Fenchuganj Upazila

The name Fenchuganj is either derived from the Bengali word pencha meaning 'owl' or the Assamese word fenchu meaning 'Black drongo'. The Bengali word of Persian origin, ganj, means 'marketplace' or 'neighbourhood'.[2] There are many theories behind the naming of the upazila. Some say that Fenchuganj is named after Penchu (or Fenchui) Shah, a guardian of Shah Malum's dargah, who had a habit of sitting at the ghat of the Kushiyara River during the evening everyday. One day, he decided to open up a shop in the ghat, which eventually expanded into Fenchuganj or Fenchu's neighbourhood.[3]

After the Conquest of Gour in 1303, some disciples of Shah Jalal migrated and settled in present-day Fenchuganj where they preached Islam to the local people. Shah Malum and Shah Mohabbat migrated to Mahurapur/Mourapur.

In 1907, the Fenchuganj thana was established. Before 1907, it was a part of the Balaganj Thana. During the 1950 East Pakistan riots, the factory of a steamer company was looted and set on fire. Pulin De was murdered near Ilashpur village. under Fenchuganj police station, the houses of Ambika Kabiraj and Makhan Sen were looted and set on fire.[4]

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, The Pakistani army shot two gardeners at the gate of the Fenchuganj Fertiliser Factory in May 1971. The army then proceeded to the Manipuri Tea Garden, killing another two tea labourers. Dala Bridge (Ilash Pur)and,Kaiyer Warehouse is recognised as a mass killing site during the war and the Ghilachhora Monument stands out to commemorate the tragedies of the war. In 1980, Fenchuganj Thana was upgraded to an upazila.[1]

Fenchuganj is located at 24.7083°N 91.9403°E / 24.7083; 91.9403. It has 13368 households and total area 114.48 km².

As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Fenchuganj has a population of 138,881 . Males constitute 51.07% of the population, and females 48.93%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 65383. Fenchuganj has an average literacy rate of 68.5% (7+ years), and the national average of 62.4% literate. Now 91,400 Male are 45,040, and Females are 46,369.[5] Religions: Muslim 88.72%, Hindu 11.25%, Buddhist and Christian 0.03%.

Fenchuganj Upazila has seven power plants, two urea fertilizer factories, three tea gardens, three rubber gardens, one gas field, Hakaluki Haor (largest Haour in South Asia) and many more.

Hakaluki Haor, Fenchuganj

Fenchuganj Upazila is divided into five union parishads: Fenchuganj, Ghilachora, Maijgaon, Uttar Fenchuganj, and Uttar Kushiara. The union parishads are subdivided into 29 mauzas and 89 villages.[6][7]

Delwar Hossain Chowdhury Jame Masjid, Nurpur

Fenchuganj has good communication with the rest of the country because it has river, road and rail links. During British rule river and rail travel were popular, following that roads became more used, and more currently the A2( Asian Highway) road built through Fenchuganj, connecting Sylhet-Dhaka and other parts of the country. Established there is a market place on the bank of River Kushiara, with Tuesday and Saturday being the main trading days. People from the surrounding 10–15 miles come to the market to trade and shop. Now there are many local markets which sit every day. Among the views from Fenchuganj are both bridges over Kushiara. Hills around degree college, lake near degree college, fertiliser factory from nearby hill (jola tilla), tea estates, Delwar Hussain mosque, sunset from ilashpur (dhala) bridge and boat trip down the river are very enjoyable.

Fenchugonj Upazila is performing 5.6% above the Bangladesh national average in education. The average rate of education is 68% in Fenchuganj. There are many educational institutions some of these are,

• Shahida Rahman
• Hakaluki Haor
• Nurpur, Fenchuganj
• Shah Malum