Brahmanbaria

Brahmanbaria (ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া) is a city of Bangladesh and the capital of Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila as well as Brahmanbaria District. It is the second largest city after Cumilla in eastern Bangladesh and one of the oldest municipalities in Bangladesh, established in 1868. Brahmanbaria was declared a district headquarters in 1984. Its municipality area has a population of 265,000 in 2022. It is the 17th largest city in Bangladesh.

Etymology
Brahmanbaria derives from Brahman baria, meaning place of Brahmins.

History


During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh, when Pakistan Army planners predicted India would launch its main attack in the east along the Akhaura–Brahmanbaria axis, it had no brigades available to cover this area, and Pakistan Army moved its 27th brigade from Mymensingh to Akhaura after retaining two battalions of 27th brigade at Mymensingh to form the 93rd Brigade to defend Mymensingh. Pakistan Army's 93,000 troops unconditionally surrendered to the Indian Army and India's local ally Mukti Bahini on 16 December 1971. This day and event is commemorated as the Bijoy Dibos (বিজয় দিবস) in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India.

Administration
Brahmanbaria was given city status in 1984. Brahmanbaria Municipality is subdivided into 20 wards.

Geography and climate


Brahmanbaria is located in the East-Central region of Bangladesh. Its nearby cities are Dhaka, Cumilla, Narayanganj and Agartala. This city is in the bank of Titas River. Also there is Meghna River in the west of Brahmanbaria.

Brahmanbaria has a tropical wet and dry climate.

Demographics
According to the 2022 census, Brahmanbaria city had a population of 264,326.

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Brahmanbaria city had 33,517 households and a population of 172,017. 42,721 (24.84%) were under 10 years of age. Brahmanbaria had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 66.02%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1016 females per 1000 males.

Notable residents
Syed Abdul Hadi is from Brahmanbaria, is a Bangladeshi musician. He won the National Film Award five times. In 2000, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian honor of Bangladesh, for his contribution to music. Brahmanbaria also produced actresses like Zakia Bari Momo, who won LUX Channel I Superstar, Tasnova Hoque Elvin. Alamgir is evergreen actor of Cinema of Bangladesh. He start working in mid '80s and he is still an actor. Brahmanbaria has other people like Al Mahmud, Cricketer Mohammad Ashraful, Abdul Kadir and Syed Shamsul Haque who are poets. Nawaab Syed Shamsul Huda was a leader of the Muslim League. Ali Azam (politician) was a leader of Awami League. Shakil Ahmed was the director general of border guards, who had heavily secured the borders of Bangladesh.