Magura District

History

Main article: History of Jessore

Magura, like the rest of Greater Jessore, was part of the region of Vanga in the ancient period. It then became part of the Pala and Sena dynasties, before being conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. It was part of the Bengal Sultanate until the early 16th century, when it became part of the kingdom of Raja Pratapaditya. After the Mughals defeated Pratapaditya, Magura was part of the Sarkar of Mahmudabad. During the reign of Murshid Quli Khan, the Zamindar Sitaram Ray revolted against the Mughals. He killed Abu Torab, the Zamindar of Bhusna, in battle in neighbouring Faridpur district, but he was defeated and his lands were taken. Magura then became part of the Zamindari of Bhusna, which was ruled by the Natore Rajas under a Faujdar in present Jessore. After the British conquest, they organised Jessore as a district. The 1860 indigo revolt was also happening in this district.

Administration

Magura district has 4 upazilas. They are:

1. Magura Sadar Upazila
2. Mohammadpur Upazila
3. Shalikha Upazila
4. Sreepur Upazila

Geography

Magura District (Khulna Division) with an area of 1039.1 km2, is bounded by Rajbari district to the north, Jessore and Narail districts to the south, Faridpur district to the east and Jhenaidah district to the west. The district is flat plain in the heart of the Ganges Delta.

Climate

Demographics

|1974 |516711 |1981 |610698 |1991 |724027 |2001 |824311 |2011 |918419 |2022 |1033115

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Magura District had 254,154 households and a population of 1,033,115 with an average 4.02 people per household. Among the population, 187,703 (18.17%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 994 people per km2. Magura District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 72.21%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1030 females per 1000 males. Approximately 18.90% of the population lived in urban areas. Ethnic population was 8,548 (0.83%), including Bagdi and Malo.

In 2011, Muslims constituted 82.01% of the population while Hindus were 17.92% of the population. The Hindu population declined from 2011 to 2022.

Education

• Government Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Magura
• Arpara Government Ideal High School, Arpara, Shalikha Upazila
• Magura Govt. High School, Magura Sadar, Magura
• Magura Govt. Girls' High School, Magura Sadar, Magura
• Govt. H.S.S Collage, Magura Sadar, Magura
• Pulum Golam Sarwar Secondary School, Shalikha Upazila

Notable residents

• Muhammad Sohrab Hossain
• Farrukh Ahmed, poet
• Amir Hamza, poet
• Shamsun Nahar Ahmed, member of parliament
• Syed Ali Ahsan, poet
• Mir Hasem Ali, MLA of East Bengal Legislative Assembly
• Syed Ator Ali, MPA of East Pakistan Provincial Assembly
• M Yousuff Ali, fisheries biologist, policy planner
• Mohammad Asaduzzaman, MP of Jatiya Sangsad
• Syed Nazmul Hassan Lovan, Bangladeshi footballer, Bangladesh national football team
• Shakib Al Hasan, all-rounder, Bangladesh National Cricket Team, MP Magura-1
• Kamrul Laila Jolly, former member of parliament
• Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, two-term member of parliament for Magura-2
• Kazi Kader Newaj, poet
• Gangadhar Sen Roy, Ayurveda practitioner and Sanskrit scholar
• Biren Sikder, former state minister of youth and sports
• Saifuzzaman Shikhor, politician

Notes

References

References

1. [https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/BGD/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0 Global Data Lab]. Retrieved 15 March 2025
2. {{Cite Banglapedia
3. O’Malley, L. S. S.. (1912). "Bengal District Gazetteers - Jessore". Britisher Government of India.
4. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Magura".
5. (November 2023). "Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report". [[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]].
6. "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province".
7. link. Magura News. (26 October 2017)
8. link. (13 January 2018)