Sonaimuri (সোনাইমুড়ী) is a newly established
upazila
An ''upazila'' ( bn, উপজেলা, upôzela, lit=sub-district pronounced: ), formerly called ''thana'', is an administrative region in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a district. It can be seen as an analogous to a county or a ...
or sub-district in
Noakhali District
Noakhali ( bn, নোয়াখালী, , New canal), historically known as Bhulua ( bn, ভুলুয়া), is a district in southeastern Bangladesh, located in the Chittagong Division. It was established as district in 1821, and offici ...
, Bangladesh.
It consists of ten union councils or parishads -
Ambarnagar, Amisha Para, Bazra, Deoti, Jayag, Nadana, Nateshwar, Sonaimuri, Sonapur and Baragaon. Sonaimuri was declared as an upazila in response to a popular demand in 2005. The area of Sonaimuri is 169.14 km
2 while its population is 327,194. People in this upazila is generally solvent and engaged in business and agriculture.
Points of interest
![Noakhali BojraShahi MG 3913](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Noakhali_BojraShahi_MG_3913.jpg)
*
Bajra Shahi Mosque
Bajra Shahi Mosque ( bn, বজরা শাহী মসজিদ, Bojra Shahi Mosjid, ar, شاهي مسجد بجرا) is an 18th-century mosque located in the Bazra Union under Sonaimuri Upazila of Noakhali District, Bangladesh. It has been des ...
, built in 1741–42, is the area's most important historical monument and is on the government
Department of Archaeology's list of protected sites. Rectangular in plan, it has three domes, the middle one larger than those on either side, and octagonal towers at the four corners. Decorated between 1911 and 1928, it is covered in mosaics made from colored shards of ceramic.
* Joyag: During Mahatma Gandh's visit to some parts of Noakhali in January 1947, Hemanta Kumar Ghosh, a local zamindar, donated his property for setting up the
Ambika-Kaliganga Charitable Trust, which later on became famous as Gandhi Ashram. Every morning and evening, people gather for a prayer meeting in a room which still contains mementos of Gandhi's visit here in January 1947.
Administration
Sonaimuri Upazila is divided into Sonaimuri Municipality and ten
union parishad
Union council ( bn, ইউনিয়ন পরিষদ, translit=iūniyan pariṣad, translit-std=IAST), also known as union parishad, rural council, rural union and simply union, is the smallest rural administrative and local government unit ...
s: Ambarnagr, Amishapara, Bajra, Barogaon, Chashirhat, Deoti, Joyag, Nateshwar, Nodona, and Sonapur. The union parishads are subdivided into 133 mauzas and 148 villages.
Sonaimuri Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 18
mahalla
is an Arabic word variously translated as district, quarter, ward, or "neighborhood" in many parts of the Arab world, the Balkans, Western Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and nearby nations.
History
Historically, mahallas were autonomous social ins ...
s.
Chairmen
Education
Sonaimuri Govt. High School is the most renowned academic institution of this upazila. It played an important role in spreading education among all strata of the society from British days. Students of this school in the past played a pioneering role in our liberation struggle. Other important schools including Amishapara M.k High School, Sonapur Ali Akber High school, Rashidpur High School, Mahbubennesa Girls' High School, Bajra High School, Kalikapur High School, Rubirhat Banghabondhu High School, Nandia Para High School, Vir Srasto Ruhul Amin Academy, Jaiag High School, Nodona High School, Sonaimuri Girls School and Sonaimuri Hamedia alia (kamil) Madrassah. Sonaimuri College, Abirpara High School etc. are playing a very important role in promoting higher education in this upazila.
Notable residents
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Kamrul Ahsan
Kamrul Ahsan is a Bangladeshi diplomat. He is currently serving as his country's Ambassador to the Russian Federation. He is also concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Before joining in h ...
, Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia, Secretary to the Government and former Bangladesh
High Commissioner to Canada and Singapore.
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Bir Sreshtho
The Bir Sreshtho ( bn, বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ; ), is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs.
The other ...
Mohammad Ruhul Amin
Mohammad Ruhul Amin ( bn, মোহাম্মদ রুহুল আমিন; 1935–1971), was an engine room artificer in the Bangladesh Navy who was posthumously awarded the Bangladesh's highest bravery award, Bir Sreshtho, for his service ...
, engine room artificer in the
Bangladesh Navy
The Bangladesh Navy ( bn, বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী, Bangladesh Nou Bahini) is the naval warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for Bangladesh's of maritime territorial area, and the defence of imp ...
*
M. A. Hashem
M. A. Hashem (30 August 1943 – 24 December 2020) was a Bangladeshi businessman and the founding chairman of Partex Group. He served as member of Parliament from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Early life
MA Hashem was born on 30 August 19 ...
, politician
*
Ahmad Nazir
Ahmad Nazir is a politician from Noakhali District of Bangladesh. He was elected a member of parliament from Noakhali-7 in 1979.
Career
Ahmad Nazir is a politician, journalist and writer. He was elected a Member of Parliament from Noakhali- ...
, journalist, writer, former Member of Parliament member and Director-General of
Shilpakala Academy
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ( bn, শিল্পকলা একাডেমি; National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts) is the principal state-sponsored national cultural center of Bangladesh.
History
It is the national academy of f ...
References
{{Upazilas of Chittagong Division
Sonaimuri Upazila