Sylhet District

This article is about the district of Sylhet. For other uses, see Sylhet (disambiguation).

District of Bangladesh in Sylhet Division

Sylhet District

সিলেট জেলা

District of Bangladesh

From top: Lalakhal at Bichnakandi, Shah Jalal Dargah, view of Jaflong hills, Keane Bridge

Nickname:

Holy Land/Land of 360 Awliyas

Location of Sylhet District in Bangladesh

Expandable map of Sylhet District

Coordinates: 24°53′N 91°52′E﻿ / ﻿24.883°N 91.867°E﻿ / 24.883; 91.867
Country|  Bangladesh
Division| Sylhet Division
Established| 1782
Headquarters| Sylhet
Government

• Deputy Commissioner| Md. Mozibor Rahman[1]
Area

[2]

• Total

| 3,452.07 km2 (1,332.85 sq mi)
Population

(2022)[3]

• Total

| 3,857,123
• Density| 1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Demonym| Sylheti
Time zone| UTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code|

3100

Area code| 0821
ISO 3166 code| BD-60
HDI (2018)| 0.596[4]
medium · 11th of 21
Website| sylhet.gov.bd

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Sylhet District (Bengali: সিলেট জেলা), located in north-east Bangladesh, is one of the four districts in Sylhet Division, which contains Sylhet, the regional capital.

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of Sylhet

Sylhet District was established on 3 January 1782, and until 1878 it was part of Bengal Province under Dhaka Division. However, in that year, Sylhet was moved to the newly created Assam Province, and it remained as part of Assam up to 1947 (except during the administrative reorganisation of Bengal Province between 1905 and 1912). Sylhet District was divided into five subdivisions and the current Sylhet District was known as the North Sylhet subdivision. In 1947, Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan as a result of a referendum (except 31⁄2 thanas of Karimganj subdivision) as part of Chittagong Division.[5] It was subdivided into four districts in 1983–84 with the current Sylhet District being known as North Sylhet. It became a part of Sylhet Division after its formation in 1995. Sylhet has played a vital role in the Bangladeshi economy. Several of Bangladesh's finance ministers have been Members of Parliament from the city of Sylhet.[5]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1981 | 1,777,784| —
1991 | 2,153,301| +1.93%
2001 | 2,555,566| +1.73%
2011 | 3,434,188| +3.00%
2022 | 3,857,123| +1.06%
Sources:[3][6]

According to 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Sylhet district had 746854 households and a population of 3,857,123, 26.25% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,117 people per square kilometre. 20.29% were under 10 years of age. Sylhet district had a literacy rate of 76.43% (for 7 years and above), compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 96.74 males per 100 females.[3]

According to the census, Sylhet's literacy rate has increased to 76.43%. In contrast, it was 51.18% in 2011, 45.49% in 2001, and 33.85% in 1991. In Sylhet, 89.25% of students were enrolled in general education. Additionally, 7.95% are pursuing religious education, 0.40% are in technical education, and 2.40% are in other forms of education.

In 2022, 65.37% of people aged 15 and above had their own mobile phones. Moreover, 42.02% are internet users, and 31.87% had accounts in banks or financial institutions. The same percentage, 31.87%, also had mobile banking accounts.

According to the 1991 census, 12.99% of people in Sylhet had access to electricity. This increased to 35.14% in 2001 and 62.92% in 2011. As of the 2022 census, this figure has risen to 99.27%.

In terms of employment, 35.58% of Sylhet's population is engaged in agriculture. Additionally, 10.60% are involved in industry, while the remaining 53.82% are engaged in various services.[3]

Religions in Sylhet District (2022)[3]

Religion |  | Percent
Muslims |

| 92.57%
Hindus |

| 7.33%
Other or not stated |

| 0.10%

Religion in present-day Sylhet District  Religion  | 1941[7]: 36–37 [a] | 1981[6] | 1981[6] | 2001[6] | 2011[6] | 2022[3]

|
|
|
|
|
|

Pop. | %  | Pop. | %  | Pop. | %  | Pop. | %  | Pop. | %  | Pop. | %
Islam | 599,192  | 72.55%  | 1,619,937  | 91.12%  | 1,980,175  | 91.96%  | 2,365,728  | 92.57%  | 3,180,766  | 92.62%  | 3,570,400  | 92.57%
Hinduism | 211,701  | 25.63%  | 151,809  | 8.54%  | 167,966  | 7.80%  | 186,565  | 7.30%  | 248,154  | 7.23%  | 282,904  | 7.33%
Tribal religion  | 14,360  | 1.74%  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
Others [b] | 684  | 0.08%  | 6,038  | 0.34%  | 5,160  | 0.24%  | 3,273  | 0.13%  | 5,268  | 0.15%  | 2,998  | 0.08%
Total Population  | 825,937  | 100%  | 1,777,784  | 100%  | 2,153,301  | 100%  | 2,555,566  | 100%  | 3,434,188  | 100%  | 3,857,123  | 100%

According to the 2022 data, 92.57% of the total population in Sylhet were Muslims, and 7.33% were Hindus. There is a population of 2,700 Christians mainly in Gowainghat and Jaintiapur upazilas. Ethnic population is 16,508 (0.43%), of which 2834 were Manipuri, 1,845 Patro and 1,530 Khasi.[3]

## Administration

[edit]

Sylhet District is divided into thirteen upazilas.[5]

The upazilas are:

* Balaganj
* Beanibazar
* Bishwanath
* Companiganj
* Dakshin Surma
* Fenchuganj
* Golapganj
* Gowainghat
* Jaintiapur
* Kanaighat
* Osmani Nagar
* Sylhet Sadar
* Zakiganj

## Geography and climate

[edit]

A tea garden at Jaflong, Sylhet

Sylhet has a typical Bangladeshi tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) at higher elevations. The rainy season starts from April to October and it is so hot and humid with very heavy showers and thunderstorms almost every day, whilst the short dry season starts from November to February and it is very warm and fairly clear. Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 4,200 millimetres (170 in) occurs between May and September.[8]

The city is located within the region where there are hills and basins which constitute one of the most distinctive regions in Bangladesh. The physiography of Sylhet consists mainly of hill soils, encompassing a few large depressions known locally as "beels" which can be mainly classified as oxbow lakes, caused by tectonic subsidence primarily during the earthquake of 1762.

Geologically, the region is complex having diverse sacrificial geomorphology; high topography of Plio-Miocene age. Available limestone deposits in different parts of the region suggest that the whole area was under the ocean in the Oligo-Miocene. In the last 150 years three major earthquakes hit the city, at a magnitude of at least 7.5 on the Richter Scale, the last one took place in 1918, although many people are unaware that Sylhet lies on an earthquake prone zone.[9]

Climate data for Sylhet (1991–2020, extremes 1952-present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 34.5
(94.1)  | 35.0
(95.0)  | 38.8
(101.8)  | 40.5
(104.9)  | 38.2
(100.8)  | 39.6
(103.3)  | 38.4
(101.1)  | 37.9
(100.2)  | 38.3
(100.9)  | 37.2
(99.0)  | 35.3
(95.5)  | 31.3
(88.3)  | 40.5
(104.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 25.6
(78.1)  | 28.2
(82.8)  | 31.2
(88.2)  | 31.5
(88.7)  | 31.4
(88.5)  | 31.6
(88.9)  | 32.2
(90.0)  | 32.5
(90.5)  | 32.3
(90.1)  | 31.8
(89.2)  | 29.7
(85.5)  | 26.8
(80.2)  | 30.4
(86.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 18.4
(65.1)  | 20.8
(69.4)  | 24.3
(75.7)  | 26.0
(78.8)  | 26.8
(80.2)  | 27.6
(81.7)  | 28.0
(82.4)  | 28.2
(82.8)  | 27.9
(82.2)  | 26.7
(80.1)  | 23.3
(73.9)  | 19.7
(67.5)  | 24.8
(76.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 9.8
(49.6)  | 12.4
(54.3)  | 17.4
(63.3)  | 21.2
(70.2)  | 23.0
(73.4)  | 24.8
(76.6)  | 25.3
(77.5)  | 25.3
(77.5)  | 24.8
(76.6)  | 22.3
(72.1)  | 16.6
(61.9)  | 11.8
(53.2)  | 19.6
(67.3)
Record low °C (°F)  | 3.4
(38.1)  | 8.8
(47.8)  | 11.5
(52.7)  | 14.0
(57.2)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 19.3
(66.7)  | 22.3
(72.1)  | 20.5
(68.9)  | 16.5
(61.7)  | 13.4
(56.1)  | 8.0
(46.4)  | 3.4
(38.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 7
(0.3)  | 38
(1.5)  | 127
(5.0)  | 382
(15.0)  | 590
(23.2)  | 795
(31.3)  | 723
(28.5)  | 609
(24.0)  | 496
(19.5)  | 201
(7.9)  | 25
(1.0)  | 10
(0.4)  | 4,003
(157.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 1  | 3  | 7  | 15  | 22  | 26  | 28  | 26  | 20  | 10  | 2  | 1  | 161
Average relative humidity (%)  | 75  | 68  | 68  | 76  | 81  | 87  | 87  | 86  | 86  | 83  | 77  | 75  | 79
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 212.2  | 210.6  | 223.2  | 196.1  | 178.6  | 121.9  | 132.8  | 145.1  | 148.7  | 218.9  | 242.9  | 238.0  | 2,269
Source 1: NOAA[10]
Source 2: Bangladesh Meteorological Department (humidity 1981-2010)[11][12]

## Notable people

[edit]

See also: List of people from Sylhet

* M.A.G. Osmani, Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini during the Separation War.
* Md. Saifur Rahman, former Finance and Planning Minister
* Shah Jalal, Sufi saint and mystic.
* Shah Paran, Sufi saint
* Shah Abdul Karim, Baul folk singer, composer.
* Swami Nikhilananda, Ramakrishna Math and Mission Order monk and founder-minister, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, New York City 1933–1973
* Swami Gambhirananda, Ramakrish Math and Mission Order monk and president of the Order 1985–1988
* Nurul Islam Nahid, former Education Minister of Bangladesh
* Govinda Chandra Dev (1 February 1907 – 26 March 1971), known as G. C. Dev, was a professor of philosophy at the University of Dhaka. He was assassinated at the onset of War of Independence of 1971 by the Pakistan Army
* Dr Abdul Malik, National Professor, Brigadier (rtd.), cardiologist, founder and president of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh
* Rushanara Ali, first Bangladeshi to be elected as an MP for the British parliament
* Ajmal Masroor, television presenter, politician and imam, parliamentary candidate for a UK Parliament constituency
* Lutfur Rahman, the first elected mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets council
* Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, former minister and adviser to the president of Bangladesh
* Humayun Rashid Choudhury, diplomat, UN General Assembly President, Awami League leader and former speaker of National parliament
* Dilwar Khan, poet
* Salman Shah, film actor, model
* Shuvro Dev, playback singer
* Syed Ahmed, businessman, British TV personality
* Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation (2003–13)
* Enam Ali, restaurateur and founder of the British Curry Awards

## See also

[edit]

* Chowkideki
* Districts of Bangladesh
* List of colleges in Sylhet
* List of people from Sylhet
* Divisions of Bangladesh
* Upazila
* Thana

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 1941 figures correspond to North Sylhet subdivision and Beanibazar thana of erstwhile Sylhet district, along with part of Karimganj thana. Projected 1941 religion figures for present-day Zakiganj Upazila (which at the time was a rural area of Karimganj thana) were obtained by using the ratio of current upazila population to the 2011 population of erstwhile Karimganj thana to estimate the 1941 population, and assuming religious demographics in rural areas were uniform across erstwhile Karimganj thana.
2. ^ Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Report
2. ^ "registered through Argeweb". Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Sylhet (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-269-6.
4. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database". Global Data Lab. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
5. ^ a b c Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Sylhet District". 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 21 April 2025.
6. ^ a b c d e "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Sylhet" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
7. ^ "Census of India, 1941 Volume IX Assam Province" (PDF). 1941.
8. ^ Monthly Averages for Sylhet, BGD Archived 1 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine MSN Weather. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
9. ^ Siddiquee, Iqbal (10 February 2006). "Sylhet growing as a modern urban centre". Our Cities: 15th Anniversary Special. The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
10. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Sylhet". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
11. ^ "Climate of Bangladesh" (PDF). Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
12. ^ "Normal Monthly Humidity". Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Retrieved 31 January 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Sylhet District at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Sylhet District

Capital: Sylhet

Upazilas|

* Balaganj
* Beanibazar
* Bishwanath
* Companiganj
* Fenchuganj
* Golapganj
* Gowainghat
* Jaintiapur
* Kanaighat
* Osmani Nagar
* South Surma
* Sylhet Sadar
* Zakiganj

Constituencies|

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

Attractions and sites|

* Ali Amjad's Clock
* Bangladesh Last House
* Citrus Research Center
* Ghayebi Dighi Masjid
* Hakaluki Haor
* Khadim Nagar National Park
* Madani Square
* Malnicherra Tea Estate
* Museum of Rajas'
* Osmani Museum
* Ratargul Swamp Forest
* Shah Jalal Dargah
* Sylhet Shahi Eidgah
* Tilagor Eco Park

Rivers|

* Barak
* Kushiyara
* Makunda
* Piyain
* Surma
* Sonai

Inhabited areas|

* Angura Muhammadpur
* Baghprachanda Khan
* Balaganj
* Bhadeshwar
* Bichnakandi
* Bimanbandar Thana
* Dayamir
* Ghorua
* Goalabazar
* Jaflong
* Karpara
* Kumargaon
* Lalakhal
* Machimpur
* Mathiura
* Purush Pal
* Nidhanpur
* Naodhar
* North Badepasha
* Amkuna
* Nurpur
* Rampasha
* Shahjalal Upashahar
* Sunampur
* Sripur
* Tajpur
* Tamabil
* Umarpur

Schools and colleges|

* The Aided High School
* Beani Bazar Government College
* Blue Bird High School and College
* Cambridge Grammar School & College
* Dhakadakshin Multilateral High School and College
* Kasim Ali Model High School
* Madan Mohan College
* Mathiura BL High School
* Murari Chand College
* Scholarshome
* Sylhet Engineering College
* Sylhet Government Pilot High School
* Sylhet Government Women's College
* Sylhet Polytechnic Institute

Madrasas|

* Ajiria Madrasa
* Badedeorail Fultali Kamil Madrasa
* Jamia Tawakkulia Renga Madrasah
* Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah

Universities|

* Leading University
* Metropolitan University, Sylhet
* North East University
* Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
* Sylhet International University
* Sylhet Agricultural University

Transport|

* Assam Bengal Railway
* Akhaura–Kulaura–Chhatak line
* Cherra Companyganj State Railways
* Kalni Express
* Keane Bridge
* N2
* Osmani International Airport
* Parabat Express
* Sylhet railway station

Organisations|

* Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education
* Kendriya Muslim Sahitya Sangsad
* Srihatta Literary Society
* Sylhet City Corporation
* Sylhet Gas Fields Limited
* Sylhet Metropolitan Police

History|

* Hattanath
* Nidhanpur copperplate inscription
* Jaintia Kingdom
* Conquest of Sylhet
* Muharram Rebellion
* Earthquake of 1869
* Earthquake of 1897
* Nankar Rebellion
* Bangladesh Liberation War
* Adityapur massacre
* Battle of Sylhet
* Burunga massacre
* Galimpur massacre
* Shah Jalal bombing
* South Surma bombings

Military|

* Army Institute of Business Administration, Sylhet
* Jalalabad Cantonment Public School and College
* School of Infantry and Tactics
* Sylhet Cadet College
* Sylhet Light Infantry

Medicine|

* Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College
* North East Medical College
* Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College
* Sylhet Medical University
* Sylhet Women's Medical College

Economy|

* Beanibazar Gas Field
* Fenchuganj Combined Cycle Power Plant
* Fenchuganj Gas Field
* Jalalabad Gas Field
* Kailashtilla Gas Field
* Kumargaon Power Plant
* Shahjalal Fertiliser Factory
* Sylhet Gas Fields Limited

Sports|

* Beanibazar SC
* Sylhet District Stadium
* Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
* Sylhet Thunder

* v
* t
* e

Divisions and districts of Bangladesh

Barisal Division|

* Barguna
* Barishal
* Bhola
* Jhalokati
* Patuakhali
* Pirojpur

Chittagong Division|

* Bandarban
* Brahmanbaria
* Chandpur
* Chattogram
* Cumilla
* Cox's Bazar
* Feni
* Khagrachhari
* Lakshmipur
* Noakhali
* Rangamati

Dhaka Division|

* Dhaka
* Faridpur
* Gazipur
* Gopalganj
* Kishoreganj
* Madaripur
* Manikganj
* Munshiganj
* Narayanganj
* Narsingdi
* Rajbari
* Shariatpur
* Tangail

Khulna Division|

* Bagerhat
* Chuadanga
* Jashore
* Jhenaidah
* Khulna
* Kushtia
* Magura
* Meherpur
* Narail
* Satkhira

Mymensingh Division|

* Jamalpur
* Mymensingh
* Netrokona
* Sherpur

Rajshahi Division|

* Bogura
* Joypurhat
* Naogaon
* Natore
* Chapai Nawabganj
* Pabna
* Rajshahi
* Sirajganj

Rangpur Division|

* Dinajpur
* Gaibandha
* Kurigram
* Lalmonirhat
* Nilphamari
* Panchagarh
* Rangpur
* Thakurgaon

Sylhet Division|

* Habiganj
* Moulvibazar
* Sunamganj
* Sylhet

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

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*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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