Manikganj

Not to be confused with Manikganj Raj.

Manikganj মানিকগঞ্জ
Municipality
Darul Uloom Manikganj
Manikganj Show map of Dhaka division Manikganj Show map of Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°51′N90°01′E / 23.850°N 90.017°E / 23.850; 90.017
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Dhaka
District	Manikganj
Upazila	Manikganj Sadar
Named after	Maharaja Manik Ram Basu [1] Sufi saint Manik Sha
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Manikganj Municipal Corporation
Area
• Total	2.28 km2 (0.88 sq mi)
Population
• Total	71,698
• Density	31,400/km2 (81,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
National Dialing Code	+880

Manikganj is a town situated in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative centre of both Manikganj District and Manikganj Sadar Upazila. Noted for its relatively low levels of pollution, the town has experienced recent urban development, including the construction of a highway linking Dhaka with Singair Upazila, thereby enhancing regional connectivity and transportation infrastructure. The Padma River flows adjacent to the district, contributing to its ecological diversity and supporting a range of local flora and fauna. Manikganj plays a strategic role in inter-regional connectivity, linking the north-western and south-western parts of Bangladesh via the Paturia and Aricha ferry terminals.

The area is locally renowned for the production of molasses, particularly from the village of Jhitka, and features several cultural and historical landmarks. Among these, the Baliati Zamindari Palace stands out as a prominent tourist attraction, reflecting the architectural heritage of the region. ^[2]

History

Manikganj was the home to the Baliati Zamindari and royal family of Raja Manik Ram Basu. Manikganj is believed to have been named after Raja Manik Ram Basu. ^[1] Raja Manik Ram Basu was the monarch of the Manikganj Raj and Hatkhola royal family, in North Calcutta. His granddaughter Princess Kalishakamini Dasi was married to Peary Charan Sarkar. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

• 
  Maharaja III Manik Ram Basu of Hatkhola and Manikganj
• 
  Hatkhola royal family palace entrance painting, 1750s. Zamindar Palace in Manikganj.
• 
  The Manikganj Basu Zamindar Palace
• 
  Maharani I of Manikganj - Maharani Soudamini Devi
• 
  Princess Kailash Kamini Sarkar, wife of Peary Charan Sarkar, princess of Hatkhola royal family and descendant of Manikganj Zamindari, daughter and granddaughter of Raja Shib Narayan Basu and Maharaja Manik Ram Basu

List of rulers of Manikganj

Expanded royal Zamindari lineage of royal Basu family

Monarch name	Reign period	Consort name	Region
Maharaja Ishwar Ram Basu [6]	c. 1745–c. 1765	Rani Soudamini Devi	Manikganj, Dhaka
Maharaja Darpanarayan Basu [7]	c. 1765–c. 1770	Rani Priyamvada Devi	Manikganj, Barisal
Maharaja Manik Ram Basu [8] [9]	c. 1770–c. 1785	Rani Indumati Devi	Manikganj, Hatkhola Jessore
Maharaja Ram Hari Basu [10]	c. 1785–c. 1789	Rani Satyavati Devi	Manikganj Hatkhola
Maharaja Shib Narayan Basu [9]	c. 1789–c. 1797	Rani Kamalini Devi	Manikganj Hatkhola

Demographics

Religions in Manikganj (2011) ^[11]

Religion			Percent
Islam			85.50%
Hinduism			14.43%
Other or not stated			0.07%

At the time of the 2011 census, Manikganj Paurashava had 16,459 households and a population of 71,698. 13,017 (18.16%) were under 10 years of age. Manikganj had a literacy rate of 69.10% and a sex ratio of 987 females per 1000 males. ^[11]

See also

• Manikganj District
• Manikganj Sadar Upazila
• List of cities and towns in Bangladesh
• Upazilas of Bangladesh

References

1. Mitra, Radharaman (1952). Kolikata - Darpan Parba 1. p. 275.
2. "Manikganj Village's civic body" . Retrieved 26 October 2019.
3. BeeZone (2019-07-03). Sailendra Sircar Centenary. pp. 18, 24.
4. Dutt, Haradhan (1978). Sekālora śikshāguru (in Bengali). Tuli-Kalama. pp. 58–60.
5. Sircar, Mahendranath (1914). Life of Peary Churn Sircar, a Recast. University of Michigan. pp. 19, 25.
6. Bose, Ramesh (1847). The Legacy of Maharaja Ishwar Ram Basu: A Historical Analysis. Calcutta: Eastern Heritage Press.
7. Chatterjee, Sourav (1853). "Darpanarayan Basu and the Bengal Aristocracy: Political and Social Influence". Dhaka Historical Review. 7 (2): 115–132.
8. Dutt, Haradhan (1978). Sekālora śikshāguru (in Bengali). Tuli-Kalama.
9. Sircar, Mahendranath (1914). Life of Peary Churn Sircar, a Recast.
10. Mitra, Rādhāramaṇa (1980). Kalikātā-darpaṇa (in Bengali). Subarṇarekhā. ISBN   978-81-86263-48-8.
11. "Community Tables: Manikganj district" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2024-01-24.