Raipur Upazila
| Raipur রায়পুর | |
|---|---|
| Upazila | |
  Raipur Location in Bangladesh | |
| Coordinates: 23°2′N 90°46.5′E / 23.033°N 90.7750°ECoordinates: 23°2′N 90°46.5′E / 23.033°N 90.7750°E | |
| Country |
 Bangladesh |
| Division | Chittagong Division |
| District | Lakshmipur District |
| Government | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 201.32 km2 (77.73 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 275.160 |
| • Density | 1,061/km2 (2,750/sq mi) |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
| Website | Official Map of Raipur |
Raipur (Bengali: রায়পুর) is an Upazila of Lakshmipur District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is bounded by the Upazilas of Faridganj, Ramganj, Lakshmipur Sadar, Mehendiganj, Haimchar, and on the west by the Megna River.[1]
Geography
Raipur is located at 23°02′00″N 90°46′30″E / 23.0333°N 90.7750°E . It has 40,618 household units and a total area of 201.32 km².
Demographics
As of the completion of the 2001 Bangladesh census, Raipur had a population of 236,965.[1] Males constituted 51% of the population, and females constituted 49%. The population of those aged 18 and older was 100,491. Raipur had an average literacy rate of 22.5% (7+ years), compared to the national average of 32.4% literate.[2]
Administrative
Raipur has 10 Unions
- North Char Ababil
- North Char Bongshi
- Char Mohona (Baburhat)
- Sonapur union
- CharPata
- Keroa
- Bamni
- South Char Bongshi (New)
- South Char Ababil (New)
- 10 No Raipur Union
49 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 82 villages.
Economy
Raipur has one of the largest textile factories in Bangladesh, but due to a lack of maintenance and large-scale corruption it has remained closed. However, experts have noted that this factory could greatly reduce the unemployment rate, as Bangladesh faces greater problems with textile raw materials such as fabric, thread, etc. but it is said that this factory was sold by last the last government and important machines were looted by some local political gangs. Many locals believe that reopening this factory would bring great prosperity to the region. Raipur's industrialization is very old history, most of its local small factories are very old, they need modernization. Raipur has geographically more advantage to build industry as 11 km far located Haidergonj has river port and it is only 160 km far from see port chittagong. Large numbers of Raipur's residents are expatriate and keen to invest in Raipur but lack of government's cooperation and therefor they can't invest in a productive sector, as result they invest their money in land business, which doesn't usually bring any prosperity or create jobs. The local government should create a new industrial park in order to attract local and foreign direct investment (FDI). Raipur has some large agricultural business such as fishing, dairy, etc. The Char Lakshmi Union under Raipur upazilla is a prospective area for a milk based industry.
The Raipur upazilla is a prospective development upazilla of Lakshmipur district. The people there work hard to develop their economic condition and to live a better. Now, milk producing has become one of the best affairs at the No. 8 South Char Lakshmi Union area. Once they were a lot of cattle farmers. The people of Char Kachia, Hazimare and Char Lakshmi villages of this union have chosen cattle heads as one their income sources. The majority families of these villages now have at least one or two cattle heads. The farmers of these areas also supply milk to the milk Vita company. The cattle meet their family's needs by producing milk and meat.
They also take loan some time to farm cattle heads. The farmers and the people there as well will be benefited if the milk of produced in these areas are preserved. At present cattle farming became a chief means of livelihood of about 50/60 thousand inhabitants of fire chars areas of three villages under this union. A rare family found in char areas who don’t have 2/4 cows and Plaguing cattle. Approximately 15-20 thousand cattle are being farmed in these char areas.
These inhabitants are farming cattle heads side by side agricultural farming and fishing without any govt. or non govt. cooperation. The cattle farmers of middle char areas plays vital role in supplying meat throughout the year and cattle heads during Eidul Azha (sacrificial Eid). At present a hundred to procure in average daily there. About 30/40 maunds of milk is being supplied to the milk vita company after fulfilling demands in various hat and bazars and urban hotels. These char areas may be a better industrial areas if the cattle farmers are supplied with required loans, training on cattle farming, supply of hybrid cows along with the local ones, timely vaccination and advice by cattle specialists during cattle diseases as well as all out cooperation. The Raipur upazilla including Char Lakshmi areas can be turned to the best milk and meat producing Zone of the country.
Raipur Municipality
The small city, Raipur, became a municipality in 1994, since then the local government has been trying to improve the city's overall wellbeing. The city has a good water supply system, although recently due to power inconsistencies operating the system has been difficult. However, sanitation has remained a problem in Raipur. Due to a lack of funding, corruption of the local government has been significant resulting in numerous issues. Even with the funding issues, the local government has decided to accept several large-scale development deals which should start in the near future. Local residents are concerned over who will pay for the development. A local lake called the Dakatia River faces some big problems such as illegal building, pollution, etc., it's urgently needed that the river be protected or Raipur will likely lose its beauty.
Local education
| School | Established date |
|---|---|
| Principal Kazi Faruky School & College | 2011 |
| Raipur L.M (Liaqat Memorial) Pilot High School | 1911 |
| Char Ababil Rachimuddin High School | 1914 |
| Raipur Merchants Academy | 1953 |
| Raipur Girl’s High School | Unknown |
| Haidergonj Rokeya-Hasmutnessa Girls High School | 1970 |
| Raipur Government College | Unknown |
| Ludua M M High School | 1936 |
| Mollarhat High School | |
| Raipur Alia Madrashah | Unknown |
| Haidargonj Taheria Rachimuddin M. Fazil (Degree) Madrasah | 1928 |
| Peer Fojlullah Islami Mission Madrashah | Unknown |
| M Rahman Alim Madrashah | "Unknown" |
There are many old educational institutes such as Raipur L.M (Liaqat Memorial) Pilot High school (established in 1911) which is over 100 years old, Char Ababil Rachimuddin High School (established in 1914), Raipur Merchants Academy (established in 1953), Raipur Girl’s High School, Haidergonj Rokeya-Hasmutnessa Girls High School (established in 1970), Raipur Government College, Ludua High School, and Mollarhat High School and there are some traditional religion institutes such as Raipur Alia Madrashah, Haidargonj Taheria Rachimuddin M. Fazil (degree) Madrasah (established in 1928), and Peer Fojlullah Islami Mission Madrashah.
Religion
Total population of the area is 236965 (2001 Census) Muslim 228361, Hindu 8566, Christian 23 and others 15.[1]
Transportation
Raipur is a regional transportation hub. There is excellent and frequent bus service connected with major cities, but poor infrastructure is main burden of this area. Some of the best local bus service providers include Econo service, Dhaka express, Jonaki service, and Jononi service which creates a highly competitive market. A recently added CNG run three wheeler locally called "CNG" has taken on a large role in local transportation. Rural roads in this area are rarely paved and poorly maintained.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Nazmul Ahsan Raju (2012). "Raipur Upazila". In Sirajul Islam. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ "Population Census Wing, BBS.". Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
