# Tangail

Tangail (Bengali: টাঙ্গাইল,) is a city of Tangail District in central Bangladesh. A significant city in Bangladesh, Tangail lies on the bank of the Louhajang River, 83 kilometres (52 mi) northwest of Dhaka, the nation's capital. It is the 25th most populous city in Bangladesh.

## Etymology

Tangail originates from the Bengali word tanga, meaning horse carts; long lines of horse carts were standard in the area in the early 19th century, as these were the favoured mode of transport for passengers and cargo.

## History

Tangail has been a local business center since the early 19th century. In 1860, Tangail became the 4th ranking area of the Greater Mymensingh district due to its fertile land near the Louhajong River. It was close to Begun Bari, Mymesningh. In 1969, Tangail district was established.

### Tangail Airdrop

The Tangail Airdrop was a successful battalion-size operation by India's Para Commandos, mounted on 11 December 1971, by the 2nd Battalion (Special Operations) (2 PARA) of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh. The operation's main objective was capturing Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna River, which would cut off the Pakistani 93rd Brigade, which was retreating from Mymensingh in the north to defend the capital of East Pakistan, Dhaka, and its approaches. The paratroop unit was also tasked to link up with the advancing Maratha Light Infantry on the ground to advance toward the East Pakistani capital.
The Pourasabha (municipal corporation) was established on 1 July 1887, and initially divided the city into five wards:
| Ward No. | Area |
| 1 | Tangail Kanda Para, Par Dighulia, Akur Takur Para |
| 2 | Korer Betka, Mirer Betka, Nondir Betka, Sabalia, Dorun, Ashekpur, Nagor Jalfai, Boali |
| 3 | Garai, Berai, Kazipur, Bachrakandi, Potol, Bajitpur, Berabuchna, Valluk kandi |
| 4 | Kagmari, Sontosh, Aloa, Boitta, Patuli, Ekrampur |
| 5 | Kalipur, Dighulia, Sakrail, Kaiyamara, Beradoma, Basha, Khanpur |
This was later restructured into four wards - Ward No. 1 (Central), 2 (Betka), 3 (Dighulia), and 4 (Santosh) - and then, in 1988, into six wards with the addition of Wards 5 (Zila Sadar) and 6 (Kazipur).
The first city election was held in November 1887 when the citizens elected eight ward commissioners from four wards. The Subdivision Commissioner of Tangail, Shashi Shekhar Dutt, was appointed as the first administrator of Tangail City. The city needed to be better developed, lacking paved roads and roadside lamps; subsequently, the regional zamindars and subdivision board provided financial support to dig ponds, lakes, and canals, creating a safe water supply.
Electricity was established in the city in the early 1930s. Paved roads were constructed in the 1960s, connecting the town to Dhaka. Simultaneously, bridges and culverts were installed.
In 1985, Tangail was promoted from a C to a B Class city. In 1989, the Pourashava was promoted to A-Class. In the 1990s, the city was financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Bangladesh to develop water supply, sanitation, wastewater drainage, bus terminals, supermarkets, and other infrastructure.
In 1999, the city was restructured again into 18 wards (its current organization).

## Wards

Tangail has an area of 35.22 square kilometres (13.60 sq mi), divided into 18 wards and 64 mahallas.
| Ward No. | Region | Households | Population (2011) |
| 1 | Akur Takur Para-north, Dewla, District hq | 2070 | 10388 |
| 2 | Enayetpur | 2142 | 8760 |
| 3 | West Akur Takur Para, North Kagmara, South Kagmara | 3205 | 13903 |
| 4 | Bepari Para, Fakir Para, Bera Doma, Dighulia, Char Dighulia | 2119 | 9208 |
| 5 | Kalipur, Lakshimpur, Sarutia, Shakrail | 1614 | 7235 |
| 6 | College Para, Paradise Para, Par Dighulia-part | 1569 | 6712 |
| 7 | Baluk Kandi, Bagbari, Patuli Bhabani Bagbari, Uttar Santosh-part, Santosh Palpara | 1674 | 7325 |
| 8 | Aloa Bhabani Pahim, Aloa Pahim, Dakshin Santosh-part | 1797 | 8026 |
| 9 | Aloa Baratia, Aloa Paikasta, Aloa Tarini, Baluk Kandi-part, Char Patuli, Purba Aloa, Aloa Bhabani | 1888 | 8575 |
| 10 | Bajitpur, Berai, Basrakandi, Kazipur, Patal | 1458 | 6189 |
| 11 | Berabuchna, Kachua Para, Kanda Para | 1929 | 7536 |
| 12 | Adi Tangail, Bepari Para, Bil Para | 1628 | 7160 |
| 13 | Tangail Mahalla, Chayanir Bazar, Pachanir Bazar, Thana Para, Uttar Thana Para | 1792 | 7572 |
| 14 | Purba Adalat Para, Adalat Para, Biswas Betka-part S.W corn, Shaha Para | 2790 | 11786 |
| 15 | Ashekpur, Biswas Betka-part | 2745 | 12118 |
| 16 | Akur Takur Para-part, Par Dighulia-part | 2459 | 10670 |
| 17 | Kumudini College Para, Munshi Para, Registry Para, Biswas Betka-west | 2128 | 11081 |
| 18 | Kodalia, Sabalia | 2600 | 13168 |
The Bangladeshi government is planning to expand the city to a total area of 81.75 km$^2$.

## Geography and climate

The city of Tangail is in Dhaka Division, Central Bangladesh. The town lies in a low-lying floodplain near the Jamuna River, south of the high plateau of the Madhupur tract. The average elevation of Tangail is 14 meters (49 feet). Tangail experiences a Tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) with a hot, humid tropical wet season (monsoon season) and warm, dry winter with high humidity year-round. The yearly average temperature in Tangail is 27.5 °C, and the average rainfall is 1817 mm.
Climate data for Tangail (1991–2020, extremes 1982-present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30.5 (86.9) | 35.4 (95.7) | 38.4 (101.1) | 40.6 (105.1) | 39.0 (102.2) | 38.4 (101.1) | 37.0 (98.6) | 37.2 (99.0) | 37.5 (99.5) | 37.2 (99.0) | 34.5 (94.1) | 31.0 (87.8) | 40.6 (105.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.8 (74.8) | 27.6 (81.7) | 31.9 (89.4) | 33.8 (92.8) | 33.5 (92.3) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.0 (89.6) | 29.6 (85.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 30.7 (87.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 24.9 (76.8) | 27.7 (81.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.5 (83.3) | 26.9 (80.4) | 22.9 (73.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 25.1 (77.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.6 (61.9) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.1 (75.4) | 19.5 (67.1) | 15.2 (59.4) | 22.0 (71.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) | 7.8 (46.0) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.2 (70.2) | 22.5 (72.5) | 21.8 (71.2) | 17.6 (63.7) | 11.4 (52.5) | 6.8 (44.2) | 5.1 (41.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7 (0.3) | 20 (0.8) | 40 (1.6) | 112 (4.4) | 260 (10.2) | 320 (12.6) | 331 (13.0) | 265 (10.4) | 271 (10.7) | 160 (6.3) | 19 (0.7) | 9 (0.4) | 1,814 (71.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 109 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 74 | 69 | 74 | 79 | 84 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 80 | 81 | 80 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 197.9 | 216.4 | 237.7 | 226.5 | 202.4 | 152.2 | 147.1 | 152.7 | 152.0 | 215.3 | 230.5 | 206.4 | 2,337.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Bangladesh Meteorological Department (humidity 1981–2010) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Religions in Tangail (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 88.11% | 88.11% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 11.80% | 11.80% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.09% | 0.09% |
According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Tangail Paurashava had 37,607 households and a population of 167,412. 30,882 (18.45%) were under 10 years of age. Tangail has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 71.78%, compared to the national average of 59.5%, and a sex ratio of 976 females per 1000 males.

## Sports

At the city's centre, the multipurpose Tangail Stadium regularly hosts sporting events. The stadium has hosted national events.

## Transport

Bangabandhu Bridge, the second longest bridge in Bangladesh, connects Tangail and Sirajganj.
It takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to reach Tangail from Dhaka (about 98 km away) via Kaliakair and Tongi. Several bus lines operate between Tangail and Dhaka's Mohakhali (মহাখালী) bus terminal. The Nirala, Dhaleshwari, Jathika, and High Choice bus lines are among them.
Tangail railway station offers travel to Dhaka and other cities within Bangladesh. The inter-city Ekota Express, Sundarban Express, Rangpur Express, Intercity Tangail Commuter and Sirajganj Express (amongst others) serve the station alongside commuter rail and mail train services.
Tangail Airport was opened in 1967 for agricultural purposes but has been unmaintained since 1976.

## Traditional foods

* Chomchom, is a well-known dessert from Tangail.
* Pineapple

## Parks

Tangail contains numerous parks, including Tangail Poura Uddan (one of the city's most-visited places), DC Lake, SP Park, and Soul Park. The town also contains part of the Madhupur National Park, one of Bangladesh's oldest national parks.

## Education
### Schools

* Bindu Basini Govt. Boys' High School (established in 1880 by zamindar of Santosh of the famous Roy Chowdhury family)
* Bindu Basini Govt. Girls' High School (established in 1882 by zamindar of Santosh of the Roy Chowdhury family)
* Govt. Dhanbari Nawab Institution (Established in 1910 by Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury) famous zamindar of Dhanbari. He was also a founder member of Dhaka University
* Miyavai International School and College, Madhupur (This school was established on 2.2.22 (2 February 2022) by Boro Miya (Miya vai/Rasel Miya) of the famous Miya family of Madhupur.)
* Police Lines High School
* Sristy College Of Tangail
* Tangail Polytechnic
* Santosh Jannabi Govt. High School
* Vivekananda High School
* Madhupur Shaheed Smriti Higher Secondary School & College, Madhupur
* Govt.Rani Bhavani Pilot High School, Madhupur
* A.R.L Memorial School and College,Madhupur
* Belayet Hossain Bahumukhi Uchcha Bidyaloy, Nallapara, Delduar.
* Bharateshwari Homes, Mirzapur
* B.A.F Shaheen College, Pahar Kanchanpur
* Zila Sadar Girls' High School
* Shibnath High School
* P.T.I. High School
* Shaheen School and College
* Town Govt. Primary School
* Tangail Pre–Cadet School
* Bulbul Residential Model School, Tangail Sadar, Tangail
* Athail Shimul High School Ghatail Tangail
* Brammon Kushia Government Primary School, Brammon Kushia, Tangail
* Bararia Suruj Bisweswari High School, Bararia, Tangail
* Apon Pathshala, Tangail
* Ghatail Cantonment Public School & College.
* Suti V.M Pilot High School, Gopalpur

### Higher education

* Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail
* Tangail Medical College, Tangail
* Kumudini Women's Medical College, Mirzapur
* Mirzapur Cadet College
* Major General Mahmudul Hassan Adarsha College
* Sristy College of Tangail
* Madhupur Shahid Smrity Higher Secondary School & College, Madhupur
* Kumudini Government Mohila College
* GRB University, Madhupur (Recommended)
* A.R.L Memorial School and College
* Hazi Giyash Uddin Medical College, Madhupur
* Madhupur Assistant Medical Training Centre
* Govt. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Mohila College
* Tangail Polytechnic Institute
* Vivekananda College
* B.A.F Shaheen College, Pahar Kanchanpur
* Govt. Saadat College, Karatia
* Bangabandhu Textile Engineering College,(BTEC) Kalihati
* Textile Institute of Tangail
* M.M Ali College
* Haji Abul Hossain Institute of Technology

## Notable residents

* Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury, zamindar, founding member of University of Dhaka, education minister of United Bengal
* Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Islamic scholar, political leader, and ex-president of the Awami League.
* Shamsul Huq, the first general secretary of the Awami League.
* Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, the second president of Bangladesh.
* Abdul Mannan, the home and family planning minister (1972–1975), MNA (1970), and MP (1996–2001). He established the Tangail General Hospital, Govt. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib College, and Atia College.
* Qader "Tiger" Siddiqi, Pakistan Army havildar, famed Mukti Bahini leader (decorated Bir Uttom) (MP 1999–2013), and founding leader of Krishak Sramik Janata League.
* Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, member of parliament from Tangail-1
* Soto Monir, member of parliament from Tangail-2
* Manna, film actor and producer.
* Tarana Halim, M.P., film actress