Sarail Upazila (brahmanbaria district) with an area of 239.52 sq km, is bounded by nasirnagar upazila on the north, brahmanbaria sadar upazila on the south, Brahmanbaria sadar and Nasirnagar upazilas on the east, bhairab and bajitpur upazilas on the west. Main rivers are Meghna, Titas and Sunahair; Shapla and Akashi Beels are notable.

Sarail (Town) consists of two mouzas. The area of the town is 14.03 sq km. It has a population of 34950; male 48.91%, female 51.09%; population density per sq km 2491. The town has one BDR camp, and one dakbungalow.

Administration Sarail upazila was established in 1990. The upazila consists of 10 union parishads, 76 mouzas and 146 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics Hatkhola Jami Mosque (sixteenth century), Sagardighi Mosque at Ariphail (sixteenth century), Twin Grave (under the care of the National Museum), Hatir Pool at Bariura (Mughal period).

Historical events During the War of Liberation the Pak army brutally killed 70 innocent persons of Bitghar area. Two Pak army officers and the convenor of the local Peace Committee were killed by mine explosion set by the freedom fighters near Kalikachha Bazar.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 3, memorial monument 3 (Bitghar, Sarail Annada Government High School and Sarail Degree College compound).

Population 254481; male 50.32%, female 49.68%; Muslim 91.50%, Hindu 8.50%.

Religious institutions Mosque 214, temple 26, tomb 7 and sacred place 3, most noted of which are Hatkhola Jami Mosque at Sarail, Sagardighi Mosque at Ariphail, tombs of Kutub Shah, Kala Shah and Ayet Shah, Kali and Krishna Mandirs and Dayamoy Ashram established by Swami Ananda Chandra, founder of the Sarva Dharna Samanaya (unification of all religions).

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 22.5%; male 29% and female 16%. Educational institutions: college 2, high school 15, madrasa 12, government primary school 81, non-government primary school 42, kindergarten 7. Noted educational institutions: Sarail Ananda Government High School (1893), Chunta AC Academy.

Locally published newspapers and periodicals Periodicals: Sarail Juge, Sarail Barta, Muktaprabaha, Anupama Barta; extinct: Palli Prodip, Rayat Bandhu, Chunta Prokash (1922), Belasheshey (1993)

Cultural organisations Rural club 20, public library 1, cinema hall 1, women's organisation 34.

Main occupations Agriculture 47.49%, agricultural labourer 17.79%, wage labourer 3.89%, commerce 12.18%, service 4.92%, transport 1.76%, fishing 2.38% and others 9.59%.

Land use Total cultivable land 18517.20 hectares, fallow land 121.41 hectares; single crop 39%, double crop 58% and treble crop land 3%; land under irrigation 81%.

Land control Among the peasants, 26% are landless, 32% small, 30% intermediate and 12% rich.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 9000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, potato, onion, garlic, chilli, brinjal and patal.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Linseed, sesame, corn, arahar and kaun.

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

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 10, fishery 9, hatchery 2 and artificial breeding centre 1. Sarail is noted for a high variety of Grey Hound dogs.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 21 km, semi pucca 23 km and mud road 76 km; waterways 14 nautical mile.

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

Manufactories Flour mill 2, ice factory 5, brick field 3 and welding 11.

Cottage industries Cottage industries include weaving 1, bamboo work 7, goldsmith 40, blacksmith 55, wood work 425, potteries 30 and tailoring 250

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 16, most noted of which Sarail Bikal Bazar; fairs 5 (Bagha Chand Mia Mela at Shahbajpur and Baruni Mela of Gazi Kalu at Sarail are notable).

Main exports Jute, paddy, wheat, mustard seed and leather.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are asa, brac, Comilla Proshika, Grameen Family Planning Centre, Ujjiban Kendra, Samaj Unnayan Kendra.

Health centres Upazila health cmplex 1, family planning centre 10, veterinary hospital 1 and satellite clinic 5. [Md. Azad Uddin Thakur]