Sunamganj Sadar Upazila (sunamganj district) with an area of 560.76 sq km, is bounded by bishwamvarpur upazila and Meghalaya (India) on the north, jagannathpur and derai upazilas on the south, dowarabazar and chhatak upazilas on the east, jamalganj and Bishwamvarpur upazilas on the west. River Surma and Dekar Haor are notable.

Sunamganj (Town) stands on the bank of the river Surma. It was established in late 18th century. It consists of 9 wards and 44 mahallas. The area of the town is 22.16 sq km. It has a population of 49373; male 52.70%, female 47.30%; density of population is 2228 per sq. km. Literacy rate among the town people is 58.8%. The town has five dakbungalows.

Administration Sunamganj thana, now an upazila, was established in 1877. The upazila consists of one municipality, 17 union parishads, 265 mouzas and 424 villages.

Historical events Many people died in a devastating earthquake on 12 June 1897.

Marks of War of Liberation Memorial 3.

Religious institutions Mosque 332, temple 9, church 2, most noted of which are Court Jami Mosque, Pagla Jami Mosque, Patharia Baishnab Aakhra, etc.

Population 303153; male 51.27%, female 48.73%; Muslim 73%, Hindu 24%, Christian 2%, Buddhist 0.72%, and others 0.28%; Ethnic nationals: 1024 (Hazang, Manipuri and Garo).

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 23.9%; male 29.6%, female 17.8%. Educational institutions: college (government) 2, college (private) 2, high school (government) 2, high school (private) 25, primary school (government) 151, primary school (private) 50, technical education institute 2, madrasa 4. Government Jubilee High School (1887), Satish Chandra Government Girls' High School (1940), Sunamganj Government College (1944) are notable educational institutions.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily Haor Barta, Weekly Shajan, Weekly Sunamganj Sangbad, Weekly Sunamganj Barta, Weekly Aunal, Weekly Grambanglar Katha; extinct: Weekly Sunam, Weekly Din Jai, Weekly Sunamganjer Kagoj.

Cultural organisations Public library 3, theatre group 6, music group 10, women's organisation 1, Shilpakala Academy 1, Shishu Academy 1, music school 2, theatre stage 2, stadium 1, playground 38.

Main occupations Agriculture 67.35%, wage labourer 11.04%, transport 8.16%, commerce 8.75%, service 4.70%.

Land use Arable land 21545.12 hectares, fallow land 3888.30 hectares; land under irrigation 65%.

Land control Among the peasants, 35% are landless, 38% small, 17% intermediate and 10% rich.

Value of land Market value of first grade arable land about Tk 7500 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Rice, wheat, jute, mustard seed, sugarcane, ground nut, potato, onion, garlic and vegetables.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Til (sesame), kaun (Italian millet), arhar (one kind of pulse), tobacco, corn.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, litchi, banana, guava.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 382, poultry 123, dairy 9, hatchery 1.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 40 km, sumi pucca 5 and mud road 210 km; waterways 41 nautical mile.

Traditional transport Palanquin and bullock cart are nearly extinct.

Manufactories Flour mill 3, ice factory 3, cold storage and fish processing centre 1, printing press 7.

Cottage industries Goldsmith 53, blacksmith 27, tailoring 11, welding 6.

Hats and bazars 30.

Main exports Paddy.

NGO activities FIVDB, BARD, brac, asa.

Health centres Sadar hospital 1, satellite clinic 2, child and maternity welfare centre 2, family welfare centre 8. [Alok Ghosh Chowdhury]