Postal code 8432 covers Niamatee, Kathalia, Jhalokathi District, Barisal Division.
Kathalia (Bengali: কাঠালিয়া) is an upazila of Jhalokati District in Barisal Division, Bangladesh.
Kathalia is located at 22.4000°N 90.1250°E / 22.4000; 90.1250. It has 23,904 households and a total area of 152.08 km2. Kathalia is bounded by Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur district to the north, Bamna upazila of Barguna district and Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur to the south, Bishkhali river to the east and Bhandaria upazila and Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur district to the west. The main river of this upazila is Bishkhali. Numerous canals originating from the Bishkhali river— flowing on the eastern side of the upazila— are spread like a net in this area. Most of the lands of this upazila are low lying which are flooded by the tide of Bishkhali river. Notable bill is Chhonauta.
=== Rivers ===
The notable rivers of Kathalia Upazila are:
Bishkhali River The main river of this area is Bishkhali River. It is the continuation of the Padma's tributary river named Ichamoti River. The Padma divided into two flows at about 52 km. far from Goalundo Ghat. One of them took the name Ichamoti and by flowing over Faridpur and Madaripur District it falls on Tetulia River at the north–south area of Barishal.It takes the name Kirtonkhola at 5 km. north from Barishal; at Nalchity Upazila it is named Nalchity River. At the point of entering into Jhalakathi Sadar it named Bishkhali.The total length of the river is 96 km. The average width of the river from its origin to first 30 km is about 1 km and the rest is about 2 km. The average depth is about 16m. The river is fully influenced by tide and ebb. Water is collected at Betna, Bamna, Barguna and Patharghata stations to examine the salinity status of the river. It shows erosional tendency and the towns and ports, e.g. Betagi, Amua, Bamna are under threat to its erosion. Bangladesh water development board (BWDB) has constructed an embankment to prevent flood and salinity. Deposition process and char (island) formation is active at various parts of the river. Some of the chars are under settlement and cultivation. The Badankhalikone and Khakdone, two of the offshoots of the Bishkhali are about to die due to lack of sufficient flow. Jhalokati, Betagi, Kathalia, Bamna, Barguna, Patharghata, Phuljhuri are some important places on the north bank of the river.
Sugondha River
=== Naming ===
It is said that during the British rule, the market of national fruit of Bangladesh jackfruit used to be held at Kathalia. That is why it was named Kathalia. However, there are differences of opinion about the naming. In the past, carpenters used to come from different places to collect wood in this area. They were called 'Kathuria'. Many people think that the name Kathalia was taken from that name. Besides, many elders think that Kathalia Upazila has been named after the yellow egg-laden Kathali shrimp found in various canals and rivers of the area.
=== Founding ===
This area was part of Syedpur Pargana during the Mughal period before the British rule. There was a masonry building in Kalakopa village near Aurabunia constructed by Bayram Khan but it was eventually destroyed by river erosion. Kathalia, Bhandaria, Bamna, Betagi, Mathbaria and Bakerganj were under the pargana through a Super of Naib. At one time Kathalia-Pirojpur was under sub-division. At that time Kathalia-Bhandaria was a constituency. Later Jhalokati subdivision was developed and then Kathalia-Jhalokati subdivision came under it and Kathalia-Rajapur was managed as a constituency. At present there was a Jalthana in Amua Union under Kathalia Upazila, among the administrative offices there were food warehouses, hospitals, Sub-Registrar's office at Amua. But later the sub-registry office was shifted to Kathalia Sadar and the food warehouse and hospital existed at Amua. The Jalthana was shifted to Kathalia as there was a nuisance of thieves and robbers, miscreants in the area. In this cont