Meherpur District

Meherpur (, pron: "meɦeɾpuɾ") is the northwestern district of Khulna Division in southwestern Bangladesh. It is bordered by the Indian state of West Bengal to the west, and by the Bangladeshi districts of Kushtia and Chuadanga to the east. The district has an area of .
History.
According to Dr Ashraf Siddiqui, the district is named after the 16th century dervish Meher Ali Shah. The Meherpur Municipality is one of the oldest municipalities in Bangladesh which was established on 1859 when Meherpur was a part of the Nadia district.
The Provincial Government of Bangladesh was formed and solemnly sworn in Meherpur's Baidyanathtala village (later renamed as Mujibnagar), on 17 April 1971. The entire Proclamation ceremony was organised by local leaders under the supervision of Momeen Chowdhury and MM Rustom Ali. The first provisional government of Bangladesh was formed here under the leadership of Tajuddin Ahmed & Syed Nazrul Islam. After that day on 18 April 1971, the Pakistani Army killed 8 people in Amjhupi village. Previouslu a subdivision of the Kushtia District, Meherpur became a district in 1983.
Administration.
Meherpur district is divided into three upazilas: Gangni Upazila, Meherpur Sadar Upazila and Mujibnagar Upazila.
Economy.
Main sources of income: Agriculture 68.95%, non-agricultural labourer 3.24%, industry 0.87%, commerce 13.83%, transport and communication 2.21%, service 3.81%, construction 1.03%, religious service 0.14%, rent and remittance 0.59% and others 5.33%.
Demographics.
According to 2011 Bangladesh census, Meherpur District had a population of 655,392. Males constituted 49.53% of the population and females 50.47. Muslims formed 97.766% of the population, Hindus 1.201%, Christians 1.011%, and others 0.022%. Meherpur District had a literacy rate of 46.27% for the population 7 years and above.
Literacy rate and educational institutions.
Average literacy 37.8%; male 39.9%, female 35.6%. Educational institutions: college 7, vocational institute 3, secondary school 60, primary school 200, madrasa 11. Noted educational institutions: Meherpur Government College (1962), Mujibnagar Degree College (1983), Gangni Degree College (1983), Meherpur Government Mohila College (1984), Gangni Mohila College (1995), Meherpur Government High School (1854), Meherpur Model High School (1859), Mujibnagar Secondary School (1937), Meherpur government girls' High School (1940), Gangni Secondary School (1945), JDAMM Jugirgofa Gangni Meherpur (2020).