Hatibandha Upazila (lalmonirhat district) with an area 288.42 sq km, is bounded by patgram upazila and west bengal of India on the north, kaliganj (Lalmonirhat) upazila on the south, West Bengal (India) on the east, dimla and jaldhaka upazilas of on the west. Main river is tista.

Hatibandha (Town) consists of four mouzas. The area of the town is 18.30 sq. km; population 17868, male 51.66%, female 48.34%; density of population is 976 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 25.7%.

Administration Hatibandha thana, now an upazila, was established in 1935. The upazila consists of 10 union parishads, 63 mouzas and 64 villages.

Archaeological relics and monuments Five domed mosque like house (eighteenth century).

Historical events During the war of liberation, freedom fighters and the Pakistan army were fought in the Burimari Sub-Sector (under sector no. 6). Although the Pakistani army maintained initial control in the upazila head quarter, they lost their mental strength due to repeated attack by the freedom fighters and the non cooperation of the general mass. The freedom fighters were mostly stationed on the north of Barakhata near the Indian border areas and occasionally attacked the Pakistani army. At the time of retreat the Pakistani army killed many people indiscriminately. After independence five mass grave were discovered in the remote part of the upazila.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass grave 5; memorial 3.

Population 201591; male 51%, female 49%; Muslim 87.7%, Hindu 12%, ethnic and others 0.3%; ethnic nationals: Santal and Garo, 88 families.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 21.4%; male 28.2%, female 13.4%. Educational institutions: college 3, high school 19, madrasa 13, government primary school 59, non-government primary school 53, satellite school 17. Noted educational institution: Hatibandha S S High School (1946).

Cultural organisations Public library 1, officer's club 1, rural club 14, opera 3, theatre group 4, cinema hall 3, co operative society 105 and literary society 2.

Religious institutions Mosque 314, temple 46, sacred place 1, tomb 2; Shah Garibullah Shah is noted.

Main occupations Agriculture 52.94%, agricultural labourer 25.66%, wage labourer 3.66%, commerce 6.02%, service 3.56% and others 8.16%.

Land use Cultivable land 22235 hectares, fallow land 304 hectares; single crop 27%, double crop 65% and treble crop 8%; land under irrigation 43%.

Land control Among the peasants, 35% are landless, 30% small, 20% intermediate and 15% rich; cultivable land per head 0.11 hectare.

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is Tk 10000 to 12000 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, tobacco, potato, brinjal, ground nut, onion, and betel nut.

Extinct and nearly extinct crops Mustard, kaun, sesame, linseed, sugarcane, arahar, barley, sweet potato.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, papaya, chalta, coconut, kul.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 514, dairy 12, poultry 60, hatchery 8.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 48 km, semi pucca 27 km and mud road 144 km; railways 42 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct), horse carriage and bullock cart (nearly extinct), boat.

Manufactories Ice factory 3, saw mill 11, welding 42.

Cottage industries Weaving 7, bamboo work 114, goldsmith 21, blacksmith 54, wood work 121, sewing 317, welding 42, bidi factory 2 and food 52.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 14, most noted of which are Kazir Bazar, Hatibandha Hat, Barakhata Hat, Doi Khaor Hat, Parulia Hat; fairs 4, most noted are Shinduna Mela, Dhaulai Mela and Paltia Mela.

Main exports Tobacco, tejpata (cassia leaf), golpata, onion, garlic, banana, flour.

NGO activities brac, rdrs, Ganabima and Grameen Bima, Bichitra, Phulkali,.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, satellite clinic 2, maternity 3, family planning centre 7. [S.M Altaf Hossain]