Banshkhali Upazila

Banshkhali (বাঁশখালী) is an upazila (administrative region) of Chittagong District in Chittagong Division, Bangladesh.

Geography
Banshkhali Upazila is located at 22.0485°N, 91.9416°W in Bangladesh. Its neighbouring upazilas are Anwara Upazila to the north, Chakaria and Pekua upazilas of Cox's Bazar District to the south, Lohagara and Satkania upazilas to the east, and Kutubdia Upazila and the Bay of Bengal to the west. Through it runs a canal named "Shonaichari at Banshkhali" which is locally known as “Honaichari.” In the past, businessmen from Chakaria bought bamboo here and used the Shonaichari Canal to transport the bamboo to other areas. At that time, local people observed that the Shonaichari Canal was filled with bamboo. Banshkhali is named after this historical event. It has 84,216 households and a total area of 376.9 km2.

Demographics
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Bashkhali upazila had 84,216 households and a population of 431,162. 128,881 (29.89%) were under 10 years of age. Banshkhali had an average literacy rate of 37.40%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1034 females per 1000 males. 36,910 (8.56%) of the population lived in urban areas.

In 2001, Among the population, 87% are Muslim, 11% are Hindu, and 1% are Buddhist and other.

Places of interest

 * Chandpur-Boilgaon Tea Estate, Pukuria
 * Banshkhali Eco Park
 * Baamer Chara
 * Sea Beach (Baharchhara Point, Khankhanabadh Point, Kadamrasul Point)
 * Shangu River
 * Bokshi Hamid Mosque
 * Khan Bahadur Jame Masjid, Boilchari
 * Shafor Alli Munsi Bredge, Sadhanpur
 * British Kaman. Upazila Board Office, Sadhanpur
 * Hazi Rafiq Uddin Road, Neazor Para, Jaldi
 * Ramkrisna Mission, Dakshin Jaldi

Administration
Banshkhali Upazila is divided into Banshkhali Municipality and 14 union parishads: Baharchhara, Bailchhari, Chambal, Chhanua, Gandamara, Kalipur, Katharia, Khankhanabad, Puichhari, Pukuria, Sadhanpur, Saral, Sekherkhil, and Silkup. The union parishads are subdivided into 72 mauzas and 81 villages.

Banshkhali Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 38 mahallas.

Villages

 * 1No. Pukuria Union villages: Pukuria, Chanpur, Chandpur, Hajigaon, Natmura, and South Borumchara.
 * 4 No. Baharchhara Union villages: Chapachari, Ilsha, Baharchhara, Baskala, Roatnapur, Satdigirpara, Maijpara, Haliapara.
 * 3 no Khankhanabad Union Village's name:- Kadam Rasu Khankhanabad, Kadam Rasul, Premasia, Raichata, Dongra, Digirpara.
 * 5 No. Kalipur "Izzat Nogar": "There is a Sub Register Office in this area"
 * 6 No. Bailchari Union Parishad: Bailchari, Cachuria, Mahdari Para, Ghona Para, Khadula Para, Chowdhury Para etc.
 * 11 No. Puichari Union

Education
There are 412 primary schools, 39 high schools, 66 madrassas, and 8 colleges.

Secondary schools

 * Saral Amiria High School(saral-1967)
 * Bailchari Nazmunessa High School (Bailchari Kb Bazar -1952)
 * Kokdandi Gunagari High School, Kokdandi
 * West Banshkali High School & College (1957), Chapachari
 * Kamal Uddin Chy Girls High School (2005). Chapachari.
 * Natmura Pukuria High School, Pukuria
 * Banskhali Pilot High School, Joldi
 * Katharia Bagmara High School, Katharia
 * Banigram Sadhonpur High School (1917), Banigram
 * Azaharul Huq High School (1943), Kalipur
 * Khankhanabadh Ideal High School, Khankhanabadh
 * Monaem Shah Awlia High School, South Borumchara
 * Hazigoan Borumchara High School (1966), Hazigoan
 * Joldi Piolot High School (1932), Joldi
 * Sadhonpur Girl's High School
 * Azaharul Huq High School (1942), Kalipur
 * B B Chowdhary High School (1975), Raichata
 * Sadhanpur Polly Unniyon High School, West Sadhanpur
 * Baharchara Ratnapur High School (1985)
 * Napora Shekherkhil High School (1964)
 * Puichari izzatia ideal high school
 * Chambal High School, Chambal (1946)
 * Banskhali Bangabandhu High School
 * Raichatta Premasia Adhorsho High School

Colleges

 * Banshkhli Degree College (1967), Gunagori
 * West Banshkhli Upokulio Degree College (1995), Chapachari
 * West Banskhali High School & College (2021) Chapachari.
 * Alawl Degree College (1973), Joldi
 * Mtr. N. Ahd. College, Napora
 * Banshkhli Mohila College, Boilchari
 * Banshkhali Public School & College, Jaldi Miar Baza
 * Hazigoan Borumchara School & College (only intermediate)

Madrasas
jaldhi hosainia kamil madrasah(1947)
 * Banskhali Hamedia Rahima Alia Madrasa (1974), Chechuria
 * Chapachari Abu Bakkar (R) Islamia Madrasa. Middle Chaparani.
 * Chandpur Q.H.R.D.U. Alim Madrasah (1963), Pukuria Union
 * South Sadhanpur Jumhuriya Islamia Boys & Girl Madrasah (1970) West Banskhali Darul Islah Dakhil Madrasah(1992)

Notable residents

 * Ashab Uddin Ahmad - Educator, Writer, Politician, Ekushey Padak awardee
 * Khan Bahadur Badi Ahmed Chowdhury - Landlord, Bailchari, Banskhali.
 * Nurul Islam Chowdhury - Chairman and President of Bailchari Union Parishad, Member of Chittagong Jilla Parishad and Landlord, Bailchari, Banskhali.
 * Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury - Ex Member of Parliament of Banskhali and First Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation.
 * Freedom Fighter and Ex. Member of Parliament Mokhtar Ahmad -Shadhanpur
 * Zakirul Hoque Chowdhury -Union President and Chairman (1950–1973), Member Of Provincial Assembly (1962, 1965). Governor-Designate for Chittagong(south) district.
 * Abdul Karim - professor of history, vice chancellor of the University of Chittagong, Ekushey Padak awardee