# Satkhira District

Satkhira District (Bengali: সাতক্ষীরা জেলা; lit. 'Seven cucumbers') is a district in southwestern Bangladesh and is part of Khulna Division. It lies along the border with West Bengal, India. It is on the bank of the Arpangachhia River. The largest city and headquarter of this district is Satkhira.

## Administration

The district consists of two municipalities, seven upazilas, 79 union parishads, 8 thanas (police stations) and 1,436 villages.
The upazilas are:
* Satkhira Sadar Upazila
* Assasuni Upazila
* Debhata Upazila
* Tala Upazila
* Kalaroa Upazila
* Kaliganj Upazila
* Shyamnagar Upazila
The two municipalities are Satkhira and Kalaroa.
* Chairman of District Council: Nazrul Islam
* Deputy Commissioner (DC): Mohammad Humayun Kabir

## Geography

Satkhira District has an area of 3,817 square kilometres (1,474 sq mi). It is bordered to the north by Jessore District, on the south by the Bay of Bengal, to the east by Khulna District, and to the west by North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, India.
The annual average maximum temperature reaches 35.5 °C (95.9 °F); minimum temperature is 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). The annual rainfall is 1710 mm (67 in).
The main rivers are the Kopotakhi river across Dorgapur union of Assasuni Upazila, Morichap River, Kholpetua River, Betna River, Raimangal River, Hariabhanga river, Ichamati River, Betrabati River and Kalindi-Jamuna River.

### Climate

Tropical savanna climates have a monthly mean temperature above 18 °C (64 °F) in every month of the year and typically a pronounced dry season, with the driest month having precipitation less than 60mm (2.36 in) of precipitation. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Aw" (tropical savanna climate).
Climate data for Satkhira :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25 (77) | 28 (82) | 33 (91) | 34 (93) | 34 (93) | 33 (91) | 31 (87) | 31 (87) | 32 (89) | 31 (87) | 29 (84) | 26 (78) | 30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12 (53) | 15 (59) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 26 (78) | 26 (78) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 18 (64) | 13 (55) | 21 (69) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7.6 (0.3) | 23 (0.9) | 30 (1.2) | 71 (2.8) | 140 (5.7) | 290 (11.6) | 350 (13.9) | 330 (12.8) | 270 (10.5) | 140 (5.6) | 25 (1) | 7.6 (0.3) | 1,690 (66.5) |
| Source: Weatherbase ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Satkhira District had 566,752 households and a population of 2,196,582 with an average 3.85 people per household. Among the population, 360,699 (16.42%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 575 people per km$^2$. Satkhira District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 75.32%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1009 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 19.67% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 3,865.
Religion in Satkhira District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 84.29% | 84.29% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 15.35% | 15.35% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.36% | 0.36% |
Religion in present-day Satkhira District :
| Religion | 1941$^{:86–87}$ | 1941$^{:86–87}$ | 1981 | 1981 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Religion | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 364,068 | 52.47% | 1,002,481 | 74.00% | 1,247,051 | 78.08% | 1,495,219 | 80.19% | 1,625,782 | 81.86% | 1,851,516 | 84.29% |
| Hinduism | 327,458 | 47.20% | 347,349 | 25.64% | 342,520 | 21.45% | 360,723 | 19.34% | 351,551 | 17.70% | 337,145 | 15.35% |
| Others | 2,310 | 0.33% | 4,832 | 0.36% | 7,607 | 0.47% | 8,762 | 0.47% | 8,626 | 0.44% | 7,921 | 0.36% |
| Total Population | 693,836 | 100% | 1,354,662 | 100% | 1,597,178 | 100% | 1,864,704 | 100% | 1,985,959 | 100% | 2,196,582 | 100% |
Satkhira had a 47% Hindu population in 1941 dominated by Scheduled Castes, with several thanas in the present district having a Hindu majority. During the massive riots in the 1950s and 1960s most of the Hindus there fled to neighboring India. The population of Hindus and Christians has remained constant since 1981, but their percentages have fallen massively. Christians live mainly in Kalaroa and Tala upazilas.

## Economy

Economoy of Satkhira is mainly Agriculture based. But it has diverse opportuniy of economic prosperity. One land port (Bhomra) and several export products make Satkhira as the next properious district of Bangladesh. Most of the peoples of the southern part of Satkhira depend on pisciculture, locally called gher. Main fruits are mango, blackberry, jackfruit, banana, papaya, litchi, coconut and guava. Farms are 86 dairies, 322 poultry farms, 3,046 fisheries, 3,650 shrimp farms, 66 hatcheries and one cattle breeding centre. Export products
* Shrimp
* Mango
* Jute
* Crab
* Handmade Clay Tiles

## Points of interest

Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world, is a World Heritage Site, and covers an area of 5,747 square kilometres (2,219 sq mi).
The region is home to many ancient buildings and temples such as Sultanpur Shahi Mosque (500 years old) and Pir-e-Kamel Kari Hafez Sah-Sufi Jonab Hazrat Maolana Azizur Rahman (Rh) was a Muslim Sufi Saint and local ruler Kalimakhali, assasuni upozila in Satkhira (now in Bangladesh). Attractions also include the mangrove forest at Kaliganj Upazila. This forest, named Basjharia Joarar Ban, is popularly known as the forest of BADHA. The Joarar Ban is a cause of friction between the Bangladesh and Indian border.

## Infrastructure
### Land ports

India-Bangladesh (Bhomra land port): 200 yards distant BGP camp from the main port. The Bhomra land port is the second largest in Bangladesh. The Bhomra land customs station was inaugurated in 1996.

### Transport

Roads and highways are Satkhira-Khulna, Satkhira-Jessore, Satkhira-Assasuni-Ghola, Satkhira-Kaligonj-Shyamnagar. Satkhira-Kaligonj-Shyamnagar is very bad due to the conductor's corruption.

## Education

Recently established one medical college, 79 colleges, one primary teacher's training institute, 421 high schools, 41 junior high schools, 259 madrassas, and 822 government primary schools. Some of the notable educational institutions are:
* Satkhira University of Science and Technology
* Satkhira Govt. Polytechnic Institute
* Satkhira Government College
* Satkhira City College
* Satkhira Medical College
* Satkhira Government Girls’ High School
* Satkhira Government High School
* Satkhira Government Mahila College
* Kaliganj Govt. College
* Satkhira Day-Night College
* Kalaroa Govt. College
* Jhaudanga High School

## Digital Satkhira

In 1994, a few young people started a computer training center as a business and prepared some talents who later started other computer businesses and ultimately created the idea of digital Satkhira. Slowly the computer replaced manual machines in the office, banks, and other institutions. Schools and colleges started recruiting computer teachers. Many more young people started computer businesses. Manual (letter) printing presses switched to offset printing using the computer.
In 1999, the Computer Association of Satkhira was established with 30 members. Computer Association of Satkhira regularly organizes computer fairs in various locations and offers basic and advanced Computer Trainings to increase ICT awareness and to introduce freelancing. Some of the computer fairs were supported by Bangladesh Computer Samity with the presence of Mustafa Jabbar, the current ICT minister.

## Notable people

* A. F. M. Entaz Ali
* Manoj Mitra
* Habibul Islam Habib, ex-MP, Satkhira-1. Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
* Pori Moni, actress
* Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah
* AFM Ruhal Haque
* Soumya Sarkar
* Mustafizur Rahman
* Nilufar Yasmin
* Sabina Yasmin
* Amin Khan (actor)
* Moushumi
* Moushumi Hamid
* Falguni Hamid
* Tariq Anam Khan
* Afzal Hossain
* Rani Sarker
* Muhammad Wajed Ali
* Sikandar Abu Jafar
* Sabina Khatun
* Masura Parvin
* S.M Alauddin
* M.R. Khan
* Abu Yousuf MD. Abdullah, Academic and Entrepreneur.

## khira Government Hospital/Medical College

| 1 | Satkhira Sadar Hospital |
| 2 | Satkhira Medical College & Hospital |
| 3 | Upazila Health Complex, Debhata |
| 4 | Upazila Health Complex, Kaliganj |
| 5 | Upazila Health Complex, Shyamnagar |
| 6 | Upazila Health Complex, Kalaroa |
| 7 | Upazila Health Complex, Tala |
| 8 | Upazila Health Complex, Assasuni |

## Private Hospital/Clinic

| 1 | Anwara Memorial Clinic |
| 2 | Bushra Hospital |
| 3 | Care Clinic |
| 4 | CB Hospital Limited. |
| 5 | City Clinic |
| 6 | Doctors Lab & Hospital (Pvt.) Ltd. |
| 7 | DR. MAHTABUDDIN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL |
| 8 | Farhan Clinic |
| 9 | Grameen Eye Hospital, Satkhira |
| 10 | HEART FOUNDATION AND INTENSIVE CARE HOSPITAL |
| 11 | Islami Bank Community Hospital Satkhira Ltd. |
| 12 | Jhaudanga Piles and Surgical Clinic |
| 13 | NAZMUN CLINIC |
| 14 | Sangram Medical Hospital (Pvt.) |
| 15 | Sanjana nursing home & clinic |
| 16 | Satata Clinic |
| 17 | Satkhira National Hospital |
| 18 | Satkhira Trauma & Orthopaedics Care Centre. |

## Private Diagnostic Centre

| 1 | Anwara Memorial Diagnostic Centre |
| 2 | Bushra Diagnostic Center |
| 3 | Care Diagnostic Centre |
| 4 | CB Hospital Limited |
| 5 | Digital Diagnostic & CT Scan Center |
| 06 | Islami Bank Community Hospital Satkhira Ltd. |