Kaunia Upazila (rangpur district) with an area of 147.6 sq km, is bounded by gangachara and lalmonirhat sadar upazilas on the north, pirgachha upazila on the south, rajarhat upazila on the east, rangpur sadar upazila on the west. Main rivers are tista, Burail.

Kaunia (Town) consists of three mouzas. It has an area of 6.49 sq km. The town has a population of 11125; male 52.5%, female 47.5%. The density of population is per sq km 1714. Literacy rate among the town people is 27.3%.

Administration Kaunia thana, now an upazila, was established in 1916. The upazila consists of one municipality (Haragah), 9 wards, 82 mahallas, 6 union parishads, 82 mouzas and 78 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics Ancient temple at Tepa Madhupur, Burir Dighi and Railway bridge over the river Tista.

Population 230000; male 51.26%, female 48.74%; Muslim 92.19%, Hindu 7.63% and others 0.18%; ethnic nationals: Santal 70 families.

Religious institutions Mosque 239, temple 67.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 22.7%; male 29.2% and female 15.7%. Educational institutions: college 5, high school 32, madrasa 15, government primary school 54, non-government primary school 55, kindergarten school 1, satellite school 8 and NGO operated school 73.

Cultural organisations Club 36, public library 1, cinema hall 2, theatre group 2 and literary society 1.

Main occupations Agriculture 32.49%, agricultural labourer 21.56%, wage labourer 19.86%, commerce 10.76%, service 4.14%, industry 2.2% and others 8.99%.

Land use Total cultivable land 10678 hectares; fallow land 4212 hectares; single crop 5.20%, double crop 34.51% and treble crop 60.29%.

Land control Among the peasants 46% are landless, 33% small, 18% intermediate and 3% rich

Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is about Tk 6500 per 0.01 hectare.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, potato, peanut, kaun, patal, onion, garlic, chilli and tobacco.

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, linseed and sesame.

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, blackberry, papaya and banana.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Poultry 33, fishery 27 and hatchery 5.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 28 km, semi pucca 7 km and mud road 182 km; Railways10.5 km.

Traditional transport Palanquin (extinct) and bullock cart (nearly extinct).

Manufactories Rice mill 40, lathe machine 8.

Cottage industries Bamboo work 150, weaving 15, goldsmith 19, blacksmith 27, potteries 17, wood work 24, tailoring 18 and bidi 100.

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 12, most noted of which are Sarai, Sahebganj, Khansama, Nayabazar, Madhupur, Kaunia, Tukikal, Kursha Hat and Shahidbagh; fair 3.

Main exports Paddy, wheat, potato, peanut, tobacco and bidi, tobacco and ginger.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, grameen bank, proshika, Grameen Krishi Foundation, Arter Seba, Bandhan.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, union health and family planning centre 6, charitable dispensary 3. [Md. Abdus Sattar]