Mirpur Thana

Mirpur Thana (dhaka district) with an area of 53.58 sq km, is bounded by pallabi thana on the north, mohammadpur thana on the south, kafrul and Pallabi thanas on the east and savar upazila on the west. Main river is Turag. Mirpur area is an extended part of the Madhupurgarh created in the Pleistocene period.

Mirpur Thana (Town) area was included in keraniganj thana during the British period and in tejgaon thana during the Pakistan period. Many administrative and cultural establishments including National Zoo, National Botanical Garden, National Vagabond Shelter Centre are located in this thana area. National Martyr Intellectual Memorial has been established at the premises of the graves of martyr intellectuals. The tomb of Hazrat Shah Ali Bagdadi (R), a sacred place and historical relic, is located at Mirpur. Besides, the head offices of grameen bank, bangladesh institute of bank management, Dhaka Eye Hospital, National Heart Foundation, etc are located here.

Administration Mirpur thana was established in 1962. The thana consists of one union parishad, eight wards, 11 mouzas and 86 and 20 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics Tomb of Hazrat Shah Ali Bagdadi (R) and one domed high Mosque adjacent to the tomb.

Historical event Hazrat Shah Ali Bagdadi (R) came to Bengal to preach Islam and finally settled at Mirpur. He died in 1480 and was buried here. During the War of Liberation in 1971 the Pak army in collaboration with the Razakars killed many people including the intellectuals. In memory of the martyrs a memorial has been established here.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass killing site: Courtyard of Nuri Mosque adjacent to the Bus Stand of Section 12 of Mirpur; mass grave: in front of the Martyr Intellectuals Memorial, slope of the Mirpur Zoo; memorial: Martyr Intellectuals' Monument.

Population 555758; male 56.75%, female 43.25%; Muslim 98.42%, Hindu 1.07% and others 0.51%.

Religious institutions Mosque 167, temple 8, tomb 3 and eidgah 48, graveyard 27.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 59.4%; male 65.4% and female 52.2%. Educational institutions: college 8, high school 20, school and college 6, madrasa 16, private medical college and hospital 3, primary school 47, vocational training institute 3.

Cultural organisations Club 23, literary society 4, cultural centre 3, cinema hall 5, museum 1, zoo 1, botanical garden 1.

Main occupations Agriculture 1.37%, wage labourer 2.13%, weaving 1.12%, industry 3.09%, commerce 21.16%, service 37.41%, transport 11%, house renting out 1.77%, and others 20.95%.

Land use Urbanisation 100%; residential 32%, commercial 19%, offices 6%, business centre, housing and other establishments 85%, low marshy land 0.5%, fallow land 15%.

Land control Land owner 35% and landless (tenants) 65%.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is 5 lakh Taka per katha.

Main crops Paddy, vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Aus paddy.

Main fruits Mango, coconut.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 623, dairy 54 and fishery 67.

Communication facilities Pucca road 79 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin and horse carriage. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Iron industry 42, textile mill 108, chemical industry 10, dying factory 13, garment 27.

Cottage industries Weaving (jamdani), potteries, bamboo and cane work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of market and shopping centre are 17, most noted of which are Gabtali Cattle Market and Bara Bazar (Kotbari).

Main exports Ready made garments, jamdani sari, katan sari and Coca Cola (soft drink).

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, Proshika, Grameen Bank, Al-Falah Multilateral Cooperative Society, Asa.

Health centres Eye hospital 2, national heart foundation 1, missionaries health complex 1, private hospital 3.