Satkhira, Khulna Division, Bangladesh

🇧🇩 Satkhira (সাতক্ষীরা) is a city and district headquarters of Satkhira District in Khulna Division, south-west Bangladesh. The city is the 20th largest city in Bangladesh. Satkhira also has a large proportion of the Sundarbans rain-forest of Bangladesh.

Satkhira District The Satkhira District (সাতক্ষীরা জেলা, 'Seven cucumbers') is a district in south-western 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 porishods, 8 thana (police station) and 1436 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 Zila Porishod: Nazrul Islam • Deputy Commissioner (DC): Mohammad Humayun Kabir

Geography Satkhira District has an area of about 3,817 square km (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 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.

Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Satkhira District had 566,752 households, 19.7% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 574 people per km². The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 75.2%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.

Muslims formed 81.86% of the population, Hindus 17.70% and others 0.44%. The Muslim population has increased continuously while the Hindu population has remained relatively constant and sometimes fallen. Indications from the 2022 census show the Hindu and Christian populations in the district have fallen dramatically.

Economy Most of the peoples of the southern part of Satkhira depend on pisciculture, locally called gher. Main fruits are aam (mango), jaam (blackberry), kathal (jackfruit), kola (banana), pepe (papaya), lichoo (litchi), naarikel (coconut) and peyara (guava). Farms are 86 dairies, 322 poultry farms, 3046 fisheries, 3650 shrimp farms, 66 hatcheries and one cattle breeding centre. The main exports are shrimp, paddy, jute, wheat, betel leaf, leather and jute goods.

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 km (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 Kaligonj Upazila. This forest, named Basjharia Joarar Ban, is popularly known as the forest of BADHA. The Joarar Ban is the cause of friction between the Bangladesh and Indian border.

Land ports India-Bangladesh (Bhomra land port): 200 yards distant BGP camp from the main port. The Bhomra land port is the second largest land port 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- • Satkhira University of Science Technology (proposed) • 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 government college • Jhaudanga high school.

Digital Satkhira In 1994 few young people started a computer training centre 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 type 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.

The first local daily newspaper published name was "Doinik Satkhira Chitra"; First Computer Sales & Service Centre was "Mitul Computer Services"; First Computer Training Centre was "Cosmos Computer"; First Offset Printing Press was the "Zahan Offset Printing Press"; In 1999 the Computer Association of Satkhira was established with 30 members. The first president was Mitul Md. Moniruzzaman and General Secretary was Nityananda Sarkar with Vice President Faruque ul-Islam and Sayed Iqbal Babu. Computer Association of Satkhira regularly organizes computer fairs in various locations for ICT awareness. Some of the computer fairs were supported by Bangladesh Computer Samity with the presence of Mustafa Jabbar, the current ICT minister.