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Meghna Division

Coordinates: 23°27′N 91°12′E / 23.450°N 91.200°E / 23.450; 91.200
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Meghna Division
মেঘনা বিভাগ
Proposed Division
Coordinates: 23°27′N 91°12′E / 23.450°N 91.200°E / 23.450; 91.200
Country Bangladesh
Capital and largest cityComilla
Area
 • Total
12,848.53 km2 (4,960.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total
16,918,446
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeBD-B
Main Language(s)Bengali
Other languagesEnglish
Districts6
Upazilas59

Meghna Division (Bengali: মেঘনা বিভাগ; in reference to the Meghna River), also known as Comilla Division (Bengali: কুমিল্লা বিভাগ), is a proposed administrative division within Bangladesh for the north-western parts of the existing Chittagong Division,[1] comprising Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, and Laxmipur Districts of Chittagong Division.[2][3][4][5] The headquarter of the division would be in Comilla. It covers the south-easternmost areas of the country, with a total area of 12,848.53 km2 (4,960.85 sq mi)[6] and a population at the 2011 census of 16,708,000.[7][8][9]

Terminology and naming dispute

Various terms are used to describe the different (and sometimes overlapping) geographical and political areas of the proposed Meghna division. In brief, the main terms and their simple explanations are as follows:

  • Geographical terms:
  • Samatata (or Samatat) (Bengali: সমতট) was an ancient geopolitical division of Bengal. Greater Cumilla and Noakhali region were within the division of Samatata. Geographically, the proposed Meghna division is made up of two former greater districts of Bengal province– Cumilla and Noakhali.
    • Greater Noakhali (Bengali: নোয়াখালী): The ancient name of Noakhali is Bhulua. The Noakhali district was created by the British Indian Government in 1787. It included the Sub-divisions of Lakshmipur and Feni which eventually became separate districts in 1984.
    • Greater Comilla (Bengali: কুমিল্লা): Established as the Tippera or Tipperah district of Bengal by the British in 1790[10] and later renamed as Comilla in 1960.[11] It included the Sub-divisions of Brahmanbaria and Chandpur which eventually became separate districts in 1984.
  • Roshanbad (or Rowshanabad) (Bengali: রসানবাদ): (roughly equating to the proposed Cumilla Division, excluding Rangamati Hill District). It was a district level administrative unit (Chakla) in Bengal Subah during Mughal period.

History

The undivided Comilla district region was once under ancient Gangaridai, Samatata and Pundra Kingdom of Bengal. The region came under the control of Gauda Kingdom after the fall of Gupta rule in 6th century.[12] Lalmai Mainamati was ruled by Khadga dynasty (seventh century to early eighth century AD), Deva dynasty (eighth century AD) and Chandra dynasty (during tenth and mid-eleventh century AD). After the reign of Chandras, the region was ruled by Hindu Varman, Sena and Deva dynasty in the early mediaeval period. Later the region was joined with Twipra Kingdom in the mediaeval period. In 1732, it became the center of the Bengal-backed domain of Jagat Manikya.[13][14]

The Peasants Movement against the king of Tripura in 1764, which originally formed under the leadership of Shamsher Gazi.[15] It came under the rule of East India Company in 1765 and was established as Tippera district (also known as Chakla Roshanbad) in 1790. Later, it was reorganized in three phases into six districts. The undivided Noakhali District was established in 1868 as a renaming of the Bhola District, which the British founded on 29 March 1822. It headquarters was in the town of Noakhali until the town vanished in the river-bed in 1951, as a result of the Meghna River erosion. A new headquarters for the Noakhali District was then established at Maijdee.[citation needed]

On 14 February 2017, a new division was proposed to be created comprising the Greater Comilla and Noakhali regions, effectively named Maynamati.[16][17] The "Maynamati" name was controversial and therefore protested by Comilla residents the following day.[18] The proposed name was later changed to Meghna on 22 November 2022, after the Meghna River that flows through the region.[19] Then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clarified earlier on 21 October 2021 that she does not want a division named "Comilla", or any division starting with the "Ku" syllable, during the inauguration ceremony of the Awami League office in the city, as Mostaq's name was associated with Comilla according to her.[20][21] Despite this, the name change to "Meghna" saw mixed reactions. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party stated that the AL government was imposing its decisions onto the people, and would rename the division to Comilla once they are elected in the 2024 general election.[22] The proposal was postponed on 27 November.[23] Later on 30 November 2024, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud announced the resuming of the establishment of the division, this time using the Comilla name.[24][25]

Administrative districts

The Division will be subdivided into six districts (zilas) and thence into 59 sub-districts (upazilas). The six districts listed below comprise the north-western portion (37.6%) of the present Chittagong Division, while the remaining five districts (zilas) comprise the south-eastern portion (62.4%) being separated by the lower (or Bangladeshi) stretch of the Feni River.

Name Capital Area (km2) Population
1991 Census		 Population
2001 Census		 Population
2011 Census
Brahmanbaria District Brahmanbaria 1,927.11 2,141,745 2,398,254 2,840,498
Cumilla District Cumilla 3,085.17 2,132,666 2,495,539 5,387,288
Chandpur District Chandpur 1,704.06 2,032,449 2,271,229 2,416,018
Lakshmipur District Laxmipur 1,440.39 1,312,337 1,489,901 1,729,188
Noakhali District Noakhali 4,202.87 2,217,134 2,577,244 3,108,083
Feni District Feni 990.36 1,096,745 1,240,384 1,437,371
Total Division 6 13,349.96 12,833,076 14,572,551 16,918,446

Demographics

The division would have a population of 16,918,446. 16,008,777 (94.62%) are Muslims, 899,286 (5.32%) Hindus.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ কুমিল্লা বিভাগ দ্রুত বাস্তবায়নের দাবি [Cumilla Division demanded quick implementation]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব; ডটকম, বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর. "কুমিল্লা বিভাগের নাম হবে 'ময়নামতি'". bangla.bdnews24.com (in Bengali).
  3. ^ ময়মনসিংহ বিভাগ গঠনে কাজ শুরুর নির্দেশ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর [Mymensingh Division worked on the instruction of the Prime Minister]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Mymensingh to become new division". The Daily Star. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ^ "3 new divisions to be formed". The Independent (Bangladesh). Dhaka. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ^ Miah, Sajahan (2012). "Chittagong Division". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  7. ^ "Noakhali Division Implementation Unity Committee". The Daily Observer (Bangladesh). 30 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ বিভাগ করার দাবিতে নোয়াখালী শহরে মানববন্ধন আজ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 11 March 2017.
  9. ^ পদ্মা ও মেঘনা নামে নতুন বিভাগের কথা জানালেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী. Samakal (in Bengali). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Gazetteer - Bengal District Gazetteer Tipperah District - South Asia Archive". southasiaarchive.com.
  11. ^ Siddiqi, Mamun (2012). "Comilla District". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  12. ^ Prasad, Bindeshwari (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha. p. 136.
  13. ^ Bidhas Kanti Kilikhar. Tripura of the 18th Century with Samsher Gazi Against Feudalism: A Historical Study. (Chapa Kathi, Agartula: Tripura State Tribal Cultural Research Institute and Museum, 1995) p. 55
  14. ^ Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History And Civilization. New Age International. p. 277. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ^ Nawaz, Ali (2012). "Shamsher Gazi". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  16. ^ "Comilla Division to be renamed Mainamati". BDNews24. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Comilla division to be named Maynamati: PM". The Daily Star. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Comilla residents protest proposed division's name Maynamoti". The Daily Star. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Two new divisions to be named Padma, Meghna". Prothom Alo. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  20. ^ "I don't want any division name starting with 'Ku'". Somoy TV. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ^ কুমিল্লা নামে বিভাগ হবে না: প্রধানমন্ত্রী. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ^ Alam, Masud (23 November 2022). "'BNP will change Comilla division's name'". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  23. ^ পদ্মা ও মেঘনা বিভাগ করার প্রস্তাব স্থগিত. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 27 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  24. ^ "কুমিল্লা বিভাগ বাস্তবায়নে সর্বোচ্চ নীতিনির্ধারকদের সঙ্গে কথা বলব: আসিফ মাহমুদ". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Cumilla to be made division soon: Asif Mahmud". The Daily Star. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Zila Series: Bangladesh 2011 Census". bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
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