District History / Background

Jhenaidah is one of the most populous and southwestern gateways and districts of Bangladesh. Jhenaidah is a prosperous township. Enriched with mormi poet Lalon Shah, Pagla Kanai, Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman, Bir Pratik Sirajul Islam, revolutionary Bir Baghatin, mathematical scholar KP Bausi, poet Golam Mustafa, Baro Bazars blessed by Baro Awali, Gazi-Kalu-Champbati episode, Kumar-Kopatak, Chitra, Begaboti, Nabagangaon River and date molasses, abundance of bananas and betal leaf, this Jhenaidah has an ancient tradition.

Photo: Former sub-divisional and deputy commissioner's office

Jhenaidah district is known to be a part of the Ganges delta formed in connection with the two branches of Gangan river Padma and Bhagirathi. In the map of Tolemy in the southern part of the Gangetic delta, the land surrounding the river-tract has been described. Jhenaidah's original settlement was built there. It was in existence at the beginning of the second century BC.

In ancient times, there were indications of the existence of permanent settlements of Jhenaidah and the organized social system during different regimes. In the middle of the sixth century, Jhenaidah region was a part of Bengal and Samatata kingdom. The district had 13 rivers, 29 bawras, 42 bills, and numerous rivers, haors, bill-basar and its main communication system was the river route. A city center and a business center were established beside this river path, which still survives. The villages of Gorai, Kali, Dakua, and Kumar Nad have been flowing through the banks of Harikanandu and Jhenaidah on the banks of Shailakupa, Kotchandpur, Kaliganj, Chitala river bank, Kaliganj, Kutcha, Ichamati, Bethena river and Maheshpur and Nabaganga districts of Chuadanga from the Mathabhanga river. Towards Magura. Jhenaidah district town has been developed on the bank of Nabaganga river. The bungalow of the  former subdivision administrator and the present district administrator actually was  the quarters of the Jailor in the prison. This sub-divisional bungalow of the district is made of sub-divisional administration bungalow when the subdivision administrator's bungalow  was destroyed in the Nabaganga river.

Photo - present Deputy Commissioner's Office

After 1757, Jainaidah went directly under the English rule in 1781. This year, English East India Company established their offices or courts in Murali, Jessore.

Jessore, Khulna and Faridpur districts were brought under it. Tillman Hengkal was appointed as the first judge and magistrate of the court. At that time, the British forced forced farmers to cultivate indigo in Jhenaidah. When the oppression of the peasants and the persecution of oppressed them, the Blue Revolt began. Finally indigo cultivation is closed.

In those cases, in 1793, during the British rule, Jhenaidah police outpost initially opened in 1793. Subsequently the subdivision was established as Janaidah administrative center towards Thana and in 1860-61.

The Bangladesh Dictionary of Time Publication, in 1978, states that "Jessore has undergone a long series of changes with regard to its area." 1860-61 separate sub-divisions were created with headquarters at Khulna, Jhhenaidah, Magura, Narail and Jessore "

Another official information says that "The Sub-division was abolished in the rearrangement made in 1863.

According to another source, in 1862 Jhenaidah was elevated to sub-divisional level. At Jhenaidah subdivision, the Kotchandpur subdivision was known as the commercial city of the time of 1863. Presently a thana and upazila city of kotchandpur jhenaidaha.

 Jahanidah subdivision was in existence as an administrative structure from 1863 to 1947 and for a decade of independent Bangladesh. The first sub-divisional administrator was Allen and Mr B. Mr. Mohammed Shafiul Karim was the last subdivision administrator. After this, on 23 February 1984, it was upgraded to Jhenaidah district. The first Deputy Commissioner was Mr. Z. M., Rafiq Bhuiyan.

Information Source:

1. History of Zinta

2. Traditional Jhenaidah

Jhenaidah District Introduction:

Nomination

It has been reported that in ancient time, in the north-west of Jhenaidah the oyster-pickers built their settlements along the bank of the river Nabaganga. At that time, businessmen from Kolkata, West Bengal, came to buy mussels for the collection of oyster pearls. At that time this place of getting the mussel was called jhonukdaha. At that time, people made money by collecting pearl from mussels and selling lime by making mills and selling them.

According to many, Jhinuk was interpreted in the regional language as Jhinai, Jhenai and Dahan meaning large water bodies and in Persian language, the village was called. In that sense, Jhinukdah used to mean the oyster water or oyster village. And from this mussel and cremation, Jhinukdah or Jhinidah, which has been transformed into today's Jhenaidah, has been named.

From another legend in it is known, an Englishman was passing through this area after the Nabaganga River. Many people were busy in collecting oysters from the river. To the people present, he would like to know the name of the area. People could not understand his words, thinking that he asked for the name of what they are picking up from the river. Thinking so, people informed him of Jhinuk or Jheni. Then the name of the place was taken by the Englishman Zheni. The word Zheni is used to be used later as Zhenida. Jhenaidah is still called Jhinda in regional languages. Jhenaida, Jhinda and Jhenaidah, whatever is called Jhenaidah, the origin of the name of the mussel is more acceptable to the people of this region.

In the traditional Jhenaidah, it has been said about Jhenaidah: " blessed with the blessings of  Baro Awlia; enriched with the tale of Gazi-Kalu-Champabati; KP Basu, Golam Mostafa memorized; Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman, the valor of revolutionary hero Baghayat; Date molasses, bananas and bananas; Pagalankaai, Lalon Shah's place of residence, Kobot

Like the naming of Jhenaidah, the other 5 upazilas also have a varied history of naming.

Shailkupah

Once upon a time, a large number of rock fish were found in the Kumar river of Shailkupa and they were killed by common chopping. That is why it is called Shailkupa. According to others, the area is called Shailkupa because of the high number of cliffs. Shailkupa was formerly in Faridpur district.

Maheshpur

The original name of Maheshpur upazila was Yogidaha situated on the banks of Bhairab. Later, in 1106, the temple of the Hindu god Maheshpur Thakur was established and the name changed into Maheshpur. Some say that the area was named Maheshpur after King Mahesh Chandra. Another legend is that when the kingdom of that region was taken over by a fisherman king, Maheshpur was named after his son "Mahesh". Maheshpur was one of the parts of Bangaon subdivision of India. In 1947, Maheshpur became a part of Jhenaidah subdivision. Maheshpur is called food store or gem store.

Kaliganj:

There is a rumour behind the naming of Kaliganj Upazila that Kaliganj was named after the famous Kali Mandir in this market.

Kotchandpur:

 It is said that a saint named Chandfakir built his abode in this forested area. Its name is Chandpur. A court was built in 1610 during the Mughal period. And by putting the word Kot before the name of Chandpur, its name is Kotchandpur. There was a court here during the British rule and until 1862 it was known as a subdivisional commercial city.

Harinakundu:

Harinakundu is named after Haricharan Kundu, the oppressive son of an English employee named Abhaykunda.

Ancient history of Jhenaidah :

Jhenaidah is an ancient town. Rich in innumerable legends, historical events and information. The long and glorious history of this town is also very ancient. The people of this district have a proud contribution to make in all the movements including anti-British movement, blue rebellion, language movement, war of independence. Education, culture, communication system, fertile land are all considered by the people of the district as the best gift of the Creator.

A review of the historical context, celebrities, agro-fisheries, archeology and geographical location shows that the district occupies an important position in Bangladesh, including the south-western part of the country, and has prospered from the very east.

The Jhenaidah region has in the distant past been covered with spectacles, jungles and caves. At that time the area was considered to be an extension of the Sundarbans. Many call this region the Sun Island.

 After the conquest of Bengal by Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, many Sufi saints from Iran-Iraq-Turkey and Afghanistan came to Jhenaidah to preach the Pir-Aulia religion. They preached in different areas of the region including Kaliganj, Barobazar, Kotchandpur, Maheshpur and built houses. Barobazar, Shailukpa, Kotchandpur and other areas of the district, including their mosques and various architectural patterns are still found.

Renowned saint mystic poet Lalon Sai, Pagla Kanai, mathematician K.P. Basu, Jhenaidah is the birthplace of the poet Golam Mostamfar. Jhenaidah is the district of the country's first frontal war in the freedom struggle of 1971 and the heroism of Bipasnabi Bagha Jatin, Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman and Bir Pratik Sirajul Islam. The legendary episode of Gazi-Kalu-Champabati, Baor-river-banana-betal leaf, date molasses, rice-crop are full of abundance of food in this Jhenaidah.

There are indications of permanent settlement and well-organized social system in Jhenaidah during different regimes of ancient times. Jhenaidah is believed to have belonged to the kingdom of Bengal in the 5th century AD. Under the Gupta Empire in the 6th century and the fall of the Bengal Gupta Empire in the middle of that century, Bengal was divided into two independent kingdoms, Banga or Samatat and Gaur. The Jhenaidah region belonged to the state of Bangantha and Samatat. After the deaths of King Shashanka and Shashanka of Gaur in the 7th century, it was ruled by Emperor Harshavardhana. During the period 725-735 AD, when the king of Kanaujar Yashovardhana conquered the kingdoms of Gaur and Bengal, the whole of Bengal, including Jhenaidah, came under his rule. From 781-821 AD, Jhenaidah belonged to the Pala dynasty. After the fall of the Paul dynasty, the Burmese ruled the Jhenaidah region from 1080-1150 AD. When the Burman dynasty was defeated by the Sen dynasty in 1150, Jhenaidah went under the Sen dynasty. After the conquest of Bengal by Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1204, Jhenaidah was included in the Muslim kingdom of Jhenaidah from 1268 to 1281, namely Lakshnavati under the Delhi Sultanate. In 1342, Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah declared Bengal as an independent sultanate and brought Bengal into an administrative structure. During his tenure, changes were made in various stages of Muslim rule. At that time Jhenaidah was under his rule. Jhenaidah also had an important place in the administrative structure during the Hussein Shahi period of Muslim rule. When the last independent Nawab of Bengal of the Hussain Shahi dynasty, Sultan Ghiyas Uddin Muhammad Shah (1532-1538 AD) was defeated by Pathan Sultan Sher Shah of Delhi, Bengal came under the rule of Delhi.

Jhenaidah was ruled by the Pathan Sultans from 1539 to 1553. Then in 1576, during the reign of Dawood Coronary, Mughal rule in Bengal began. About 36 years later, Jhenaidah came under the Mughal Empire. During the reign of Emperor Akbar, a king of the Bara Bhuiyans of Jessore ruled over Jhenaidah with the collection of land revenue. At this time King Pratapaditya revolted against the Mughals and was defeated by the Mughal general in 1612.

 During the Mughal period, important administrative institutions including land revenue level and criminal were established in Jhenaidah. During the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan a separate criminal institution was established in Jessore and Jhenaidah became part of that criminal. After 1703 AD, a landlord named Sitaram Roy appeared during the reign of Subaddar Murshid Quli Khan, who was empowered to collect revenue of Bengal under the Mughal Empire, and the rule of Jhenaidah passed to him. After the fall of Sitaram in 1714, Jessore Faujdari Chachra, Naldanga and Mohammad Shahi were divided into three zamindari. Jhenaidah was under Naldanga and Mohammad Shahi zamindari. Signs of the administrative structure of these three zamindari still exist in Jhenaidah.

The defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah by Lord Clive, a salaried general of the East India Company, on 23 June 1757 marked the beginning of British rule in Bengal and India. In 1881 Jhenaidah came under British rule. At that time the English East India Company set up an office or court at Murli in Jessore. Greater Jessore, Khulna and Faridpur districts were brought under that court. English Tillman Henkel was appointed the 1st George and Magistrate of this Court. The British imposed blue cultivation on the farmers in different parts of Jhenaidah. Blue huts were set up at various places including Khalishpur, Bijulia, Baghadanga, Sadhuhati in Jhenaidah. As a result of the indigo rebellion of the oppressed peasants, the indigo commission was formed in 1860 and indigo cultivation was stopped. In the Blue Rebellion, the peasants of Jhenaidah used to cut bamboo and cut the needles, put iron strips on them and throw them hard. Jhenaidah has a history of heroism.

The people of Jhenaidah jumped into the language movement of 1952 and the war of independence in 1971. The first frontal battle in the freedom struggle of this country took place on 1 April 1971 at Sadar Upazila. After about 3 hours of fierce fighting, the Pakistani army retreated. The war of liberation spread throughout the district. After the war, Maheshpur on 3 December, Kotchandpur on 4 December, Kaliganj on 5 December and the entire district of Jhenaidah on 6 December became independent. During the war of independence 176 heroic freedom fighters were killed in the whole district.

Shailkupa thana of the district was once in Faridpur district and Maheshpur in Bangaon subdivision. In 1947, except Maheshpur, Bangaon subdivision became part of India. Maheshpur was then called the food store of undivided Jessore district.

The district has a tradition of communication system. Jhenaidah is called the gateway to the southwest. In 1913-14 trains were running in Jhenaidah. The railway was built by forming the JJ (Jessore-Jhenaidah) Railway Company. The railway is also claimed to be the railway of the Martin Company. At that time eight up-down trains were running in the district. There were railway stations at Prasannanagar, Kaliganj, Barobazar and Churamankathi within 28 miles of Jessore-Jhenaidah road. Due to the development of sugar industry in Kotchandpur at that time a 8 mile railway line was extended to Kotchandpur by junction of Kaliganj. At that time the railway fare was 1 paisa. Later in 1935-36 a bus syndicate was formed. Jessore-Jhenaidah bus service was launched.