Muladi is an upazila of Barishal District in the Division of Barishal, Bangladesh.

Geography

Muladi is located at 22.9153°N, 90.415°W. It has a total area of 261.02 km2. It borders Gosairhat Upazila on the north, Barisal Sadar Upazila on the south, Hizla and Mehendiganj Upazilas on the east and Kalkini, Gournadi and Babuganj Upazilas on the west.

History

Following the Conquest of Bakla in the early 17th-century, Emperor Jahangir awarded parts of Chandradwip to Ulfat Ghazi for his participation, and these areas became the Nazirpur pargana of Bakla. His son, Syed Qutb Shah, first settled in the village of Terachar in present-day Muladi. He was renowned for his Muslim missionary activities across Barisal, Madaripur and Bagerhat. He also dug reservoirs and ponds and built mosques for the welfare of locals. A large pond was excavated by Syed Qutb Shah in Terachar but has now been submerged with the Arial Khan River. Qutb Shah subsequently migrated to Nalchira due to the unsafe conditions in Terachar and his descendants continued to hold influential positions in the history of Barisal for several centuries.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Muladi Upazila had 38,394 households and a population of 174,775, 18.5% of whom lived in urban areas. 11.1% of the population was under the age of 5. The sex ratio was 1117 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 56.0%, compared to the national average of 51.8%.

Main occupations

51.17% of the population work in agriculture, 20.67% as agricultural labourers, 3.18% as wage labourers, 7.52% in commerce, 7.13% in services, 2.5% in fishing and 7.83% in other occupations.

Land use

Cultivable land covers 26159.45 hectares and fallow land 237.56 hectares; single crop 42%, double crop 50% and treble crop land 8%. 74% of cultivable land is under irrigation.

Land control

Among the peasants, 29% are landless, 7.09% marginal, 32.82% small, 27% intermediate and 4.09% rich; cultivable land per head 0.14 hectare.

Land value

The market value of land of the first grade is approximately 5000 Tk per 0.01 hectares.

Crops and fruits

The main crops are Paddy, wheat, sweet potatoes, pulses, brinjal and betel leaves, and the main fruits are mangoes, jackfruits, bananas, blackberries, coconuts, lychee, palms, betel nuts and amra. The extinct or nearly extinct crops are Jute, tobacco, mustard seeds, groundnuts, garlic, sugar cane, arahar, china and kaun.

Administration

UNO: Md. Nizam Uddin. Muladi thana was established in 1967 and was turned into an upazila in 1983. Muladi Upazila is divided into Muladi Municipality and seven union parishads: Batamara, Char Kalekhan, Gachhua, Kazir Char, Muladi, Nazirpur, and Safipur. The union parishads are subdivided into 77 mauzas and 102 villages. Upazila Chairman : Tariqul Hasan Khan Mithu Woman Vice Chairman :Samima Nasrin Vice Chairman :

Education

There are 6 colleges, 30 high schools, 5 junior schools, 78 government primary schools, 50 non-government primary schools, 17 madrasas and a kindergarten. The noted educational institutions are Bheduriachar Government Primary School (1892) and Tayak Tomchar Government Primary School (1845). Educational institutions in Muladi Upazila include: Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain