Shariatpur District (dhaka division) with an area of 1181.53 sq km, is bounded by munshiganj district on the north, barisal district on the south, chandpur district on the east, madaripur district on the west. Annual average temperature: highest 35.8°C and lowest 12.6°C; annual rainfall 2105 mm. Main rivers are Padma, Meghna, Palong and Kirtinasha.

Shariatpur (Town) a municipal town, consists of 9 wards and 26 mahallas. The area of the town is 25.5 sq km. The town has a population of 42154; male 51.55%, female 48.45%. The density of population is 1653 per sq km.

Administration Shariatpur district was established on 1 March 1984. It consists of 6 upazilas, 5 municipalities, 64 union parishads, 45 wards, 93 mahallas, 1230 villages and 607 mouzas. The upazilas are bhedarganj, damudya, gosairhat, naria, shariatpur sadar and zanjira.

Archaeological haritage South Baluchara Mosque, Bilaskhan Mosque (Mughal period), Fatehjongpur Fort, Kedarbari at Kedarpur, Haturia and Kartikpur zamindarbaris, Mohishar dighi (pond) and Burirhat Mosque.

Mark of the War of Liberation Mass grave 2 (Mahisha and 'Digambari' Mayerr Bari).

Religious institution Mosque 1963, temple 57, tomb 3, Darbar Sharif 9.

Population 1057181; male 49.58%, female 50.42%; Muslim 95.54%, Hindu 4.30% and others 0.16%.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 24.4%; male 30.3% and female 18.4%. Educational institutions: government college 2, non-government college 16, government high school 1, non-government high school 80, government primary school 396, non-government high school 121, madrasa 60, NGO operated schools 28, satellite school 40, community school 40, kindergarten 2, non-government medical college 1.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily Hunker, Weekly Mukta Kantha, Weekly Shetu and Weekly Saptapalli Samachar; extinct: Chikundi Barta, Shariatpur Barta, Rudra Kantha, Jabanbondi.

Cultural organisations Cinema hall 10, public library 3, club 125, drama club 2, women's organisation 3, literary organisation 3.

Main occupations Agriculture 46.53%, agricultural labourer 23.22%, fishing 1.29%, wage labourer 3.19%, commerce 9.55%, service 4.95%, others 11.27%.

Land use Cultivable land 83805 hectares; single crop 22.24%, double crop 50.12% and treble crop land 27.64%.

Land control Among the peasants, 22% are landless, 29% marginal, 28% small, 17% intermediary, 4% rich.

Value of land The market value of first grade agricultural land is Tk 7000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, sweet potato, onion, garlic, tomato.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Sesame, kaun, arahar and sanpat.

Main fruits Blackberry, mango, banana and wood apple.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 32, poultry 1453, dairy 56.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 174.09 km, semi pucca 99.64 km and mud road 2066.43 km; waterways 49 nautical mile.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), horse carriage (nearly extinct), boat.

Manufactories Ice factory 13, saw mill 35, shoe factory 4, oil mill 6, rice mill 164, bidi factory 9.

Cottage industries Weaving 88, goldsmith 341, blacksmith 324, potteries 90, tailoring 425, welding 47.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 88, fair 12, most noted of which are Kazir hat, Bojeshwar bazar, Naria bazar, Haturia hat, Sakhipur, Palong and Angaria bazar.

Main exports Jute, onion, garlic, tomato.

NGO activities Grameen Unnayan Sangstha, SDS, Madaripur Mahila Unnayan Sangstha, brac, asa, GUP, Madaripur Lagal Aid Association.

Health centres Government hospital 1, upazila health complex 6, union health and family planning centre 33, charitable dispensary 5, maternity and child care centre 3. [Shahidul Haque]