Chittagong District, renamed the Chattogram District, is a district located in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. The port city of Chittagong, which is the second largest city in Bangladesh, is located within this district.
History
Because of the natural harbour, Chittagong had been an important location for trade, drawing Arab traders as early as the 9th century CE. The region fell under the rule of kings from Arakan in the 16th and 17th centuries, but later, the Mughal Army under Shaista Khan conquered Chittagong. During the 17th century, the region also faced a lot of attacks by Portuguese pirates. The Mughals established Chittagong as a district in 1666. Chittagong is the 2nd largest district in Bangladesh by population and area. The Chittagong Hill Tracts were separated from Chittagong in 1860. In 1947, Chittagong came under Pakistan and became part a district of East Pakistan. Port of Chittagong was a big spot for exports and imports of Pakistan. After the liberation of Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar District was separated in 1984.
Administration
Administrator of Zila Porishod: M A Salam
Deputy Commissioner (DC): Mohammad Elius Hossain
Subdivisions
There are 15 upazilas and 31 thanas within Chittagong District. There are 16 Thanas for the Chattogram Metropolitan Police covered area including the Karnaphuli Upazila, 2 for Mirsharai Upazila, and 1 for each of the remaining 13 upazilas.
The upazilas are:
Anwara Upazila
Banshkhali Upazila
Boalkhali Upazila
Chandanaish Upazila
Fatikchhari Upazila
Hathazari Upazila
Karnaphuli Upazila
Lohagara Upazila
Mirsharai Upazila
Patiya Upazila
Rangunia Upazila
Raozan Upazila
Sandwip Upazila
Satkania Upazila
Sitakunda Upazila
The thanas for the Chattogram Metropolitan Police covered area are:
Akbar Shah Thana
Bakoliya Thana
Bandar Thana
Bayazid Bostami Thana
Chandgaon Thana
Chawkbazar Thana
Chittagong Kotwali Thana
Double Mooring Thana
EPZ Thana
Halishahar Thana
Karnaphuli Thana
Khulshi Thana
Pahartali Thana
Panchlaish Thana
Patenga Thana
Sadarghat Thana
The thanas for the Mirsharai Upazila are:
Jorargonj Thana
Mirsharai Thana
Demographics
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Chittagong District had 2,143,958 households and a population of 9,169,464, 53.3% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,736 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 80.9%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.
Religion
Chittagong is multi-religious. Muslims are in majority with 86.90%, while Hindus and Buddhists are 11.31% and 1.59% respectively. Chittagong has the largest population of Hindus of any district in Bangladesh. Most of the Buddhists are Baruas and their population is decreasing with emigration, while Muslims and Hindus are both increasing in numbers, with Hindus growing more slowly.
Chittagong District has 13,148 mosques, 1025 Hindu temples, 535 Buddhist temples and 192 churches. Fakira Mosque in Hathazari, Musa Khan Mosque, Hafez Para Jame Mosque in Putibila, LOHAGARA, Kura Katni Mosque, Hashimpur Kadam Rasool Mosque in Chandanaish, the 16th century Kala Mosques, Chhuti Khan Mosque, Kadam Mobara Mosque, Andar Killah Mosque, Bakshi Hamid Mosque of Bashkhali, and East Gomdandi Chowdhury Para Old Mosque of Boalkhali are famous mosques in Chittagong. Also Badar Awlia Dargah is a tomb in Chittagong.
The ethnic population is 32,165, consisting mainly of Tripuris and Chakmas.