Sylhet Division

Sylhet Division is the northeastern part of Bangladesh. It covers an area of about 12,298 square kilometers and shares borders with India to the north, east, and south. The main city, also called Sylhet, is the fifth-largest urban area in Bangladesh.

Before 1947, Sylhet included a region now in India called Karimganj. However, after the Partition of India, Karimganj was separated from Sylhet. Some believe this happened because of a request made by a group of leaders at the time.

Etymology

The Sylhet Division is named after its main city, Sylhet. The name "Sylhet" comes from an older local name, Śilhôṭ. This name is believed to have originated from Śrīhaṭṭa, an ancient Sanskrit name for the city. The city of Śrīhaṭṭa was important to a group called the Nātha dynasty, who helped people settle in the area between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Later leaders from the area still honored this old name.

History

Main articles: History of Sylhet and Undivided Sylhet district

In 1874, the area now known as Sylhet Division was called the 'Sylhet district'. That year, it was separated from Bengal and joined the area known as Assam to help Assam grow its trade. People in Sylhet were not happy about this at first, but they were told that schools and fair courts would still be managed from Bengal, and they could find jobs and sell their goods in Assam. In 1905, Sylhet joined Bengal again, but in 1912 it was moved back to Assam.

When India was divided in 1947, a vote was held to decide if Sylhet would become part of India or Pakistan. Although some leaders wanted Sylhet to stay with India, the vote went in favor of joining Pakistan, though some areas stayed with India. After Bangladesh became independent in 1971, Sylhet became part of Bangladesh. In 1984, the area was divided into four separate districts, and in 1995, these districts formed the new Sylhet Division.

Sylhet has strong ties with the city of St Albans in the United Kingdom, starting in 1988 when St Albans helped with housing projects in Sylhet. Many people in the United Kingdom with roots in Bangladesh come from Sylhet, including communities in places like Rochdale, Oldham, and London.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sylhet

Sylhet is famous for its tea. The Surma Valley has many tea gardens and tropical forests. Srimangal is called the tea capital of Bangladesh, with tea gardens covering the hills for miles around.

The area has more than 150 tea gardens, employing nearly 300,000 workers, most of whom are women. These gardens were mostly created during the time of the British, and many managers still live in large houses built back then.

People from Sylhet living abroad have helped fund many projects and businesses. Sylhet also attracts visitors with its natural beauty, including places like the Keane Bridge, Ali Amjad's Clock, and Madhabkunda waterfall. It is also important for its spiritual sites, such as the resting place of Shah Jalal, who helped spread Islam in the region. There are many hotels and resorts, especially in Sreemangal and Bahubal.

Governance

In 1995, Sylhet became the 6th division of the country when it split from Chittagong Division. The Divisional Commissioner, Md. Mashiur Rahman, oversees it. Sylhet Division has four districts: Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, and Sylhet. These districts are split into 35 smaller areas called upazilas, which are then divided into 323 union parishads. Each union is split into about 9 wards before reaching the village level. There are roughly 10,185 villages in the Division. The Division includes 19 Municipal corporations, known as pourashavas, and one city corporation in Sylhet city. It also has 19 Parliamentary constituencies. The main city and headquarters of the Sylhet Division is Sylhet, located in Sylhet Sadar Upazila, Sylhet District. Before a big change in 1947, the area known as Karimganj has been part of India.

List of Upazilas in Sylhet Division

Geography

Sylhet Division is a beautiful area in the northeast of Bangladesh, surrounded by hills except on its western side which is flat land. It has many parks and forests, like Lawachara National Park and Ratargul Swamp Forest. The weather there is very warm and wet, especially from April to October when there are heavy rains almost every day. The rest of the year is warm and clear.

The land in Sylhet has many hills and valleys. Some of the biggest valleys, called "beels," are old oxbow lakes formed long ago. The area also has special animals like the Asian elephant and the One-horned rhinoceros, especially in the southern parts.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sylhet

The official language in Sylhet is Standard Bengali, used in schools and government work. But most people speak the Sylheti dialect. Some groups, like the Adivasis and tea workers brought during British times, speak their own languages too.

Cricket is the most popular sport in Sylhet. Football is also common, and there are special stadiums for these games. People also enjoy traditional games like Dosh Fochish, Ludo, Carrom Board, and Chess. During the rainy season, a rowing competition called Nowka Bais is popular. Other games include Kabaddi, Latim, and Lathi khela.

Demography

Sylhet Division has more than 12 million people, and most are Bengalis. Some groups, like the Bishnupriya Manipuris, Khasi, Lalengs, Tripuris, Meiteis, Garos, and Kukis, live mainly in quiet rural spots near hills and tea gardens. Long ago, the British brought people from other parts of British India to work on tea farms.

Religion

Most people in Sylhet follow Islam, especially Sunni Islam. Some also follow Sufi teachings. Hinduism is the second most common religion, practiced by many Bengalis and some tribal groups. Smaller groups follow Christianity, Ka Niam Khasi, Sanamahism, Songsarek, and animism. There were also some Sikhs after Guru Nanak visited in 1508, but their temple fell down in an earthquake in 1897.

In popular culture

In an episode of Call the Midwife, the midwives help a woman who comes from the Sylhet Division.