Hatiya Upazila

Hatiya (হাতিয়া) is an upazila (sub-district) of Noakhali District in Bangladesh's Chittagong Division. It encompasses several islands of Bangladesh, most notably Hatiya Island, Bhasan Char, Nijhum Dwip and Jahazir Char.

History
The Hatiya thana was established with Hatiya Island as its largest and principal island. In 1983, Hatiya Thana was upgraded to an upazila (sub-district) as part of the President of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad's decentralisation programme.

Power House
Hatia-Nijhum Island is being illuminated with electricity at a cost of Tk 400 crore. After 50 years, 30,000 customers are being connected to electricity services in the form of 15 MW power plants. It is learned that the cost of this project will be 364 crore 36 lakh 15 thousand taka. Of this, the government will provide 60 crore 8 lakh 31 thousand taka and 13 crore 46 lakh 64 thousand taka with the own funds of the organization. According to the project officials, 1,100 trucks will be used to transport the goods of the project. Large lorries weighing 20 tons will also be used. A floating ferry has been brought in as the only means of communication with the mainland is by river. Mashiur Rahman, a sub-divisional engineer in charge of residential engineer in Hatia Power Department, said that before independence, the government of Pakistan started Hatia Power Plant with five diesel engines in Hatia.

But many of these older engines are out of order. After the present government came to power, the government kept the power plant running with 3 new engines at the request of local MP Ayesha Ferdous. On the other hand, people of 11 unions of Hatiyar including Nijhum Island are deprived of electricity facilities. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited Hatia on the initiative of Upazila Awami League early last year. At that time, he promised to provide 100% electricity to Hatia. Then Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia Island 100% Reliable and Sustainable Electrification Project. The project cost is estimated at 364 crore 38 lakh 15 thousand taka. It was approved at the ECNEC meeting on 3 February. The chief engineer of the project, Farooq Ahmed, told Manabzamin that only the distribution department would be developed through the project approved by the government.

The contract for production was signed with a company called Desh Energy Limited. They will initially build a plant with a capacity of 15 MW in Hatiya.

Hatia Upazila Awami League president Dwipbandhu Mohammad Ali said the people of Hatia had a dream that 100% power would be developed in Hatia. By setting it up, the people of Hatia will have a great change in their way of life. Noakhali-6 MP Ayesha Ferdous said she was grateful to the Prime Minister for implementing the demand after repeatedly raising it in Parliament.

Geography
Hatiya Upazila is located at 22.3667°N, 91.125°W. It has 47,970 household units and a total area of 2,100 square kilometres. It is bounded by the Subarnachar Upazila to its north, Ramgati Upazila to its northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the east and south, and Manpura Upazila to its west.

Demographics
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Hatiya Upazila had 91,013 households and a population of 452,463. 144,508 (31.94%) were under 10 years of age. Hatiya had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 34.21%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1021 females per 1000 males. 86,514 (19.12%) lived in urban areas.

Economy
The upazila consists of 52 markets and bazaars. They include Oskhali, Afazia, Tamruddi, Chowmuhani, Sagaria, Jahajmara, Sonadia chowrasta, Char Chenga, Maijdee Bazar and Nalchira Bazar. Most people are employed in agriculture and fishing, and a few professions are government or non-governmental jobs. All banks are run by the government including Krishi Bank, Sonali Bank Limited, and Janata Bank Limited.

The main exports include rice, coconut, betel nut, banana, betel leaf, chili, Hilsa, and other types of fish.

Administration
Hatiya Upazila is divided into one Municipality, the Hatiya Municipality, and 11 Union parishads:
 * 1) Burir Char
 * 2) Chandnandi
 * 3) Char Ishwar
 * 4) Char King
 * 5) Harni
 * 6) Jahajmara
 * 7) Nijhum Dwip
 * 8) Nolchira
 * 9) Sonadiya
 * 10) Sukhchar
 * 11) Tamaraddi

The union parishads are subdivided into 44 mauzas and 62 villages. Hatiya Upazila is represented as the Noakhali-6 constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Healthcare
There is one Upazila Health Complex and 10 family planning centres. Notable NGOs operating in this area are Grameeen bank, Dwip Unnoyan Songstha, Brac, Proshika, Heed Bangladesh, CARE, and Caritas. There is also some private diagnostic center with Hatiya Doctor's Lab (Founder-Dr.Md.Iqbal Ansari – 1995)

Education
Institutions of higher education include Hatiya Dwip Government College and three non-governmental colleges. Some of the schools include:
 * Hatiya Darul Uloom Kamil Madrasa
 * Sukhchar Azharul Uloom Fazil Madrasa
 * Hatiya Rahmania Fazil Madrasa
 * Char Renga Islamia Fazil Madrasa
 * Char Kailas Hadia Fazil Madrasa
 * Tamruddin Ahmadia Fazil Madrasa
 * Jahazmara Sirajul Uloom Alia Madrasa
 * Chowmuhani Tabarakia Alim Madrasa
 * Burir Char Ahmadia Alim Madrasa
 * Char King Muhammadia Dakhil Madrasa
 * Sonadia Abdul Bari Dakhil Madrasa
 * Jahazmara Women's Dakhil Madrasa
 * Haji Fazil Ahmad Dakhil Madrasa
 * Khaserhat Majidia Dakhil Madrasa
 * Nalchira Sayyid Ahmad Dakhil Madrasa
 * Burirchar Shaheed Ali Ahmed Memorial High School
 * A.M High School
 * Oskhali K.S.S. High School
 * Tamaraddi high school and college

Facilities
Hatiya Upazila has orphanage facilities across its territory. These include Hatiya Island Orphanage, Darul Aitam Oskhali and the Jahazmara Orphanage.

Notable people

 * Amirul Islam Kamal, politician
 * Mohammad Ali, former Member of Parliament
 * Mohammad Fazlul Azim, industrialist and business magnate
 * Muhammad Waliullah, professor