Comilla Division

Comilla Division কুমিল্লা বিভাগ সমতট (Samatata) Roshnabad
Proposed Division
Comilla Division in Bangladesh
Country	Bangladesh
Capital	Comilla
Area
• Total	12,848.53 km^2 (4,960.85 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	16,708,000
• Density	1,300/km^2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
ISO 3166 code	BD-B
Main Language(s)	Bengali
Other languages	English
Districts	6
upazilas	59

Comilla Division (Bengali: কুমিল্লা বিভাগ) is a proposed administrative division within Bangladesh for the northern parts of the existing Chittagong Division , comprising Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur Districts of Chittagong Division.^[1] The proposed Comilla Division was one of 21 former regions of Bangladesh, which formed an additional administrative level between the levels of the divisions and the districts.^[2][3][4] It covers the south-easternmost areas of the country, with a total area of 12,848.53 km² (4,960.85 sq mi)^[5] and a population at the 2011 census of 16,708,000.

History

The Greater Comilla region was once under ancient Kingdom of Samatata and was joined with Tripuri Kingdom. Lalmai Mainamati was ruled by Deva dynasty (eighth century AD), and (during tenth and mid-eleventh century AD). In 1732, it became the center of the Bengal-backed domain of Jagat Manikya.^[6]

The Peasants Movement against the king of Tripura in 1764, which originally formed under the leadership of Shamsher Gazi is a notable historical event in Comilla.^[7] It came under the rule of East India Company in 1765 and was established as Tippera district (also known as Chakla (administrative division) Roshnabad) in 1790. Later, it was reorganized in three phases into six districts.

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 (preliminary results)
Brahmanbaria District	Brahmanbaria	1,927.11	2,141,745	2,398,254	2,808,000
Comilla District	Comilla	3,085.17	4,032,666	4,595,539	5,304,000
Chandpur District	Chandpur	1,704.06	2,032,449	2,271,229	2,393,000
Feni District	Feni	990.36	1,096,745	1,240,384	1,437,371
Lakshmipur District	Laxmipur	1,440.39	1,312,337	1,489,901	1,729,188
Noakhali District	Noakhali	3,685.87	2,217,134	2,577,244	3,108,083
Total Division	Comilla	12,832.96	12,833,076	14,572,551	16,708,000

Argument for status as division

Comilla is an important district in the country as it is in the middle of the capital city, Dhaka, and commercial city, Chittagong, as well as adjacent to the capital. Government and non-government offices and organisations are in this district. Those are Maynamati Cantonment, Genetic Polytechnic Institute, Jail Road, Comilla (Govt.), Teachers Training College (Govt.), Public Comilla University, Comilla Medical College & Hospital (Govt.), Comilla Cadet College, the Comilla Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Bangladesh Survey Institute (only one in Bangladesh), and Maynamati War Cemetery. These offices and organisations would not be found together even in some divisional towns let alone in districts without seven divisional cities and some other districts, such as Bogra and Jessore.

The people of this district have been long demanding to upgrade their district into a division. Comilla is enriched with its landscape and natural resources.

Major cities

See also

• Chittagong Hill Tracts
• Chittagong
• Tripura State (India)
• Sylhet Division

References

1. "কুমিল্লা বিভাগ দ্রুত বাস্তবায়নের দাবি". Retrieved 16 February 2015.
2. "ময়মনসিংহ বিভাগ গঠনে কাজ শুরুর নির্দেশ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
3. "Mymensingh to become new division". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
4. "3 new divisions to be formed". Retrieved 15 February 2015.
5. Miah, Sajahan (2012). "Chittagong Division". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
6. Bidhas Kanti Kilikhar. Tripura of the 18th Century with Samsher Gazi Against Feudalism: A Historical Study. (Chhapa Kathi, Agartula: Tripura State Tribal Cultural Research Institute and Museum, 1995) p. 55
7. Banglapedia: national encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 2003. ISBN 978-984-32-0578-0. Retrieved 27 April 2013.