Tungipara is an upazila of Gopalganj District in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. It is the birthplace of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of independent Bangladesh. In 1995, it was carved out of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila to become an upazila.

Etymology

There is a legend that this area used to be flooded. Some saints who practiced Islam relocated to this area from Persia. They started living in this area by making canopied houses at low cost. Such houses are called "Tong" in Bengali hence the name of the place is Tungipara (Tungi+para). "Para" means neighborhood.

Geography

Tungipara is located at 22.9°N, 89.8833°W on the north-eastern bank of the Modhumoti River. It is the most southern upazila of Gopalganj District. To the north is Gopalganj Sadar, the east is Kotalipara Upazila, on the south Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur District and in the west is Chitalmari Upazila of Bagerhat District. Tungipara Upazila has 20,575 households and a total area of 128.53 km2. The famous river Madhumati divides Tungipara from Bagerhat District.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Tungipara Upazila had 20,575 households and a population of 100,893. 25,517 (25.29%) were under 10 years of age. Tungipara had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 56.61%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 997 females per 1000 males. 38,020 (37.68%) lived in urban areas. As of the 1991 Census of Bangladesh, Tungipara has a population of 88,102. Males constitute 51.25% of the population, and females 48.75%. This Upazila's 18+ population is 42,147. Tungipara has an average literacy rate of 63.3% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.

Points of interest

Administration

Tungipara Upazila is divided into Tungipara Municipality and five union parishads: Barni, Dumuria, Gopalpur, Kushli, and Patgati. The union parishads are subdivided into 34 mauzas and 67 villages. Tungipara Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 13 mahallas.

Education

There are 24 main educational institutes in Tungipara.

College

School

Madrasa

Notable people