Tangail


Tangail formerly Arail city of Greater Mymensingh is a major city of Dhaka Division in the central region of Bangladesh 98 km north-west of Dhaka, the capital. Tangail Mohokuma Upazilla of greater Mymensingh district turned to Tangail district on december 1 1969. It is main urban area of Tangail District. The city is on the bank of Louhajang River. It is the 23rd largest city of Bangladesh

Etymology

During the early 19th century, horse carts were the main transportation medium for carrying goods and passengers in the present city area. A long line of horse carts used to stand at that time. There is a common belief that the name Tangail has been originated from the word tanga meaning horse carts.

History

Tangail was a popular local business centre since the early 19th century. But the name came on focus when the headquarter of a subdivision of the Greater Mymensingh District was shifted in 1860 from Atia to there due to its fertility and high elevation near Louhajong River. At the same time, The subdivision was named as Tangail.
The Municipal Corporation or pourashava was established on 1 July 1887. During its establishment the town was composed of five wards.
Ward No.Area
1Tangail Kanda Para, Par Dighulia, Akur Takur Para
2Korer Betka, Mirer Betka, Nondir Betka, Sabalia, Dorun, Ashekpur, Nagor Jalfai, Boali
3Garai, Berai, Kazipur, Bachrakandi, Potol, Bajitpur, Berabuchna, Valluk kandi
4Kagmari, Sontosh, Aloa, Boitta, Patuli, Ekrampur
5Kalipur, Dighulia, Sakrail, Kaiyamara, Beradoma, Basha, Khanpur

Afterwards, the pourashava was reshaped into four wards:
In 1988 it was subdivided into six wards:
After decisions for a few years, in 1999 the city was subdivided into 18 wards and gained its present shape.
The first election of the city was held in November 1887. In that election eight ward commissioners from four wards were elected by direct vote of the citizens of the city. On the other hand, the then Subdivision Commissioner of Tangail, Shashi Shekhar Dutt, was appointed as the first administrator of Tangail city. There was no pakka street in this city then. No lamp post could be seen in the roads. In the 1890s the city was lacking safe water supply, too. The regional zamindars and subdivision board came forward and helped financially to dig ponds, lakes and canals. Those sources served the local people with a safe water supply.
In the early 1900s, the pourashava authority lit the roads for the first time by kerosene lambs. The pourashava gradually became populated in the first half of the 20th century. At that time, many tube wells were set up in the town. The main way of transportation was horse cars in the town. People used cattle for transportation, too.
The people of Tangail used to visit Kolkata through Charabari by launch and Dhaka through Mymensingh. In the early 1930s, electricity line was first provided in the town. The rickshaws started to roll in town's streets. In the 1960s, pakka roads were constructed in the town. In the meantime, Tangail was directly connected to Dhaka by road. Many bridges and culverts were constructed to develop the area. The town got water by pipelines at that time.

In 1985 Tangail City was promoted to 'B Class' from 'C Class'. In 1989 the pourashava was promoted to 'A Class'. In the 1990s, The city was financed by Asian Development Bank and Government of Bangladesh to develop water supply, sanitation, wastewater drainage, bus terminal, supermarkets and other infrastructure.

Sports

is the most popular sport in Tangail. Football and kabaddi are also popular. All important sports events of the city are held in Tangail Stadium which is beside Bhashani hall and Tangail Eid-gah. The stadium has hosted national events. It was the home venue of Bangladesh Football Premier League club Team BJMC. It was converted into a cricket stadium in 2015. First Division Cricket is regularly hosted in this venue.

Administration

The total area of Tangail city is 35.22 km2. The government of Bangladesh has planned to expand the city. After expansion it will have a proposed area of 81.75 km2. The city consists of 18 wards and 64 mahallas until 2016.
Ward No.RegionHouseholdsPopulation
1Akur Takur Para-north, Dewla, District hq207010388
2Enayetpur21428760
3West Akur Takur Para, North Kagmara, South Kagmara320513903
4Bepari Para, Fakir Para, Bera Doma, Dighulia, Char Dighulia21199208
5Kalipur, Lakshimpur, Sarutia, Shakrail16147235
6College Para, Paradise Para, Par Dighulia-part15696712
7Baluk Kandi, Bagbari, Patuli Bhabani Bagbari, Uttar Santosh-part, Santosh Palpara16747325
8Aloa Bhabani Pahim, Aloa Pahim, Dakshin Santosh-part17978026
9Aloa Baratia, Aloa Paikasta, Aloa Tarini, Baluk Kandi-part, Char Patuli, Purba Aloa, Aloa Bhabani18888575
10Bajitpur, Berai, Basrakandi, Kazipur, Patal14586189
11Berabuchna, Kachua Para,Kanda Para19297536
12Adi Tangail, Bepari Para, Bil Para16287160
13Tangail Mahalla, Chayanir Bazar, Pachanir Bazar, Thana Para, Uttar Thana Para17927572
14Purba Adalat Para, Adalat Para, Biswas Betka-part S.W corn, Shaha Para279011786
15Ashekpur, Biswas Betka-part274512118
16Akur Takur Para-part, Par Dighulia-part245910670
17Kumudini College Para, Munshi Para, Registry Para, Biswas Betka-west212811081
18Kodalia, Sabalia260013168

Karatia is the suburb of Tangail, Besides the old reputed was established here.

Transport

It takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to reach Tangail from Dhaka city, via Kaliakair and Tongi. The distance is around 98 km. From Mohakhali bus terminal, several buses run to this city. Among them Nirala, Dhaleshwari, Jhatika and High Choice are notable.
Several trains are available from Dhaka to Tangail. Among them the most popular is "Sirajganj Express". Other notable intercity trains that stop in Tangail railway station are Padma Express, Ekota Express, Nilsagor Express, Silk City Express,tangail express, Sundarban Express, Drutojan Express, Rangpur Express etc. Some local trains stop in the station, too. Those are Rajshahi Express, Rajshahi Mail, Rangpur Express, Fast Passenger, etc.
Jamuna Bridge, the largest bridge of Bangladesh, is situated here. Through this bridge, it is connected to sirajganj

Traditional foods

The literacy rate of the city area is 71.8%.
There are eight notable high schools in the city:
  1. Bindu Basini Govt. Boys' High School
  2. Bindu Basini Govt. Girls' High School
  3. Police Lines High School
  4. Santosh Jannabi Govt. High School
  5. Vivekananda High School
  6. Zila Sadar Girls' High School
  7. Shibnath High School
  8. P.T.I. High School
  9. mirzapur Cadet College,
  10. tangail Polytechnic Institute, There are several colleges in the city.
  11. Major General Mahmudul Hassan College
  12. Kumudini College
  13. Mawlana Mohammad Ali Govt. College
  14. Govt. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Mohila College
  15. Vivekananda College
  16. Sristy College
  17. Shaheen School and college
Furthermore, Govt. Saadat College in karatia, Tangail Medical College, Bangabandhu Textile Engineering College, Textile Institute of Tangail and Tangail Polytechnic Institute are located here. There is a technological university named Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Santosh, Tangail.

Religion

The majority of Tangail city's people are Muslims like most other parts of Bangladesh. Other religious groups include Hindus, Christians and Buddhists.

Notable residents

Nayeem, Film Actor
Amit Hassan, Film Actor

Notable nonresident