# Pirojpur District

Pirojpur District (Bengali: পিরোজপুর জেলা) is a district in south-western Bangladesh. It is a part of Barisal Division.
বাংলার স্বাধীন নবাব আলিবর্দি খানের আমলে এ অঞ্চলে ফিরোজ সরদার নামের এক প্রভাবশালী জমিদার ছিলেন। ১৭০০ সালে তিনি এ অঞ্চলে এসে বন জঙ্গল কেটে মানুষের বসাবসের জায়গা তৈরি করেন এবং তার নিজ নামে একটি হাট প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন ফিরোজপুর নামে এবং ১৭৫৩ সালে নবাব বাড়িতে শহীদ হলে তার নাম অনুসারে এ অঞ্চল নামকরণ করা হয় ফিরোজপুর যা পরবর্তীতে পিরোজপুর নামে পরিনত হয় ৷

## Geography

Pirojpur is bounded by Barisal and Gopalganj districts to the north, Barguna district to the south, Jhalokati and Barguna districts to the east, Bagerhat district and Sundarban to the west. Baleswari River separates Pirojpur from Bagerhat in the west
Most of the land is low-lying and the soil is fertile. There are small forests. Nesarabad is known for its business centre and also for the Sundori tree (a kind of mangrove) that grows there. The northern part of the district especially is known for its wetland areas.

### Rivers

Gabkhan, Baleshwar, Damodar, Kocha, Pona, Kochakhali, Kaliganga, Sandha, Doratana etc. are big and known rivers.
The Baleshwar, the river that is situated to the east of Sunder Bans splits into two parts, but this is getting smaller and smaller day by day. One is known as Doratana which flows through Bagerhat and the other and mightier one is known as Kacha which flows through Bhandaria. Then it has an offshoot Baleshwar which later meets with Doratana and falls into Kaliganga near Mativanga, Najirpur. And Kocha splits into two river Kaliganga and Sandha. Kaliganga flows to the north meets with Baleshwar and flow to further north. and Sandha flows to the east. Later Sandha coalesce with Arial Khan and falls into the Meghna.

## Demographics

According to the 2022 census of Bangladesh, Pirojpur District had 298,490 households and a population of 1,198,195 with an average 3.97 people per household. Among the population, 218,660 (18.25%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 938 people per km$^2$. Pirojpur District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 85.53%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1056 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 19.98% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 120.

### Religion

Religions in Pirojpur District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 84.88% | 84.88% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 15.10% | 15.10% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.02% | 0.02% |
Religion in present-day Pirojpur 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 | 388,000 | 60.23% | 709,558 | 74.89% | 840,081 | 79.02% | 903,952 | 81.36% | 925,895 | 83.17% | 1,017,024 | 84.88% |
| Hinduism | 255,748 | 39.70% | 237,383 | 25.06% | 222,330 | 20.91% | 206,468 | 18.58% | 186,865 | 16.79% | 180,982 | 15.10% |
| Others | 477 | 0.07% | 479 | 0.05% | 774 | 0.07% | 648 | 0.06% | 497 | 0.04% | 189 | 0.02% |
| Total Population | 644,225 | 100% | 947,420 | 100% | 1,063,185 | 100% | 1,111,068 | 100% | 1,113,257 | 100% | 1,198,195 | 100% |
Islam is the predominant religion in the district. Since partition, the Hindus have been continuously leaving the district and migrating to India. The percentage share of Hindus is the largest in Nazirpur Upazila and the lowest in Indurkani Upazila.
There are 3,087 mosques and 1,051 temples.

## Administration

The subdivision (then a mohokooma, now a zilla) of Pirojpur was created on 28 October 1859 Pirojpur district was formed on 1 March 1984 and the municipality was formed in 1885. The area of Pirojpur is 1277.80 km$^2$. It is under Barisal Division. There are three municipalities in Pirojpur named Pirojpur, Bhandaria, Mathbaria. There are seven upazilas (sub districts) in Pirojpur district: Pirojpur Sadar, Bhandaria, Mathbaria, Indurkani, Nazirpur, Nesarabad and Kawkhali. Of these, Mathbaria is the largest (353.25 km$^2$; it occupies 27.01% of the total area of the district). Kawkhali is the smallest (79.65 km$^2$). Pirojpur District also contains 52 unions, 390 mauzas and 648 villages.
* Chairman of District Council: Mahiuddin Maharaj
* Deputy Commissioner (DC) : Abu Ali Mohammad Sajjad Hossain

### Borders

Pirojpur District is bordered by Barisal and Gopalganj districts to the north, Barguna district to the south, Jhalokati and Barguna districts to the east, Bagerhat district and the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest to the west.

### Sub-districts (Upazillas)

There are seven Sub-districts in Pirojpur and their population are given below:
| Upazillas | Population |
| Bhandaria | 164,618 |
| Kawkhali | 70,515 |
| Mathbaria | 262,841 |
| Nazirpur | 180,408 |
| Nesarabad | 212,232 |
| Pirojpur Sadar | 163,470 |
| Indurkani | 77,674 |

## Transportation
### Buses

There are two bus terminals in Pirojpur, Pirojpur Bus terminal and Pirojpur Old Bus Terminal. Many bus companies connect Pirojpur to other districts like Dhaka and many more.

### Riverine

Launches, steamers and boats are used for travelling on the rivers. The local port is called Hoolarhaat Launch Station (ghaat)serving as the primary port for Pirojpur. It is situated some 5 km east to the Pirojpur town and the river port stands on Kaliganga. Beside it is the steamer wharf. Launches destined to Dhaka and other parts of the country regularly start from here.

## Tourist attractions

* Tasmima Villa, Bhandaria
* Bhandaria Thana Echo Park, Bhandaria
* Aman Ullah Collage, (Baridara Complex), Khatalia Road, Bhandaria.
* Minister Bari Mosque, Bhandaria.
* Kuriana Floating Market
* Kuriana Guava Garden
* Momin Mosque
* Chanmari Shooting Spot
* Pirojpur River View Eco Park (locally known as DC Park)
* Rayerkathi Raaj Bari
* Horinpala River View Eco Park, Telikhali Union, Mathbaria
* Shapleza Kuthibari, Mathbaria
* Baleshwari River
* Grave of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
* Charkhali Ferry Terminal

## Economy

Agriculture is the main source of income for rural people here. There are also other sources of income which are mainly city based. They are given below:
* Agriculture 50.82%
* Commerce 18.71%
* Service 7.69%
* Non-agricultural labour 5.75%
* Transport and communication 2.16%,
* Religious service 1.61%
* Construction 1.36%
* Rent and remittance 0.95%
* Industry 0.78%
* Others 10.17%

### Agricultural products

Paddy, Elephant Apple, Jute, Sugar Cane, Wheat, Guava, Banana, Coconut, Hog-plum, Betel Leaf, Betel Nuts, are the chief Agricultural Products produced here.

## Media

Print media:
* Manobkantha (national)
* Sangbad (national)
* Prothom Alo (national)
* Kaler Kantho (national)
* Samakal (national)
* Dainik Janakantha (national)
* Jugantor (national)
* Pirojpurer Kotha (local)
Online media:
* Pirojpur Now (local)

## Notable people

* Ahsan Habib
* Anwar Hossain Manju
* Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Islamic scholar and politician
* Hatem Ali Jamadar, member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
* Jewel Aich
* Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, model, was born at Matibhanga village and completed her HSC in Nazirpur.
* Khalid Hassan Milu
* Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah
* SM Rezaul Karim
* Nesaruddin Ahmad, first Pir of Sarsina
* Abu Zafar Mohammad Saleh, Islamic scholar and Independence Award recipient