Kutubdia (Bengali: কুতুবদিয়া) is an upazila of Cox's Bazar District[5] in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The upazila consists of an island in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast near Chakaria, Cox's Bazar. It was found in approximately 14th century.

Kutubdia Upazila
কুতুবদিয়া
Kutubdia Beach
Kutubdia Beach
Location of Kutubdia Upazila
Coordinates: 21°49′N 91°51.5′E / 21.817°N 91.8583°E / 21.817; 91.8583
Country Bangladesh
DivisionChittagong Division
DistrictCox's Bazar District
Government
 • Member of ParliamentVacant
Area
 • Total215.79 km2 (83.32 sq mi)
Population
 • Total143,622
 • Density670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BST)
Postal code
4720[2]
Websitekutubdia.coxsbazar.gov.bd
Kutubdia Lighthouse Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates21°51′54″N 91°50′33″E / 21.864972°N 91.842389°E / 21.864972; 91.842389
Constructed1846 (first)
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionmetal skeletal tower (current)
masonry tower (first)[4]
Height35 metres (115 ft) (current)[3]
34 metres (112 ft) (first)[4]
Shapesquare pyramidal skeletal tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite and red horizontal bands, white and red horizontal daymark on the top[4]
OperatorBangladesh Department of Shipping[4]
RaconK[3]
First lit2004 (current)
Focal height37 metres (121 ft) (current)[3]
37 metres (121 ft) (first)[4]
Range20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi)[3]
CharacteristicFl (3) W 10s.[3]

History

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A police station at Kutubdia was established in 1917 in Baraghup. The island was upgraded into an upazila in 1983.

Kutubdia has an area of 36 square miles (93 km2), 18 miles (29 km) in length and 2 miles (3.2 km) in breadth. It is famous for the only lighthouse in Bangladesh which was built by the British during the British rule. Kutubdia is rich in producing salt and dried fish, locally known as 'Shutki'. In this island Abdul Malek Shah was born.

Geography

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Kutubdia is located at 21°49′00″S 91°51′30″E / 21.8167°S 91.8583°E / -21.8167; 91.8583. It has 58,463 households and a total area of 215.79 square kilometres (83.3 sq mi). Climate change and sea level rise threaten to submerge the island in the Bay of Bengal.[6][7]

Demographics

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Religions in Kutubdia Upazila (2022)[8]
Religion Percent
Islam
94.92%
Hinduism
5.07%
Other or not stated
0.01%

As of the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Kutubdia upazila had 22,587 households and a population of 125,279. 37,001 (29.53%) were under 10 years of age. Kutubdia had an average literacy rate of 34.04%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 955 females per 1000 males. 25,488 (20.34%) of the population lived in urban areas.[9][10]

Administration

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Kutubdia Upazila is divided into six union parishads: Ali Akbardeil, Baraghop, Dakshin Dhurung, Kaiyarbil, Lemsikhali, and Uttar Dhurung. The union parishads are subdivided into 8 mauzas and 55 villages.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ National Report (PDF). Population and Housing Census 2022. Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023. p. 397. ISBN 978-9844752016.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Postal Code". Dhaka: Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e List of Lights, Pub. 112: Western Pacific and Indian Oceans Including the Persian Gulf and Red Sea (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Bangladesh". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. ^ Md Wajed Ali Kutubi (2012), "Kutubdia Upazila", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
  6. ^ Vidal, John (2013-01-29). "Sea change: the Bay of Bengal's vanishing islands". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  7. ^ Kristof, Nicholas (January 19, 2018). "Climate change threatens Kutubdia". The New York Times (Opinion). Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Cox’s Bazar (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-266-5.
  9. ^ "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Cox's Bazar" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  10. ^ "Community Tables: Cox's Bazar district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011. p. 103.
  11. ^ "District Statistics 2011: Cox's Bazar" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.