# Galachipa Upazila

Galachipa (Bengali: গলাচিপা) is an upazila of Patuakhali District in the Division of Barisal, Bangladesh. In March 2011, part of the upazila was separated to make the new Rangabali Upazila.

## Geography

Galachipa is located at 22°09′50″N 90°25′50″E﻿ / ﻿22.1639°N 90.4306°E﻿ / 22.1639; 90.4306. It has 49,982 households and a total area of 1267.89 km$^2$. It is located along the southern coast and includes a few char areas.

### Rivers

Galachipa Upazila has many rivers and canals. The Bay of Bengal is very close here. Galachipa town is situated on the bank of the Ramnabad River. Due to the river, Galachipa is a famous port for rice and other crops. A large Haat takes place every Saturday based on the river. It is one of the largest Haats of greater Barisal. Other famous rivers of Galachipa are Agunmukha, and Bura Gaurang.

### Sonar Char

Galachipa Upzilla is famous for her "Sonarchar". "Char" means land disconnected from the mainland by rivers. These lands are highly disconnected and the river route is the only route. Road traffic has not been arranged yet. Some chars are larger while some are very much smaller.
Most of the Char areas are now split off into their own upazila: Rangabali. Rangabali, Baher Char, Barho Baishdia, Choto Baishdia, Chalitabunia, Char Kajal, Char Shiba, Char Momtaj, Char Biswas, Mayar Char, Char Karfarma, Char Lakshmi, Char Kukri Mukri, Latar Char, Char Kalagachia, etc. are very known to all. The land of these chars is very fertile and crops grow heavily here. But most of the people here are poor and deprived. They also suffer from a lack of information greatly and their style of life is very low. The people here are mainly "Bhumiheen" (landless).

## Demographics

Religions in Galachipa Upazila (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 92.45% | 92.45% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 7.54% | 7.54% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.01% | 0.01% |
As of the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Galachipa Upazila had 258,515 in 57,466 households. 64,626 (25.00%) were under 10 years of age. Galachipa has 126,631 males and 131,206 females for a sex ratio of 1036 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 47.27%. 25,917 (10.03%) lived in urban areas. Muslims make up 237,277 (91.78%) and Hindus 21,201 (8.20%).
As of 1991 Bangladesh census, Galachipa has a population of 286,307. Males constitute 51.36% of the population, and females 48.64%. This Upazila's adult population is 137,818. Galachipa has an average literacy rate of 29.4% (7+ years), and a national average of 32.4% literate.

## Points of interest

Agunmukha river is situated at the side of Panpatty Union. It is the meet-point of several rivers. There is a sluice gate of 15 doors like Kaptai Dam in Rangamati at the Panpatty border. Bakulbaria Plant Product Center by Nesar Matubbar

## Administration

Galachipa Upazila is divided into Galachipa Municipality and 12 union parishads:
* Galachipa
* Amkhola
* Char Biswas, Char Kajol
* Chiknikandi
* Ratandi Taltali
* Dakua
* Galachipa
* Gazalia
* Golkhali
* Kalagachhia
* Panpatti Union
* Bakulbaria
The union parishads are subdivided into 140 mazes and 227 villages.
Galachipa Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 9 mahallas.

## Education

Galachipa Upazila has several schools, madrasas, and colleges.
* Galachipa Govt. Model Secondary School
* Galachipa Govt. Degree College
* Galachipa Girls' Secondary School
* Galachipa Women Degree College
* Galachipa NZMA Alim Madrasha
* Galachipa Ideal School & College
* Ratandi Taltoli Secondary School
* Udayan Pre-Cadet and Secondary School
* Galachipa High School attached Primary School
* Galachipa Girls High School attached Primary School
* Patabunia High School
* Patabunia Ideal Agricultural and Technical School
* Lamna Polytechnic Institute
* Uttor Purba Gazalia Dakhil Madrasha
* Ulania Hat High School
* Panpatty High School
* Bango Bondhu Girls High School
* Haridevpur High School
* Haridebpur Secondary School
* Charkhali Secondary School
* North Chair Khali High School
* Char Kazal High School
* Char Kapal Bera Adarsha Secondary School
* Chickni kandi High school
* Shuhari High School
* Chicknikandi High School & College
* Chicknikandi Salehia Dakhil Madrasha
* Chicknikandi Primary School
* Kharizzama Ishak Secondary School
* Kharizzama Degree College
* Galachipa polytechnic institute

### Media

* Galachipa.com
* ভয়েস অফ গলাচিপা
* গলাচিপা বার্তা
* কাটাখালী ব্রান্ড

## Notable residents

* Habibur Rahman Mia, First MP in Independent Bangladesh in 1973 Bangladeshi general election
* Moazzem Hossain, Second MP in Independent Bangladesh in 1979 General Election
* Anwar Hossain Howlader, MP in 1986 Bangladeshi general election
* AKM Jahangir Hossain, the member of parliament (MP) for constituency Patuakhali-3 from 1991 to 2006, has been MP for Patuakhal-3 again since 2014.
* Golam Maula Rony was the member of parliament for constituency Patuakhali-3 from 2009 to 2014.
* S M Shahjada Saju was the member of parliament for constituency Patuakhali-3 from 2018 to 2023.
* Nurul Haq Nur, joint-convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakshan Parishad and former vice-president, Dhaka University Central Students' Union
* Abul Hossain, former director general of Border Guards Bangladesh. He was also ex-officio chairman of Shimanto Bank which is a sister concern of BGB Welfare Trust.