The district of Sunamganj consists 3562 mosques, 560 temples and 61 churches.

History

The name Sunamganj is derived from its founder, Sipahi Sunamuddin, who established a bazaar on the bank of the river Surma. In the ancient period, Sunamganj was part of the Rarh Kingdom that included Sylhet

Sylhet

Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...

, Habiganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj

Kishoreganj District

-Place of Interest:Kishorganj is a place of the creed of respectively Sanatana and Loukik Islam. Both Meghna and Brahmaputra river have contributed to its existence. Many traditional rituals are observed every year in Kishoreganj. Among them Kurikhai Mela is one of the most celebrated fair. It is a...

 and the northern part of Mymensingh

Mymensingh

Mymensingh , pronounced moy-mon-shing-haw, is a city of Bangladesh situated on the river Brahmaputra. It is the headquarters of the administrative unit Mymensingh District. Mymensingh is the anglicized pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, referring to a ruler called Momen Shah. The cadet...

. After the conquest of Sylhet in 1303 by Muslims under the spiritual guidance of Hazrat Shah Jalal

Hazrat Shah Jalal

Shah Jalal is a saint of Bengal particularly in the region of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Jalal's name is associated with the Muslim conquest of Sylhet, for which he is given the most credit. He was buried at Sylhet...

, Hazrat Shah Kamal Qahafan brought the entire Kingdom of Rarh under his control with aid of his twelve disciples and Shah Moazzamuddin, administered the entire district from Shaharpara

Shaharpara

Shaharpara is a village in the northeastern part of Sunamganj District, Bangladesh and is approximately one hour drive away from Sylhet. It is at the heart of Sylhet Division and nestled beside the river Ratna....

.

In 1336 BS a devastating flood occurred as a result of a broken dam in Manipur. This flood is popularly known as 'White Water Flood'. An earthquake on 12 June 1897 caused heavy loss of lives and establishments.

During the Nankar Rebellion of Sukhair in 1922-23 many political leaders and activists of Sunamganj were involved in the anti-British movement. The leftist movement spread over the district after the partition of 1947.

During the war of liberation there were many encounters between freedom fighters and the Pakistani Army. Sunamganj was liberated on 6 December 1971.

Education

The major schools of Sunamganj are:

• Jubilee High School, Sunamganj
• Abdul Haque Memorial College, Chhatak
• Chhatak Cement Factory High School
• Chhatak Bohumukhi High School
• Government Satish Chandra Girls High School
• HMP High School
• Likhan Ghosh Private School
• Bulchand High School
• Hazi Kamar Ali High School
• Pirpur High School, Chattak
• Moinpur High School, Chattak
• Moinpur Janata College, Chattak
• Sunamganj Government College, Sunamganj
• Sunamganj Government Girls College, Sunamganj
• Dargapasha Janata High School, Sunamganj
• Badshagonj Public High School, Dharampasha
• Madhyanagar B.P. High School, Dharampasha
• Chamardani High School, Dharampassa
• Patli Union High School, Jagannathpur
• Abdus Subhan High School, Jagannathpur
• Shaharpara Shah Kamal High School, Jagannathpur
• Abdul Jabbar High School, Jagannathpur
• Raniganj High School, Jagannathpur
• Hatia High School,Derai

Subdivisions

Sunamganj District comprises 11 sub-districts or Upazilas:

• Bishwamvarpur
  Bishwamvarpur Upazila
  Bishwamvarpur is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Bishwamvarpur is located at . It has 19705 units of house hold and total area 194.25 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• Chhatak
  Chhatak Upazila
  Chhatak is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Chhatak is located at . It has 43727 units of house hold and total area 434.76 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• Derai
  Derai Upazila
  Derai is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Derai is located at . It has 30041 units of house hold and total area 420.93 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• Dharampasha
  Dharampasha Upazila
  Dharampasha is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Dharampasha is located at . It has 28368 units of house hold and total area 496.03 km²...
  
  
• Dowarabazar
  Dowarabazar Upazila
  Dowarabazar is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Dowarabazar is located at . It has 27112 units of house hold and total area 281.4 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• Jagannathpur
  Jagannathpur Upazila
  Jagannathpur is an upazila located in the district of Sunamganj in the division of Sylhet, north east of Bangladesh. The upazila is boundaried by Chhatak in the north, to the east Bishwanath, to the south east is Balaganj, Nabiganj on the south, to the west Derai and Sunamganj Sadar in the north...
  
  
• Jamalganj
  Jamalganj Upazila
  Jamalganj is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Jamalganj is located at . It has 18119 units of house hold and total area 338.74 km².Jamalganj Upazila with an area of 338.74 sq km, is bounded by Tahirpur and bishwamvarpur upazilas on the...
  
  
• Sulla
  Sullah Upazila
  Sullah is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Sullah is located at . It has 13881 units of house hold and total area 260.74 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• Sunamganj Sadar
  Sunamganj Sadar Upazila
  Sunamganj Sadar is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.- Geography :Sunamganj Sadar is located at . It has 50664 units of house hold and total area 560.76 km².- Demographics :...
  
  
• Tahirpur
  Tahirpur Upazila
  Tahirpur is an Upazila of Sunamganj District in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh.-Geography:Tahirpur is located at . It has 21987 units of house hold and total area 313.7 km².-Demographics:...
  
  
• South Sunamganj Upazila, Shanthi gonj,sunamgonj

Pailgow BN high School, Jagannath Pur Upazila.
Govt Shorup Chondro High School, Jagannath Pur Upzila.
Bishwamvarpur High School, Bishwamvarpur.
Aat para high school, kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Aatpara govt. primary school, Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Shahid Akbar Sultan Maktab,Patagar & Library,Mullargawn, Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Jamathulla Aatpara govt.primary school,Mullargaown, Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Kalkalia Union parishad office, Mullar Gaown, Jagonnathpur
Govinda Bazar Post Office, (Kalkalia Bazar),Jagonnathpur
Shafath ulla high school,jagodish pur, kalkalia u/p,Jagonnathpur
Aralier Bazar high school, kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Ideal high school, Parar Gaown, Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Shahajalal College, kalkalia Bazar,Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Aatpara dakhil Madrasha,Balikandi,Kalkalia u/p, Jagonnathpur
Soyedpur college,soyedpur-shaharpra u/p, Jagonnathpur
Soyedpur high School, Soyedpur-shaharpara u/p,Jagonnathpur
Shaharpara Shah Kamal high School,Jagonnathpur
Mirpur public high school, Mirpur u/p, Jagonnathpur
Shri-ram-shri high school,Mirpur u/p, Jagonnathpur
Noya bandar high school, Noyabandar bazar, Asharkandi
Pilegow high school,pilegow u/p, Jagonnathpur
Jagonnathpur College, Jagonnathpur
Ranigonj high school, Ranigonj u/p, Jagonnathpur
Ranigonj College,Ranigonj Bazar, Jagonnathpur
Shorupchandra govt.high school, Jagonnathpur
Jagonnathpur govt.Girls high school, Jagonnathpur
Ishakpur High school, Jagonnathpur
Rowaile high school, Ranigonj u/p, Jagonnathpur
Chilaura High school, Haldipur u/p, Jagonnathpur

Culture

Sunamganj is renowned for bards and folk music. Mystic poet Hason Raja

Hason Raja

Hason Raja , also known as Dewan Hason Raja, was a Bengali poet, mystic philosopher and folksongs writer and composer...

, Dewan Moshin Raja, Syed Shahnoor, Radharomon Dotto, Radhamadhav Dotto, Doorbin Shah, Shah Abdul Karim

Shah Abdul Karim

Shah Abdul Karim , was one of the most famous legends of Bangladeshi folk music. He specialized in Bengali Baul music. Born and brought up in the village of Ujan Dhol, in Derai Upazila of Sunamganj, he lived there until his death. He was awarded the Ekushey Padok in the year 2001 for his...

, Muniruzzaman Munir, Nurul Ghani, Dilly meah Kamaly and Qari Amiruddin are from this area.

Notable Personalities

• Syed Shahnoor lyricist of Sufi traditional songs
• Diwan Hasan Raja, lyricist of mystic Sufi songs
• Durbin Shah, lyricist of Sufi traditional songs
• Abdus Samad Azad
  Abdus Samad Azad
  Abdus Samad Azad was a diplomat and politician from Bangladesh. Azad was elected to Bangladesh's parliament five times from 1970 to 2001. He was also elected Member of Lower Assembly in the Parliament of then East Pakistan...
  
  , politician
• Humayun Rashid Chaudhary, diplomat and politician
• Shah Abdul Karim
  Shah Abdul Karim
  Shah Abdul Karim , was one of the most famous legends of Bangladeshi folk music. He specialized in Bengali Baul music. Born and brought up in the village of Ujan Dhol, in Derai Upazila of Sunamganj, he lived there until his death. He was awarded the Ekushey Padok in the year 2001 for his...
  
  , mystic poet
• Likhan Ghosh, philanthropist
  Philanthropist
  A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
  
  
• Shahed Ali
  Shahed Ali
  Shahed Ali was one of the leading short story writers of Bangladesh and is considered to be one of the literary giants of his time in the realm of Bengali literature...
  
  , author and novelist
• Radharaman Dutta, lyricist of folk dhamal songs and dance tradition
• Dr. S. M. Golam Quadir, author, researcher about Sylheti Nagri, a language

External links

• http://www.sunamganj.co.uk
• http://www.sunamganj.com
• Banglapedia article on Sunamganj District
• http://sunamganjgovcollege.org/