# Jessore District

Jessore District, officially Jashore District (Bengali: যশোর জেলা; Bengali pronunciation:), is a district in southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by India to the west, Khulna and Satkhira districts to the south, Khulna and Narail to the east, and Jhenaidah and Magura districts to the north. Jessore is the capital of the district. Jessore is the home of the ancestors of the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. Jashore was the first independent district of Bangladesh in 1971.
Jessore district was established in 1781. It consists of 8 municipalities, 8 upazilas, 92 unions, 1,329 mouzas, 1,477 villages and 120 mahallas. The upazilas are: Abhaynagar Upazila, Bagherpara Upazila, Chaugachha Upazila, Jessore Sadar Upazila, Jhikargachha Upazila, Keshabpur Upazila, Manirampur Upazila, and Sharsha Upazila.
The district produces a variety of crops. Date sugar, called patali, is made from the sap of locally grown date trees. It is cooked, thickened and crystallised using a traditional method. Patali is mainly produced in Khajura, but many date trees are cultivated in the Keshabpur Upazila and Manirampur Upazila areas.

## History

Jessore district once belonged to the ancient Janapada of Vanga (বঙ্গ) Janapada. In the 15th century, Jessore was a part of the kingdom of Pratapaditya. It was then conquered by the Mughals.
British administration was fully established in Jessore district in 1781 when the governor-general ordered the opening of a court at Murali near Jessore. In 1947, Jessore was divided between India and Pakistan. Except for the Bangaon and Gaighata thanas, the district became part of East Pakistan.
The Bengali soldiers stationed at Jessore cantonment mutinied against the Pakistan Army on 29 March 1971. They were led by Captain Hafiz Uddin and Lieutenant Anwar in an uprising where 300 soldiers were killed. The rebels killed 50 Pakistani soldiers at Chanchara.

## Geography

Jessore District encompasses 2606.94 km$^2$. It is bounded by Jhenaidah and Magura districts at the north, Satkhira and Khulna districts at the south, Narail and Khulna districts at the east, and North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts of West Bengal of India at the west. Major rivers that flow through this region are the Bhairab, Teka, Hari, Sree, Aparbhadra, Harihar, Buribhadra, Chitra, Betna, Kopotakkho, and the Mukteshwari.

### Climate

Annual average temperature range from 15.4 to 34.6 °C (59.7 to 94.3 °F). The annual rainfall is 1,537 millimetres (60.5 in).
Climate data for Jessore :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.9 (73.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 33.4 (92.1) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.1 (100.6) | 32.6 (90.7) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.1 (89.8) | 31.5 (88.7) | 29.2 (84.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 31.3 (88.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.4 (59.7) | 19.3 (66.7) | 26.1 (79.0) | 34.6 (94.3) | 33.0 (91.4) | 29.2 (84.6) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.7 (83.7) | 27.2 (81.0) | 23.1 (73.6) | 17.8 (64.0) | 26.0 (78.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.7 (53.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 17.0 (62.6) | 10.6 (51.1) | 20.7 (69.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 11 (0.4) | 19 (0.7) | 40 (1.6) | 77 (3.0) | 168 (6.6) | 314 (12.4) | 304 (12.0) | 293 (11.5) | 245 (9.6) | 144 (5.7) | 28 (1.1) | 8 (0.3) | 1,651 (64.9) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 46 | 35 | 36 | 44 | 60 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 74 | 70 | 51 | 44 | 57 |
| Source: National news papers ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Jessore District had 798,032 households and a population of 3,076,144 with an average 3.79 people per household. Among the population, 510,121 (16.58%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,180 people per km$^2$. Jessore District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 77.07%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1018 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 23.39% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 5,386.
Religions in Jessore District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 89.62% | 89.62% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 10.19% | 10.19% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.19% | 0.19% |
Religion in present-day Jessore District :
| Religion | 1941$^{:84–85}$ | 1941$^{:84–85}$ | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Religion | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 349,554 | 62.44% | 1,427,885 | 83.47% | 1,822,747 | 86.51% | 2,170,973 | 87.84% | 2,446,162 | 88.48% | 2,756,729 | 89.62% |
| Hinduism | 208,647 | 37.27% | 277,764 | 16.24% | 278,315 | 13.21% | 293,841 | 11.89% | 310,184 | 11.22% | 313,592 | 10.19% |
| Others | 1,644 | 0.29% | 4,959 | 0.29% | 5,934 | 0.28% | 6,740 | 0.27% | 8,201 | 0.30% | 5,823 | 0.19% |
| Total Population | 559,845 | 100% | 1,710,608 | 100% | 2,106,996 | 100% | 2471,554 | 100% | 2,764,547 | 100% | 3,076,144 | 100% |
The Muslim population is the majority religion, while Hindus, the largest minority, have been growing much more slowly. There is a community of around 5,300 Christians in the district, mainly in Jhikargachha and Jessore Sadar upazilas.
The main occupations are agriculture 39.84%, agricultural labour 24.13%, other wage labour 2.68%, commerce 11.99%, service 8.66%, industry 1.41%, transport 3.11% and others 8.18%.
Jessore District's administrative framework was established in 1781. It consists of the following eight upazilas
| Upazila | Area in km$^2$ | 2011 Census population |
| Abhaynagar | 247.21 | 262,434 |
| Bagherpara | 308.29 | 216,897 |
| Chaugachha | 269.31 | 231,370 |
| Jhikargachha | 307.96 | 298,908 |
| Keshabpur | 258.44 | 253,291 |
| Jessore Sadar | 435.22 | 742,898 |
| Manirampur | 444.20 | 417,421 |
| Sharsha | 336.28 | 341,328 |
The upazilas are further divided into 9 municipalities, 36 wards, 92 unions, 1329 mouzas, 1434 villages and 120 mahallas.

## Economy
### Benapol Land Port

The main factor of the economics of Jessore is Benapol Land Port which is situated in Sharsha Upazila. Much of the import and export trading between Bangladesh and India is done through this port. On the other side of the border is Petrapole. The port is important for making government import taxes.

## Arts and culture

There were 21 cinema halls in the district in 2000. As of 2021, only six survive: four in smaller towns, and two in the city of Jessore. One of the latter, Tosbir Mohol, once the country's second oldest theater with a revolving stage, is being restored for stage productions. The other, Monihar, the largest cinema hall in Bangladesh when it was built in 1983, with 1400 seats, reported record revenues in 2022.
Jessore-based theater troupe Bibartan has staged more than 4,000 performances (stage plays, street theater, and works for children) since their founding in 1989.
Jessore Institute Public Library, established in 1854, is one of the oldest public libraries in the Indian subcontinent.

## Sports

Football and cricket are the two most popular sports in Jessore. Cricketers from the district represent the South Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League. In football, Jessore most notably won the National Football Championship in 1976. Notable footballers from the district include Mannaf Rabby, Kowsar Ali, and Rabby Hossen Rahul. Lutfor Rahman, a member of the Shadhin Bangla football team, also hailed from the district. In 1973, the Jessore Zonal football team hosted a historic game against Dinamo Minsk from the Soviet Union, which ended in a 0–9 defeat. The Shamsul Huda Stadium, formerly known as the Jessore Stadium, serves as the district's main venue for football and cricket. The stadium notably hosted the Pakistan National Football Championship in 1968. The Shams-Ul-Huda Football Academy, operated by the Jessore District Sports Association (JDSA), is one of the most notable football academies in the country.

## Points of interest

* Sagardari is the birthplace of the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta. His large villa consists of a huge garden, a small museum and houses. The front gate has a solid sculpture work. The Kobodak River is at a stone's throw away.
* Bharat Bhaina (locally called Bharter Dewl) is the relics of ancient Buddhist Temple of the 6th century at Keshabpur
* Mirzanagar Hammamkhana is a structure of Mughal's at Keshabpur
* Dhalijhara Buddha Bihar is one of the outstretched and unique Buddhist Temple of the 8th century among the South -Asia at Keshabpur
* Birthplace and residence of Dhiraj Bhattacharya who was a film actor of undivided India and litterateur mostly known for his two autobiographies:Jakhan Police Chhilam and Jakhan Nayak Chhilam. He is also popular for Mathin's Well at Teknaf where a tribal girl, Mathin suicide herself for him after his return to Kolkata at Keshabpur
* Sheikhpura 3 Domed Mosque where poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta learned Persian language at Keshabpur
* Khan Jahan Ali's Dighi at Keshabpur
* Marshina Baor, a proposed ecopark at Keshabpur
* The Capital City of flower in Bangladesh, Godkhali Jhikargachha Upazila...
* Katakhal Bangabandhu Park Jhikargachha Upazila...
* At Abhaynagar Upazila, there is a small village called Dhoolgraam. It once had a magnificent complex of 17 Hindu temples, but only one remains today. Most of the temples were destroyed by the Bhairab River. A terracotta design can be seen all over the temple. It is considered a very holy place by Bengali Hindus.
* In Vaatnogor at Abhaynagar Upazila, ruins of eleven temple complex, dedicated to Shiva, remains. Though the central temple is partially destroyed, the site still shows the majesty of Bengal's glorious past.
* A terracotta plaque bearing the image of Mallinath, a female tirthankar (saint) of the Jain religion, was found at the Mound of Dam Dam Peer in Manirampur Upazila. Mound of Dam Dam Peer in Manirampur Upazila. It is believed to be the most ancient relic discovered from this part of the world. The Department at Khulna said that the plaque is at least 1800 years old. It is currently kept at the Khulna Museum.
* Besides, "Neelkuthi" at village Joypur & "Kachari Ghar" are important archaeological sites in Manirampur
* Imam Bara, at Murolir Mor beside the Dhaka-Khulna Highway, is a historical building constructed by Hazi Muhammad Mohsin.
* The Jessore Collectorate Building, in Doratana, is one of the oldest buildings in Jessore.
* Near Jessore Sadar Upazila, Hamidpur has an ancient mosque, known as "Shani mosque." It is an example of the high architecture of Muslim Sultani period.
* Godkhali Kalibari
* Panchpukur Baganchara
* Binodia Park
* Upashahar Park
* Jessore Boat-club
* Jess-garden Park
* Rajgonj Baor
* Vobodaho Bil
* Gazir Dorgah
* The Front View of Jashore AirportJessore Airport, Jessore Cantonment and Air Force Base Matiur Rahman.
* Avaynogor's Khanjahan Ali Jame Mosque
* Jamidar Bari at Shridhorpur
* Konnadah Archajjo Baor at Sarsha
* Benapole port
* Sonanodia Baor
* Fakhir Tika at Godkhali
* Shimulia Mission (Saheb Bari)
* Grave of Birshrestho Lance Nayek Noor Muhammad Sheikh
* Khatura Baor
* Moktarpur Lalu Babu Jamidar Bari
Solo Khada Jamidar Bari, House and birthplace of Ratna Gorva awarded by British Govt. and her son former Health minister of India Dr. Nil Ratan Dhor and his brother Jebon Ratan Dhor

## Transport

Jessore has well connected road, rail and air transport links to other major cities and water transport links to Khulna and Mongla of Bangladesh. It boasts one of the first rail networks established in the Indian subcontinent.

### Road

Jessore is located 270 km south west from Dhaka capital of Bangladesh by road and 60 km north from Khulna . It is also connected with the Indian city of Kolkata which is 120 km west through Benapole land port via AH1. The road from Jessore to Kolkata is a part of the historic Jessore Road.

### Railway

Jessore Junction railway station is a major junction on the broad gauge-based network of the Western Railway. The network has links extended into Indian territory. Service linking the capital Dhaka and Kolkata April 2008. As well as in 2019, Both India And Bangladesh government agreed to 4 minute stop in Jessore Junction railway station through Bandhan Express which connect Khulna to Kolkata.

### Air

The Jessore Airport, near the city, is an airfield for the Bangladesh Air Force. One of the oldest airfield in Bangladesh and the subcontinent. Alongside military service, its runway caters to seven commercial flights daily which includes US Bangla, Novo and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, for domestic flights.

## Education
### Universities

* Jashore University of Science and Technology

### Medical colleges

* Jashore Medical College
* Army Medical College, Jashore

### Colleges

There are 56 master's level, degree (honors), and degree (pass) colleges in the district:
* Michael Madhusudan College, Jashore
* A.B.C.D College
* Amdabad College Jessore
* Bagharpara Degree College
* Bagharpara Mohila College
* Bankra Degree College
* Benapol Degree College, Sharsha
* Bhabadaha Mahavidyalaya
* Bhoyrab Adarsha Mahabyddalya
* Cantonment College, Jessore
* Chowgacha Government College, Chowgacha, Jessore
* Chowgacha Mridhapara Mohila College, Chowgacha, Jessore
* Dr. Abdur Razzak Municipal College, Jessore
* Dr: Afil Uddin College
* Fazila Tunnesa Mohila Degree College
* Gabkhali Magura United College
* Ganganandapur Degree College, Jhikargacha
* Govt. Keshabpur College, Keshabpur
* Government Bir Shrestha Noor Mohammad College
* Hamidpur Al Hera College
* Hazi Abdul Motaleb Mahila College
* Hizaldanga Shahid Flight. Lt. Masud Memorial College
* Jessore College
* Jessore Government City College Jessore
* Jessore Government Mohila College, Jossore
* Jhikargacha Mohila Degree College, Jhikargacha
* Kapatackha Shammilani Degree College
* Kazi Nazrul Islam Degree College, Jessore
* Mashiahati Degree College, Jessore
* Mirjapur Adarsha Mohila Degree College Khajura
* Monirampur Government Degree College
* Monirampur Mahila Degree College
* Mukterswari Degree College
* Muktijoddha College, Rudrapur
* Naopara Model College
* Narikel Baria College
* Natun Hat Public College
* Navaran College
* Noapara Mohila College
* Noapara College, Abhaynagar
* Pakshia Ideal College, Sharsha
* Panjia Mahabiddalaya
* Rajganj Mohabiddalaya
* Rupdia Shaheed Smarity College
* S.M. Habibur Rahman Pouro College, Chowgacha
* Sammilani Degree College
* Shaheed Moshiur Rahman Degree College, Jhikargacha
* Shahid Sirajuddin Hossain Government College
* Shammalini Girls Degree College, Jhikargacha
* Shimulia Collage, Jhikargacha
* Singia Adarsha Degree College, Basundia
* Solua Adarsha Degree College
* Talbaria Degre College
* Upashahar Degree College, Jessore
* Upashahar Mohila Degree College, Jessore
* Vangura Adarsha Degree College
* Raghunath Nagar Mohabiddalaya

## Media
### newspapers and magazines
#### List of daily newspapers

* Daily Runner
* Daily Noapara
* Daily Kalyan
* Daily Purobi
* Daily Deshitaishy (দৈনিক দেশহিতৈষী)
* Daily Sfulingo (দৈনিক স্ফুলিঙ্গ)
* Daily Jessore
* Daily Loksamaj
* Daily Gramer kagoj
* Daily Pravat Feri
* Daily Samajer Kagoj
* Daily Spandan
* Daily Gramer Kantha
* Daily Joruri Shangbad

#### List of weekly magazines

* Weekly Sonali Din
* Weekly Nawapara
* Weekly Banglalok
* Weekly Manabadhikar Sangbad
* Weekly Bojro kolom
* Weekly Sharsha Barta
* Weekly Prattohiki
* Weekly Ganomanos

#### List of Fortnightly

* Mot-Motantar

#### List of monthly magazines

* Monthly Ghumonter Dak
* Monthly Gramer Sangbad
* Monthly Photo Report

#### List of literary magazines

* Bangla Literature
* Ranoveree by Ahmad Ferdous
* চেতনা।

## Notable people

* Sanatana Goswami, sage, writer
* Rupa Goswami, Bengali poet, philosopher and writer
* Maharaja Pratapaditya, warrior, adhipati or ruler of Kingdom of Jessore
* Michael Madhusudan Datta, Bengali poet and playwright
* Manomohan Bose, Bengali poet, playwright and journalist
* Jnanadanandini Devi, Bengali writer, social reformer, pioneer in women's movement in India
* Prafulla Chandra Ray, Bengali chemist, philanthropist and otherwise known as father of modern chemical science in India
* Sisir Kumar Ghosh, Founder of Amrita Bazar Patrika, fighter in Independence Struggle of India
* Kali Nath Roy, nationalist journalist and the chief editor of the newspaper The Tribune
* Saroj Dutta, Indian political activist, poet, editor of Amrit Bazar Patrika
* Jadunath Majumdar, Rai Bahadur, Journalist, writer, Member of Bengal Legislative Assembly
* N. G. Majumdar, Indian archaeologist
* P. C. Bose, fighter, labour activist and politician
* Kanak Mukherjee, political activist, women's movement pioneer in India
* Farida Akhtar, popularly known as Babita, Bangladeshi Film actress
* Dinesh Chandra Chattopadhyay, writer and editor
* Haridasa Thakur, Vaishnab saint, acarya of the Holy Name
* Jatin Bala, poet and Dalit author
* Ahmed Ali Enayetpuri, Islamic scholar, member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
* Mashiur Rahman, politician of the Awami League
* Munshi Mohammad Meherullah, poet, Islamic scholar and social reformer
* Md Rabby Hossen Rahul, Bangladeshi footballer, Bangladesh football team
* Kowsar Ali, Bangladeshi footballer and field hockey player, Bangladesh football team and Bangladesh hockey team
* Syed Rasel, Bangladeshi cricketer, Bangladesh cricket team
* Iqbal Quadir, founder of Grameenphone
* M. Shamsher Ali, Bangladeshi astrophysicist
* Jiban Ratan Dhar, politician, army officer
* ASHK Sadek, former Education Minister of Bangladesh
* Mohammad Moniruzzaman, writer, poet, professor, fighter and lyricist
* [[Mohammad Rafiquzzaman], lyricist
* Paran Bandopadhyay, Indian film and television actor
* Mustafa Monwar, painter, sculptor, artist
* S. M. Imdadul Hoque, Bangladesh Army officer who fought and died in the Bangladesh war of seperation and was posthumously awarded Bir Uttom, the second-highest military award in Bangladesh
* Kazi Kamrul Hassan, Bangladesh Navy commodore and MD of Khulna Shipyard
* Champa, actress, model
* Kishori Mohan Bandyopadhyay, Bengali scientist, social worker and fighter
* Latifur Rahman, 10th Chief Justice of Bangladesh and the 2nd Chief Adviser of Bangladesh
* Harendranath Munshi, Indian independence activist