Koyra Upazila

Koyra
কয়রা
Upazila
Mangroves in Sunderbans, Koyra upazila
Mangroves in Sunderbans, Koyra upazila
Location of Koyra
Coordinates: 22°20.5′N 89°18′E / 22.3417°N 89.300°E / 22.3417; 89.300
Country Bangladesh
DivisionKhulna
DistrictKhulna
Thana19 November 1979
Upazila7 November 1983
Government
 • MP (Khulna-6)Akhteruzzaman Babu
 • Upazila ChairmanSM Shafiqul Islam
Area
 • Total
1,775.40 km2 (685.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total
220,102
 • Density120/km2 (320/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
9290[2]
Websitekoyra.khulna.gov.bd

Koyra (Bengali: কয়রা) is an upazila of the Khulna District of Bangladesh.[3] It's the 2nd largest Upazila in Bangladesh.

Water bodies Main rivers: dharla, pasur, arpangachhia, Taldhup, Malancha, kobadak, ball; Koyra canal is notable.

History

A back view of Masjidkur, an ancient mosque in Koyra discovered in the 20th century.

Koyra's history most likely dates as far back as the office of Khan Jahan Ali in the 15th century at least. This is evident from the ancient mosques found in Koyra such as Masjidkur.

The Channir Chak L.C. Collegiate School was established in 1935. In 1962, the Koyra Madinabad Secondary School was established.

Monument and shahid minar, koyra

During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, a sub-sector of Sector 9 was founded in Koyra's Amati Union known as Bachharbari-Manoranjan Camp, and so most of the Mukti Bahini's and Mujib Bahini's operations were launched from here. The Bengali freedom fighters built five camps in Koyra; World Poet Camp led by Abd al-Latif, Najmul Camp led by KM Mujibur Rahman, Nazrul Camp led by Abd al-Hakim, Narayan Camp led by Keramat Ali, Shaykh Abd al-Jalil and Shamsur Rahman in Jhileghata and the Suhrawardy Camp led by Rezaul Karim in Bamiya, Bagali Union. In Jaygirmahal, Dr Rafiqul Islam ran a secret medical centre to provide treatment to wounded freedom fighters. A mass grave was found in Launch Ghat, Marighata.

On 19 November 1979, Korya was established as a thana.[4] It was upgraded to an upazila (sub-district) on 7 November 1983.[3]

The Upazila suffered heavy damage following the Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Cyclone Aila two years after that.

Geography

Koyra is located at 22°20′30″N 89°18′00″E / 22.3417°N 89.3000°E / 22.3417; 89.3000. It has 45,750 households and a total area 1775.40 km2.

Demographics

Religions in Koyra Upazila (2022)[5]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 82.00%
Hinduism
 
 17.54%
Other or not stated
 
 0.46%

As of the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Koyra upazila had 45,750 households and a population of 193,931. 41,026 (21.15%) were under 10 years of age. Koyra had an average literacy rate of 50.36%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1033 females per 1000 males. 11,594 (5.98%) of the population lived in urban areas.[6] Ethnic population was 1,243 (0.64%).[7]

The upazila is home to Bengali Muslims primarily as well a very large Bengali Hindu community and the other small ethnic groups such as the Mahato and the Munda people who reside in the Koyra Sadar Union and Uttar Bedkashi Union.[4]

Administration

Man collecting mangrove palm in the Sundarbans in Koyra.

Koyra Thana was formed in 1980 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.Koyra Upazila is divided into seven union parishads: Amadi, Bagali, Dakshin Bedkashi, Koyra, Moharajpur, Moheswaripur Union, and Uttar Bedkashi Union. The union parishads are subdivided into 71 mauzas and 133 villages.[8]

List of chairmen

List of chairmen
Name
Shamsuddin Ahmed
AKM Tamiz Uddin
GM Muhsin Reza
SM Shafiqul Islam

Facilities

The upazila has three orphanages: Haji Rahim Orphanage, Qadi Kabir ad-Din Orphanage and Haji Qamar ad-Din Orphanage.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 400. ISBN 978-9844752016.
  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. 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Md Ashraful Islam Goldar (2012). "Koyra Upazila". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b এক নজরে কয়রা [Koyra at a glance]. Koyra Upazila (in Bengali).
  5. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Khulna (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-271-9.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Khulna" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  7. ^ "Community Tables: Khulna district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
  8. ^ "District Statistics 2011: Khulna" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2022.