Dacope Upazila

Dacope (দাকোপ) is an upazila of Khulna District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh. Dacope Thana was established in 1906 and was converted into an upazila in 1983.

Geography
Dacope Upazila has a total area of 991.58 km2. It borders Batiaghata Upazila to the north, Rampal and Mongla Upazilas of Bagerhat District to the east, the confluence of the Pasur and Shibsa Rivers at the Kunga estuary to the south, and Koyra and Paikgachha Upazilas to the west. Other main rivers are the Manki and Bhadra.

Demographics
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Dacope upazila had 36,597 households and a population of 152,316. 26,092 (17.13%) were under 10 years of age. Dacope had an average literacy rate of 56.00%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 997 females per 1000 males. 14,188 (9.31%) of the population lived in urban areas.

According to the 1991 Bangladesh census, Dacope had a population of 143,131. Males constituted 52.25% of the population, and females 47.75%. The population aged 18 or over was 78,759. Dacope had an average literacy rate of 37.6% (7+ years), compared to the national average of 32.4%. It is the only Hindu majority upazila in Bangladesh.

Administration
Dacope Upazila is divided into Chalna Municipality and ten union parishads: Bajua, Banishanta, Dacope, Kailashganj, Kamarkhola, Khulna Range, Loudob, Pankhali, Sutarkhali, and Tildanga Union. The union parishads are subdivided into 26 mauzas and 97 villages.

Dacope Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 15 mahallas. There is a War of Liberation mass killing site at Bazua High School courtyard and a War of Liberation monument, Smriti Amlan (in front of the upazila parisad building).

NGO activities
Operationally important NGOs are BRAC, Proshika, World Vision, Gonoshahajjo Sangstha, HEED Bangladesh, Step, and Prodipon.

Colleges

 * Bajua Surendra Nath College, Dacope, Khulna
 * Chalna College (1995), Chalna Bazar, Chalna Municipality, Dacope, Khulna
 * Chalna M.M. Degree college
 * Chalna Mohila Mohabidyaloy, Chalna Bazar, Dacope, Khulna
 * L.B.K. Government Mohila College, Dacope, Khulna

High schools

 * Paschim Kamini Basia Rashkhola High School
 * Paschim Bajua Secondary School
 * Batbunia Collegiate School
 * Gunari Shital Chandra High School
 * Abul Hosain Girls High School
 * Burir Dabur SESDP Model High School
 * Bajua Union High School
 * Bajua Girls High School
 * Bangabandhu High School
 * Banisanta Pinak Pani High School
 * Chalna Bazar Government Girls High School
 * Chalna K C Pilot High School
 * Chunkuri High School
 * Dacope Girl's High School
 * Dacope Shaheberabad Secondary School
 * Dakshin Gunari High School
 * Government Model School
 * J P High School
 * K G V J Sammilani Girls High School
 * Kailashganj Secondary School
 * Kalabagi Sundarban High School
 * Kalinagar G C Memorial High School
 * Kamini Basia G.L. High School
 * Khona K B Secondary School
 * Laksmikhola G.T. Pallimongal High School
 * Laudobe Badamtala High School
 * Loudove Banisanta High School
 * Mohammad Ali High School
 * Mozam Nagar High School
 * Nalian High School
 * Pankhali Momotajbegum Secondary School
 * Ramnagar Binapani High School
 * Shahid Smriti Junior Girls School
 * Sonar Bangla High School
 * Sreenagar High School
 * Sundarban Adarsha High School
 * Suterkhali High School
 * Talukdar Akhter Faruque High School
 * Tildanga Union Girl's High School
 * Trimohani High School
 * Yasin High School