Dighinala () is an upazila of Khagrachari District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh.
History
Dighinala, the biggest upazila of Khagrachhari zila in respect of area, came into existence in 1916 as a thana and was upgraded to upazila in 1984. It is said that in the long past, Tripura Maharaja Govinda Manikya Bahadur Debbarma dug a big pond (meaning Dighi in Bangla) by the side of a canal (meaning Nala in Bangla). This upazila was under Tripura Kingdom used to be known as "Reangdesh"
It is generally believed that the upazila might have originated its name from above two words Dighi and Nala.
Geography Dighinala Upazila (Khagrachhari district) area 694.11 km2, located in between 23°04' and 23°44' north latitudes and in between 91°56' and 92°11' east longitudes. It is a hilly area. It is bounded by tripura state of India on the north, langadu upazila on the south, Baghaichhari upazila on the east, Panchhari and Khagrachhari Sadar upazilas and Tripura state on the west. Golamoon, Karmi Mura, Lutiban, Kuradia hills are notable.
Demographics
According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Dighinala Upazila had 28,028 households and a population of 115,440. 9.31% of the population were under 5 years of age. Dighinala had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 69.94%: 76.69% for males and 62.93% for females, and a sex ratio of 103.67 males for every 100 females. 28,856 (25.00%) lived in urban areas.
Ethnicity and religion
+Population by religion in UnionUnionMuslimBuddhist HinduOthersBabuchhara1,78613,02454769Boalkhali6,8099,2715,473142Dighinala39514,4083627Kabakhali9,1128,7065069Merung23,11117,5514,76199 🟩 Muslim majority 🟨 Buddhist majority
The ethnic population was 70,420 (61.00%), of which Chakma were 61,618 and Tripura 8,523.
+Population by ethnicity in Union Union Bengali Chakma Tripura Others Babuchhara2,07412,92733679Boalkhali9,2208,2754,066134Dighinala45514,3592032Kabakhali9,1858,717269Merung24,08217,3404,07525 🟩 Bengali majority 🟨 Chakma majority
Administration UNO: Md. Mamunur Rashid.
Dighinala Upazila is divided into five union parishads: Babuchhara, Boalkhali, Dighinala, Kabakhali and Merung. The union parishads are subdivided into 20 mauzas and 245 villages.
Economy Main sources of income Agriculture 65.53%, non-agricultural labourer 8.51%, commerce 9.70%, service 5.01%, construction 0.42%, religious service 0.20%, rent and remittance 0.10% and others 10.53%.
Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 46.96%, landless 53.04%; agricultural landowner: urban 25.85% and rural 50.57%.
Education Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 47.5%; male 56.1%, female 38%. Educational institutions: Choto Merung High School, DIGHINALA BORADOM HIGH SCHOOL, Dighinala Government College, Dighinala Government High School, Dighinala Model Girls' School, Hashinpur High School, Anath Ashram Abashik High School, Babuchhara High School, Udal Bagan High School, Rasik Nagar Dakhil Madrasa.Trabonia high school
Transport Communication facilities Pucca road 91 km, semi-pucca road 34 km, mud road 280 km.
Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Bullock cart. Connected to the zila headquarters by metalled roads. Bus, minibus, three wheelers ply over the upazila. Chander Gari (local four wheeled jeep) is a popular transport used to ply in the hill area of upazila.
Points of interest Sajek 10 No. Jhorna Suspension Bridge The Dhigi
See also Upazilas of Bangladesh Districts of Bangladesh Divisions of Bangladesh
References