Barisal (district)

Barisal District, officially spelled Barishal District from April 2018, is a district in south-central Bangladesh, formerly called Bakerganj district, established in 1797. Its headquarters are in the city of Barisal, which is also the headquarters of Barisal Division. Barisal District traces its origins to Bakerganj district which was established in 1797. It was placed in Barisal Division on 1 January 1993. Notable educational institutions in Barisal include Sher-e-Bangla Medical College University of Barisal Barisal Engineering College Barisal Cadet College Govt. B M College Brajamohan school, Govt. Barisal College Govt. Hatem Ali College Govt. Woman's College Barisal Polytechnic Institute Govt. Fazlul Huq College Barisal Technical School and College A. Karim Ideal College, and Ideal Cadet School & College Patuakhali Science and Technology University (Barisal campus) Govt. Shere Bangla College Govt. Gouronodi University College Govt. Fazlul Haque College, Chakhar Amrito Lal day College According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Barisal District had 629,842 households and a population of 2,570,450, 30.2% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 923 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 79.6%, compared to the national average of 74.7%. Islam is the predominant religion in the district with a large Hindu population. Historically, the Barisal region has seen one of the highest concentration of Hindus since the area had been part of the British Raj, through the rule of East Pakistan and subsequently after the independence of Bangladesh. However, since Partition Hindus have been fleeing the district in large numbers. Among the 10 upazilas of the district, the Agailjhara Upazila has the highest percentage share of Hindus at 42 per cent, while the Muladi Upazila has the lowest at just 1.8 per cent, according to the 2011 Bangladesh census. Overall, minority populations have seen a steep drop in their share of the total population, as well as a fall in their absolute numbers in Barisal district.