Khulna Division is an administrative region in south-west Bangladesh. Its headquarter is Khulna district. The region borders the Rajshahi Division to the north, the Dhaka Division and Barisal Division to the east, the Bay of Bengal to the south and State of West Bengal (in India) to the west. Part of the Ganges River is in the north of the region. Other rivers include the Maghumait River, the Bhairab River and the Kabadak River. The region also has several islands in the Bay of Bengal.

History

Kushtia was once a part of the Nodia district (now in West Bengal) of undivided India. A municipality was established in Kushtia in 1869. Hamilton's Gazetteer has the mention of Kushtia (Kustee) town and of the fact that the local people called the town Kushtay (Kushte).

Kushtia, however, is not an ancient township. A river port was developed in the district during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. Although the British East India Company made extensive use of the port, it was not until indigo planters and traders settled that the township began to grow. A railway connection with Kolkata, capital of British India, made in 1860, made the town an alluring location for mills and factories, including the Jagneshwar Engineering Works (1896), Renwick and Company (1904), and the Mohini Mills (1919).

During the Partition of India, Kushtia was made a separate district, consisting of Kushtia Sôdor, Chuadanga and Meherpur subdivisions, in 1947. The town once again became attractive for development with the establishment of the Ganges-Kobadak Project headquarters and a number of government offices in 1954.

Geography

Kushtia District has an area of 1621.15 km2 and is bounded by Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna districts on the north, by Chuadanga, Jhenaidah districts on the south, by Rajbari District on the east, and by West Bengal and Meherpur District on the west.

Ganges, Gôrai, Mathabhanga, Kaligônga and Kumar are the main rivers flowing through the district. The average high temperature is 37.8°C and the average low is 11.2°C. Annual rainfall averages 1467mm.

Concept of "Greater Kushtia"

Historically, Kushtia was a larger district consisting of three subdivisions, each of which has now become a district. However, the people of these three districts, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Kushtia, share more than just a common past. Most notably, the dwellers of these districts, as the past inhabitants of an undivided Nadia district, are speak a dialect remarkably close to what is now considered "standard" Bangla in both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Because of the great commonality between the three districts, they are often referred to as the Greater Kushtia District. Several organisations, such as the "Greater Kushtia Association" and "Greater Kushtia Society", are concerned with the welfare of the entire region.

Administration

Kushtia was created as a district in 1947 with the partitioning of India and the creation of Bangladesh. Initially, Kustia consisted of the Kushtia Sadar, Chuadanga and Meherpur subdivisions. Each of these subdivisions was later converted to a separate district for ease of management. Kushtia district consists of six upazilas, four municipalities, 39 wards, 70 mahallas, 61 union parishads, 710 mouzas and 978 villages. The upazilas are Kushtia Sadar, Kumarkhali, Daulatpur, Mirpur, Bheramara and Khoksa.

Demographics

Kushtia Districy has a population of 1,713,224, of which 50.86% are male and 49.14% female. In terms of religion, 95.72% dwellers of Kusthia are Muslims, 4.22% follow Hinduism and others religions make up 0.06%.

Education

The average literacy rate of the district is 25.8%, with 30.9% of males and 48.35% of females considered literate. Kushtia is home to the Islami University.

Economy

Kushtia has become the country's centre for tobacco manufacturing, as the local weather allows the production of Virginia Tobacco.