Keraniganj (Bengali: কেরানীগঞ্জ) is an upazila of Dhaka District in the division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.[4]

Keraniganj
কেরানীগঞ্জ
Evening in Sharighat
Evening in Sharighat
Location of Keraniganj
Coordinates: 23°41′N 90°20′E / 23.683°N 90.333°E / 23.683; 90.333
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka
DistrictDhaka
Area
 • Total
166.87 km2 (64.43 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
1,011,063
 • Density6,100/km2 (16,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
1310[2]
Area code06224[3]
Websitekeraniganj.dhaka.gov.bd

History

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The Doleshwar Hanafia Jame Mosque in Keraniganj was the winner of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2021.

It is believed that during the reign of Nawab Shaista Khan the paik-peyada and clerical staff (kerani) of the Nawab used to live on the other side of the river Buriganga. Keraniganj is named after this. Historically, it is believed that, after the regime change in 1757, Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah's wife and one of his aunts were in prison at Zinzira in Keraniganj. Strategically, Keraniganj played a vital role during the liberation war of Bangladesh (1971), specially in the guerrilla warfare. Many of the guerrilla operations in Dhaka city were planned and conducted from Keraniganj and, for this reason, it had to pay for this.

The Pakistani army set fire to many houses in Konakhola, Basta, Brahmankirtha, Ghatarchar, Monohorea, Joynagar, Ramerkanda, Rohitpur, Poraati, Goalkhali and Khagail Kholamora villages. The Pakistani Army fired on many people at Zinzira on 2 April 1971. The freedom Fighters later conducted extensive guerrilla attacks on the Pakistani army and freed Keraniganj Upazila forever.

Geography

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The town of Keraniganj stands on the southwest side of Dhaka City on the bank of the Buriganga river. Keraniganj Upazila with an area of 166.87 km2, is bounded by Savar Upazila and Mohammadpur, Hazaribagh, Kamrangir Char, Lalbagh, Kotwali and Sutrapur Thanas to the northeast, Shyampur Thana and Narayanganj and Sadar Upazilas to the east, Serajdikhan Upazila to the south, and by Nawabganj and Singair Upazilas to the west. The main rivers are the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari. Keraniganj is connected to Dhaka Metropolitan through two modern bridge (Buriganga Bridge-2 and Bangladesh China friendship bridge which is also known as Burignaga Bridge-1) over Buriganga river.

According to police administration, Keraniganj is now divided into two thanas which are South Keraniganj and Keraniganj Model Thana, respectively.[citation needed] The Bangladesh government has a plan to integrate Keraniganj Upazila into Dhaka municipality in the near future, to accommodate the expansion of the capital.

Demographics

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Religions in Keraniganj upazila (2022)[1]
Religion Percent
Islam
93.90%
Hinduism
6.07%
Other or not stated
0.03%

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Keraniganj Upazila had 177,970 households and a population of 794,360. 167,044 (21.03%) were under 10 years of age. Keraniganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 58.5%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 883 females per 1000 males. The entire population lived in rural areas.[5][6]

Notable residents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Dhaka (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 54. ISBN 978-984-475-286-3.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 19 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh Area Code". Stockholm, Sweden: Rebtel.com. 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ Farooque, Md Abu Hasan (2012). "Keraniganj Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  5. ^ "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Dhaka" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  6. ^ "Community Tables: Dhaka district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. 2011.
  7. ^ "Mr Keraniganj". The Daily Star. 2 February 2005.
  8. ^ Hashmi, Shahid A. (6 October 2003). "Rafique peaks for England". BBC Sport.