadet College

01

-

-

-

01

10

Govt College

05

03

03

03

13

11

private college

39

14

19

21

91

12

Law College

02

-

-

-

02

13

Govt Teachers Training College

01

-

-

-

01

14

Government High School

06

05

06

03

20

15

Private high school

277

149

100

155

681

16

Junior High School

36

22

20

18

96

17

Govt Madrasa

01

-

-

-

01

18

Private Madrasa

175

65

53

54

347

19

Government Primary School

1,066

856

732

692

3,346

20

Private primary school

295

576

294

280

1445

21

Ibtedayi Madrasa

53

50

22

52

177

Total 

1,974

1,741

1,250

1,280

6,242

 

Other information

1. Major Rivers:

             (a) Surma, Kushiara, Sari, Pian (Sylhet Region)

             (b) Kalni, Jadukata, Baulai, Kans (Sunamganj Region)

             (c) Manu, Dhalai (Moulvibazar Region)

             (d) Khoai, Sutang, Ratna (Habiganj Region).

2. Notable Land Ports: Bholaganj, Tamabil, Sheola, Sutarkandi, Jokiganj and Chatla.

3. Notable Haors:

(a) Hakaluki (Kulaura-Barlekha, Moulvibazar, Golapganj-Fenchuganj, Sylhet)

(b) Hail Haor (Srimangal, Moulvibazar)

(c) Tanguar Haor (Tahirpur-Dharmapasha, Sunamganj)

(d) Shanir Haor (Tahirpur, Sunamganj)

(e) Viewing Haor (South Sunamganj, Sadar, Sunamganj)

(f) Ghungiyazuri, Makar Haor (Habiganj Sadar, Bahubal, Lakhai, Nabiganj and Baniachong, Habiganj).


4. Industrial Plant

Fertilizer Factory

01 (Fenchuganj Fertilizer Factory)

Cement Factories

02 - Chatak Cement Factory, Lafarge-Surma Cement Factory

Paper Mill

01, (Chatak Paper Mill)

Textile Mill

01

Power Generation Plants

05

Bisik Industrial City

05

5. Gas field:

Field Name

Reserve (BCF)

No. of Wells

Daily Production (BCF)

A. Productive

1. Habiganj

953.210

10

0.2898

2. Kailashtila

2254.853

04

0.0612

3. Rashidpur

1059.519

07

0.1021

4. Sylhet

97.059

01

0.0055

5. Jalalabad

717.375

04

0.1741

6. Biyanibazar

156.421

02

0.0259

7. Bibiana

2041



8. Fenchuganj

210



9. Moulvibazar

400



A. Production Stopped

1. Chatak (Tengratila)

241.5



Total

8130.937



Information and Communication Technology

1. Information Portal: Total number: 379 (three hundred and eighty nine).

(a) Divisional Information Portal: 01 (one)

(b) District Information Portal: 04 (four)

(c) Upazila Information Portal: 41 (forty one)

(d) Union Information Portal: 338 (three hundred and thirty eight)

Sylhet department information regarding multimedia classroom

(Last updated February 2016)

Serial no

District Name

Primary School

Secondary and Higher Secondary

Yes

No

Yes

No

    01

Sylhet

70

975

395

-

   02

Sunamganj

30

1409

177

112

   03

Habiganj

24

1006

205

102

   04

Moulvibazar

21

1006

247

43

Total=

145

4396

1024

257

Tourism

Places to visit in Sylhet Division

1. Sylhet District:

          (a) Mazaar of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shahparan (RA), Sylhet.

          (b) Jaflong, Sripur, Tamabil, Bholaganj Pathar Quarry, Lakkatura Tea Garden, Bichnakandi, Khasiapunji,

          (c) Jaintar Rajbari, Jaintapur, Sylhet.

          (d) Sri Chaitanya's birthplace, Golapganj, Sylhet.

         (e) Ratargul, Goainghat, Sylhet.

2. Sunamganj

         (A) Tekerghat, Sunamganj.

         (b) Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj.

         (c) Hashan Rajar Bari, Sunamganj.

         (d) Hours of viewing

3. Moulvibazar

          (A) Madhavkund Falls, Baralekha, Moulvibazar.

          (b) Hamham Waterfall, Kamalganj, Moulvibazar.

          (c) Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, Srimangal Tea Resort, Moulvibazar.

          (d) Lauachhra Reserve Forest, Kamalganj, Moulvibazar.

4. Habiganj

        (a) Satchari National Park, Chunarughat, Habiganj.

Liberation war memories

           (a) Birshrestha Hamidur Rahman Memorial Tower, Moulvibazar.

           (b) Graveyard of General MG Osmani, Sylhet.

           (c) Graveyard of Major General MA Rob, Habiganj.

           (D) A place called Dolura in Sunamganj district.

           (e) Liberation War Memorial adjacent to Teliapara Tea Garden, Madhavpur, Habiganj.

Other Important Places:

            (a) Manipuri Lalitkala Academy, Moulvibazar.

           (b) Bangladesh Tea Research Centre, Moulvibazar.

           (c) Osmani Museum, Sylhet.

           (d) Bangladesh Rural Development Training Institute, Khadimnagar, Sylhet.

           (e) Agricultural Training Institute, Sylhet.

           (f) School of Infantry and Tactics, Sylhet.

           (g) MA, A, G Osmani International Airport, Sylhet.