Sonatala Upazila

For other uses, see Sonatala.

Sonatala Upazila (Bengali: সোনাতলা উপজেলা) is an upazila of Bogra District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sonatala Thana was established in 1981 from Sariakandi Thana and was converted into an upazila in 1984.^[2][3] It is named after its administrative center, the town of Sonatala.

Sonatala সোনাতলা
Upazila
Coordinates: 25°2′N 89°30′E / 25.033°N 89.500°E / 25.033; 89.500
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Rajshahi
District	Bogra
Area ^[1]
• Total	156.75 km^2 (60.52 sq mi)
Population  (2011)^[1]
• Total	186,778
• Density	1,200/km^2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+6 (BST)
Postal code	5826
Website	sonatala.bogra.gov.bd(in Bengali)

Geography

Sonatala Upazila has a total area of 156.75 square kilometres (60.52 sq mi).^[1] It borders Rangpur Division to the north, Sariakandi Upazila to the east and south, Gabtali Upazila to the south and west, and Shibganj Upazila, Bogra to the west.^[3][4]

Beels^{[importance?]}

Goborchapa Beel

• Gobochanra Beel
• Thengar Beel
• Mohicharan Beel
• Padir Beel
• Satbeel

Chunepacha beel 

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop. (000)	±%
1981	153	—
1991	146	−4.6%
2001	168	+15.1%
2011	187	+11.3%
2022	193	+3.2%
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics^[1]

Religions in Sonatala upazila (2011)^[1]
Religion			Percent
Islam			95.13%
Hinduism			4.80%
Other or not stated			0.07%

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Sonatola Upazila had 48,569 households and a population of 186,778. 43,922 (23.52%) were under 10 years of age. Sonatola had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 43.19%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1023 females per 1000 males. 24,720 (13.23%) lived in urban areas.^[1][5]

Economy

Famous markets (Hat)

• Sonatola Hat
• Balua Hat
• Karamja Hat
• Sayed Ahmed College Hat
• Pakulla Hat
• Horikhali hat

Administration

Sonatala Upazila is divided into Sonatala Municipality and seven union parishads: Balua, Digdair, Zorgachha, Madhupur, Pakulla, Sonatala Sadar, and Tekani Chukainagar. The union parishads are subdivided into 94 mauzas and 131 villages.^[1]

Sonatala Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 16 mahallas.^[1]

Transport

Rail stations Sayeed Ahmed College, Bhelurpara, and Sonatala are on the branch line connecting Santahar and Kaunia. In July 2014 they were served by six or eight intercity and six mail trains a day.^[6]

Education

See also: Education in Bangladesh

There are three colleges in the upazila. Government Nazir Akhter College, founded in 1967, is the only public one. A private one is Balua Hat Degree College, founded in 1987.^[1][7] Govt. Sonatola Model High School & College founded in 1908.

The madrasa education system includes one fazil madrasa.^[8]

See also

• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh

References

1. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Bogra" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
2. "Upazila Administration Background". Sonatala Upazila. Retrieved 17 July 2014.(in Bengali)
3. Harun-or-Rashid, Md. (2012). "Sonatala Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
4. "Sonatala Map". Retrieved 11 July 2014.
5. "Community Tables: Bogra district" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.
6. "Bogra Schedule". Bangladesh Railways. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
7. "Baluyahata Degree College". Sonatala Upazila. Retrieved 18 July 2014.(in Bengali)
8. "List of Institutions". Ministry of Education. Retrieved July 15, 2014.