Dhobaura Upazila (mymensingh district) with an area of 251.05 sq km, is bounded by Meghalaya (Indian) on the north, phulpur and purbadhala upazilas on the south, durgapur upazila on the east, haluaghat upazila on the west. Main rivers are Nitai and kangsa. There are many hillocks on the north region of the upazila.

Dhobaura (Town) consists of 1 mouza. The area of the town is 3.82 sq km. It has a population of 3027; male 51.93% and female 48.07%; population density per sq km 792. Literacy rate among the town people is 34.2%. The town has one dakbungalow

Administration Dhobaura thana, now an upazila, was established in 1976. The upazila consists of 7 union parishads, 96 mouzas and 158 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics A Bishnu statue of black basalt weighing 40 kg 500 gm; Dharma Shah Dighi (pond) at Langal Jora village.

Historical events On 3 October 1971 at mid night the Pakistan army suddenly attacked the Muktibahini camp at Goatali Bazar and killed four freedom fighters. Next day the Pakistan army conducted mass killing at Goatali Bazar and Taraikandi Ferry Ghat. In this mass killing more than one hundred people lost their lives.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass grave 7 (Goatali Bazar, Taraikandi Ferry Ghat, Defulia Para, Milagara, Digalbagh, Goborchena and Zigatala).

Religious institutions Mosque 169, temple 25 and church 10, sacred place 1.

Population 157027; male 50.52%, female 49.48%; Muslim 88.73%; Hindu 4.49%, Christian 6.36%, Buddhist 0.15% and others 0.27%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 18.7%; male 23.6% and female 13.6%. Educational institutions: college 3, high school 11, junior high school 6, madrasa 23, government primary school 43, non-government 39 and kinder garden school 2.

Cultural organisations Club 22, public library 2, cinema hall 1.

Main occupations Agriculture 52.6%, agricultural labourer 27.84%, commerce 6.14%, service 1.65%, wage labourer 2.29%, livestock, forestry and fishery 1.84%, others 7.64%

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Taka 5000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crop paddy.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops jute, mustard seed, sugarcane, tobacco, sesame, aus paddy and ashina paddy.

Main fruits jackfruit, mango, banana, papaya.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 8, dairy 3, poultry 23 and hatchery 1.

Communication facilities Roads: semi pucca 15 km, mud road 350 km; waterways 22 nautical mile

Traditional transport palanquin, bullock cart, horse, elephant and soary. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

Manufactories Saw mill 3, rice mill 100.

Cottage industries Goldsmith 16, blacksmith 17, potteries 25, wood work 57, tailoring 94, welding 2, bamboo work 52 and cocoon cultivation 50.

Main hats, bazars and fairs The most noted hats and bazars are Dhobaura, Goatala, Kalsindur, Munshir Hat, Ghoshgaon and Porakandulia.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, proshika DPDS, SDS and Arsa.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 7, satellite clinic 1. [Md. Abdul Motaleb Talukder]