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{{Short description|Third-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh}}
{{Short description|Administrative divisions of Bangladesh}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use Bangladeshi English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Bangladeshi English|date=July 2022}}
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| exofficio1 =
| exofficio1 =
| population_range = 596,886–1,634,750
| population_range = 596,886–1,634,750
| area_range = 572–2,829 km²
| area_range = 572–2,829 km<sup>2</sup>
| government = {{nowrap|Upazila Nirbahi Officer; UNO}}
| government = {{nowrap|Upazila Nirbahi Officer; UNO}}
(Administrator)
(Administrator)
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An '''''upazila''''' ({{lang-bn|উপজেলা|upajēlā|lit=sub-district}} <small>pronounced:</small> {{IPA-bn|'upɘdʒeːlaː|}}), formerly called '''''thana''''', is an [[administrative division]] in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a [[districts of Bangladesh|district]]. It can be seen as an analogous to a [[county]] or a [[borough]] of Western countries. Rural upazilas are further administratively divided into [[Union councils of Bangladesh|union council areas]] (union parishads).
An '''''upazila''''' ({{lang-bn|উপজেলা|upajēlā|lit=sub-district}} <small>pronounced:</small> {{IPA-bn|'upɘdʒeːlaː|}}), formerly called '''''thana''''', is an [[administrative division]] in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a [[districts of Bangladesh|district]]. It can be seen as an analogous to a [[county]] or a [[borough]] of Western countries. Rural upazilas are further administratively divided into [[Union councils of Bangladesh|union council areas]] (union parishads).


Bangladesh has 495 upazilas.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/governance/news/govt-create-3-new-upazilas-three-districts-2137696 | title=Govt to form 3 new upazilas in three districts |work=The Daily Star| date=27 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/site/view/upazila-list |title=upazila List |publisher=Bangladesh National Portal }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New upazila to be formed in Comilla |url=http://en.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/45201/New-upazila-to-be-formed-in-Comilla |publisher=NTV |date=9 January 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> The upazilas are the second lowest tier of regional administration in Bangladesh. The administrative structure consists of divisions (8), districts (64), upazilas (495) and union parishads (UPs). This system of [[devolution]] was introduced by the former military ruler and [[president of Bangladesh]], [[Hossain Mohammad Ershad|Lt-Gen Hossain Muhammad Ershad]], in an attempt to strengthen local government.
Bangladesh has 495 upazilas.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/governance/news/govt-create-3-new-upazilas-three-districts-2137696 | title=Govt to form 3 new upazilas in three districts | work=The Daily Star | date=27 July 2021 | access-date=20 October 2022 | archive-date=30 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830215116/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/governance/news/govt-create-3-new-upazilas-three-districts-2137696 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/site/view/upazila-list |title=upazila List |publisher=Bangladesh National Portal |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710162631/http://bangladesh.gov.bd/site/view/upazila-list |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New upazila to be formed in Comilla |url=http://en.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/45201/New-upazila-to-be-formed-in-Comilla |publisher=NTV |date=9 January 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416014040/https://en.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/45201/New-upazila-to-be-formed-in-Comilla |url-status=live }}</ref> The upazilas are the second lowest tier of regional administration in Bangladesh. The administrative structure consists of divisions (8), districts (64), upazilas (495) and union parishads (UPs). This system of [[devolution]] was introduced by the former military ruler and [[president of Bangladesh]], [[Hossain Mohammad Ershad|Lt-Gen Hossain Muhammad Ershad]], in an attempt to strengthen local government.


Below UPs, villages (''gram'') and ''para'' exist, but these have no administrative power and elected members. The Local Government [[local ordinance|Ordinance]] of 1982 was amended a year later, redesignating and upgrading the existing ''thanas'' as ''upazilas''.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite book
Below UPs, villages (''gram'') and ''para'' exist, but these have no administrative power and elected members. The Local Government [[local ordinance|Ordinance]] of 1982 was amended a year later, redesignating and upgrading the existing ''thanas'' as ''upazilas''.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite book |author=Kamal Siddiqui |chapter=Local Government |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Local_Government |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second |access-date=6 August 2015 |archive-date=6 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106132758/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Local_Government |url-status=live }}</ref>
|author=Kamal Siddiqui
|chapter=Local Government
|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Local_Government
|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
{{further|Thanas of Bangladesh}}
{{further|Thanas of Bangladesh}}
Upazilas were formerly known as ''thana'', which literally means police station. Despite the meaning, thanas functioned much as an administrative and geographic region, much as today's upazilas. In 1982 thanas were re-termed to as upazilas with provisions for semi-autonomous local governance. This system was reverted to the thana system in 1992. Later in 1999 geographic regions under administrations of thanas were converted into upazilas.<ref>{{cite book|author=AMM Shawkat Ali|chapter=Thana|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Thana|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> All administrative terms in this level were renamed from ''thana'' to ''upazila''. For instance, thana nirbahi officer (<small>lit.</small> thana executive officer) was renamed upazila nirbahi officer (<small>lit. </small>upazila executive officer).
Upazilas were formerly known as ''thana'', which literally means police station. Despite the meaning, thanas functioned much as an administrative and geographic region, much as today's upazilas. In 1982 thanas were re-termed to as upazilas with provisions for semi-autonomous local governance. This system was reverted to the thana system in 1992. Later in 1999 geographic regions under administrations of thanas were converted into upazilas.<ref>{{cite book|author=AMM Shawkat Ali|chapter=Thana|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Thana|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh|editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal|publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]|year=2012|edition=Second|access-date=6 August 2015|archive-date=15 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215163738/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Thana|url-status=live}}</ref> All administrative terms in this level were renamed from ''thana'' to ''upazila''. For instance, thana nirbahi officer (<small>lit.</small> thana executive officer) was renamed upazila nirbahi officer (<small>lit. </small>upazila executive officer).


The word ''thana'' is now used to solely refer to ''police stations''. Generally, there is one police station for each upazila, but larger administrative units may have more than one police station covering different regions.<!-- needs a bit of rework to cover special cases like in Dhaka metropolitan police -->
The word ''thana'' is now used to solely refer to ''police stations''. Generally, there is one police station for each upazila, but larger administrative units may have more than one police station covering different regions. However, it was complicated again and currently, Upazilas which combinely form "Administrative [[Districts]]" are known as Thanas.
For example: [[Panchlaish Thana]], [[Double Mooring Thana]] under [[Chittagong]] district.<!-- needs a bit of rework to cover special cases like in Dhaka metropolitan police -->


On 26 July 2021, [[Khandker Anwarul Islam]] announced the renaming of [[Shantiganj Upazila|Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila]] to "''Shantiganj Upazila''" as well as the creation of three new upazilas; [[Eidgaon Upazila]] in [[Cox's Bazar District]], [[Madhyanagar Upazila]] in [[Sunamganj District]] and [[Dasar Upazila]] in [[Madaripur District]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Dhaka Tribune]]|title=Three new upazilas in Madaripur, Cox's Bazar and Sunamganj|date=26 July 2021|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/07/26/three-new-upazilas-in-madaripur-cox-s-bazar-and-sunamganj}}</ref>
On 26 July 2021, [[Khandker Anwarul Islam]] announced the renaming of [[Shantiganj Upazila|Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila]] to "''Shantiganj Upazila''" as well as the creation of three new upazilas; [[Eidgaon Upazila]] in [[Cox's Bazar District]], [[Madhyanagar Upazila]] in [[Sunamganj District]] and [[Dasar Upazila]] in [[Madaripur District]].<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Dhaka Tribune]]|title=Three new upazilas in Madaripur, Cox's Bazar and Sunamganj|date=26 July 2021|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/07/26/three-new-upazilas-in-madaripur-cox-s-bazar-and-sunamganj|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726155536/https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/07/26/three-new-upazilas-in-madaripur-cox-s-bazar-and-sunamganj|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Administration ==
== Administration ==
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Each '''upazila parishad''' (or council) has a ''chairman'', a ''vice-chairman'' and a ''woman vice-chairman''. All three are elected through direct popular election. [[Union parishad]] chairmen within the upazila are considered as the members of the ''porishod''. The post of a ''woman vice-chairman'' was created to ensure at least one-third woman representation in the all elected posts of the local government.<ref name="DailyStar-1">{{Cite news|title=All about upazila parishad |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=22 January 2009 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-72392 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205145106/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-72392 |archive-date=5 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>
Each '''upazila parishad''' (or council) has a ''chairman'', a ''vice-chairman'' and a ''woman vice-chairman''. All three are elected through direct popular election. [[Union parishad]] chairmen within the upazila are considered as the members of the ''porishod''. The post of a ''woman vice-chairman'' was created to ensure at least one-third woman representation in the all elected posts of the local government.<ref name="DailyStar-1">{{Cite news|title=All about upazila parishad |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=22 January 2009 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-72392 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205145106/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-72392 |archive-date=5 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>


On 22 January 2010 the first election in 18 years of upazila porishod was held.<ref>{{cite news |title=Upazila polls influenced |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=72524 |work=The Daily Star |date=23 January 2009}}</ref>
On 22 January 2010 the first election in 18 years of upazila porishod was held.<ref>{{cite news |title=Upazila polls influenced |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=72524 |work=The Daily Star |date=23 January 2009 |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024171943/http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=72524 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Lists of upazilas ==
== Lists of upazilas ==
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#[[Tarash Upazila]]
#[[Tarash Upazila]]
#[[Ullahpara Upazila]]
#[[Ullahpara Upazila]]
{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[Rajshahi District]]
| rowspan="1" | [[Rajshahi District]]
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[[Category:Upazilas| ]]
[[Category:Upazilas| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Bangladesh geography-related lists]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Asia|Bangladesh 3]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Asia|Bangladesh 3]]

Latest revision as of 17:03, 14 May 2024

Upazila
CategoryAdministrative divisions
LocationBangladesh
Created
  • 1982
Number495
Populations596,886–1,634,750
Areas572–2,829 km2
Government
  • Upazila Nirbahi Officer; UNO (Administrator)
  • Upazila Parishad (Council)
  • UP Chairman (Executive)
Subdivisions

An upazila (Bengali: উপজেলা, romanizedupajēlā, lit.'sub-district' pronounced: ['upɘdʒeːlaː]), formerly called thana, is an administrative division in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a district. It can be seen as an analogous to a county or a borough of Western countries. Rural upazilas are further administratively divided into union council areas (union parishads).

Bangladesh has 495 upazilas.[1][2][3] The upazilas are the second lowest tier of regional administration in Bangladesh. The administrative structure consists of divisions (8), districts (64), upazilas (495) and union parishads (UPs). This system of devolution was introduced by the former military ruler and president of Bangladesh, Lt-Gen Hossain Muhammad Ershad, in an attempt to strengthen local government.

Below UPs, villages (gram) and para exist, but these have no administrative power and elected members. The Local Government Ordinance of 1982 was amended a year later, redesignating and upgrading the existing thanas as upazilas.[4]

History[edit]

Upazilas were formerly known as thana, which literally means police station. Despite the meaning, thanas functioned much as an administrative and geographic region, much as today's upazilas. In 1982 thanas were re-termed to as upazilas with provisions for semi-autonomous local governance. This system was reverted to the thana system in 1992. Later in 1999 geographic regions under administrations of thanas were converted into upazilas.[5] All administrative terms in this level were renamed from thana to upazila. For instance, thana nirbahi officer (lit. thana executive officer) was renamed upazila nirbahi officer (lit. upazila executive officer).

The word thana is now used to solely refer to police stations. Generally, there is one police station for each upazila, but larger administrative units may have more than one police station covering different regions. However, it was complicated again and currently, Upazilas which combinely form "Administrative Districts" are known as Thanas. For example: Panchlaish Thana, Double Mooring Thana under Chittagong district.

On 26 July 2021, Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the renaming of Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila to "Shantiganj Upazila" as well as the creation of three new upazilas; Eidgaon Upazila in Cox's Bazar District, Madhyanagar Upazila in Sunamganj District and Dasar Upazila in Madaripur District.[6]

Administration[edit]

Upazila nirbahi officer[edit]

Upazila nirbahi officer (UNO, or upazila executive officer; Bengali: উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা) is a non-elected administrator in an upazila. UNOs are senior assistant secretary of Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) Cadre. They act as executive officer of the upazila under the elected posts.

Upazila parishad[edit]

Each upazila parishad (or council) has a chairman, a vice-chairman and a woman vice-chairman. All three are elected through direct popular election. Union parishad chairmen within the upazila are considered as the members of the porishod. The post of a woman vice-chairman was created to ensure at least one-third woman representation in the all elected posts of the local government.[7]

On 22 January 2010 the first election in 18 years of upazila porishod was held.[8]

Lists of upazilas[edit]

List of upazilas in Rajshahi Division
District Upazila
Joypurhat District
Bogura District
Naogaon District
Natore District
Nawabganj District
Pabna District
Sirajganj District
Rajshahi District
List of upazilas in Chattogram Division
District Upazila
Bandarban District
Brahmanbaria District
Chandpur District
Chattogram District
Cumilla District
Cox's Bazar District
Feni District
Khagrachhari District
Lakshmipur District
Noakhali District
Rangamati District
List of upazilas in Dhaka Division
District Upazila
Dhaka District
Gazipur District
Gopalganj District
Kishoreganj District
Madaripur District
Manikganj District
Munshiganj District
Narayanganj District
Rajbari District
Shariatpur District
Faridpur District
Tangail District
Narsingdi District

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Govt to form 3 new upazilas in three districts". The Daily Star. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  2. ^ "upazila List". Bangladesh National Portal. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ "New upazila to be formed in Comilla". NTV. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  4. ^ Kamal Siddiqui (2012). "Local Government". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  5. ^ AMM Shawkat Ali (2012). "Thana". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Three new upazilas in Madaripur, Cox's Bazar and Sunamganj". Dhaka Tribune. 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  7. ^ "All about upazila parishad". The Daily Star. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Upazila polls influenced". The Daily Star. 23 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2011.

External links[edit]