Tangail, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

🇧🇩 Tangail, formerly Arail, is a major city within the Dhaka Division in central Bangladesh. It sits on the bank of the Louhajang River, 98 km north-west of Dhaka, the nation's capital. It is considered to be the main urban area of the Tangail District, and is the 13th-largest city by population in Bangladesh.

History Tangail has been a local business centre since the early 19th century. In 1860, Tangail became the 4th ranking area of the Greater Mymensingh district due to its fertile land near the Louhajong River. It was close to Begun Bari, Mymesningh. In 1969, Tangail district was established.

Tangail Airdrop The Tangail Airdrop was a successful battalion-size operation by India's Para Commandos, mounted on December 11, 1971, by the 2nd Battalion (Special Operations) (2 PARA) of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh. The operation's main objective was capturing Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna River, which would cut off the Pakistani 93rd Brigade, which was retreating from Mymensingh in the north to defend the capital of East Pakistan, Dhaka, and its approaches. The paratroop unit was also tasked to link up with the advancing Maratha Light Infantry on the ground to advance toward the East Pakistani capital.

The Pourasabha (municipal corporation) was established on July 1, 1887, and initially divided the city into five wards. This was later restructured into four wards - Ward No. 1 (Central), 2 (Betka), 3 (Dighulia), and 4 (Santosh) - and then, in 1988, into six wards with the addition of Wards 5 (Zila Sadar) and 6 (Kazipur).

The first city election was held in November 1887 when the citizens elected eight ward commissioners from four wards. The Subdivision Commissioner of Tangail, Shashi Shekhar Dutt, was appointed as the first administrator of Tangail city. The city needed to be better developed, lacking paved roads and roadside lamps; subsequently, the regional zamindars and subdivision board provided financial support to dig ponds, lakes, and canals, creating a safe water supply.

In the early 1900s, the Pourashava installed kerosene roadside lamps. The Pourashava gradually became populated in the first half of the 20th century. During this time, many tube wells were set up in the city, and the main modes of transportation were horsecars and cattle.

Electricity was established in the city in the early 1930s. Paved roads were constructed in the 1960s, connecting the town to Dhaka. Simultaneously, bridges and culverts were installed.

In 1985, Tangail was promoted from a C to a B Class city. In 1989, the Pourashava was promoted to A-Class. In the 1990s, the city was financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Bangladesh to develop water supply, sanitation, wastewater drainage, bus terminals, supermarkets, and other infrastructure.

In 1999, the city was restructured again into 18 wards (its current organization).

Wards Tangail has an area of 35.22 square km (13.60 sq mi), divided into 18 wards and 64 mahallas.

1 Akur Takur Para-north, Dewla, District hq; 2 Enayetpur; 3 West Akur Takur Para, North Kagmara, South Kagmara; 4 Bepari Para, Fakir Para, Bera Doma, Dighulia, Char Dighulia; 5 Kalipur, Lakshimpur, Sarutia, Shakrail; 6 College Para, Paradise Para, Par Dighulia-part; 7 Baluk Kandi, Bagbari, Patuli Bhabani Bagbari, Uttar Santosh-part, Santosh Palpara; 8 Aloa Bhabani Pahim, Aloa Pahim, Dakshin Santosh-part; 9 Aloa Baratia, Aloa Paikasta, Aloa Tarini, Baluk Kandi-part, Char Patuli, Purba Aloa, Aloa Bhabani; 10 Bajitpur, Berai, Basrakandi, Kazipur, Patal; 11 Berabuchna, Kachua Para, Kanda Para; 12 Adi Tangail, Bepari Para, Bil Para; 13 Tangail Mahalla, Chayanir Bazar, Pachanir Bazar, Thana Para, Uttar Thana Para; 14 Purba Adalat Para, Adalat Para, Biswas Betka-part S.W corn, Shaha Para; 15 Ashekpur, Biswas Betka-part; 16 Akur Takur Para-part, Par Dighulia-part; 17 Kumudini College Para, Munshi Para, Registry Para, Biswas Betka-west; 18 Kodalia, Sabalia.

The Bangladeshi government is planning to expand the city to a total area of 81.75 km².

Geography The city of Tangail is in Dhaka Division, Central Bangladesh. The town lies in a low-lying floodplain near the Jamuna River, south of the high plateau of the Madhupur tract. The average elevation of Tangail is 14 meters (49 feet).

Sport At the city's centre, Tangail Stadium hosts the city's most important sporting events. The stadium has hosted national events. It is the home venue of Bangladesh Football Premier League club Team BJMC. It was converted into a cricket stadium in 2015 and regularly hosted First Division Cricket.

Transport Bangabandhu Bridge, the second longest bridge in Bangladesh, connects Tangail and Sirajganj.

It takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to reach Tangail from Dhaka (about 98 km away) via Kaliakair and Tongi. Several bus lines operate between Tangail and Dhaka's Mohakhali (মহাখালী) bus terminal. The Nirala, Dhaleshwari, Jathika, and High Choice bus lines are among them.

Tangail railway station offers travel to Dhaka and other cities within Bangladesh. The inter-city Ekota Express, Sundarban Express, Rangpur Express, Intercity Tangail Commuter and Sirajganj Express (amongst others) serve the station alongside commuter rail and mail train services.

Tangail Airport was opened in 1967 for agricultural purposes but has been unmaintained since 1976.

Parks Tangail contains numerous parks, including Tangail Poura Uddan (one of the city's most-visited places), DC Lake, SP Park, and Soul Park. The town also contains part of the Madhupur National Park, one of Bangladesh's oldest national parks.

Education: University • Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail • Sheikh Hasina Medical College, Tangail • Kumudini Womens' Medical College, Mirzapur • Mirzapur Cadet College • Major General Mahmudul Hassan Adarsha College • Sristy College of Tangail • Madhupur Shahid Smrity Higher Secondary School & College, Madhupur • Kumudini Government Mohila College • GRB University, Madhupur (Recommended) • A.R.L Memorial School and College • Hazi Giyash Uddin Medical College, Madhupur • Madhupur Assistant Medical Training Centre • Govt. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Mohila College • Tangail Polytechnic Institute • Vivekananda College • B.A.F Shaheen College, Pahar Kanchanpur • Govt. Saadat College, Karatia • Bangabandhu Textile Engineering College,(BTEC) Kalihati • Textile Institute of Tangail • M.M Ali College • Haji Abul Hossain Institute of Technology.