Chowgacha

Chowgacha Upazila (jessore district) with an area of 280.39 sq km, is bounded by maheshpur, kotchandpur and kaliganj (Jhenaidaha) upazilas on the north, 24 Pargana of West Bengal (India), sharsha and jhikargachha upazilas on the south, Kaliganj and jessore sadar upazilas on the east, Maheshpur upazila on the west. Main rivers are kobadak, Betna and bhairab; baor 8.

Chowgacha (Town) consists of 4 mouzas. The area of the town is 7.87 sq km. The town has a population of 9835; male 52.14%, female 47.86%. Literacy rate among the town people is 37%. The town has one dakbungalow.

Administration Chaugachha thana was turned into an upazila in 1983. It consists of 11 union parishads, 150 mouzas and 166 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics Neelkuthi.

Historical events On 20 November 1971, a fierce battle was held between the Pak army and the allied forces at Jamtala, Jagannathpur and Garibpur playground. Chaugachha was liberated on 23 November. This upazila was considered as the gateway of liberation.

Marks of the War of Liberation Memorial monument 2.

Population 181829; male 51.60%, female 48.40%; Muslim 91.66%, Hindu 8.24% and others 0.1%; ethnic nationals: Santal 103 families.

Religious institutions Mosque 248, temple 181 and sacred place 1.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 25.3%; male 32.7% and female 17.8%. Educational institutions: college 3, high school 33, madrasa 17, government primary school 61, non-government primary school 59, community primary school 13. Notable old educational institutions: Narayanpur High School and Chaugachha High School.

Cultural organisations Club 4, library 1, theatre group 1, cinema hall 1, literary society 1.

Main occupations Agriculture 48.38%, agricultural labourer 27.53%, wage labourer 2.20%, commerce 8.37%, service 3.06%, fishing 1.08%, industry 1.29%, transport 2% and others 6.09%.

Land use Total cultivable land 18069.6 hectares; fallow land 1156.21 hectares; single crop 10.59%, double crop 69.81% and treble crop 19.60%.

Land control Among the peasants 17.72% are landless, 55.26% small, 22.17% intermediate and 4.85% rich; cultivable land per head 0.09 hectare.

Land value Market value of land of the first grade is approximately 10000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, jute, potato, sesame, cotton, onion, garlic, betelleaf, brinjal, patal.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, sweet potato, groundnut, khesari, chhola, coriander, arahar, kaun and corn.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, black berry, papaya and banana.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 199, dairy 20, hatchery 3 and fishery 20.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 37.54 km, semi pucca 10 km and mud road 283.45 km; waterways 7 nautical mile.

Traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage and bullock cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Ginning mill 2, ice factory 2.

Cottage industries Weaving 15, bamboo work 30, goldsmith 25, blacksmith 22, potteries 15, wood work 31, tailoring 45, brick field 9 and welding 26.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 33, fair 1, most noted of which are Chaugachha, Purapara, Salua.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are Bela, Apan, brac, asa and Dhaka Ahasania Mission.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 11, satellite clinic 3.