TANGAIL

Tangail (Bengali: টাঙ্গাইল জেলা) is a district (zila) in the central region ofBangladesh. It is the largest district of Dhaka division by area and second largest by population (after Dhaka district). The population of Tangail zilla is about 3.6 million and its area is 3,414.28 km². The main city of Tangail District is Tangail. It is surrounded by the several districts, such as Jamalpur district on the north, the Dhaka and Manikganj districts on the south, theMymensingh and Gazipur on the east, and the Sirajganj on the west. The main rivers that cross the Tangail district are the Jamuna, Dhaleshwari,Jhenai, Bangshi, Louhajang, Langulia, Elongjani, Jugni,Pungli, Fotikjani and the Turag.

Geography

The total area of the zila is 3414.28 km² (1318.00 sq mi), of which 497.27 km² (192.00 sq mi) is under forest. The zila lies between 24° 01′ and 24° 47′ north latitudes and between 89° 44′ and 90° 18′ east longitudes.

Climate

Tangail has a tropical climate. In winter, there is much less rainfall than in summer. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as Aw. The temperature here averages 25.5 °C. About 1872 mm of precipitation falls annually.

River system

Main article: List of rivers of Bangladesh

Tangail district is flanked on the west by the mighty river Jamuna, which is no where less than 4 miles wide during the rainy season. The Dhaleswari, first an old channel of the Ganges and then of the Brahmaputra, cuts across the south-western comer of the district on its powerful sweep to join the Meghna near Narayanganj. The old, name of Dhaleswari was "Gajghata". It used to flow afterwards by the Salimabad Channel and then at last by Porabari Channel. A part of the eastern boundary of the district runs close to the Banar river. The river Bangshi flows almost down the middle of the district, branching out from the old Brahmaputra to the north from near Jamalpur. Bangshi falls into Dhaleswari near Savar, inDhaka district. The Bangshi forms a natural barrier to the Madhupur Jungle on the Tangail side, all the way from Madhupur to Mirzapur. It is only fordable at two or three places near Basail on its way to river Meghna. Dhaleswari itself however takes out from the Jamuna from inside Tangail district.

Among other important rivers of the district, Lohajang is worth mentioning. It flows past the district headquarters of Tangail and is almost dead at present (in moribwid conwtion), Other rivers are Khiru, Nanglai Nadi, Atai, and Jhinai. The old Brahmaputra's most important offshoot is the Jhinai; striking off near Jamalpur it rejoins the Jamuna north of Sarishabari, while another branch flows past Gopalpur. Now these Sub-systems of rivers, viz, Bangshi and Banar, and the Lohajang, Khiru, Nangtai Nadi, Atia and Jhinai are all dying out because of the shift of the old Brahmaputra river from its former channel to the present Jamuna channel.

Education

In Tangail, the average literacy rate as of the 2011 census was 46.8%; male 50%, female 43.8%.^[5] Before the Liberation War, some educational institutions were established by notable persons of Tangail. Santosh Jahnnabi High School was Established In 1870. It is the oldest school in Tangail & also 2nd oldest of greater Mymensingh district. B.B. Govt Boys' High School was established In 1880 and B.B. Govt Girls' High School was established In 1882. Both are located In downtown,Tangail. These are nationally rewarded Double Shift Schools. In 1926, the Government Saadat University College was established by Wazed Ali Khan Panni, a zamindar and educationalist of Tangail. He named it after the name of his grandfather Saadat Ali Khan Panni. Govt. M.M. Ali College established by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani at Kagmari (1 km away from main city) is one of the (First Govt. College) topmost colleges in Bangladesh. Kumudini College was established in 1943 by Ranada Prasad Saha (R.P. Saha), philanthropist of Tangail. He named it after the name of his mother Kumudini. Later the college was converted into Kumudini Government Women's College. He also established Bharateswari Homes in 1945 at Mirzapur. He named it after his grandmother Bharateswari Devi. Mirzapur Cadet College, the third cadet college of Bangladesh established in 1963. The then president of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan took initiatives to establish this cadet college.

Currently, there are 5 Government high schools in the city. Those are, Bindu Basini Govt. Boys’ High School and Bindu Basini Govt. Girls’ High School(established in 1880 &1882 respectively by zamindar of Santosh-the famous Roy Chowdhury family who were also co-founder of East Bengal club of Calcutta), Shibnath High School, Vivekananda high school, Police lines high school, Zilla Sadar girls' high school & Santosh Jannabi Govt. high school. Tangail has 341 non-government high schools, 86 satellite schools, 5 government colleges, 48 non-government colleges, 3 university colleges, 2 textile engineering colleges, 1 medical college, 1 law college, 1 homeopathy college, 1 polytechnic institute, 1 Medical assistant training school, 2 nursing institutes, 1 police academy, 202 madrasas, 40 junior schools, 941 government primary schools, 395 non-government primary schools, 1 teachers' training school, 146 community primary schools and 1304 NGO operated schools. There is also a technical university named Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University located at Santosh, Tangail.

Economy[edit]

Agriculture is the main occupation of the Tangail district. About 49.53% people are involved with agricultural activities. Its main agricultural products are paddy, potato, jute, sugarcane, sesame, linseed, wheat, mustard seed and pulse. About 3,386.53 km² cultivable lands are available in Tangail. The main fruit products are mangos, jackfruit, bananas, litchis, andpineapples. Other sectors, such as fisheries (446), dairies (189), industries, weaving and poultry farms (538) are also developing in the Tangail district. Tangail is the home of the weavers of world famous "Tangail Saree".

Sari

Tangail Sari a handloom saree made of both cotton and silk thread having hand worked butti design or all over flowery design or contemporary art motiff appreciated, bought, and used by women & girls of Bangladeshi and Indian origin living all over the world. Tangail Saris are famous at home and abroad. Large numbers of Sarees are usually sold on the occasion of Eid, Puja, Pahela Boishakh and wedding season during the period between November and February. The weavers get orders from home and abroad. Tangail Sarees are produced in Tangail Sadar Upazila, Delduar Upazila andKalihati Upazila. Pathrail in Delduar Upazila is famous for fine and expensive Sarees.

A survey conducted in 2013 said there are 60,000 looms in Tangail. Of them, 8,305 are pit loom, 51,141 are Chittranjan looms and 892 are power looms. About 3,25,000 laborers, owners and traders are connected with the profession. The factories have been producing Tangail sarees worth Tk 300-Tk 20,000 apiece.