Zajira Upazila

Zajira (জাজিরা) is an upazila of Shariatpur District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Zajira Thana was established in 1973 and was upgraded to an upazila in 1984. It was named after its administrative center, the town of Zajira.

Geography
Zajira Upazila has a total area of 246.21 sqkm. About two-thirds is land and one-third is water, chiefly the Padma River, which flows through the northern part of the upazila. It borders Munshiganj District to the north, Naria Upazila to the east and south, Shariatpur Sadar Upazila to the south, and Madaripur District to the west.

Demographics
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Zajira Upazila had 41,715 households and a population of 194,019. 49,610 (25.57%) were under 10 years of age. Zajira had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 44.4%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1020 females per 1000 males. 21,251 (10.95%) lived in urban areas.

Administration
Zanjira Thana was formed in 1973 and it was turned into an upazila in 1984.

Zajira Upazila is divided into Zajira Municipality and 12 union parishads: Bara Gopalpur, Bara Krishnagar, Barakandi, Bilaspur, Zajira, Joynagor, Kunder Char, Mulna, Naodoba, Paler Char, Purba Naodoba, and Sener Char. The union parishads are subdivided into 126 mauzas and 200 villages.

Zajira Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 19 mahallas.

Education
There are three colleges in the upazila. They include Jajira College, Dr. Moslem Uddin Khan Degree College and Government B.K. Nagar Bangabandhu College. Jajira College located in Jajira Upazila Sadar.

The madrasa education system here includes one fazil madrasa.