Jump to content

Sitakunda Upazila: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
more rewriting of 2nd paragraph of intro; reworded last sentence of 3rd paragraph too
hid "established in 2001" from the description of the eco-park because I feel it weakens the sentence; reworded content on wind and geothermal energy
Line 16: Line 16:
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Sitakunda''' ({{lang-bn|সীতাকুণ্ড}} ''Shitakunḍo'' [[IPA]]: {{IPA|/ʃit̪akunɖo/}}) is an [[upazila]], or adminsitrative unit, in [[Bangladesh]]'s [[Chittagong District]]. Sitakunda is one of the oldest sites of human habitation in Bangladesh.<ref name=utexas>[http://inic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/bangla/bangladeshm.html Bangladesh: The Roots], Bangladesh WWW Virtual Library, Asian Studies Network Information Center, International Information Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Retrieved: [[2007-08-27]]</ref> It is also the home of the country's first [[Nature preserve|eco-park]], established in 2001,<ref name=Bangpark>{{Citation
'''Sitakunda''' ({{lang-bn|সীতাকুণ্ড}} ''Shitakunḍo'' [[IPA]]: {{IPA|/ʃit̪akunɖo/}}) is an [[upazila]], or adminsitrative unit, in [[Bangladesh]]'s [[Chittagong District]]. Sitakunda is one of the oldest sites of human habitation in Bangladesh.<ref name=utexas>[http://inic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/bangla/bangladeshm.html Bangladesh: The Roots], Bangladesh WWW Virtual Library, Asian Studies Network Information Center, International Information Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Retrieved: [[2007-08-27]]</ref> It is also the home of the country's first [[Nature preserve|eco-park]], <!--established in 2001,<ref name=Bangpark>{{Citation
| last = Khair
| last = Khair
| first = Abul
| first = Abul
Line 28: Line 28:
| year = 2003
| year = 2003
| isbn = 9843205766
| isbn = 9843205766
| contribution-url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/E_0019.htm}}</ref> as well as projects to exploit new sources of energy such as [[wind energy]]<ref name=winden>[http://www.lged.org/sre/werm.htm Wind Energy Resource Mapping (WERM) in Bangladesh], Wind Energy Development Project, Sustainable Rural Energy Program, Local Government Engineering Department, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Retrieved: [[2007-08-25]]</ref> and [[geothermal energy]].<ref name=geotherm>[http://www.lged-rein.org/resource_renewables.htm Renewable resources available in Bangladesh], Renewable Energy Information Network, Retrieved: [[2007-08-25]]</ref>
| contribution-url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/E_0019.htm}}</ref>--> as well as [[alternative energy]] projects exploiting the [[wind energy|wind]]<ref name=winden>[http://www.lged.org/sre/werm.htm Wind Energy Resource Mapping (WERM) in Bangladesh], Wind Energy Development Project, Sustainable Rural Energy Program, Local Government Engineering Department, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Retrieved: [[2007-08-25]]</ref> and [[geothermal power|geothermal heat]].<ref name=geotherm>[http://www.lged-rein.org/resource_renewables.htm Renewable resources available in Bangladesh], Renewable Energy Information Network, Retrieved: [[2007-08-25]]</ref>


Though Sitakunda is predominantly an [[agriculture|agricultural]] area, it also features the largest [[ship breaking]] industry in the world.<ref name=pakecon>[http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/issue2001/issue17/i&e1.htm Ship-breaking industry: Uncertain future], Pakistan Economist, [[2001-04-23]], Retrieved: 2007-08-24</ref><!--started in 1964 after a ship was beached by a cyclone.<ref name=timeship>[http://www.timesb2b.com/shipping/mar2004/sbreaking.html Shock Waves Demolish Alang], Times Shipping Journal, March 2004, Retrieved: 2007-08-24</ref>--> The industry has been accused of neglecting human rights and harming the environment.<ref name=greenship>[http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/evasionpolluter.pdf The Continuous Evasion Of The "Polluter Pays Principle"]; [[Greenpeace]]; September 2002; Retrieved: [[2007-09-03]]</ref> Sitakunda's ecosystems are also threatened by deforestation<ref name="BangFlor">{{Citation
Though Sitakunda is predominantly an [[agriculture|agricultural]] area, it also features the largest [[ship breaking]] industry in the world.<ref name=pakecon>[http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/issue2001/issue17/i&e1.htm Ship-breaking industry: Uncertain future], Pakistan Economist, [[2001-04-23]], Retrieved: 2007-08-24</ref><!--started in 1964 after a ship was beached by a cyclone.<ref name=timeship>[http://www.timesb2b.com/shipping/mar2004/sbreaking.html Shock Waves Demolish Alang], Times Shipping Journal, March 2004, Retrieved: 2007-08-24</ref>--> The industry has been accused of neglecting human rights and harming the environment.<ref name=greenship>[http://www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak/evasionpolluter.pdf The Continuous Evasion Of The "Polluter Pays Principle"]; [[Greenpeace]]; September 2002; Retrieved: [[2007-09-03]]</ref> Sitakunda's ecosystems are also threatened by deforestation<ref name="BangFlor">{{Citation

Revision as of 21:35, 12 January 2008

Template:Infobox of upazilas Sitakunda (Bengali: সীতাকুণ্ড Shitakunḍo IPA: /ʃit̪akunɖo/) is an upazila, or adminsitrative unit, in Bangladesh's Chittagong District. Sitakunda is one of the oldest sites of human habitation in Bangladesh.[1] It is also the home of the country's first eco-park, as well as alternative energy projects exploiting the wind[2] and geothermal heat.[3]

Though Sitakunda is predominantly an agricultural area, it also features the largest ship breaking industry in the world.[4] The industry has been accused of neglecting human rights and harming the environment.[5] Sitakunda's ecosystems are also threatened by deforestation[6] and over-fishing.[7] The upazila faces natural hazards as well, being prone to earthquakes,[8] cyclones, and storm surges.[9]

A place of many legends, Sitakunda is traditionally noted for its numerous Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist shrines. Sitakunda is the home of 280 mosques, eight mazars, forty-nine Hindu temples (including Labanakhya Mandir, Chandranath Mandir, Shambunath Mandir), three ashrams, and three Buddhist temples.[10] Among the notable temples in the region are the Chandranath Temple (a Shakti Peetha),[11] Vidarshanaram Vihara (founded by Prajnalok Mahasthavir),[12] and the Hammadyar Mosque (founded by Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah).[13] Despite a diverse population, the area has seen communal strife. The Islamist militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has reportedly been operating in Sitakunda since the early 2000s.[14][15]

History

Sitakunda has a record of human habitation since the Neolithic era. Tools from prehistoric times associated with the Assam group have been found throughout the area.[1] In 1886, the archaeologist Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay discovered a fossil wood, shouldered celt, in the area[16] and twenty years later in 1917, Dr. J. Coggin Brown reported another prehistoric celt.[17] Extensive amounts of pebbles have also been found, but archeologists have not determined whether or not the pebbles were used for constructing prehistoric tools.[16]

During the sixth and seventh centuries, the Chittagong region was under the Kingdom of Arakan[18] and the Pagan Kingdom (or Mrauk U). This region was conquered in 1340 by Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah (reign: 1338-1349) of Sonargaon, who founded a Sultanate of Bengal.[18] After Sultan Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah (reign: 1533-38), of the last dynasty of the Sultanate of Bengal, was defeated in 1538 by Sher Shah Suri, founder of the Sur Dynasty, the Arakanese captured the region. Keyakchu, the son of Chendi who adopted the name Chandrajyoti and was a king of Chittagong and Arakan, established a monastery in Sitakunda.[19][20] From this time onwards till the Mughal invasion the region was under the control of pirates of Portuguese and Magh origins. In 1666, Mughal commander Bujurg Umed Khan conquered the area.[18]

Along with the rest of Bengal, the area went under the rule of British East India Company after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Rapid growth in the Bengali population since then resulted in an exodus of non-Bengali people from Sitakunda and its vicinity to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.[21][22] During the Ardhodaya Yog movement, a part of the Swadeshi movement, in Kolkata in February 1908 the governance of Sitakunda was overtaken for some days by Indian nationalist volunteers.[23][24] In 1910, Indian Petroleum Prospecting Company drilled here for hydrocarbon exploration, the first such activity in East Bengal. In 1914, the first onshore wildcat well in Bangladesh was drilled at Sitakunda anticline to a depth of 762 m.[25] By 1914, however, all four wells drilled in Sitakunda proved to be failures.[26]

The ship breaking industry started here in 1964 when Chittagong Steel House started scrapping MD Alpince, a 20,000-ton Greek ship that was accidentally beached near Fouzdarhat by a tidal bore four years earlier.[27][28][29] During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Sitakunda was part of Sector 2, led by Ziaur Rahman and Rafiqul Islam, of the Mukti Bahini or the forces fighting for the independence of Bangladesh. The industry formalized in 1974 when Karnafully Metal Works started scrapping Al Abbas, a Pakistani ship damaged in 1971, and flourished in the 1980s.[27][30]

Islamic militant organization Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Siddikul Islam (also known as Bangla Bhai) ran militant training centers in the Upazila, where one of his followers Mahfuzul Huq was captured in 21 February 2006,[14] where Muslim militants learned to make bombs and shoot with firearms in early 2000s.[15][31]

Geography

The Sitakunda range

Sitakunda Upazila has an area of 483.97 square kilometres (187 sq mi),[32] including 61.61 square kilometres (24 sq mi) of forest.[33] It is bordered by Mirsharai to the north, Pahartali to the south, Fatickchhari, Hathazari and Panchlaish to the east, and the Sandwip Channel in the Bay of Bengal to the west.[10] The Sitakunda range has a 32 kilometres (20 mi) long ridge in the center, which reaches 352 metres (1,155 ft) at Chandranath or Sitakunda peak, the highest peak in Chittagong District, with an altitude of 352 metres (1,155 ft) above mean sea level.[34][35] Part of Sitakunda is covered by the low hill ranges, while the rest is in the Bengal flood plain.[34] To the north, 274 metres (899 ft) Rajbari Tila and 244 metres (801 ft) Sajidhala are the high peaks on this range, while it drops abruptly to the south, in the vicinity of Chittagong City, to a height of less than 92 metres (302 ft).[34] Approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of Sitakunda Town is the Labanakhya saltwater hot spring, which is being explored as a source of geothermal energy.[36][37] There are two waterfalls in the hills known by the names Sahasradhara (thousand streams) and Suptadhara (hidden stream).[38] The Sitakunda falls have been identified as sites requiring special attention for protection and preservation by the National Heritage Foundation of Bangladesh.[39]

Geology

The geological structure of Sitakunda, 70 kilometres (43 mi) long and 10 kilometres (6 mi) wide, is one of the westernmost structures of Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts, delimited by the Feni River in the north, the Karnaphuli River in the south, the Halda River in the east and the Sandwip Channel in the west.[40] The Sitakunda Hill Range acts as a water divide between the Halda Valley and the Sandwip Channel. 88 kilometres (55 mi) long Halda flows from Khagrachari to the Bay of Bangal, and is one of the six tributaries of Karnafuli, the major river in the area.[41] Sandwip Channel represents the northern end of the western part of the Chittagong-Tripura Folded Belt.[42]

The structure contains a thick sedimentary sequence of sandstone, shale and siltstone. The exposed sedimentary rock sequences, 6,500 metres (21,325 ft) thick in an average of the structure, except limestone, provide no difference in overall lithology from that of Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts.[40] The Sitakunda fold is an elongated, asymmetrical, box-type double plunging anticline. Both the gently dipping eastern and steeper western flanks of the anticline are truncated abruptly by the alluvial plain of the Feni River.[40] This anticline is one of the few regularly surveyed structures in Bangladesh.[43] The syncline from Sitakunda separates the eastern end of the Feni Structure located in the folded flank of the Bengal Foredeep.[40]

Balanus balanoides

The Sitakunda–Teknaf fault is reported by local experts to be one of the two most active seismic faults in the Bangladesh.[44] After the earthquake of 2 April 1762, which caused a permanent submergence of 155.4 square kilometres (60 sq mi) of land near Chittagong and the death of 500 people in Dhaka, two volcanoes are said to have opened in the Sitakunda hills.[45][46] During a seismic tremor on 7 November 2007, fire broke out at the Bakharabad Gas Systems Limited in the Faujderhat area of the upazila when a pipeline was fractured.[47] The Girujan Clay Formation runs through Sitakunda at a thickness of 168 metres (551 ft).[48][49][50] In the Sitakunda hills, the Boka Bil Shale Formation contains Ostrea digitalina, Ostrea gryphoides and numerous plates of Balanus (a type of Barnacles), fragments of Arca, Pecten, Trochus, Oliva and corals.[48][51][52] Both formations were identified and named by P. Evans.[53]

Climate

An area prone to cyclones and storm surges,[9] Sitakunda has been hit by cyclones and floods in 1964, 1970, 1988, 1991 and 1997. The intra-deltaic coastline here is very close to the tectonic interface of the Indian and Burmese plates, as well as the active Andaman–Nicobar fault system, and is often capable of generating tsunami waves.[54] Annual average temperature of the district is between maximum 32.5 °C (91 °F) and minimum 13.5 °C (56 °F) with a total annual rainfall of 2,687 millimetres (106 in).[18] The mean annual wind speed recorded for the years 1991–2001 in Sitakunda was 1.8 knots (2 mph),[55] which is measured by th wind monitoring station built here as part of a wind energy exploration project jointly run by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of Bangladesh government and BCAS Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS).[56] A 300 KW wind turbine established by the government provides electricity to fish farms here.[57]

Demography

According to the census of 2001, Sitakunda had a total population of 298,528 distributed to 55,837 units of households (average household size 5.3), including 163,561 men and 134,967 women, or a gender ratio of 121:100.[58] The average population of component administrative units of the upazila are 4,072 for wards, 1,666 for mahallas, 29,853 for unions, 5,060 for mauzas and 5,060 for villages reported by the census.[33] Out of the 69 mouzas here, 8 have less than 50 households, while 27 have more than 600 households.[33] Of the villages, 8 have a population of less than 250, while 29 have more than 2,500.[33] As of 1991, the population density of Sitakunda was 568 per kilometer.[59]

Apart from the majority, Bengali people, there are a number of small communities of ethnic minorities in the area. The large part of the Rakhine people residing here is believed to have settled in the area during the Arakanese rule of Chittaging (1459–1666), though the event is not historically traceable.[60] The Rakhaine population in Khagrachari District migrated from this region and built up their permanent abode at Ramgarh in the 19th century.[60] Other ethnic groups include the recently migrated Tripuri people.[61] In the District of Chittagong that includes Sitakunda, the population ratio by religion in 2001 was Muslim 83.92%, Hindu 13.76%, Buddhist 2.01% and Christian 0.12%, with 0.19% following other religions. In 1981, it was Muslim 82.79%, Hindu 14.6%, Buddhist 2.23% and Christian 0.21%, with 0.19% following other religions.[62] Chittagonian, a derivative of Bengali spoken by 14 million people mainly in the Chittagong district,[63] is the dominant language here.

Administration

Map of Sitakunda

Sitakunda as a thana came into existence in 1879, and was renamed to Sitakunda Upazila in 1983.[64] It ranks third in area and sixth in population out of the 26 upazilas of Chittagong.[33] Sitakunda Town is the administrative center and the sole municipality (Pourashabha) of Sitakunda Upazila.[65] The rest of the area is organized into 10 Union Committees (Union Parishads), namely;[33] Banshbaria, Barabkunda, Bariadyala, Bhatiari, Kumira, Muradpur, Salimpur, Sonaichhari, Saidpur and Bhatiari Cantonment Area. The area is divided into 69 Mauzas and 59 villages.[58] Like Hathazari, Fateyabad, Patiya and Boalkhali, the town was developed as a satellite town to accommodate increasing population pressure on Chittagong, with Bhatiari and Sadar unions (the town) selected as zones for industrialization, like South Halishahar and Kalurghat.[66]

Sitakunda Upazila makes the 280th electoral district in Bangladesh, identified as Chittagong-2.[67] In the 2001 parliament elections, L.K. Siddiki of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was elected as a member of the parliament. His nearest opposition was A.B.M. Abul Kasem of Bangladesh Awami League.[68] Jalaluddin Ahmed is the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) or the chief executive of the Upazila.[69] Mohiuddin Ahmed is the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sitakunda police station.[70] The upazila is served by a court of a first-class magistrate.[71]

The Power Development Board is responsible for supplying electricity to the upazila, but due to power outages the industries in the area are strictly constrained.[72] Anwarul Kabir Talukder, the State Minister for Power, lost his job In 29 September 2006 when hundreds of protesters in Sitakunda blocked the Dhaka–Chittagong highway and violence erupted elsewhere in Bangladesh in demand of electricity.[73] In case of fire, the services are brought in from neighboring city of Chittagong.[74] There is a proposed Kumira–Sitakunda Hill Water Reservoir Project undertaken by the government to supply safe water to the people here.[75]

Economy

The main occupations of the local people by industry are service (28.76%), commerce (21.53%), and agriculture (24.12%).[33] The area features a cement factory, 12 jute mills, 6 textile mills, 10 re-rolling mills, and 79 functional and defunct shipyards.[76][10] Two of the operational jute mills run under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation,[77]; one more has been sold to a private sector company.[78] To protest against privatization, workers of Hafiz Jute Mill, Gul Ahmed Jute Mill, MM Jute Mill and RR Jute Mill blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway for seven hours in September, 2007.[79] Some mining for sand from agricultural lands happen along the eastern side of the Dhaka–Chittagong road.[80] Local brick klins are engaged in illegal hill cutting, a practice that was responsible for the 2007 Chittagong mudslide.[81] In June 2007, Sitakunda became badly affected by mudlsides along with Chittagong and Hathazari.[82]

Employment for local people is low in the industrial facilities.[83] Out of 12,140.83 hectares (30,000.6 acres) of cultivable land 25.46% yield a single crop, 57.95% yield double and 16.59% a treble crop annually. Bean, melon, rubber and betel leaf are the main agricultural exports.[10] The rural poor are supported by Grameen Bank and NGOs such as CARE, BRAC and ASA.[10][84]

In a census among the fishing population in the Latifpur village of the Upazila, it was found that the members of the traditional Hindu fisher caste are more skilled in fishing.[7] Due to an introduction of engine boats and gill nets, there has been a rise in fish catches from 1970s to 1990s, especially in the major fishing season (mid-July to mid-November).[7] Over-fishing, however, has depleted the fish population and some fish species are facing extinction in the area, leading to seasonal food insecurity (February to April).[7] According to a 2001 survey, 4,000 people in Sitakunda were engaged in wild shrimp fry collection, harvesting an average of five and a half million fries a year.[85]

Ship breaking industry

Ship breaking in Sitakunda

The ship breaking industry in Bangladesh has superseded Indian and Pakistani industries in the sector to become the largest in the world.[86]Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). As of August 2007, over 1.5 million tons of iron are produced by scrapping about 20 ships in the 19 functional ship yards scattered over 8 square kilometres (3 sq mi) along the coast of Sitakunda 8–10 kilometres (5–6 mi) from Chittagong, near Fouzderhat. Local re-rolling mills, as well as similar mills, run on the scrap iron.[76][30][87] Bangladesh, with no local metal ore mining, is dependent on ship-breaking for its domestic steel requirements; the re-rolling mills alone substitute for import of about 1.2 M-tonnes of billets and other raw materials.[30] There are 70 companies registered as ship breakers in Chittagong which employ 2000 regular workers and 25,000 semi-skilled and unskilled workers.[87] Organized under the Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association, (BSBA),[28] these include companies within large local conglomerates that sought ISO certificates.[88]

The industry has come under threat, both from a decline of ships scrapped annually, which has come down from 70-80 to about 20,[76] and from the environmental and work safety issues.[29] There have been complaints that journalists and human rights activists are being barred from the ship breaking yards.[89] The ship breaking industry is purportedly damaging the local ecology as well. The damage is taking a toll on the fish population and soil quality.[5] One survey conducted by the students of the Institute of Marine Science of Chittagong University recently revealed that the soil of the locality contains heavy element of chemicals, including mercury (0.5 to 2.7 ppm), lead (0.5 to 21.8 ppm), chromium (220 ppm), cadmium (0.3 to 2.9 ppm), iron (2.6 to 5.6 ppm), calcium (5.2 to 23.2 ppm) and magnesium (6.5 to 10.57 ppm).[30][90] Work safety standards of the industry are low as 150 people were killed and 576 were maimed or injured while breaking ships between 1995 and 2005.[91] Main causes of death are fire or explosion, suffocation and inhaling CO2. These old ships also contain hazardous substances like asbestos, lead paint, heavy metals and PCBs.[92] The workers are paid US$ 1.75 a day and have little access to medical treatments.[93] Among the workers, 41% of are between 18 to 22 years in age[94] and many are reported to be as young as 10 years of age.[95] There have also been allegations of large quantities of steel and non-ferrous items, such as bronze, aluminum, copper, and bronze-amalgam recovered from ship breaking being smuggled out of Bangladesh.[96]

Transport and communication

There are 112 square kilometres (43 sq mi) of paved roads in the upazila, along with 256 square kilometres (99 sq mi) of mud roads.[10] Historically, the rail transportation system drove developments in Chittagong and the surrounding areas, including Sitakunda.[66] The rail tracks were established as part of the Bengal Assam Railway in 1898, originally running from Chittagong to Badarpur, with branches to Silchar and Laksam.[97] In September 1878, Sitakunda was included in the East Bengal Circle of Railway Mail Service (RMS) along with rest of the district.[98] By 1904, the track system was extended to Chandpur to connect river boat traffic between Goalanda and Kolkata.[97] Approximately 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi) of railroads stop at 6 rail stations.[10] Currently, there is no express train between Sitakunda and Chittagong, though intercity express trains (Sylhet–Chittagong, Chandpur–Chittagong, and Dhaka–Chittagong) stop at Sitakunda station and carry a small share of the commuter traffic load.[66] There are also 5 ferry-gauts.[10] The traditional bullock carts have become nearly extinct in the upazila.[10]

Sitakunda was to be the original landing station for the submarine communications cable, which was shifted to Cox's Bazaar.[99] The cable has been severed by miscreants dozens of times in the year, often in the Sitakunda area, since installation of the cable May 21, 2006.[100] Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has brought internet services to the upazila by establishing Rural Knowledge Centres (RKC).[101] BTTB and RanksTel run telephone services in the upazila. The telephone area code for Sitakunda is 3028, which has to be added to Bangladesh area code +880 when making overseas calls, and the subscriber numbers consist of four digits locally.[102]

Pilgrimage sites

Entrance to Chandranath Temple

The legends of the area state the sage Bhargava created a pond (kunda) for Sita Devi to bathe when her husband Lord Ramchandra visited this place during his exile in the forests. Sitakunda derived its name from this incident.[103] Sitakunda still is a major site for pilgrimage in Bangladesh, as it features 280 mosques (including the Shah Mosque) 8 mazars (including Baro Awlias Mazar, Kalu Shah Mazar, Fakir Hat Mazar), 49 Hindu temples (including Labanakhya Mandir, Chandranath Mandir, Shambunath Mandir), 3 ashrams (including Sitakunda Shankar Math), and 3 Buddhist temples.[10]

Shiva dancing the Tāndava

According to another myth, when Shiva's wife Sati self-immolated in the yajna-fire of her father Daksha in protest of Shiva's dishonor, the god became furious and started to dance the Tāndava with Sati's body on his shoulders.[104] Seeing that dance of destruction about to annihilate the world, Vishnu cut the body of Sati to pieces with Sudarshana Chakram, his celestial weapon, and appeased Shiva when the body was no more.[104] Each of 51 pieces of the body fell to earth, and wherever a piece fell became a holy center of pilgrimage or Shakti Peetha.[104] The legend goes that Sati's right arm fell near a now-extinct hot spring at the Chandranth peak in Sitakunda. The site is marked by the temple of Sambhunath just below the Chandranath temple on top of the peak, and is a major tirtha for Hindus in Bangladesh.[105]

The Hammadyar Mosque, located at village Masjidda, and the Hammadyar Dighi, a big tank in front of it, were built during the reign of Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah, the last Husain Shahi sultan of Bengal, as inferred from the inscription above the central entrance.[13] The Sudarshan Vihara at village Mayani here, as well as the Vidarshanaram Vihara at village Mayani in Patiya was established in 1922 by Prajnalok Mahasthavir (1879–1971), an eminent Buddhist preacher of Bangladesh.[12]

According to Rajmala, the temple of Chandranath received considerable endowments from the Twipra Kingdom in the time of king Dhanya Manikya, who once attempted to remove the lingam from the temple to his kingdom.[106][103] Poets from across ages—Jayadeva (circa 1200 AD) and Nabinchandra Sen (1847–1909)—are said to be devoted to the temple.[106][103] Chandranath is within the jurisdiction of Gobardhan Math, which was founded, according to legends, by Padmacharya, a disciple of Shankaracharya and founder of Vana and Aranya sects of the Dashanami Sampradaya.[106][103] An International Vedic Conference was held from 15 February to 17 February 2007 at Sitakunda Shrine (Tirtha) Estate in Sitakunda Chandranath Dham on the occasion of the great Shiva Chaturdarshi.[106][103] These temples has been repeatedly subject to attack and violation by Muslims,[107] and Bangladeah Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad asked for protection of the pilgrims.[108]

Flora and fauna

Kans grass (Saccharum spontaneum) in Sitakunda

Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911) did the original survey of local flora on his way back to Kolkata from his survey of the flora of the region, recorded in his Himalayan Journals, in January 1851 (published by the Calcutta Trigonometrical Survey Office and Minerva Library of Famous Books; Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co., 1891).[6]

The fast depleting forests of the region are known to be evergreen type with a preponderance of deciduous species with a storied distribution.[6] The topmost story consists of Garjan (Dipterocarpus alatus), Telsur (Hopea odorata), Chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha), Chundul (Tetrameles nudiflora) and Koroi or the Moluccan albizia (Albizia falcataria). The lower story consists of species of Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa), Toon (Toona ciliata), Jam (Syzygium cumini), Jalpai (Elaeocarpus robustus) and Glochidion. Lianas, epiphytes (mostly of orchids, asclepiads, ferns and leafy mosses) and herbaceous are found as undergrowth.[6] Savannah formations are found in the open, along the banks of rivers and swamps with common tall grasses like Kans (Saccharum spontaneum), Shon (Imperata cylindrica and I. arundincca) and Bena (Vetiveria zizanoides).[6] Several species of Bamboo are cultivated that are common in Bangladesh including Bambusa balcooa, which is also common in Assam, B. vulgaris, B. longispiculata, B. tulda and B. nutans, while the last two are also common in the hills of the region.[109]

A number of fish species have become endangered in the area due to over-fishing.[7] These species include Bhoal (Raiamas bola), Lakkhya (Eleutheronema tetradactylum), Chapila (Gudusia chapra), Datina (Acanthopagrus latus), Rupchanda (Pampus argenteus), Pungash (Pangasius pangasius), Chhuri (Trichiurus lepturus), Ilsha Chandana (Tenualosa toli), Hilsha (Tenualosa ilisha), Faishya (Anchoviella commersonii), Maittya (Scomberomorus commerson), Gnhora (Labeo gonius), Kata (Nemapteryx nenga), Chewa (Taenioides cirratus), Sundari bele (Glossogobius giuris), Bnata (Liza parsia), Koral (Etroplus suratensis), Kawoon (Anabas testudineus), Cherpati (salt fish), Ram Chokkhya, Guldya, Sundari (knata), Datina Bhoal, Risshya, Bengya, and Korati, as well as crustaceans Tiger Shrimps (red) and Lobster (big).[110]

Preservation

The first eco-park in Bangladesh, along with a botanical garden, was established in 2001 under a five-year (2000–2004) development project on 1,996 acres of Chandranath Hills in Sitakunda. The cost was Tk 3.57 crore .[111] The eco-park was established to facilitate biodiversity conservation, natural regeneration, new plantations and infrastructure development, as well as promoting nature-based tourism to generate income. The park (405 hectors) and the garden (403 hectors), under the Bariadhala Range of Chittagong Forest Division, are rich with natural Gymnosperm tree species, especially Podocarpus neriifolius, as well as species of Gnetum and Cycas.[38] The park is reported to be able to receive 25,000 visitors in a single weekend.[112] With the botanical garden included, the number of visitors can reach up to 50,000.[113] It is claimed that "ignoring the dependence of local people on park resources created conflicts between local communities and the park authority" and "prohibition on the extraction of forest products from the park... make the livelihoods of surrounding villagers vulnerable".[114]

The Chittagong Coastal Forest Department (CCFD) turned the char land on the bank of the Sonaichhari channel adjacent to the Sitakunda coast into a mangrove garden by planting trees during 1989-90.[115] In the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone, Sitakunda was the least damaged area because of a kilometer-wide coastal plantation scheme.[116] The mangrove forest is under threat from illegal tree-cutting by ship-breakers in the area.[115]

Education and health

As of 2001, average literacy of Sitakunda Upazila for people of 7 years of age or more is 54.6%,[32] while the average literacy of Sitakunda Pourashabha is 53.87%.[65] There has been an overall growth of 32.85% between 1991 and 2001, which for men was 20.49% and for women 59.15%.[33] 70,315 people of the Upazila between the ages of 5 and 24 years attend schools, an overall increase of 35.56% between 1991 and 2001, which for men was 28.14% and for women 45.43%.[33] The highest school attendance rate is observed in age group 10–14 years.[33] The educational institutions of the upazila include Faujdarhat Cadet College (founded in 1958), 4 regular colleges (including Sitakunda Degree College founded in 1968), 24 high schools (including Sitakunda Government High School founded in 1913), 10 madrasas, and 76 junior and primary schools.[10] All the secondary schools and regular colleges are under the Chittagong Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education split from the Comilla Board in May, 1995.[117] Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah (1885-69), an eminent Bangladeshi linguist, served as the headmaster of the Government High School from 1914 to 1915.[118] On 24 July 1996, members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) in Sitakunda Degree College fought with guns and bombs over a minor dispute.[119][120] On 29 July 1996, two ICS member of the college were abducted and killed.[121][120] Faujdarhat Cadet College and Bangladesh Military Academy are also situated in this upazila.

The health service centers in the Upazila include a health complex, an infectious disease hospital, a railway TB hospital, 11 family planning centres and a veterinary treatment centre.[10] Bangladesh Railway set up the hospital at Kumira in 1952 with a capacity of 150 beds. The capacity was reduced to 50 beds in 1994 as some focus was redirected to the hospital Central Railway Building in Chittagong. Originally created to treat railway employees, the hospital also treats people from the community.[122]

Banshbaria Union has been declared as 100% sanitized, as all households in the Union adopted sanitary latrines,[123] while the Upazila has only 16% sanitation coverage.[124] A survey was conducted to measure arsenic contamination of groundwater by Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project that was closed on 30th June 2006. Out of the 18,843 tube wells surveyed, 24.69% were found to be contaminated. 47 people were found to show visible signs of arsenic poisoning[125]

Malaria, dengue and other fevers, hepatitis, as well as respiratory infections including tuberculosis are some of the major health threats here.[27] According to a survey, disability in Sitakunda is the highest in Bangladesh; 17% as opposed to the national average of 13%.[83]

Media and culture

National newspapers published in Dhaka including Prothom Alo, Ajker Kagoj, Janakantha and The Daily Ittefaq, as well as regional newspapers published in Chittagong Azadi and Purbakon, are available in Sitakunda. It also has its own local newspapers and a journalist community. In 2003, Atahar Siddik Khasru, the president of the local Press Club, went missing on 30 April and was rescued on 21 May.[126][127] He was abducted and tortured by unidentified men allegedly on charges of protesting against the harassment of Mahmudul Haq, editor of local magazine Upanagar.[126][128] On 6 May, about 30 local journalists working for national and local press took to the streets in protest.[126] The other weekly published here is Chaloman Sitakunda.[10]

The festivals of Shiva Chaturdashi in middle of the month of Falgun (end February) and Chaitra Sankranti at end of the the month of Chaitra (mid April) are observed with much fanfare here featuring large fairs.[10] The Sitakunda Upazila Krira Sangstha (Sports Club) is noted for its participation in soccer.[129] There are 151 clubs, a public library and two cinema halls in the upazila.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bangladesh: The Roots, Bangladesh WWW Virtual Library, Asian Studies Network Information Center, International Information Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Retrieved: 2007-08-27
  2. ^ Wind Energy Resource Mapping (WERM) in Bangladesh, Wind Energy Development Project, Sustainable Rural Energy Program, Local Government Engineering Department, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  3. ^ Renewable resources available in Bangladesh, Renewable Energy Information Network, Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  4. ^ Ship-breaking industry: Uncertain future, Pakistan Economist, 2001-04-23, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  5. ^ a b The Continuous Evasion Of The "Polluter Pays Principle"; Greenpeace; September 2002; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  6. ^ a b c d e Zuberi, M Iqbal (2003), "Flora", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  7. ^ a b c d e Livelihoods in Coastal Fishing Communities, and the Marine Fish Marketing System of Bangladesh; Ulrich Kleih, Khursid Alam, Ranajit Dastidar, Utpal Dutta, Nicoliene Oudwater, and Ansen Ward, NRI Report No 2712, Post-Harvest Fisheries Research Programme, January 2003; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  8. ^ Bangladesh runs high risk of quake, tsunami, Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star, Metropolitan Page, 2005-10-21; Retrieved: 2007-10-10
  9. ^ a b Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Bangladesh: A policy review, Livelihood-Policy Relationships in South Asia: Working Paper 1, UK Department for International Development (DFID); Retrieved: 2007-09-08
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Chowdhury, Shimul Kumar (2003), "Sitakunda Upazila", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  11. ^ Togawa, Masahiko (2003), "Sakta-pitha", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  12. ^ a b Bhikkhu, Sunithananda (2003), "Prajnalok Mahasthavir", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  13. ^ a b Hossain, Shamsul (2003), "Hammadyar Mosque", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  14. ^ a b Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB): Incidents, South Asia Terrorism Portal; Retrieved: 2007-09-06
  15. ^ a b The deadly terror outfit, rise of its kingpins, Staff Reporter, The Daily Star, 2007-03-31; Retrieved: 2007-09-06
  16. ^ a b Ahsan, Syed Mohammad Kamrul (2003), "Prehistory", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  17. ^ Brown, J. Coggin; Prehistoric antiquities of India preserved in the Indian museum at Calcutta (ed. Marshall, John Hubert); Cosmo Publications, New Delhi, India, 1988.
  18. ^ a b c d Harun, Jasim Uddin (2003), "Chittagong District", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  19. ^ Barua, Rebatapriya (2003), "Ramkot Banashram", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  20. ^ Dr. Sitangshu Bikash Barua, Buddhism in Bangladesh, BuddhaNet, Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.; Retrieved: 2007-12-24
  21. ^ Shafiqur Rahman Khan, Indigenous Peoples’ In Bangladesh: Land Rights and Land Use In The Context of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Jusridiska Fakulteten
  22. ^ Willem Van Schendel, Francis Buchanan in Southeast Bengal (1798), University Press Limited, Dhaka (1992)
  23. ^ Bande Mataram, page 7, March 1908 (Ref: INRB, IOR/L/R/5/33)
  24. ^ Rupert Prescot, Sedition and political control: The ideological paradox of British responses to Indian nationalism
  25. ^ Ahmed, Kazi Matin Uddin (2003), "Wildcat Well", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  26. ^ Imam, Badrul (2003), "Hydrocarbon Exploration", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  27. ^ a b c Ship Breaking Activities and its Impact on the Coastal Zone of Chittagong, Bangladesh: Towards Sustainable Management, Dr. Md. M. Maruf Hossain and Mohammad Mahmudul Islam, Advocacy & Publication Unit, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA); Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  28. ^ a b Sea polluted under authorities’ nose, Bangladesh News, 2007-07-31; Retrieved: 2007-08-27
  29. ^ a b The Ship Breakers Of Bangladesh, 60 minutes, CBS News, 2006-11-05, Retrieved: 2007-11-05
  30. ^ a b c d Shipbreaking threatens environment along Ctg coastal areas The Daily Independent, Dhaka, 2007-08-24; Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  31. ^ Police reveal starling facts about bigots’ operations, Asharaful Huq, Daily News Monitoring Service, 200-08-29; Retrieved: 2007-09-06
  32. ^ a b "Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Upazila/Thana-2001" (PDF). Population Census Wing, BBS. Retrieved September 03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sitakunda Upazila: Census Results at a Glance - 2001 (Community Series)" (PDF). Population Census Wing, BBS. Retrieved September 03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ a b c Chowdhury, Masud Hasan (2003), "Physiography", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  35. ^ Osmany, Shireen Hasan (2003), "Chittagong City", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  36. ^ Renewable resources available in Bangladesh, Renewable Energy Information Network, Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  37. ^ Bangladesh Tours and Travels, Asia Tours and Travels, Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  38. ^ a b Areas with special status in the coastal zone, A.M. Kamal Uddin, Working Paper WP030, Program Development Office for Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (PDO-ICZMP)
  39. ^ Tania Sharmeen, Heritage Foundation starts journey, Weekly Holiday, 2007-10-26; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  40. ^ a b c d Baqui, MA (2003), "Geological Structure", in Islam, Sirajul (ed.), Banglapedia, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, ISBN 9843205766
  41. ^ Chittagong Region River System, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  42. ^ Chittagong-Tripura Folded Belt, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  43. ^ Geological Survey, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  44. ^ Bangladesh runs high risk of quake, tsunami, Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star, Metropolitan Page, 2005-10-21; Retrieved: 2007-10-10
  45. ^ Disaster Prevention: Earthquake, The Sustainable Development Networking Program (SDNP); Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  46. ^ Earthquake, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  47. ^ M5.2 Roninpara Earthquake, 2007, Amateur Seismic Centre, 2007-12-30; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  48. ^ a b Geological Group Formation, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  49. ^ Application of a Ramp/Flat-Fault Model to Interpretation of the Naga Thrust Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  50. ^ Large sedimentation rate in the Bengal Delta Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  51. ^ Influence of overpressure on formation velocity evaluation of Neogene strata from the eastern Bengal Basin Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  52. ^ Miocene sedimentation and subsidence during continent–continent collision, Bengal basin Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  53. ^ Evans, P.; The tectonic framework of Assam; Journal of the Geological Society of India 5, 1964.
  54. ^ Pre-and post-tsunami coastal planning and land-use policies and issues in Bangladesh, Rafiqul Islam, Food and Agriculture Organization; Retrieved: 2007-09-08
  55. ^ Khan YSA, Hossain MS, Chowdhury MAT (2003) Resource inventory and land use mapping for integrated coastal environment management: remote sensing, GIS and RRA approach in greater Chittagong coast. Ministry of science and information & communication technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, p 59
  56. ^ Wind Energy Resource Mapping (WERM) in Bangladesh, Wind Energy Development Project, Sustainable Rural Energy Program, Local Government Engineering Department, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  57. ^ Jan Jaap Bouma, Marcel Jeucken, Leon Klinkers; Sustainable Banking: The Greening of Finance; page 93; Deloitte and Touche
  58. ^ a b "Household and Population of Statistical Metropolitan Areas in Bangladesh - 2001" (PDF). Population Census Wing, BBS. Retrieved September 03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ "Population Census Wing, BBS". Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. Retrieved November 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  60. ^ a b The Magh, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  61. ^ Resource Use by Indigenous Community in the Coastal Zone; Kamal, Mesbah, Research and Development Collective (RDC), July 2001; Retrieved: 2007-08-28
  62. ^ Zilawise Percentage Distribution of Bangladesh Population by Religious Communities, Religious Composition, Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh; Retrieved: 2007-12-24
  63. ^ Raymond G. Gordon Jr., Chittagonian, Ethnologue; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  64. ^ Land Use Plan of Sitakunda Paurashava; Urban Development Directorate, Government of Bangladesh, 2006; Retrieved: 2007-08-28
  65. ^ a b "Area, Population and Literacy Rate by Paurashava- 2001" (PDF). Population Census Wing, BBS. Retrieved September 03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ a b c Urban mass transportation for Chittagong - I, Imon Chowdhooree and Kanu Kumar Das, The Daily Star, Urban Page, 2005-04-08; Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  67. ^ Chittagong Division, All candidates at a Glance; Bangla 2000; Retrieved: 2007-12-27
  68. ^ Voting by constituency, People's Republic of Bangladesh: National Legislative Election 2001, Adam Carr's Election Archive; Retrieved: 2007-12-27
  69. ^ Jute mill workers block Dhaka-Ctg highway, Bangladesh News, 2006-10-22; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  70. ^ Workers in ship-breaking industry exposed to health hazards, News Network Bangladesh (Quoting an UNB news from The Independent), 2006-01-28; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  71. ^ Magistrate, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  72. ^ Most areas in Ctg still under darkness ;PDB fails to repair Khulshi sub-station, News Network, 2005-06-26; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  73. ^ Bangladesh minister sacked after violence, EB Report, Energy Bangla, 2006-09-29; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  74. ^ Girl burnt alive, 87 houses gutted, UNB, The Daily Star, 2006-01-31; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  75. ^ Status of Water & Sanitation Services in Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Bangladesh, Capacity Building Workshop on Partnerships for Improving the Performance of Water Utilities in the Asia and the Pacific Region, United Nations Development for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  76. ^ a b c Institutional Aspects of Ship Breaking Industry in Bangladesh, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan Project, Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  77. ^ BJMC, Ministry of Jute, Government of Bangladesh; Retrieved: 2007-09-31
  78. ^ Privatisation of textile mills turns sour in Ctg, The New Nation, 2005-08-30; Retrieved: 2007-09-06
  79. ^ Staff Correspondent, Jute millers block up Dhaka-Ctg Highway, The New Age, 1007-09-8; Retrieved: 2007-12-20
  80. ^ Bangladesh & Desertification; SDNP Bangladesh; Retrieved: 2007-09-31
  81. ^ DoE to initiate fresh survey to list illegal hill cutters, Nurul Alam, The New Age, 2007-07-08, Retrieved: 2007-07-08
  82. ^ Death toll in mudslide rises to 84 in southeastern Bangladesh, ReliefWeb (Quoting Xinhua News Agency, 2007-06-12; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  83. ^ a b Wealth of Trans National Corporations and the vision of localization, Zakaria, Muhammad; In Depth, One World South Asia; Retrieved: 2007-08-28
  84. ^ Association for Social Advancement, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  85. ^ A Livelihood Analysis of Shrimp Fry Collectors in Bangladesh: Future Prospects in Relation to a Wild Fry Collection Ban, Timothy R. Frankenberger, TANGO International Inc., August, 2002; Retrieved: 2007-09-08
  86. ^ Cite error: The named reference timeship was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  87. ^ a b Ship Breaking: A Background Paper, Ataur Rahman and AZM Tabarak Ullah, Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork), International Labour Organization; Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  88. ^ the first and only ISO Certified Company in Bangladesh in the Ship Breaking Industry, Official Website, PHP Ship Breaking & Re-cycling Ind. Ltd., Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  89. ^ Journalists, HR activists not allowed inside ship-breaking yard, The New Age, 2006-03-18; Retrieved: 2007-09-06
  90. ^ DNV-Report: Shipbreaking Practices: On site assessment Chittagong, Bangladesh Retrieved: 2007-08-25
  91. ^ Greens concerned about safety in ship breaking industry, Staff Correspondent, The New Age, Metro page, 2005-06-01; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  92. ^ Facing the Deadline, InterTanko, 2002-04-16; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  93. ^ Feature: Workers of ship breaking industry in Bangladesh gasping for survival, People's Daily Online, 2007-03-21; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  94. ^ Daily Collection of Maritime Press Clippings 2005-138, ibiblio; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  95. ^ A.N.M. Nurul Haque, Child labour in Bangladesh, Timesizing News (quotes The New Nation), 2004-11-24; Retrieved: 2007-12-30
  96. ^ Bangladesh: Shipbreakers Pollute with Impunity, The Rapid Results College Limited, Autumn 2006; Retrieved: 2007-12-30
  97. ^ a b Assam Bengal Railway, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-12-24
  98. ^ Postal Communication, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2008-01-11
  99. ^ Joy for e-governance to curb corruption, Staff correspondent, The New Age, 2006-07-25; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  100. ^ Cable cuts disrupt net, South Asian Media Net, 2007-11-14; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  101. ^ Rural Knowledge Center provide Data Operators to the Voter Registration and National ID Card Program and facilitate in the motivational campaign, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  102. ^ Numbering Plan, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 2006; Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  103. ^ a b c d e Prem Ranjan Dev, Of Shiva Chaturdashi and Sitakunda, The Daily Star, Point Counter-Point, 2007-02-17; Retrieved: 2007-12-31
  104. ^ a b c David Kinsley, Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition, University of California Press, 1988, ISBN 0520063392
  105. ^ Hot Spring, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  106. ^ a b c d Sitakunda Shrine and Shiba Chaturdarshi Festival, Prem Ranjan Dev, The New Nation, Editorial Page, 2007-02-16; Retrieved: 2007-08-27
  107. ^ Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora (PDF); Hindu American Foundation, 2007-06-11; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  108. ^ Memorendum to SAARC Ministers, Bulletin, May 2006, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad; Retrieved: 2007-12-24
  109. ^ Bamboo and Rattan Genetic Resources in Certain Asian Countries, K. Vivekanandan, A.N. Rao and V. Ramanatha Rao (ed.), IPGRI, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR); Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  110. ^ For name alternatives see List of Common Names of fishes of Bangladesh (list)
  111. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bangpark was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  112. ^ Managing demand for protected areas in Bangladesh: poverty alleviation, illegal commercial use and nature recreation, Monoj K. Roy and Philip J. DeCosse, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  113. ^ Review of Issues and Options for the Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas Management in Bangladesh, Glen Anderson and AHM Mostain Billah, Nishorgo, Bangladesh Protected Areas Management Program; Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  114. ^ Nath, T.K. and M. Alauddin, Sitakunda botanical garden and eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh: Its impacts on a rural community, The International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management, Volume 2, Number 1, March 2006, pp. 1-11(11).
  115. ^ a b Ship-breakers clear Sitakunda mangroves, The Daily Star, Front Page, 2005-12-24; Retrieved: 2007-09-21
  116. ^ Storm Surges, Ocean World; Retrieved: 2007-09-08
  117. ^ Official Website, Chittagong Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education; Retrieved: 2007-12-27
  118. ^ Shahidullah, Muhammad, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Retrieved: 2007-08-24
  119. ^ The Bangladesh Observer, 1996-06-25, page 12, column 1
  120. ^ a b Issue Paper: Bangladesh Human RIghts Situation, Immigration and refugee Board of Canada, January 1997; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  121. ^ The Bangladesh Observer, 1996-06-31, page 1, column 1
  122. ^ Chest Disease Hospital in Ctg in bad shape, Tushar Hayat Chaudhury, The New Age, Metro Page, 2005-04-10, Retrieved: 2007-09-18
  123. ^ Changing Lives: Community Based Advocacy; Rural Advocacy Program, WaterAid Bangladesh, February 2006; Retrieved: 2007-09-03
  124. ^ Summary Environmental Impact Assessment, Road Maintenance and Improvement Project, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, July 2000; Retrieved: 2007-09-08
  125. ^ Upazila wise Summary Results, Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP); Retrieved: 2007-12-29
  126. ^ a b c Bangladesh - 2004 Annual Report: A journalist abducted, Reporters Without Frontiers; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  127. ^ 2003 World Press Freedom Review: Bangladesh, International Press Institute; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  128. ^ Attacks on the Press: Bangladesh, Committee to Protect Journalists; Retrieved: 2007-12-26
  129. ^ Bangladesh, Country Directory, Club Soccer; Retrieved: 2007-12-27
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sitakunda_Upazila&oldid=183911076"