Dhakkhinbag

About Baralekha

Barlekha (Bengali: বড়লেখা, romanized: Bôrlekha) is an upazila of Moulvibazar District, located in Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.

Etymology

Barlekha Upazila is named after Barlekha (formerly 'Barlikha') which means Great Likha. Likha was an area historically under the Panchakhanda pargana, and an ancient shloka by Mukundaram Siddhanta refers to the area by this name. Likha was later divided into Barlikha (Great Likha) and Chhotalikha (Little Likha); the latter of which still exists as a village within the upazila.

History

The Malegarh hillock at Lathu (came to be known later as Shahbajpur), the northern tip of Barlekha Upazila, was shaken up in November 1857 after Indian rebels revolted in Meerut. The soldiers of 34 Native Infantry in Chittagong revolted, looted the armoury and treasury and set army barracks on fire. These rebel soldiers, on their way to reach Manipur, pitched their tents at Malegarh. A force of 160 company soldiers under Major Byng, initially reached Protaphgarh (now in India) and then Malegarh on December 19, 1857. In that battle, Major Byng and four other company soldiers lost their lives. The mutineers retreated leaving behind twenty-six rebels including Major Sher Khan and Captain Shamsher Khan. For those who lived long enough to make it to Manipur, they were attacked not only by the company soldiers but also Kuki scouts. Ali Bakhsh of Chittagong, one of the rebels, was caught and charged of desertion, robbery and revolt. Gonjer Ali of Pratapgarh and Zamindar Gaus Ali Khan of nearby Prithimpasha were accused of helping the rebels.

At the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, King George V announced the reunification of a Bengal Province and the creation of an Assam Province. During this time, the Sylhet region was split into four mahakumas (or subdivisions); Sylhet (including Moulvibazar), Habiganj, Sunamganj and Karimganj. In 1882, the Sylhet Mahakuma was split into two; Sylhet and South Sylhet. On 18 May 1940, one of the five thanas of the Karimganj Mahakuma, Jolodhup, was planned to also be split into two - Beanibazar and Barlekha. Beanibazar went to Sylhet Mahakuma while Barlekha went to South Sylhet (Moulvibazar) Mahakuma.

On 1 July 1983, Barlekha Thana was upgraded into an upazila.

Geography

Barlekha is located at 24.7083°N 92.2000°E / 24.7083; 92.2000. The area of the upazila is 448.86 km2.

Demography

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Baralekha Upazila had 55,252 households and a population of 282,452. 10.30% of the population were under 5 years of age. Baralekha had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 78.87%: 80.26% for males and 77.68% for females, and a sex ratio of 88.46 males for every 100 females. 46,145 (16.34%) lived in urban areas. Ethnic population is 6228 (2.20%) of which Khasi are 2382.

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Barlekha Upazila had 44,192 households and a population of 257,620. 69,612 (27.02%) were under 10 years of age. Barlekha had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 52.42%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1071 females per 1000 males. 26,672 (10.35%) lived in urban areas. Ethnic population was 6,370 (2.47%), of which Khasi were 1,813 and Santal 867.

At the 1991 Bangladesh census, Barlekha had a population of 200,674, of whom 50.09% were aged 18 or older (against the national average of 48.52%). Of the population, 49.86% were male (national average of 51.48%) and 50.14% female (national average of 48.52%). The average literacy rate (measured as having 7+ years of education) was 34.6%, against the national average of 32.4%. 70.59% of the population were Muslim, 28.31% Hindu, 0.92% Christian, 0.04% Buddhist, and 0.14% other beliefs. Ethnic nationals include Khasi and Santal, who have their own languages.

Manufacturing and minerals

There are 18 tea gardens in Barlekha spread over an area of 64.39 km2, most of which were established by the English tea planters during the time of

Source: Wikipedia →

Local infrastructure nearby

Based on OpenStreetMap data within ~6km.