Savar Upazila

Savar ( Savar or Shabhar) is an Upazila of Dhaka District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.  It is located at a distance of about  to the northwest of Dhaka city.  Savar is mostly famous for Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, the National Monument for the Martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. 

History
The origin of the name Savar is thought to be an evolved version of the ancient 7th-8th century township of সর্বেশ্বর Shôrbeshshôr ("Lord of everything") or সম্ভার Shômbhar situated on the banks of the river known today as the Bangshi.  Shôrbeshshôr, in turn, is said to have been established on the site of the ancient Sambagh Kingdom.  Local legends as well as archeological finds indicate a king by the name of Harishchandra, said to be of the Pala dynasty, ruled over Shôrbeshshôr - purportedly from the first half of the 7th century having arrived from the Rarh region.  There is an old shloka that goes বংশাবতী-পূর্বতীরে সর্বেশ্বর নগরী, বৈসে রাজা হরিশচন্দ্র জিনি সূরপুরী Bôngshaboti-purbotire shôrbeshshôr nôgori, boishe raja Horishchôndro jini shurpuri ("On the East banks of the Bangsabati is the city of Sharbeshvar, lives there King Harishchandra conquering Heaven").  There is some contention among historians about legends surrounding the reign of Harishchandra, as they may relate to other monarchs bearing the same or similar name (e.g. Harishchandra of the mythic Suryavansha, king Harishchandra of Bikrampur among others).  In any case local legend holds that the childless Harishchandra was succeeded to the throne by his sister Rajeswari's son, Damodar.  Damodar's reign started a decline for the kingdom, culminating in the reign of one of his descendants, king Ravan, a music enthusiast.  During Ravan's reign, the Koch invaded and sacked the capital established by Harishchandra.  However, inscriptions on an undated burnt brick fragment indicates, king Mahendra in 869 CE dedicated a matha to his father, saint king Harishchandra, son of king Ranadhirasena, son of king Dhimantasena, son of king Bhimasena.  The same inscription also states the Buddhist king Dhimantasena invaded and captured the land between the Bangshi and the Brahmaputra and king Ranadhirasena extended the kingdom to the Himalayas and fixed his residence in the city of Shômbhar. 

During the 1971 war, Savar Cantonment (then Ansar Camp) and the then-newly founded Jahangirnagar University were some of the first targets of military swoop outside the capital following Operation Searchlight of 25 March.  In December of that year, Savar was the last obstacle before the freedom fighters (led by Kader Siddiqui and others) entered the capital and the Pakistan army conceded defeat.  Days before the end of the war, teenager Golam Dastagirr Titu was killed in a direct encounter between the Pakistani army and the freedom fighters.  The compatriots buried him near the main gate of the Central Cattle Breading & Dairy Farm, Savar.  The Bangladeshi army constructed a memorial monument in his honour. 

On 24 November 2012, a garment factory fire killed at least 112 people.  The factory made clothes for US and European companies and was faulted for negligent safety standards.  Walmart and Sears, two of the companies who contracted work from this factory, refused to compensate victims. 

On 24 April 2013 a building in Savar collapsed, killing 1,129 people and injuring around 2,500.  The building housed a garment factory which exported clothing to US and European companies.  Eighty percent of the workers were women aged 18–20, paid $0.12-$0.26 per hour. 

Geography
Savar is located at .  It has 66,956 units of household and a total area of .  It is bounded by Kaliakair and Gazipur Sadar upazilas on the north, Keraniganj upazila on the south, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Pallabi and Uttara thanas of Dhaka City on the east, and Dhamrai and Singair upazilas on the west.  The land of the upazila is composed of alluvium soil of the Pleistocene period.  The height of the land gradually increases from the east to the west.  The southern part of the upazila is composed of the alluvium soil of the Bangshi and Dhalashwari rivers.  Main rivers are Bangshi, Turag, Buriganga and Karnatali.  The Bangshi River has become polluted due to industrial.  The total cultivable land measures , in addition to fallow land of . 

Demographics

As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Savar Upazila had a population of 1,387,426.  Males constituted 54.20% of the population, and females 45.80%.  This Upazila's eighteen-up population was 207,401.  Savar had an average literacy rate of 65.16% (7+ years), and the national average of 59.4% literate.  Male literacy was 69% and female was 58%.  The religious breakdown was Muslim 88.59%, Hindu 10.41%, Christian 0.93%, Buddhist 0.03% and others 0.04%, and ethnic minority group nationals numbered 319 including Buno, Garo, Chakma (Sangma), and Burman.  The main occupations are Agriculture 24.34%, agricultural labourer 12.84%, wage labourer 4.44%, cattle breeding, forestry and fishing 1.90%, industry 1.37%, commerce 17.35%, service 20.68%, construction 1.66%, transport 3.96% and others 11.46%. 

Economy
Agriculture and manufacturing are the two major economic sectors in Savar.  The main crops grown here are Paddy, Jute, peanut, onion, garlic, chili and other vegetables.  The extinct or nearly extinct crops in the region are Aus paddy, Asha Kumari paddy, sesame, linseed, kali mator, randhuni saj, mitha saj, kaun and mas kalai.  The main fruits cultivated here are Jackfruit, mango, olive, papaya, guava, kamranga, berry and banana.  There are 181 combined fisheries, dairies and poultries Dairy, 5 hatcheries, 209 poultries, and 1319 fisheries.  Manufacturing facilities include Ceramic industry, beverage industry, press and publication, garments industry, foot ware, jute mills, textile mills, printing and dying factory, transformer industry, automobile industry, biscuit and bread factory, pharmaceutical industry, soap factory, brick field, cold storage, welding, plant nursery, etc.  Bangladesh Export Processing Zone is located in this upazila.  The Cottage industry includes 8 Weaving, 100 goldsmith and 29 others workshops.  The main exports are Jackfruit, papaya, flower, sapling, dairy products, meat, transformer, fabrics, dye, medicine, ready made garments, electronics and electric goods, shoe, brick, sweetmeat etc. 

There are 62 km of pucca (first-class), 56 km of semi pucca, 562 km of mud road; and 50 km of highway.  Transports used here include the traditional (and extinct or nearly extinct) Palanquin, bullock cart and horse carriage as well as modern day vehicles. 

The minimum wage is approximately $9.50 per week, or $38 per month. 

Administration
Savar has 13 Unions/Wards, 350 Mauzas/Mahallas, and 321 villages.  The municipal area (Savar Town) consists of 9 wards and 55 mahallas.  The area of the town is 24.1 km².  It had a population of 124,885; male 53.03%, female 46.97%; population density per km² of 5182.  Savar Thana was established in 1912 and was turned into an Upazila in 1983.  Presently Savar Upazila is divided into 2 thanas, one is Savar Main and other is Ashulia. 

Politics

Several Hindu families and some Muslim people ("Hira Lal Sarkar" who was the collector of British Government) played a critical role in the development of the township during the British Raj in the 19th and first half of the 20th century.  After partition of India in 1947, the Hindu influence in the area waned following the departure of many prominent Hindu families.  The 1960s saw the establishment of some important institutions, including a dairy farm and a University in the area.  Concurrently, communist politics was on the rise in the area.  However, this was replaced with Bengali nationalist zeal, when the Bangladesh Awami League won the 1970 election in this constituency.  In 1975, Savar came to the spotlight when the Maoist leader Shiraj Shikdar was secretly tortured and executed at Savar Cantonment.  Savar was politically important to the military dictators of the mid-1970s and 1980s, as the cantonment armory here was the closest one outside the capital. 

From the 1990s to mid-2000s, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate has been routinely elected to parliament from this constituency.  However, Bangladesh Awami League and other parties; Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Worker's Party (Menon), National Awami Party, Sammobady Dal (including several Islamist ones) continue to have grassroots presence.  The general election at the end of 2008 saw a Bangladesh Awami League candidate elected to parliament from this constituency.  Bangladesh Awami League 3rd time ruling over Bangladesh and also this upozila.  By this time people of Savar have their 1st MP who is selected as "State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. 
Md Enamur Rahman " from 2019 January.  Jahangirnagar University and a few colleges in the area serve as a hotbed of active student politics and strife.  Foreign dignitaries customarily visit Savar as a part of their trip to Bangladesh to pay respect to the martyrs of 1971 at the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho. 

Education
There are 4 universities, 5 colleges,  6school and colleges, 38 high schools, 3 junior high schools, 16 madrasas, 88 government primary schools, 13 non-government primary schools, 12 community schools, 8 satellite schools, and 1 sports institution.  Some of the noteworthy institutions are Adhar Chandra High School (established in 1913), Gana Bishwabiddalay, Bangladesh Krira Shikha Pratishthan,
 Jahangirnagar University, a Public University, along with its School and College
 National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research - NITER, a Public private partnership Institute , Affiliated Institute University of Dhaka. 
 Army Institute of Business Administration(AIBA), an Army Run Educational Institute under Public University (BUP)
Daffodil International University,a Private University(Permanent Campus))
 Gono Biswabidyalay, a Private University
 Asian University of Bangladesh, a Private University
Abdul Mannan Degree College Affiliated The National University Of Bangladesh (NU)
Savar University College Affiliated The National University Of Bangladesh (NU)
 Zirabo Cantonment Public School & College
 Savar Cantonment Public School and College
 Savar Model College& a Secondary Higher School. 
Savar Adhar Chandra High School, A secondary Higher School. 
 B.P.A.T.C School and College (Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre)
 Enam Medical College and Hospital (founded by Mp Enam). 
Radio Colony Model School, Bangladesh Betar
 {Nightengle Medical College},(Sarker market)
 Savar Laboratory School and College Savar Laboratory Junior School
 Katlapur pre-cadet school
 Shimulia S.P High School, Savar, Dhaka
 Siraz memorial school & college. 
 Gazirchat A.M.School And College. 
 Millenium Kindergarten & High school (founder by Delwar Sarker). 
 Gumail School & College (established by Nobi Sarker). 
 Yearpur High School. 
 Alhaz Tayab Ali Model School 
 Zirabo Dewan Idris College. 
 Ashulia College. 
 City University. 
 Chakulia High School Chakulia, Savar, Dhaka
 Gakulnagar High School, Gakulnagar,Ashuia,Savar, Dhaka. 
 Konda High School And College, Nagar Konda, Savar, Dhaka
 B.K.T Ideal High School, Shamlashi, Savar, Dhaka
 Happy Isle International School, Savar, Dhaka
 Aced School, Savar, Dhaka
 Legend School, Savar, Dhaka
 Savar isl.  fazil madrasah,savar,dhaka
Savar Darul Ulum Madrasa,savar,dhaka
Jabal- E-Noor Dakhil Madrasah savar, dhaka
Khaserchar Mahmudia Alim Madrasah  khaserchar ,savar, Dhaka

Important institutions
The National Martyrs’ Memorial is the national monument of Bangladesh, set up in the memory of those who died in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which brought independence and separated Bangladesh from Pakistan.  The monument is located in Savar.  It was designed by Syed Mainul Hossain. 

Atomic Energy Research Establishment is a government nuclear research station in Bangladesh and is located in Savar Upazila, Bangladesh.  It was built to develop skilled manpower trained in the uses of nuclear resources.  It is under the control of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and it is the largest institute under the commission.  This research facility contain a 3 MW TRIGA Mark-II research reactor as well for training, research and radioisotope production. 

DEPZ (Dhaka Export Processing Zone) is located in Savar Upazila, and was established in 1993.  DEPZ is located 35 km from Dhaka city centre, 25 km from Shahjalal International Airport, and 304 km from Chittagong Sea Port. 

Savar is the home of Jahangirnagar University, a Public University of Bangladesh and only University for full student residence facilities which is famous for its scenic beauty and as a prime destination for Siberian migratory birds during winter. 

Army Institute of Business Administration (Bengali: আর্মি ব্যবসায় প্রশাসন ইনস্টিটিউট) commonly known as AIBA or Army IBA is a business school in Savar Cantonment, Savar.  AIBA is run by the Bangladesh Army and is under the Ministry of Defense of Bangladesh.  AIBA was inaugurated by the Education Minister of Bangladesh on 5 March 2015.  The institution is affiliated with Bangladesh University of Professionals, a university governed by the Armed Forces of Bangladesh

The nation's one and only specialised rehabilitation hospital, the CRP-Bangladesh centre for the rehabilitation of the paralysed, is located in Savar, about  from Savar Bazar. 

There are many other important institutions in Savar.  The 9th Division Army Savar Cantonment is located here.  There is a military firm and government dairy firm beside Jahangirnagar University.  BPATC training center is the only training centre for the public service commissioned officers in Bangladesh.  Radio Bangladesh (Bangladesh Betar) employers Residence and The Transmission Zone with huge Transmission Setup. ( HPT-1; high power transmission, HPT-2, etc.). 

The two Largest entertainment theme parks of Bangladesh namely "Fantasy Kingdom" and "Nondon Park" are also located here.  Fantasy Kingdom is situated in Jamgora Bazar and Nondon Park is situated in Jirani.  Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan (BKSP), the only national sports institute of Bangladesh is also situated in Jirani Bazar. 

There are 318 mosques, 8 churches and 68 other religious institutions.  The Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Satellite Ground Receiving Station (Talibabad), National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar Youth Training Centre. 

The Gono University or Gono Biswobidyaloy is a private university in Savar.  It was established on 14 July 1998 and is popular for its extraordinary non-smoking rule for students, teachers and staff.  It was one of 11 universities that went operational without University Grants Commission (UGC) approval which was made a necessity under the Private University Act (1992).  It also introduced new academic courses without UGC approval along with a number of other private universities. 

See also
 Districts of Bangladesh
 Divisions of Bangladesh
 Upazilas of Bangladesh

References

General
 NK Bhattasali, 'The Math Inscription of Mahendra, Son of Harish Chandra of Sabhar', Dacca Review, 1920
 GM Laskar, 'Notes on Raja Harish Chandra of Sabhar', Dacca Review, 1920
 MM Hoque, SMK Ahsan and SSM Rahman, 'Pre-Muslim Settlement and Chronology of Savar Region', Pratnatattva, 1996
 AKM Shahnawaz and MM Hoque, 'Savar: History and Archaeology', in Souvenir, 9th Bangladesh Science Conference, held in Jahanginagar University, 1996. 

Category:Upazilas of Dhaka District