Jhikargacha Upazila

Jhikargachha (ঝিকরগাছা) is an upazila of Jessore District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh.

Demographics
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Jhikargachha upazila had 72,266 households and a population of 298,908. 59,174 (19.80%) were under 10 years of age. Jhikargachha had an average literacy rate of 53.02%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1032 females per 1000 males. 41,439 (13.86%) of the population lived in urban areas.

At the 1991 Bangladesh census, Jhikargachha had a population of 235,882. Males constituted 51.24% of the population and females 48.76%. The population aged 18 or older was 119,652. Jhikargachha had an average literacy rate of 27.9% (7+ years), compared to the national average of 32.4%.

Administration
Jhikargacha thana was turned into an upazila in 1983.

Jhikargacha Upazila is divided into Jhikargacha Municipality and 11 union parishads: Bankra, Ganganandapur, Gadkhali, Hajirbagh, Jhikargachha, Magura, Nabharan, Nibaskhola, Panisara, Shankarpur, and Shimula. The union parishads are subdivided into 164 mauzas and 174 villages.

Jhikargacha Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 15 mahallas.

Education
According to Banglapedia, Jhikargacha B. M. High School, founded in 1936, Ganganandapur High School (1940), Jhikargachha Pilot Girls High School (1953), Jhikargacha M. L. High School (1888), and Raghunath Nagar Secondary School (1922) are notable secondary schools.