Noakhali Sadar Upazila

Upazila in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Noakhali Sadar

নোয়াখালী সদর

Upazila

Noakhali Sadar
Coordinates: 22°50′N 91°6′E﻿ / ﻿22.833°N 91.100°E﻿ / 22.833; 91.100
Country|  Bangladesh
Division| Chittagong
District| Noakhali
Area

[1]

• Total

| 336.06 km2 (129.75 sq mi)
Population

(2022)[2]

• Total

| 642,494
• Density| 1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+6 (BST)
Postal code|

3800[3]

Area code| 0321[4]
Website| sadar.noakhali.gov.bd(in Bengali)

Noakhali Sadar (Bengali: নোয়াখালি সদর) is an upazila of Noakhali District in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Noakhali Thana was established in 1861 and was converted into an upazila in 1984.[5] The upazila takes its name from the district and the Bengali word sadar (headquarters). It is the subdistrict where the district headquarters, Noakhali town, is located. The town is situated on the western bank of the Noakhali Canal, from which it takes its name.[6] The Noakhali Canal was dug in 1660 to control flooding of Dakatia River. The name Noakhali means "New canal", derived from the Bengali words noa (new) and khal (canal).[7][5] [1] [8]

## Geography

[edit]

Noakhali Sadar Upazila has a total area of 336.06 square kilometres (129.75 sq mi).[1] It borders Begumganj Upazila to the north, Kabirhat Upazila to the east, Suborno Char Upazila to the south, and Komolnagar and Lakshmipur Sadar upazilas of Lakshmipur District to the west. The Noakhali Canal flows north through the upazila.[5]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop. (000) | ±%

|
|

1981 | 483| —
1991 | 651| +34.8%
2001 | 767| +17.8%
2011 | 526| −31.4%
2022| 642| +22.1%
2011 population declined because upazila boundaries were redrawn to create Suborno Char and Kabirhat upazilas
Source:
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics[1]

According to the 2022 census, the population was 642,000. In the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Noakhali Sadar Upazila had 100,219 households and a population of 525,934. 145,447 (27.65%) were under 10 years of age.[8][9][10]

Noakhali Sadar had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 51.73%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1081 females per 1000 males. 130,842 (24.88%) lived in urban areas.[9][10]

The boundaries of the upazila were redrawn in 2005 to create a new upazila, Subarnachar,[11] and again in 2006 to create Kabirhat Upazila.[12] The combined population of the three in 2011 was 1,012,392, a 32% increase from 2001.

### Religions

[edit]

Religions in Noakhali Sadar Upazila (2022)[13]

Religion |  | Percent
Islam |

| 97.14%
Hinduism |

| 2.69%
Other or not stated |

| 0.17%

## Sports

[edit]

The most popular sports in the upazila are football and cricket.[14] Shaheed Bulu Stadium is used for both, as well as for large community gatherings such as Victory Day celebrations.[15][16][17]

## Administration

[edit]

UNO: Akhinoor Jahan Nila.[18]

Noakhali Sadar Upazila is divided into Noakhali Municipality and 13 union parishads: Anderchar, Ashwadia, Binodpur, Char Matua, Dadpur, Dharmapur, Ewazbalia, Kadir Hanif, Kaladaraf, Niazpur, Noakhali, Noannai, and Purba Char Matua. The union parishads are subdivided into 166 mauzas and 173 villages.[1]

Noakhali Municipality was established in 1876.[5] It is subdivided into 9 wards and 36 mahallas.[1]

## Transport

[edit]

Rail stations Maijdee, Maijdee Court, Harinarayanpur, and Noakhali are the last four on the branch line connecting Laksam and Noakhali. In May 2015, they were served by one intercity and four mail trains a day.[19]

The town of Noakhali is the southern terminus of national highway N104, which connects to Feni, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) away.[20]

## Education

[edit]

See also: Education in Bangladesh

Noakhali Science and Technology University, founded in 2006,[21] is the only university.[22] Noakhali Medical College, founded in 2008, is the only medical school.[citation needed]

There are ten colleges in the upazila: Bandher Hat A. M. College, Bhulua Degree College, Char Matua College, Maijdee Public College, Major (Rtd) Abdul Mannan College, National Model College, Noakhali Government College (est. 1963), Noakhali Government Women's College, Noakhali Model College, and Sonapur Degree College.[5][23]

According to Banglapedia, Noakhali Zilla School, founded in 1853, Brother Andre High School (1857), Ahmadia Model High School (1906), Arun Chandra High School (1914), Noakhali Government Girls' High School (1934), and Paura Kalyan High School (1940) are notable secondary schools.[5]

The madrasa education system includes two fazil and two kamil madrasas.[24]

## Notable residents

[edit]

* Muzaffar Ahmed, one of the founders of the Communist Party of India[25]
* Zahurul Haq, whose arrest in the Agartala Conspiracy Case and 1969 death in custody led to mass protests[26]
* Saadat Husain, former cabinet secretary and former chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission[27][28][29]
* A B M Musa, Ekushey Padak recipient for journalism in 1999[30]
* Abdul Malek Ukil, a drafter of the Constitution of Bangladesh, member of parliament and cabinet minister[31]

## See also

[edit]

* Upazilas of Bangladesh
* Districts of Bangladesh
* Divisions of Bangladesh
* Administrative geography of Bangladesh

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f "District Statistics 2011: Noakhali" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
2. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1\. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 397\. ISBN 978-9844752016.
3. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024.
4. ^ "Bangladesh Area Code". China: Chahaoba. 18 October 2024.
5. ^ a b c d e f Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Noakhali Sadar Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
6. ^ Webster, John Edward (1911). Noakhali. Eastern Bengal and Assam District Gazetteers. Allahabad, India: Pioneer Press. p. 1\. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t1td9z39b.
7. ^ "LGED Noakhali, About Noakhali". Local Government Engineering Department. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
8. ^ a b "Population Census 2011: Noakhali Table C-01" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
9. ^ a b "Community Tables: Noakhali district" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
10. ^ a b "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Noakhali" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
11. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Subarnachar Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
12. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Kabirhat Upazila". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
13. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Noakhali (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-274-0.
14. ^ খেলাধুলা ও বিনোদন [Sports and Recreation]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali). Retrieved May 7, 2015.
15. ^ "Divisional football tournament inaugurated in Noakhali". 23 November 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
16. ^ "Shahid Bulu Stadium, Noakhali". Cricket Archive. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
17. ^ "People celebrate Victory Day, pay tribute to Liberation War martyrs". The Independent (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 17 December 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
18. ^ "উপজেলা নির…". 26 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024.
19. ^ "Noakhali Schedule". Bangladesh Railway. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
20. ^ "RHD Road Network, Comilla Zone" (PDF). Roads and Highways Department. May 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
21. ^ "Noakhali Science and Technology University - Home". Noakhali Science and Technology University. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
22. ^ "Noakhali Science & Technology University". University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
23. ^ "List of Colleges". Department of Secondary and Higher Education. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
24. ^ "List of Institutions". Ministry of Education (Bangladesh). Retrieved July 15, 2014.
25. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Ahmed, Comrade Muzaffar". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
26. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Haq, Zahurul". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
27. ^ "List of Cabinet Secretaries". Cabinet Division, Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
28. ^ Husain, Saadat (22 November 2007). "Cyclones past and present". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Retrieved May 8, 2015.
29. ^ Husain, Saadat (18 March 2014). "Upazila: The unit for effective administration at field level". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). Retrieved May 8, 2015.
30. ^ সাংবাদিক এবিএম মূসার সংক্ষিপ্ত জীবনী [A Brief Biography of Journalist ABM Musa] (in Bengali). Dhaka. 1 April 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
31. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Ukil, Abdul Malek". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 August 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Noakhali District

Capital: Maijdee

Upazilas|

* Begumganj
* Chatkhil
* Companiganj
* Hatiya
* Kabirhat
* Noakhali Sadar
* Senbagh
* Sonaimuri
* Subarnachar

Constituencies|

* Noakhali-1
* Noakhali-2
* Noakhali-3
* Noakhali-4
* Noakhali-5
* Noakhali-6

Attractions and sites|

* Bajra Shahi Mosque
* Begumganj Gas Field
* CGS Noakhali
* Nijhum Dwip National Park
* Ramadan Miah Mosque
* Shaheed Bulu Stadium

History|

* Samatata
* Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah
* Shital Pati
* Conquest of Bhulua
* Shaykh Abdul Wahid
* Mirza Baqi
* Farhad Khan
* Noakhali riots
* Gandhi Ashram Trust
* NofeL SC

Inhabited areas|

* Bhasan Char
* Chowmuhani
* Dhannapur
* Hatiya Island
* Hatiya Municipality
* Oskhali
* Nijhum Dwip
* Shingbahura
* Swarna Dweep

Rivers and transport|

* Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line
* Dakatia River
* Meghna River
* Upukol Express

Educational institutions|

* Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College
* Agriculture Training Institute
* Basurhat A. H. C. Government High School
* Begumganj Government Pilot High School
* Begumgonj Textile Engineering College
* Chatkhil Panch Gaon Government High School
* Chilonia Union High School
* Chowmuhani Government S.A College
* Kashipur High School
* Mohammad Pur Janata High School
* Noakhali Government College
* Noakhali Government Girls' High School
* Noakhali Government Women's College
* Noakhali Medical Assistant Training School
* Noakhali Science and Commerce School and College
* Noakhali Science and Technology University
* Noakhali Zilla School
* Palla Mahbub Adarsha High School
* Sonaimuri Model High School
* Sonapur Ali Akber High School
* Sonapur Degree College
* Taker Bazar High School

See also|

* Noakhailla

* v
* t
* e

Upazilas of the Chattogram Division

Capital: Chattogram

Bandarban District|

* Ali Kadam
* Bandarban
* Lama
* Naikhongchhari
* Rowangchhari
* Ruma
* Thanchi

Brahmanbaria District|

* Akhaura
* Bancharampur
* Brahmanbaria
* Kasba
* Nabinagar
* Nasirnagar
* Sarail
* Ashuganj
* Bijoynagar

Chandpur District|

* Chandpur
* Faridganj
* Haimchar
* Hazinganj
* Kachua
* Matlab Dakshin
* Matlab Uttar
* Shahrasti

Chattogram District|

* Anwara
* Banshkhali
* Boalkhali
* Chandanaish
* Fatikchhari
* Hathazari
* Lohagara
* Mirsharai
* Patiya
* Rangunia
* Raozan
* Sandwhip
* Satkania
* Sitakunda

Cumilla District|

* Barura
* Brahmanpura
* Burichang
* Chandina
* Chauddagram
* Daudkandi
* Debidwar
* Homna
* Cumilla Sadar Adarsha
* Cumilla Sadar Dakshin
* Laksam
* Muradnagar
* Nangalkot
* Titas
* Meghna
* Monoharganj

Cox's Bazar District|

* Chakaria
* Cox's Bazar
* Kutubdia
* Maheshkali
* Ramu
* Tekhnaf
* Ukhia
* Pekua

Feni District|

* Chhagalnaiya
* Daganbhuiyan
* Feni
* Parshuram
* Sonagazi
* Fulgazi

Khagrachari District|

* Dighinala
* Khagrachhari
* Lakshmichhari
* Mahalchhari
* Manikchhari
* Matiranga
* Panchhari
* Ramgarh

Lakshmipur District|

* Kamalnagar
* Lakshmipur
* Raipur
* Ramganj
* Ramgati

Noakhali District|

* Begumganj
* Chatkhil
* Companiganj
* Hatiya
* Kabir Hat
* Noakhali
* Senbagh
* Sonaimuri
* Subarnachar

Rangamati District|

* Bagaichhari
* Barkal
* Kawkhali
* Belaichhari
* Kaptai
* Juraichhari
* Langadu
* Naniarchar
* Rajasthali
* Rangamati

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