Jessore is one of the largest and important city in Bangladesh. From the geographical point of view it has many importance.
Jessore is located behind the Calcutta city, the capital of West Bengal province of India. Its location is on the southwestern portion of Bangladesh bordering the country India. It's extended from about 22.50' to 23.23' longitude and about 88.50' to 89.32' latitude.
To the north Jessore is bounded by Jhenidaha and Magura districts, and to the south by Satkhira and Khulna districts. To the east it is bordered by Narail district and to the west by India. The total area of Jessore district is 2578.20 sq km.
Jessore was the Headquater of the former greater district Jessore. Then for administrative convenience, three mohokumas (district subzones) were splitted from it and gave rise to three new districts, namely, Jhenaidaha, Narail and Magura.
This district has been segmented into nine portions, called upazillas or sometimes thana (or, police stations). These are: Jessore Sadar, Keshabpur, Monirampur, Avoinagar, Sharsha, Navaron, Jhikargacha, Chaughacha and Bagherpara. Every Upazilla is controlled by administrative sub-unites lead by UNO or the T.N.O. There are 91 unions, 1329 mouzas and 1471 villages in Jessore district.
The district H/Q Jessore is located near the norteastern half of the district. Recently the P/S of the district H/Q has been converted into Model thana.
The district suffers very few natural calamities like flood, earthquake, drought, cyclone , snowfall etc. So it remains one of the most comfortable places in this country. Hence, many people from other districts gather here and seek for permanent residence, which is sometimes bothering.
The district belongs to the ganges deltaic plain land. It's counter value varies from 150 cm to 250 cm. Annual temperature ranges from 29.0'C to 18.5'C. the district is crossed over by the two main rivers Bhoirab and Kapotkhaya.
There are many oxbow lakes, a circular lakes, natural depressions, and ponds in Jessore districts. Besides, some pit area the whole district is covered by calcic soil with deep ash to brownish color. In this district 71%
land is cultivated, 2% is cultivable but at present not in use, remaining 27% is barren land. Within the whole country the land of Jessore district is highly cultivable. The density of crop ranges from 180.1 to 19.0 acre per square kilometer.
Total population is near about 21,06,996. The density of population is low to medium, in comparison to the other part of the country, that is 1 to 500 and 1001 to 1500 person per square kilometer (1991), and the rate of increase is upto 200%. The rate of education of its people varies from 20.1 to 50% from place to place. The higher rate of education as well as the higher density of population is mainly confined in the Sadar and Avoinagar Upazilla. Considering the whole country the disperson of population is moderate in this district. Besides the ethnic group, a large number of people came from India and Pakistan, before separation of these two countries.
Jessore is well communicated by roads, railways air and to some extent by small river channels. By roads we can go anywhere of the country's western zone and the capital as well as Chittagong, largest sea port in this country. The railstation is a Junction point of connecting Khulna, India and the northern districts. By air we can only communicate directly with Dhaka.
Jessore belongs to the Khulna Division. Commercially it has a great importance. Through the sea port Mongla foreign goods pass into the Capital via Jessore. Besides, a large amount of goods are exported and imported through roads and railways via Benapole Land Port located in the western border in this district.
No notable mineral resourses has been found here yet. The electric power is suppplied from the Heat generated power plant located at Khulna. It is transmitted through 132 KV electric line to Jessore.
Notable institutes or sites in this district comprise the Benapole Landport, Jessore Cantonment, airport, Bangladesh Airforce Training Center (BAFTA), Education Board, Bangladesh Open University Campus, two government colleges: one is for combined education and the other is for the women. Besides, A teachers' training college, a Polytechnic Institute and the Government Commercial College is located in this district. The founding stone of the University of Science and Technology was placed in this district during 2006.
Some archaeological sites have been developed here like Imam Bari (Sadar Upazilla), Raza Borda Kanto's Home ( Sadar Upazilla), and the Madhubari (Keshabpur). Many famous persons were born and/or resided here through the time being, like the poet Mikel Madhusukan Datta, Syed Ali Ahsan, Hazrat Garib Sah (Rh.), Raza Protapadittya etc. Two large parks have been built in this district which are at the Khulna road and the Magura road respectively.
During the liberation war at 1971, this district belonged to the sector-8. Major Abu Osman Choudhury Bir Uttam (upto August) and major M.A. Manjur ( from august to December) haded the freedom fighters. Major M.A. Jalil with Indian Force entered into Bangladesh on December the 3rd and attacked the Pak Army. A severe battle was held between the two groups near Goalhatti. Mentioned that Jessore was the first district which owned its freedom in this country during the liberation war. Bir Shresta Sepahi Mohammad Hamidur Rahman also faught for this country in the Jessore District and sacrificed his life on its soil.
Acknowledgement: The Graphoseman, Dhaka, Bangladesh.