Itna Upazila

Itna (ইটনা) is an upazila of Kishoreganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Itna Upazila is one of the largest upazilas in Bangladesh by area. The reason for its spread is the massive Haor area.

History
In 1864, a police outpost was founded in the village of Badla, 6 km west of Itna Sadar. This outpost was disestablished on 15 June 1906 following the gazette notification 6676 which announced that a full-fledged thana (police station) would be established in Itna. Khwaja Hafizullah, founder of the Dhaka Nawab family, purchased some land in Itna Pargana. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, a number of people were killed in the village of Boira in Joysiddhi Union. In 1984, Mithamain Upazila was split off from the southern part of the Upazila.

Geography


To the west of Itna Upazila are Karimganj and Tarail upazilas, to the north are Madan and Khaliajuri upazilas of Netrokona district, to the east are Shalla upazila of Sunamganj district and Ajmiriganj upazila of Habiganj district and to the south is Mithamain upazila.

The Dhanpur union, Itna Sadar union, and Elongjuri union are located on the riversides of the Dhanu River. The Haor region of Itna Upazila is blessed by the river. It's a source of life, enriching the land and the people who call it home.

Itna is located in between 24°27' and 24°39' north latitude and in between 90°57' and 91°57' east longitude. It has 34,637 households and its total area is approximately 401.93 square km.

Rivers and Water Bodies
Rivers:
 * 1) Surma River
 * 2) Dhanu River
 * 3) Ghorautra River
 * 4) Baulai River
 * 5) Kalni River

Water Bodies and Haors:
 * 1) Uttorer (Northern) Haor (Itna Sadar)
 * 2) Dokshiner (Southern) Haor (Itna Sadar)
 * 3) Puber (Eastern) Haor (Itna Sadar)
 * 4) Poshchimer (Western) Haor (Itna Sadar)
 * 5) Saniya Beel (Dhanpur)
 * 6) Haular Haor
 * 7) Maora Beel
 * 8) Chapra Beel
 * 9) Kaira Beel
 * 10) Ugli Beel
 * 11) Sonabandha Beel
 * 12) Ghora Beel
 * 13) Agalpa Beel

Economy and tourism
Agriculture in the winter, spring, and summer seasons and fishing in the rainy and autumn seasons are the main sources of income for Itna Upazila. Main sources of income are agriculture (77.84%), non-agricultural laborers (3.45%), industry (0.32%), commerce (6.40%), transport and communication (0.37%), service (1.93%), construction (0.41%), religious service (0.30%), rent and remittance (0.16%), and others (4.86%). There are many local mysteries about the construction of Itna Madhyagram Jame Masjid, which has gained the status of gayebi masjid and made it a place of attraction. The dargah of the five pirs in Mirdhahati as well as the Badshahi Mosque are also popular places in Itna.

Demographics
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Itna Upazila had 34,637 households and a population of 164,127. 50,518 (30.78%) were under 10 years of age. Itna had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 27.69%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 959 females per 1000 males. 22,669 (13.81%) lived in urban areas.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Itna has a population of 132948. Males constitute 52.14% of the population, and females 47.86%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 63852. Itna has an average literacy rate of 16% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.

Religion
In 2001, Muslims constituted 83.81% of the population, Hindus constituted 15.47%, and others constituted 0.72% of the total population of 151,571. In 2011, the percentage of Muslims increased to 85.35% while Hindus were 14.55% of the population.

There are 250 mosques, 7 Hindu temples, 6 tombs, and 4 akhras.

Educational Institutions
Educational institutions: 1 college, 11 secondary schools, 93 primary schools, 3 kindergartens, 21 madrasas, and 137 maktabs.

Notable educational institutions:
 * Rashtrapati Abdul Hamid Government College (1998) (Previously Itna College )
 * Mahesh Chandra Government Model Shiksha Niketon (1943)
 * Thaneshwar High School (1947)
 * Joysiddhi High School (1974)
 * Itna Pilot Girls' High School (1984)
 * Chauganga Fazil Madrasa (1962).

Main Crops and Exports
The main crops are rice, mustard seed, china nut, potato, and vegetables. Main exports are paddy, fish, potatoes, china nuts, cows, goats, and dried fish.

Bazars and Haats

 * Puran Bazar (Itna Sadar)
 * Natun Bazar (Itna Sadar)
 * Elongjuri Bazar
 * Dhanpur Bazar
 * Joysiddhi Bazar

Administration
Itna Upazila is divided into nine union parishads: Badla, Baribari, Chuaganga, Dhanpur, Elongjuri, Itna, Joysiddhi, Mriga, and Raituti. The union parishads are subdivided into 93 mauzas and 116 villages.

Notable people

 * bn:সিরাজুল ইসলাম (বীর বিক্রম)
 * Ataur Rahman Khan, politician
 * Fazal-ur-Rehman (Kishoreganj politician)