# Meghna Division

Meghna Division (Bengali: মেঘনা বিভাগ; in reference to the Meghna River), also known as Cumilla Division (Bengali: কুমিল্লা বিভাগ), is a proposed administrative division within Bangladesh for the north-western parts of the existing Chittagong Division, comprising Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, and Laxmipur Districts of Chittagong Division. The headquarter of the division would be in Comilla. It covers the south-easternmost areas of the country, with a total area of 12,848.53 km$^2$ (4,960.85 sq mi) and a population at the 2011 census of 16,708,000.

## Terminology and naming dispute

Various terms are used to describe the different (and sometimes overlapping) geographical and political areas of the proposed Meghna division. In brief, the main terms and their simple explanations are as follows:
* Geographical terms:
* Samatata (or Samatat) (Bengali: সমতট) was an ancient geopolitical division of Bengal. Greater Cumilla and Noakhali region were within the division of Samatata. Geographically, the proposed Meghna division is made up of two former greater districts of Bengal province– Cumilla and Noakhali.
** Greater Noakhali (Bengali: নোয়াখালী): The ancient name of Noakhali is Bhulua. The Noakhali district was created by the British Indian Government in 1787. It included the Sub-divisions of Lakshmipur and Feni which eventually became separate districts in 1984.
** Greater Comilla (Bengali: কুমিল্লা): Established as the Tippera or Tipperah district of Bengal by the British in 1790 and later renamed as Comilla in 1960. It included the Sub-divisions of Brahmanbaria and Chandpur which eventually became separate districts in 1984.
* Roshanbad (or Rowshanabad) (Bengali: রসানবাদ): (roughly equating to the proposed Cumilla Division, excluding Rangamati Hill District). It was a district level administrative unit (Chakla) in Bengal Subah during Mughal period.

## History

The undivided Comilla district region was once under ancient Gangaridai, Samatata and Pundra Kingdom of Bengal. The region came under the control of Gauda Kingdom after the fall of Gupta rule in 6th century. Lalmai Mainamati was ruled by Khadga dynasty (seventh century to early eighth century AD), Deva dynasty (eighth century AD) and Chandra dynasty (during tenth and mid-eleventh century AD). After the reign of Chandras, the region was ruled by Hindu Varman, Sena and Deva dynasty in the early mediaeval period. Later the region was joined with Twipra Kingdom in the mediaeval period. In 1732, it became the center of the Bengal-backed domain of Jagat Manikya.
The Peasants Movement against the king of Tripura in 1764, which originally formed under the leadership of Shamsher Gazi. It came under the rule of East India Company in 1765 and was established as Tippera district (also known as Chakla Roshanbad) in 1790. Later, it was reorganized in three phases into six districts. The undivided Noakhali District was established in 1868 as a renaming of the Bhola District, which the British founded on 29 March 1822. It headquarters was in the town of Noakhali until the town vanished in the river-bed in 1951, as a result of the Meghna River erosion. A new headquarters for the Noakhali District was then established at Maijdee.
On 14 February 2017, a new division was proposed to be created comprising the Greater Comilla and Noakhali regions, effectively named Maynamati. The "Maynamati" name was controversial and therefore protested by Comilla residents the following day. The proposed name was later changed to Meghna on 22 November 2022, after the Meghna River that flows through the region. Then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clarified earlier on 21 October 2021 that she does not want a division named "Comilla", or any division starting with the "Ku" syllable, during the inauguration ceremony of the Awami League office in the city, as Mostaq's name was associated with Comilla according to her. Despite this, the name change to "Meghna" saw mixed reactions. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party stated that the AL government was imposing its decisions onto the people, and would rename the division to Comilla once they are elected in the 2024 general election. The proposal was postponed on 27 November. Later on 30 November 2024, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud announced the resuming of the establishment of the division, this time using the Comilla name.

## Administrative districts

The Division will be subdivided into six districts (zilas) and thence into 59 sub-districts (upazilas). The six districts listed below comprise the north-western portion (37.6%) of the present Chittagong Division, while the remaining five districts (zilas) comprise the south-eastern portion (62.4%) being separated by the lower (or Bangladeshi) stretch of the Feni River.
| Name | Capital | Area (km$^2$) | Population 1991 Census | Population 2001 Census | Population 2011 Census |
| Brahmanbaria District | Brahmanbaria | 1,927.11 | 2,141,745 | 2,398,254 | 2,840,498 |
| Cumilla District | Cumilla | 3,085.17 | 2,132,666 | 2,495,539 | 5,387,288 |
| Chandpur District | Chandpur | 1,704.06 | 2,032,449 | 2,271,229 | 2,416,018 |
| Lakshmipur District | Laxmipur | 1,440.39 | 1,312,337 | 1,489,901 | 1,729,188 |
| Noakhali District | Noakhali | 4,202.87 | 2,217,134 | 2,577,244 | 3,108,083 |
| Feni District | Feni | 990.36 | 1,096,745 | 1,240,384 | 1,437,371 |
| Total Division | 6 | 13,349.96 | 12,833,076 | 14,572,551 | 16,918,446 |

## Demographics

The division would have a population of 16,918,446. 16,008,777 (94.62%) are Muslims, 899,286 (5.32%) Hindus.