Banshkhali Upazila (Chittagong district) with an area of 376.90 sq km, is bounded by Anwara upazila and Sangu river on the north, Chakaria upazila on the south, Lohagara and Satkania upazilas and wide hilly regions on the east, Kutubdia Channel,Kutubdia upazila and the Bay of Bengal on the west. The town has a population of 15763; male 51.74%, female 48.26%; population density per sq km 1779. The
town has one dakbungalow. Administration : Banshkhali thana, now an upazila, was established in 1958. The upazila consists of 15 union parishads, 69 mouzas and 111 villages. Archaeological heritage and relics: Baksi Hamid Mosque and its Arabic stone inscriptions (1558), Nim Kalibari (1710), Sikh Temple (Banigram). Historical events: During the war of liberation Pakistan army set on fire many houses at Jaldi, Banigram and Kalipur and brutally killed 75 persons on 19th May 1971. The Pak army also conducted massacre at village Napora and killed 89 freedom fighters. Marks of the War of Liberation: Mass grave at a place adjacent to the Banshkhali Degree College. Religious institutions: Mosque 464, Eidgah, 103, temple 52, kyang 2 and church 1, most noted of which are Habibullah Khan Jami Mosque, Katebi Jami Mosque, Rishidham Hermitage and Jaldi Dharmo Ratno Vihara (monastery). Population 320339; male 52.07%, female 47.93%; Muslim 85.44%, Hindu 13.23%, Buddhist 1.13% and others 0.2%. Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 22.6%; male 28.3%, female 16.5%. Educational institutions: college 4, high school 24, madrasa 241, government primary school 110, non-government primary school 31. Noted educational institutions: Banigram Primary School (1881), Banigram Sadhanpur High School (1917). Cultural organisations :Library 1, rural club 73, women's organisation 9, playground 24. Main occupations : Agriculture 33.69%, fishing 2.74%, forestry 1.59%, industry 1.15%, agricultural labourer 27.71%, wage labourer 5.76%, service 5.24%, commerce 10.39%, others 11.73%. Land use: Total cultivable land 39194.331 hectares; single crop 33%, double crop 37.20%, treble crop 29.80%. Cultivable land under irrigation 80%. Land control: Among the peasants 24% are landless, 32% small, 28% intermediate and 16% rich. Value of land :The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Tk 9500 per 0.01 hectares. Main crops : Betel leaf, paddy, tea, potato, pathol (heap), brinjal, ginger, cucumber. Extinct or nearly extinct crops: Til (sesame), mustard. Main fruits: Mango, jackfruit, litchi, banana, papaya, watermelon, lemon, guava. Fisheries, dairies, poultries Fishery 34, poultry 86, hatchery 25. Communication facilities: Roads- pucca 27 km, semi pucca 47 km and mud road 540 km. Traditional transport: Palanquin, bullock cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct. Manufactories: Saw mill 15, ice cream factory 3, brick-field 5, welding 6. Cottage industries: Bamboo work 24, goldsmith 178, blacksmith 22, potteries 478, wood work 78, tailoring 165, bidi factory 3. Hats, bazars and fairs: Total number of hats and bazars are 38, most noted of which are Ramdas Munsir Hat, Beyan Bazar, Mosharraf Ali Hat and Chowdhury Hat; fair: Kumvo Mela (Rishidham). Main exports: Betel leaf, litchi, tea, ginger, salt, shrimp, sea fish. NGO activities: Operationally important NGOs are CARE, Red Crescent Society, proshika, brac, Uddipan, Codec, Prottasi, Urban, DORP, HEED Bangladesh, Green Bangladesh, asa, Gano Unnayan Prochesta, Ahsania Mission, Shanirvor, Gunagori Mohila Samity, Protishroti and Nari Moitree. Health centres: Upazila health complex 1, family planning centre 3, satellite clinic