# Shariatpur District

Shariatpur District (Bengali: শরিয়তপুর জেলা) is a district in Dhaka Division of central Bangladesh. Shariatpur is named after the Islamic revivalist, Haji Shariatullah.

## Etymology

Shariatpur was named after Haji Shariatullah (1781–1840), who was the founder of Faraizi Movement and an eminent Islamic reformer/revivalist during British Raj.

## History

It was established as a district on 1 March 1984.
In 1971, the Pakistan army in collaboration with their local collaborators conducted mass killing and plundering; they also set many houses of the district on fire. During Bangladesh War of Independence, a number of encounters were held in Shariatpur Sadar Upazila between pro-independence militants and the Pakistan army in which about 313 Pakistani troops were killed. Numerous pro-independence fighters were killed in two encounters and one frontal battle with the Pak army in Bhedarganj Upazila. Nine pro-independence fighters including Ahsanul Hoque and Abdul Wahab were killed in an encounter with the Pakistan army at a place on the southern side of Damudya College, pro-independence militants and Mujib Bahini jointly conducted attack on the Pakistan army by using guerrilla warfare tactics in the upazila. Five fighters were killed in an encounter with the Pakistan army in Gosairhat Upazila. The fighters of Naria raided the Naria Police Station and captured all the arms and ammunitions of the thana. In retaliation, the Pakistan army sacked the nearby villages. During Bangladesh War of Independence, a number of encounters were held between pro-independence fighters and the Pakistan army in Zanjira Upazila in which a number of pro-independence militants were killed.
In recent years, a large number of people from this district have migrated to Italy for work. A huge number of Bangladeshi populations in Italy comes from the Shariatpur district.

## Geography

Shariatpur District is bounded on the north by Munshiganj District, Barisal District on the south, Chandpur District on the east, Madaripur District on the west. Main rivers are Padma, Meghna, Palong, Jayanti, Kirtinasha, and Dharmaganj.
Area of Shariatpur district is 1,181.53 km$^2$ (456.19 sq mi). It consists of 6 upazilas, 6 municipalities, 65 Union Parishad, 616 Mouza, 1243 villages, 213,677 households.

## Demography

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Shariatpur District had 308,964 households and a population of 1,294,562. The population density was 1,103 people per km$^2$. Shariatpur District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 72.90%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1083 females per 1000 males. 265,911 (20.54%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. Approximately, 23.90% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 438.
Religions in Shariatpur District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 96.68% | 96.68% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 3.30% | 3.30% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.02% | 0.02% |
Religion in present-day Shariatpur district :
| Religion | 1941$^{:100–101}$ | 1941$^{:100–101}$ | 1981 | 1981 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Religion | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 490,991 | 76.77% | 803,214 | 94.98% | 910,568 | 95.55% | 1,041,584 | 96.24% | 1,114,301 | 96.41% | 1,251,521 | 96.68% |
| Hinduism | 148,551 | 23.23% | 42,191 | 4.99% | 41,013 | 4.30% | 40,491 | 3.74% | 41,330 | 3.58% | 42,724 | 3.30% |
| Others | 34 | 0.01% | 257 | 0.03% | 1,440 | 0.15% | 225 | 0.02% | 193 | 0.01% | 317 | 0.02% |
| Total Population | 639,576 | 100% | 845,662 | 100% | 953,021 | 100% | 1,082,300 | 100% | 1,155,824 | 100% | 1,294,562 | 100% |
Muslims make up 96.68% and Hindus 3.30% of the population. The Muslim population has constantly increased while the Hindu population has stayed relatively constant.

## Administration

There are six upazilas (sub-districts) under this district, namely:
* Shariatpur Sadar Upazila
* Damudya Upazila
* Naria Upazila
* Zanjira Upazila
* Bhedarganj Upazila
* Gosairhat Upazila

## Education

There are 772 primary schools, 19 lower secondary schools, 83 secondary schools and 42 madrasas in Shariatpur. There are also 3 public and 13 private colleges, 1 polytechnic Institute, 1 vocational school and college, 1 private university and one private medical college.