Jessore is a district in south western region of Bangladesh. It is located in the Khulna administrative division.
Jessore was the first Independent district of Bangladesh. It gained independence from Pakistan on 6 December 1971.
Jessore district belongs to the ancient Samatat Janapada. During the partition of India in 1947 to create Pakistan, Jessore was also partially divided. The entire district, except for Boangaon and Gaighata thanas, was included into East Pakistan.
The Bangali soldiers posted at Jessore cantonment revolted against the Pakistani army on 29 March 1971 led by Capt Hafiz Uddin and Lt Anwar in which about 300 soldiers were killed. The freedom fighters killed 50 Pak soldiers by machine gun at Chanchara.
Population 2,440,693; male 51.22%, female 48.78%; Muslim 85.5%; Hindu 14.21% and others 0.29%. Average literacy 33.4%; male 41% and female 25.1%.
Main occupations are agriculture 39.84%, agricultural labourer 24.13%, wage labourer 2.68%, commerce 11.99%, service 8.66%, industry 1.41%, transport 3.11% and others 8.18%.
Main crops are paddy, jute, sugarcane, tuberose, vegetables. Main fruits are date, jackfruit, papaya, banana, litchi and coconut. Main exports are cotton, jute, leather, jackfruit, banana, comb and date molasses, and vegetables.
Jessore District has an area of 2578.20 km². It is bounded by Jhenaidaha and Magura districts on the north, Satkhira and Khulna districts on the south, Narail and Khulna districts on the east, West Bengal of India on the west. Noted rivers are Bhairab and kapotakhho.
Annual average temperature range from 37°C to 11°C. Annual rain fall is 1537 mm.
Jessore (Town) which stands on the Bhairab, consists of 9 wards and 73 mahalls. Jessore municipality was established in 1864. The area of the town is 25.72 km². The town has a population of 1178273; male 52.97%, female 47.03%. Literacy rate among the town people is 56.57%. The town has one dakbungalow.
Administration Jessore district was established in 1781. It consists of 4 municipalities, 36 wards, 8 upazilas, 92 unions, 1329 mouzas, 1434 villages and 120 mahallas. The upazilas are abhaynagar, bagherpara, chaugachha, jhikargachha, keshabpur, jessore sadar, manirampur and sharsha. |
