Narayanganj

This article is about the city. For the district, see Narayanganj District.
Narayanganj
City

Narayanganj city beside the Shitalakkha river
Narayanganj

Location in Bangladesh

Coordinates: 23°37′N 90°30′E / 23.617°N 90.500°E / 23.617; 90.500
Country  Bangladesh
Division Dhaka Division
District Narayanganj District
Government
 • Type Narayanganj City Corporation
 • Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy
Area
 • City 33.57 km2 (12.96 sq mi)
 • Water 48.56 km2 (18.75 sq mi)
Elevation 3 m (10 ft)
Population (2012)
 • City 1,572,386
 • Density 47,000/km2 (120,000/sq mi)
 • Metro 2.2 million
Time zone Bangladesh Time (UTC+6)
Postal code 1400
Area code(s) 0671
Calling Code 02

Narayanganj (Bengali: নারায়ণগঞ্জ Naraeongônj) is a city in central Bangladesh. It is located in the Narayanganj District, near the capital city of Dhaka and has a population of 220,000. The city is on the bank of the Shitalakshya River. The river port of Narayanganj is one of the oldest in Bangladesh.[1] It is also a center of business and industry, especially the jute trade and processing plants, and the textile sector of the country. It is nicknamed the Dundee of Bangladesh due to the presence of its many jute mills. Dundee was the first industrialised Juteopolis in the world.

History

Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. ca 1410

The town got its name from Bicon Lal Pandey, a Hindu religious leader who was also known as Benur Thakur or Lakhsmi Narayan Thakur. He leased the area from the British East India Company in 1766 following the Battle of Plassey. He donated the markets and the land on the banks of the river as Devottor or Given to God property, bequeathed for maintenance expenses for the worship of the god Narayan.[1]

A post office was set up in 1866, and Dhaka-Narayanganj telegraph service was started from 1877. The Bank of Bengal introduced the first telephone service in 1882.

The Narayanganj Municipality was incorporated on 8 September 1876. The first hospital of the area of Narayanganj Victoria Hospital was established in 1885 by the Municipality with financial contributions from Harakanta Banerjee.

Narayanganj City Corporation was established on 5 May 2011 unifying three former municipalities: Narayanganj Municipality, Siddhirganj Municipality and Kadam Rasul Municipality.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Narayanganj". Banglapedia.
  2. ↑ "History & Facts - Narayanganj City Corporation". ncc.org.bd. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

Coordinates: 23°37′N 90°30′E / 23.617°N 90.500°E / 23.617; 90.500

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