Khetlal is an upazila of Joypurhat District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Khetlal Thana was formed in 1847 and it was turned into an upazila on 3 July 1983. Khetlal Municipality was declared on 9 December 2010.

Geography

Khetlal Upazila, having an area of 142.61 km2, is located in between 24°56' and 25°08' north latitudes and in between 89°02' and 89°12' east longitudes. The upazila is bounded by Joypurhat Sadar Upazila on the north, Akkelpur and Dhupchanchia upazilas on the south, Kalai and Shibganj (Bogura) upazilas on the east, Joypurhat Sadar and Akkelpur upazilas on the west. Water bodies Main rivers: Tulsiganga, Harabati.

History

Khetlāl was listed in the Ain-i-Akbari (as "Khetnāl") as a mahal in sarkar Ghoraghat. It was listed with an assessed revenue of 40,367 dams (this translation spells the name "Kaṇhṭál").

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Khetlal Upazila had 29,805 households and a population of 108,326. 19,441 (17.95%) were under 10 years of age. Khetlal had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 53.47%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 998 females per 1000 males. 11,711 (10.81%) lived in urban areas. Par the 2001 Bangladesh census, the upazila had a population of 115918 constituting 59274 males, 56644 females, 105728 Muslims, 9981 Hindus, 65 Buddhists, 18 Christians and 126 from other religions. Indigenous communities such as santal and oraon also belong to this upazila.

Administration

Khetlal Upazila is divided into Khetlal Municipality and five union parishads:Alampur, Barail, Baratara, Khetlal, and Mamudpur. The union parishads are subdivided into 88 mauzas and 155 villages. Khetlal Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 9 mahallas.