Wikipedia

Meghna Division

(Redirected fromComilla Division)

Meghna Division(Bengali:মেঘনা বিভাগ;in reference to theMeghna River), also known asCumilla Division(Bengali:কুমিল্লা বিভাগ), is a proposedadministrative divisionwithinBangladeshfor the north-western parts of the existingChittagong Division,[1]comprisingBrahmanbaria,Comilla,Chandpur,Noakhali,Feni,andLaxmipurDistricts ofChittagong Division.[2][3][4][5]The headquarter of the division would be inComilla.It covers the south-easternmost areas of the country, with a total area of 12,848.53 km2(4,960.85 sq mi)[6]and a population at the 2011 census of 16,708,000.[7][8][9]

Meghna Division
মেঘনা বিভাগ
Proposed Division
Coordinates:23°27′N91°12′E/ 23.450°N 91.200°E/23.450; 91.200
CountryBangladesh
Capital and largest cityComilla
Area
• Total
12,848.53 km2(4,960.85 sq mi)
Population
(2011 census)
• Total
16,918,446
• Density1,300/km2(3,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6(BST)
ISO 3166 codeBD-B
Main Language(s)Bengali
Other languagesEnglish
Districts6
Upazilas59

Terminology and naming dispute

Various terms are used to describe the different (and sometimes overlapping) geographical and political areas of the proposed Meghna division. In brief, the main terms and their simple explanations are as follows:

  • Geographical terms:
  • Samatata(orSamatat) (Bengali:সমতট) was an ancient geopolitical division ofBengal.Greater Cumilla and Noakhali region were within the division of Samatata. Geographically, the proposed Meghna division is made up of two former greater districts ofBengal province– Cumilla and Noakhali.
    • Greater Noakhali(Bengali:নোয়াখালী): The ancient name of Noakhali is Bhulua. The Noakhali district was created by theBritish Indian Governmentin 1787. It included the Sub-divisions ofLakshmipurandFeniwhich eventually became separate districts in 1984.
    • Greater Comilla(Bengali:কুমিল্লা): Established as the Tippera or Tipperah district ofBengalby the British in 1790[10]and later renamed as Comilla in 1960.[11]It included the Sub-divisions ofBrahmanbariaandChandpurwhich eventually became separate districts in 1984.
  • Roshanbad (or Rowshanabad) (Bengali:রসানবাদ): (roughly equating to the proposed Cumilla Division, excludingRangamati Hill District). It was a district level administrative unit (Chakla) inBengal SubahduringMughalperiod.

History

The undivided Comilla district region was once under ancientGangaridai,SamatataandPundraKingdom ofBengal.The region came under the control ofGauda Kingdomafter the fall ofGuptarule in 6th century.[12] LalmaiMainamatiwas ruled byKhadga dynasty(seventh century to early eighth century AD),Deva dynasty(eighth century AD) andChandra dynasty(during tenth and mid-eleventh century AD). After the reign ofChandras,the region was ruled by HinduVarman,SenaandDeva dynastyin the early mediaeval period. Later the region was joined withTwipra Kingdomin the mediaeval period. In 1732, it became the center of the Bengal-backed domain ofJagat Manikya.[13][14]

The Peasants Movement against the king of Tripura in 1764, which originally formed under the leadership ofShamsher Gazi.[15]It came under the rule ofEast India Companyin 1765 and was established asTippera district(also known asChaklaRoshanbad) in 1790. Later, it was reorganized in three phases into six districts. The undivided Noakhali District was established in 1868 as a renaming of theBhola District,which the British founded on 29 March 1822. It headquarters was in the town of Noakhali until the town vanished in the river-bed in 1951, as a result of the Meghna River erosion. A new headquarters for the Noakhali District was then established at Maijdee.[citation needed]

On 14 February 2017, a new division was proposed to be created comprising the Greater Comilla and Noakhali regions, effectively named Maynamati.[16][17]The "Maynamati" name was controversial and therefore protested by Comilla residents the following day.[18]The proposed name was later changed to Meghna on 22 November 2022, after theMeghna Riverthat flows through the region.[19]Then Bangladeshi Prime MinisterSheikh Hasinaclarified earlier on 21 October 2021 that she does not want a division named "Comilla", or any division starting with the "Ku" syllable, during the inauguration ceremony of theAwami Leagueoffice in the city, asMostaq's name was associated with Comilla according to her.[20][21]Despite this, the name change to "Meghna" saw mixed reactions. TheBangladesh Nationalist Partystated that the AL government was imposing its decisions onto the people, and would rename the division to Comilla once they are elected in the2024 general election.[22]The proposal was postponed on 27 November.[23]Later on 30 November 2024,Youth and Sports AdviserAsif Mahmudannounced the resuming of the establishment of the division, this time using the Comilla name.[24][25]

Administrative districts

The Division will be subdivided into six districts (zilas) and thence into 59 sub-districts (upazilas). The six districts listed below comprise the north-western portion (37.6%) of the presentChittagong Division,while the remaining five districts (zilas) comprise the south-eastern portion (62.4%) being separated by the lower (or Bangladeshi) stretch of theFeni River.

Name Capital Area (km2) Population
1991 Census		 Population
2001 Census		 Population
2011 Census
Brahmanbaria District Brahmanbaria 1,927.11 2,141,745 2,398,254 2,840,498
Cumilla District Cumilla 3,085.17 2,132,666 2,495,539 5,387,288
Chandpur District Chandpur 1,704.06 2,032,449 2,271,229 2,416,018
Lakshmipur District Laxmipur 1,440.39 1,312,337 1,489,901 1,729,188
Noakhali District Noakhali 4,202.87 2,217,134 2,577,244 3,108,083
Feni District Feni 990.36 1,096,745 1,240,384 1,437,371
Total Division 6 13,349.96 12,833,076 14,572,551 16,918,446

Demographics

The division would have a population of 16,918,446. 16,008,777 (94.62%) areMuslims,899,286 (5.32%)Hindus.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^কুমিল্লা বিভাগ দ্রুত বাস্তবায়নের দাবি[Cumilla Division demanded quick implementation].Prothom Alo(in Bengali).Retrieved16 February2015.
  2. ^প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব; ডটকম, বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর.কুমিল্লা বিভাগের নাম হবে 'ময়নামতি'.bdnews24(in Bengali).
  3. ^ময়মনসিংহ বিভাগ গঠনে কাজ শুরুর নির্দেশ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর[Mymensingh Division worked on the instruction of the Prime Minister].Prothom Alo(in Bengali).Retrieved26 January2015.
  4. ^"Mymensingh to become new division".The Daily Star.26 January 2015.Retrieved26 January2015.
  5. ^"3 new divisions to be formed".The Independent (Bangladesh).Dhaka.Archived fromthe originalon 15 February 2015.Retrieved15 February2015.
  6. ^Sirajul Islam;Miah, Sajahan;Khanam, Mahfuza;Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012)."Chittagong Division".Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust,Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.ISBN984-32-0576-6.OCLC52727562.OL30677644M.Retrieved11 February2025.
  7. ^"Noakhali Division Implementation Unity Committee".The Daily Observer (Bangladesh).30 October 2015.Retrieved21 October2021.
  8. ^বিভাগ করার দাবিতে নোয়াখালী শহরে মানববন্ধন আজ.Prothom Alo(in Bengali). 11 March 2017.
  9. ^পদ্মা ও মেঘনা নামে নতুন বিভাগের কথা জানালেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী.Samakal(in Bengali). 21 October 2021.Retrieved21 October2021.
  10. ^"Gazetteer - Bengal District Gazetteer Tipperah District - South Asia Archive".southasiaarchive.
  11. ^Siddiqi, Mamun (2012)."Comilla District".InIslam, Sirajul;Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.).Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.).Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  12. ^Prasad, Bindeshwari (1977).Dynastic History of Magadha.p. 136.
  13. ^Bidhas Kanti Kilikhar.Tripura of the 18th Century with Samsher Gazi Against Feudalism: A Historical Study.(Chapa Kathi, Agartula: Tripura State Tribal Cultural Research Institute and Museum, 1995) p. 55
  14. ^Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999).Ancient Indian History And Civilization.New Age International. p. 277.ISBN978-81-224-1198-0.Retrieved12 May2024.
  15. ^Nawaz, Ali (2012)."Shamsher Gazi".InIslam, Sirajul;Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.).Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.).Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  16. ^"Comilla Division to be renamed Mainamati".BDNews24.14 February 2017.Retrieved30 November2024.
  17. ^"Comilla division to be named Maynamati: PM".The Daily Star.14 February 2017.Retrieved30 November2024.
  18. ^"Comilla residents protest proposed division's name Maynamoti".The Daily Star.15 February 2017.Retrieved1 December2024.
  19. ^"Two new divisions to be named Padma, Meghna".Prothom Alo.22 November 2022.Retrieved30 November2024.
  20. ^"I don't want any division name starting with 'Ku'".Somoy TV.21 October 2021.Retrieved1 December2024.
  21. ^কুমিল্লা নামে বিভাগ হবে না: প্রধানমন্ত্রী.Bangla Tribune(in Bengali). 21 October 2021.Retrieved1 December2024.
  22. ^Alam, Masud (23 November 2022)."'BNP will change Comilla division's name'".Dhaka Tribune.Retrieved1 December2024.
  23. ^পদ্মা ও মেঘনা বিভাগ করার প্রস্তাব স্থগিত.Prothom Alo(in Bengali). 27 November 2022.Retrieved1 December2024.
  24. ^"কুমিল্লা বিভাগ বাস্তবায়নে সর্বোচ্চ নীতিনির্ধারকদের সঙ্গে কথা বলব: আসিফ মাহমুদ".Prothom Alo(in Bengali). 30 November 2024.Retrieved30 November2024.
  25. ^"Cumilla to be made division soon: Asif Mahmud".The Daily Star.30 November 2024.Retrieved30 November2024.
  26. ^"Zila Series: Bangladesh 2011 Census".bbs.gov.bd.Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
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