About Feni, a district of Bangladesh.

Feni (Bengali: ফেনী) is a small southern district of Bangladesh, bordering (clockwise from the north) Tripura in India, Chittagong district, the Bay of Bengal, Noakhali district and Comilla district. It comprises six sub-districts ("Upazilas"): Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Porshuram, Fulgazi (variant of Phool Ghazi), Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi.

Before becoming a full-fledged district in 1984, it was part of the Noakhali district. Feni has a moderate climate, and a rich history dating back almost 3000 years. Except agriculture, maximum people of Feni resides in Dhaka City and Chittagong City, engaged in Job and Business.It has a large contingent of its population residing in the Middle East and other parts of the world. Two years back, a Feni native, Abul Kashem, was in the news when he was captured by Iraqi insurgents while driving a truck for a Kuwaiti company. He was subsequently released without any harm.[citation needed]

The main highway of Bangladesh, Dhaka-Chittagong inter-district highway passes through Feni. Buses usually take 3–4 hours to travel on 165 km highway from Dhaka and about 2.5 hours from Chittagong. Panaromic landscape comprising of the Tripura valley, Feni River estuarine and green paddy fields add to Feni district's scenic beauty. Feni is also important from strategic viewpoints, its position near the Indian border and the Bay of Bengal. Feni is also the only connecting link between the rest of the country and the districts of Chittagong (where the largest port of the country is situated), Cox's Bazar (the most important tourist destination of the country) and three Hill Districts: Rangamati, Bandaraban and Khagrachaari.

Among the famous personalities who hailed from Feni district are Famous saint Shah Syed Amir Uddin Pagla Miah/Baba( RA) who is regarded as founder of feni and sultanul awlia feni,Saint Mamu Fakir (RA), Begum Khaleda Zia (former Prime Minister), Sir A. F. Rahman (the first Muslim Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University), Dr. Mustafa Chowdhury (former Public Service Commission Chairman), Abdul Awal Mintu, Saber Hossen Chow. Mossarraf Hossen, Economist Abu Ahammed, journalists Johur Hossain Chaudhury, Iqbal Bahar Chaudrury, Abdus Salam, A. B. M. Musa, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdury, Obaidul Haque, novelists Shahidullah Kaiser and Jahir Raihan, language martyr Abdus Salam, martyred intellectuals during the war of liberation Selina Parvin and Dr. Faizul Mohi, playwrights Selim Al-din and Dr. Inamul Huq, Gias Uddin Selim, rights-activist Wasfia Nazreen.

One of the three Girls Cadet Colleges in Bangaldesh is situated in Feni. The other two are in Mymensingh and Joypurhat districts. The country's only Government-run Computer Institute also is situated in Feni.

Deccription of Feni District

Feni District With an area of 928.34 sq km, is bounded by Comilla district and Tripura (India) on the north, Noakhali and Chittagong districts on the south, Tripura State of India on the east, Noakhali district on the west. Annual average temperature maximum 34.3°C, minimum 14.4°C, annual rainfall 3302 mm

Rivers:

Main rivers are Feni, Little Feni and Muhuri.

Feni (Town):

Consists of 18 wards and 34 mahallas. It has an area of 7.43 sq km. The town has a population of 90157; male 53.24% and female 46.76%; population density per sq km 12134. Literacy rate among the town people is 68.6%.

Feni district:

Was established in 1984. It consists of two municipality, six Upazilas, 45 Union Parishads, 540 Mouzas, Wards 27, Mahallas 51 and 570 Villages. The Upazilas are Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Feni sadar, Parshuram, Phulgazi and Sonagazi; Municipality is Feni Sadar.

Religious Institutions:

Mosque 1780, temple 220, church 2 and tomb11.

Population:

1196219; male 42.92%, female 57.08%; Muslim 92.80%, Hindu 7.13%, Buddhist 0.03%, Christian 0.01% and others 0.03%.

MineralResources:

Feni Gas Field.

Archaeological heritage and relics

Mohammad Ali Chowdhury Mosque (built 700 years ago), Chandgazi Mosque (built 400 years ago) and Feni Government College Building (1822 AD), Bijoy Singh Dighi at Mohipal (1760).

Population

1196219; male 42.92%, female 57.08%; Muslim 92.80%, Hindu 7.13%, Buddhist 0.03%, Christian 0.01% and others 0.03%.

Literacy and educational institutions

Average literacy 40.7%; male 48.2%, female 33.1%. Educational institutions: college 19, polytechnic institute 4, nursing institute 1, local cooperative training institute 1, local youth development institute 1, high school 150, junior school 12, government primary school 408, non-government primary school 142, madrasa 119, kindergarten 23, community school 6, teacher's training institute 1 and private medical college 1.

Locally published newspapers and periodicals

Weekly Sangram, Nabo Nur, Purbodesh, Minar, Pallibarta, Fashal Katha, Nirjhor, Talim, Amar Desh, Gano Manush, Feni, Bartabaho, Jhugbarta, Barta Doot, Kankan, Gano Chetona, Gram Barta, Aapil; extinct- Feni Sangbad, Ananda Taroka, Feni Kantho, Weely Path, Weekly Mujuri, Gram Desh, Hawker, Jatiyo Barta, Shadesh Kantho, Roushanabad, Ajker Aoroni, Hajarika, Feni Barta, Anando Bhairobi, Unmochan, Sharashori, Feni Darpan, Fenir Khabar, Baikali and Moshimela.

Cultural organisations

Public library 7, club 143, drama stage 1, theatre group 7, women's organisation 17, cinema hall 6, community centre 4, shilpakala academy 1.

Main occupations

Agriculture 36.67%, agricultural labourer 11.54%, wage labourer 2.1%, commerce 12.29%, industry 1.13%, service 18.86%, transport 3.31%, construction 1.12% and others 12.95%

Land use

Total cultivable land 74824 hectares; fallow land 772 hectares; single crop 16.87%, double crop 69.17% and treble crop land 13.96%.

Land control

Among the peasants 15% are landless, 33% small, 51% intermediate and 1% rich.

Value of land

The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Taka 12000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops

Paddy, wheat, potato, pulses, sugarcane.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops

Local varieties of paddy.

Main fruits

Mango, jackfruit, coconut.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries

Dairy 76, fishery 19 and poultry 482.

Communication facilities

Roads: pucca 332 km, semi pucca 131 km and mud road 2564; railways 32.5 km; waterways 47 nautical mile.

Traditional transport

Palanquin (extinct), bullock cart (nearly extinct) and boat.

Manufactories

Rice mill, textile mill, jute mill, ice factory, flour mill, saw mill, ball point industries etc.

Cottage industries

Weaving, bamboo and cane work, goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, wood work, tailoring, welding, leather and rubber work.

Hats, bazars and fairs

Total number of hats and bazars are 140; fairs 11.

Main exports

Paddy, coconut

NGO activities

Operationally important NGOs are CARE, brac, asa, Swanirvar Bangladesh.

Health centres

District sadar hospital 1, upazila health complex 5, health and family planning centre 33, TB hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1,satellite clinic 12, and mother and child welfare centre 1.

source: feni online and banglapedia.

About of feni district