Narayanganj

This article is about the city. For the district, see Narayanganj District. For the subdistrict, see Narayanganj Sadar Upazila.
Narayanganj
নারায়ণগঞ্জ
Metropolis
From top: City Skyline, Port of Narayanganj,
Tomb of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah ,
Baro-Bhuyan Palace of Lord Isa Khan, Historical Panam City, Hajiganj Fort in City East
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka
DistrictNarayanganj
Municipal Board8 September 1876
Metropolitan city5 May 2011
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • BodyNarayanganj City Corporation
 • AdministratorMd Sakhawat Hossain Khan
 • City Council27 constituencies
 • Parliament1 constituencies
Area
 • Metropolis
33.57 km2 (12.96 sq mi)
 • Water48.56 km2 (18.75 sq mi)
 • Metro
72.43 km2 (27.97 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Metropolis
967,951
 • Density28,830/km2 (74,680/sq mi)
 • City Rank
5th in Bangladesh
Languages
 • OfficialBengali • English
 • RegionalDhakaiya Kutti · Eastern Bengali
Time zoneUTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
Postal code
1400
Calling code+880 671
UN/LOCODEBD NRG
GDP (2022)PPP
$4.8 billion
Nominal
$1.9 billion
HDI (2023)0.701[2]
high · 5th of 22
AirportHazrat Shahjalal International Airport (nearby)
Planning AuthorityRAJUK
Water Supply and Sewerage AuthorityDhaka WASA
Websitencc.gov.bd

Narayanganj (Bengali: নারায়ণগঞ্জ, romanized: Narayongônj) is a city in central Bangladesh in the Greater Dhaka area. Narayanganj District, about 16 km (10 mi) southeast of the capital city of Dhaka. With a population of almost 1 million, it is the 5th largest city in Bangladesh.[4] It is also a center of business and industry, especially the jute trade and processing plants, and the textile sector of the country. It is nicknamed the Dundee of Bangladesh, due to the presence of its many jute mills. (Dundee was the first industrialised 'Juteopolis' in the world.[5])

History

The city got its name from Bicon Lal Pandey, a Hindu religious leader who was also known as Benur Thakur or 'Lakshmi Narayan Thakur'. He leased the area from the British East India Company in 1766 following the Battle of Plassey. He donated the markets and the land on the banks of the river as Devottor or 'Given to God' property, bequeathed for maintenance expenses for the worship of the god Narayan.

A post office was set up in 1866, and Dhaka-Narayanganj telegraph service was started in 1877. The Bank of Bengal introduced the first telephone service in 1882.

The Narayanganj Municipality was incorporated on 8 September 1876. The first hospital in the area of Narayanganj Victoria Hospital was established in 1885 by the Municipality with financial contributions from Harakanta Banerjee.[4]

Narayanganj City Corporation was established on 5 May 2011, unifying three former municipalities: Narayanganj Municipality, Siddhirganj Municipality, and Kadam Rasul Municipality.[6] The mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) is Selina Hayat Ivy. Prior to this, she was the mayor of Narayanganj Municipality.

Demographics

Religions in Narayanganj City Corporation (2022)[1]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 92.75%
Hinduism
 
 7.17%
Other or not stated
 
 0.08%

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, present-day Narayanganj City Corporation had 255,468 households and a population of 967,951. The average household size was 3.74. Narayanganj had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 83.66%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 99.85.[1][7][8]

Narayanganj has four railway stations named Pagla Halt railway station, Fatulla railway station, Chashara railway station and Narayanganj railway station. From Dhaka anyone can use three roads to enter the city: Dhaka–Narayanganj old road, Dhaka–Narayanganj link road and Narayanganj–Demra road. The BRTC AC Bus gives bus transport service from Narayanganj to Dhaka.

Educational Institutes

Narayanganj city has many educational institutes. Government Tolaram College was established in 1937, it is located near Chashara at the center of the city. Govt. Tolaram College had 90.48% of passing rate on their HSC exams, and only 6.75% of the students got A+. Narayanganj Government Women's College, another college located in the center of the city, has its passing rate around at 82.99%, and A+ rate at 9.88%.

Prominent high schools in Narayanganj are Adarsha School Narayanganj, Narayanganj Government Girls' High School, and Morgan Girls High School.[9] The latter two ones are girls-only school, and the former one is a co-educational school.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Narayanganj (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-281-8.
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  3. ^ "বাংলাদেশ পরিসংখ্যান ব্যুরো".
  4. ^ a b Solaiman, Md. (2012). "Narayanganj". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Jute Industry in Dundee and India". Dundee (UK). Archived from the original on 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  6. ^ "History of Narayanganj City Corporation". Bangladesh National Portal. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Narayanganj" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  8. ^ "Community Tables: Narayanganj district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  9. ^ "District Thana Name Institute Name Eiin | PDF | Educational Institutions | Educational Stages". Scribd. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
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