Lohagara Upazila, Narail

Lohagara (লোহাগড়া) is an upazila of Narail District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh. Lohagara Thana was established in 1861 and was converted into an upazila in 1984. It is named after its administrative center, the town of Lohagara.

Geography
Lohagara Upazila has a total area of 284.91 sqkm. Situated between the Nabaganga and Madhumati rivers, it borders Magura District to the north, Dhaka Division to the east, Kalia Upazila to the south, and Narail Sadar Upazila to the west.

Demographics
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Lohagara upazila had 51,233 households and a population of 228,594. 55,038 (24.08%) were under 10 years of age. Lohagara had an average literacy rate of 61.85%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1089 females per 1000 males. 25,290 (11.06%) of the population lived in urban areas.

Points of interest
Kalibari Mandir is a Hindu temple in Lakshmipasha dedicated to the goddess Kali. Writing in 1870, James Westland, former Magistrate and Collector of Jeshore, gave an account of its origins: A hundred years ago, and more, there lived here a pious blacksmith who used frequently to make images of Kali, and after worshipping them to cast them into the river, according to the ceremony of 'bissarjan.' But one night Kali appeared to him and told him that she had determined permanently to take up her abode with him; so he gave her a house. Not very long since a masonry temple was built for her.

Administration
Lohagara Upazila is divided into Lohagara Municipality and 12 union parishads: Dighalia, Itna, Joypur, Kashipur, Kotakul, Lahuria, Lakshmipasha, Lohagara, Mallikpur, Naldi, Noagram, and Shalnagar. The union parishads are subdivided into 154 mauzas and 217 villages.

Lohagara Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 24 mahallas.

Education
There are seven colleges in the upazila. They include Lakshmi Pasha Ideal Women's Degree College, Nabaganga Degree College, Itna College (1995), and S.M.A. Ahad College. Lohagara Govt. Adarsha College is the only honors level one.

The madrasa education system includes one fazil madrasa.