# Chandpur District

Chandpur District (Bengali: চাঁদপুর জেলা) is a district located in Chattogram Division of Bangladesh. It was part of Comilla District until 15 February 1984.

## History

During the rule of the Baro-Bhuiyans, this region was occupied by Chand Ray, the Zamindar of Bikrampur and son of Kedar Ray. According to historian J. M. Sengupta, the region was named Chandpur, following the name of Chand Ray. On the other hand, others say that the name of this region comes from Chand Faqir of Purindapur mahalla of Chandpur, Bangladesh. It is said that an administrator named Shah Ahmed Chand came here from Delhi in the fifteenth century and established a river port.
In 1779 AD, Major James Rennel, a British surveyor, drew a map of Bengal during the British rule and included an obscure town called Chandpur. At that time, there were offices and courts at a place called Narsinghpur (which has now sunk) south of Chandpur. The confluence of the Padma and the Meghna was about 60 miles south-west of the present place. This area has now disappeared due to the game of breaking the Meghna river.
The first Chandpur subdivision was formed in 1878 as a result of administrative reorganization during the British rule. On 1 October 1896, Chandpur city was declared as a municipality. It was declared as Chandpur district on 15 February 1984.

## Geography

The Geological formation of Chandpur was taken place in Pleistocene and Holocene Era. Geographical history of Chandpur was found in the East-Indian country-map of Perguitar. In the map, south to Bangladesh, Sagornooper, to the north Pragjyotish and the Eastern plain beside hills was known as ‘Kiratas.’ The then Red River (Brammhaputra of today) borne alluvial soil contributed the formation of ‘Kiratas’ and Comilla was under it. That is Chandpur was under ‘Kiratas.’ In the map of Tomas Water, a land named ‘Srikhetra’ was shown to the south of the combined course of both the Titas and Gomati (probably). It is guessed that Chandpur and the west part of Noakhali were under ‘Srikhetra.’ In the map of Jean de Brosse in 1560, ‘Tropo’ was shown by river banks. This ‘Tropo’ was actually Tripura or Comilla region. That is, Chandpur was a part of Tripura. In the map of Portuguese sailor Sanson de Abevil in 1652, Bander, a place was marked where there was a big river port. This port was actually Chandpur. In 1779, English surveyor Major James Rennel drew a map where not only Tripura, but also Chandpur and Comilla were rightly spotted.

## Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Chandpur District had 635,431 households and a population of 2,635,748 with an average 4.09 people per household. Among the population, 545,365 (20.69%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,602 people per km$^2$. Chandpur District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 78.23%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1144 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 26.23% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 2,863.
Religions in Chandpur District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 94.41% | 94.41% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.03% | 0.03% |
Religion in present-day Chandpur District :
| Religion | 1941$^{:102–103}$ | 1941$^{:102–103}$ | 1981 | 1981 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Religion | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 855,937 | 79.99% | 1,646,304 | 91.63% | 1,881,130 | 92.56% | 2,124,397 | 93.54% | 2,269,246 | 93.93% | 2,488,435 | 94.41% |
| Hinduism | 213,022 | 19.91% | 149,125 | 8.30% | 145,871 | 7.18% | 145,003 | 6.38% | 145,551 | 6.02% | 146,524 | 5.56% |
| Others | 1,069 | 0.10% | 1,348 | 0.08% | 5,448 | 0.26% | 1,829 | 0.08% | 1,221 | 0.05% | 789 | 0.03% |
| Total Population | 1,070,028 | 100% | 1,796,777 | 100% | 2,032,449 | 100% | 2,271,229 | 100% | 2,416,018 | 100% | 2,635,748 | 100% |
Muslims make up 94.41% of the population, while Hindus are 5.56% of the population. The Hindu population has remained relatively constant at 145,000 while its percentage has decreased.

## Administrative subdivisions
### Upazilas

Chandpur District is divided into the following sub-districts (upazilas):
* Chandpur Sadar Upazila
* Faridganj Upazila
* Haimchar Upazila
* Hajiganj Upazila
* Kachua Upazila
* Matlab Dakshin Upazila
* Matlab Uttar Upazila
* Shahrasti Upazila

## Education

* Chandpur Science & Technology University
* Chandpur Government College
* Chandpur Polytechnic Institute
* Chandpur Medical College
* Hasan Ali Government High School
* Al-AMIN Academy School and College
* Matlabganj J. B. Pilot High School
* Sojatpur Degree College
* Nandalalpur Samadia High School
* Matlab Government Degree College
* Nayergaon High School
* Hajigonj Model Government College
* Chhenger Char Government High School
* Durgapur J.K High School
* Matripith Government Girls High School

## Notable residents

* Mohammad Abdullah, politician and academic
* Wahiduddin Ahmed, academic
* Shamsul Alam, State Minister of Planning
* Abul Kalam Azad, businessman
* Kabir Bakul, lyricist and journalist
* Amena Begum, a former Member of Parliament of East Pakistan
* Nurjahan Begum, female journalist
* Abidur Reza Chowdhury (1872–1961), politician and educationist
* Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, former Prime Minister
* Humayun Kabir Dhali, author and journalist
* Dildar, actor
* Sabnam Faria, film and drama actress and model
* G. M. Fazlul Haque, politician
* Mohammad Anwar Hossain, army officer
* Neamat Imam, author
* Monirul Islam, artist
* Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir, academic and writer
* Mahmudul Hasan Joy, cricketer
* Shantanu Kaiser, poet and essayist
* Janab Ali Majumdar, Bengali politician
* Abu Naser Muhammad Ehsanul Haque Milan, politician
* Dipu Moni, former social welfare minister
* Mohammad Nasiruddin, journalist
* Tania Sultana Popy, actress
* Rezaul Karim Reza, footballer
* Nurul Amin Ruhul, also known as Ruhul Bhai, politician
* Shykh Seraj, journalist, media personality and agriculture development activist
* Farida Zaman, artist and illustrator
* Abul Hossain, footballer
* Nurul Haque Manik, footballer
* Mostafa Hossain Mukul, footballer