Balaganj

Balaganj upazila is an administrative area in Sylhet District, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.EtymologyThe name Balaganj is derived from the Sylheti word bala meaning 'good' and the Persian/Bengali word ganj that means 'marketplace' or 'neighbourhood'.HistoryBalaganj was the home of M. A. G. Osmani commander-in-chief of the Mukti Bahini during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and was scene of the battles at Sherpur and Sadipur during that conflict. The war dead are buried in mass graves at Aadittapur, Burunga and Vatpara Solimpur.It is the third largest Upazila of Sylhet zila by population. Balaganj thana was established in 1882 and was turned into an upazila on 10 January 1983. It consists of 14 union parishads, 241 mouzas and 467 villages.GeographyThe Upazila Balaganj stands on the Kushiyara River and is on the southwest periphery of Sylhet district. To the north is Sylhet Sadar Upazila, to the south are Rajnagar Upazila and Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila in Moulvibazar District, Fenchuganj Upazila of this district is on the east and on the west is Bishwanath Upazila of this district and Jagannathpur Upazila of Sunamganj District. Geographically Balaganj Upazila is situated at about 24.36* and 24.47* longitude and 91.38* and 91.56* east latitude. The distance of the Upazila headquarter(HQ) from the district HQ is nearly 37 km. The land area is approximately 375.92 km2