Feni District

Coordinates: 23°00′N 91°24′E / 23.000°N 91.400°E / 23.000; 91.400
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Feni
ফেনী
From top: Asgar Ali Chowdhury Mosque, Sharshadi Shahi Mosque, Chandgaji Bhuiyan Mosque, Mohammad Ali chowdhury mosque, Wind electricity-Muhuri Project and Feni ShathMoth
Upazilas
Government
 • Type
Postal codes[4]
3901–3903 (Feni Sadar), 3910–3913 (Chhagalnaiya), 3920–3923 (Daganbhuiyan), 3930–3933 (Sonagazi), 3940–3943 (Parshuram)
Area code0331
HDI (2021)[5]0.656
medium · 11th of 21
Notable sport teamsNoFeL SC
Feni SC (defunct)
Websitewww.feni.gov.bd

Feni is a district situated in the southeast of Bangladesh, within Chittagong Division. Historically, it was part of the larger regions of Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong, and Tripura, and separated from Pakistan's control on 6 December 1971. As of 2022, the estimated population of the district was about 1,648,896, with the density of 1,665 people per km2.

Feni, established as the 61st district

Feni Municipality, was previously a sub-division under Noakhali District. The district consists of six upazilas (sub-districts): Sonagazi, Fulgazi, Parshuram, Daganbhuiyan, Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar
.

Etymology

While there are disagreements surrounding the matter, it is generally believed that the settlement of Feni derived its name from the river of the same name, rather than the other way around. The origin of the name "Feni" itself is surrounded by various local legends, complicating efforts to determine its true source. However, most legends commonly suggest that the name is connected to the word phoni (Bengali: ফনী).[6]: 11 

The evolution of the word "Feni" or pheni is evident in historical texts spanning several centuries. Writers and poets in the 15th and 16th centuries wrote about the area, referring to the word phoni as both a river stream and a ghat for ferry crossing.[a] The emergence of the word pheni appears to be evident in the language of Muslim poets and writers,[b] such as the 17th-century Persian book Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, where the reference to the two pheni rivers[c] indicates the transformation of the word phoni into pheni or Feni.[7][6]: 11–12 

History

Early history

The Feni District, despite being a relatively recent addition to the administrative landscape of the country, possesses a rich and ancient history. Historical records indicate the presence of human settlements dating back five thousand years ago within this region.[6]: 9 [8]: 27 

According to folklore, this area was once home to a flourishing society that settled near the legendary seas of Billasagar or Sukh Sagar, showcasing the region's deep-rooted past.[6]: 23  Scholars trace the arrival of Aryans to the Ganges Delta near Feni, marking a significant epoch in its history.[6]: 23 [d] Prehistorical discoveries in Feni dating back to the kingdom of Gangaridai further underscore Feni's importance, suggesting it may have served as a vital frontier settlement during ancient times.[6]: 27  Historical records point to the governance of a 7th-century dynasty as part of the Samatata region.[6]: 33–34  Archaeological findings suggest the presence of the Chandra dynasty, which ruled over Samatata.[6]: 42  Additionally, evidence indicates the possible rule of the Pala Empire in Feni, notably under King Mahipala II, after whom modern Mahipal is named. The Feni-Noakhali region was part of the ancient Pattikera kingdom, possibly serving as a trade route connecting the kingdom with Burma (present-day Myanmar).[6]: 44  The artificial Bijoysinha lake (বিজয় সিংহ দীঘি, bijoy singhho dighi) in Mahipal reflects the era of Vijaya Sena's rule, belonging to the Sena dynasty.[6]: 46 

Arrival of Islam and Muslim rule

During the medieval era, the arrival of Sufis from Arabia and Central Asia profoundly influenced Bengal's coastal regions. Promoting values of tolerance and love, they amalgamated Islamic teachings with local customs, shaping a distinctive cultural identity.[8]: 27–28 

After the establishment of the independent Sultanate of Sonargaon, Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah set up a military camp in Feni while aiming to conquer Chittagong, overseeing the construction of a mosque and excavation of a reservoir in the region. During a period of instability in Bengal, the rise of Tripura as a regional power saw its king extending control over parts of Feni, Comilla, and Sylhet, capitalizing on the opportunity presented by Raja Ganesha's seizure of power in Bengal.[6]: 60 

In historical accounts, it is suggested that Rastikhan, who served under Ruknuddin Barbak Shah, governed areas extending from Feni to the northern regions of Chittagong. Additionally, during the medieval period, the Kingdom of Tripura exerted significant influence over the Feni and Comilla regions, with the eastern part of Feni being part of the district of Tripura during the British colonial period, which also encompassed the modern district of Comilla.[6]: 61–63 

During the medieval era, a nobleman named Nizam Shah established a kingdom called Jafarabad along the banks of the Feni River.

Emperor Akbar, territorial disputes arose between the Kingdoms of Tripura and Arakan, with Arakan initially seizing control of Chittagong and extending influence up to the Feni River. Following conflicts, Mogh settlements were established in southern Feni-Noakhali, but they fled when the Mughals conquered Chittagong in 1666, who also drove out Portuguese settlers in the region who arrived in late 16th century.[6]
: 77–78 

Mughal era and rule of the Nawabs

The Feni region was pivotal during the Mughal conquest of Chittagong, acting as the border with Arakan-held territory. Having been under Mughal control for fifty years, Feni was strategically fortified along the riverside to repel potential Arakanese attacks.[6]: 90  After the Mughal conquest of Chittagong, they established a thiriving city called Amirgaon in southern Feni, but it was eventually swallowed by the Feni River.[6]: 91 

After the death of Aurangzeb's, the Mughal Empire began to fragment, leading to the rise of Nawabs in Bengal in the early 18th century. Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, seeking to boost tax revenue, divided Feni's largest pargana (administrative unit). Under his rule, the East India Company established a textile mill in southern Feni's Jugidiya area. Toward the Nawab era's end, a new administrative unit, Chakla Roshnabad, was formed, spanning parts of Sylhet and Comilla, extending to the Feni River's southern bank. Shamsher Gazi, who ruled Chakla Roshnabad, emerged as a notable figure, significantly influencing Feni's history.[6]: 94–97 

Influence of the East India Company

Long before the Battle of Plassey, which handed control of Bengal to the East India Company, a French company[e] established a significant textile mill in Jugidiya, a hub for various industries, near the mouth of the Feni River. In 1765, the East India Company gained the authority to collect taxes in Jugidiya and other areas by becoming the official tax collector (diwan) for the Mughal emperor, thereby legitimizing its control over the region.[6]: 121 

In 1770, the East India Company's ineptitude and exploitative tax policies precipitated a severe famine. Concurrently, the coastal Feni-Noakhali region was devastated by a catastrophic cyclone and tidal surge, resulting in widespread displacement and destruction. The important settlement of Jugidiya was all but submerged.[6]: 123  Despite the implementation of the Permanent Settlement system in 1793, much of Feni-Noakhali remained under direct East India Company control, with armed enforcement of high land revenue collection.[6]: 125  In the same year, the Manikya king of Tripura acquired land rights in the Roshnabad estate under the new system, including parts of Feni, compelling anti-English landowners to cede their land.[6]: 126 

Establishment of mahakuma

During the British colonial period, administrative units known as thanas were established under district collectorates, forming administrative unions within the district. In a subsequent phase of administrative decentralization, the British authorities divided each district into subdivisions called mahakumas. Before the establishment of Feni mahakuma[f] the Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram thanas (currently upazilas), and Amirgaon thana[g] were part of the Comilla and Noakhali districts respectively.[h][6]: 144  In 1876, the Feni mahakuma (sub-division) was established under the jurisdiction of Noakhali District. Notably, in 1883, Nabinchandra Sen assumed the role of governor of the mahakuma, overseeing significant developments that earned him the moniker of the true architect of Feni.[i] Furthermore, in 1895 and 1920, two pivotal railway lines, namely the Assam Bengal railway and the Feni–Belonia branch line, were constructed, vastly improving Feni's connectivity and contributing to its development.[8]: 29–30  Syed Amir Uddin, also known as Pagla Miah, was a Sufi saint who exerted significant influence in the Feni region during this period, earning recognition as its spiritual architect.[8]: 53–54 

History leading up to the partition

The districts of Feni and Noakhali played a pioneering role in the Swadeshi (self-reliance) movement, particularly in the boycott of foreign goods during the 1930s. Khadi cloth, produced by local weavers, gained immense popularity in these regions. The demand for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent, presented at the All-India Muslim League Conference held in Lahore in March 1940, resonated strongly in the Feni-Noakhali region, just as it did in other parts of Bengal. Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury of Feni emerged as a leading figure during this time.[8]: 31 

Amidst the escalating tensions of the

Allied forward base and the construction of a large airstrip, which now forms part of the premises of Feni Girls' Cadet College.[9] Local residents became increasingly agitated as Allied soldiers engaged in acts of violence against women, sparking protests that were met with lethal gunfire. In 1943, Feni endured a Japanese bombing raid during World War II, causing plane crashes and pilot casualties.[8]
: 32 

As the war concluded and India's independence approached in 1946, communal tensions heightened in nearby regions. Feni's Hindu-majority areas saw limited violence thanks to local intervention. Ultimately, in 1947, the Indian subcontinent gained independence, leading to the partition into Pakistan and India.[8]: 32–33 

Post-partition of Bengal

Following partition in 1947, Feni, bordered by the Indian state of Tripura, experienced demographic shifts and social hurdles. The king of Tripura's significant land holdings in Feni shaped its socio-economic dynamics. Many Hindu families migrated to Tripura and West Bengal, including professionals, leading to a social void. With Hindu educators departing, the education sector faced crisis, while returning Muslims from India added to unemployment. Post-World War II, Bengali workers returning from Burma worsened economic challenges in Feni.[6]: 173 

After partition, Tripura's population grew, prompting new settlements by flattening hills and clearing forests. This led to changes in river courses, causing floods in Feni, endangering agriculture and causing annual crop and resource losses worth crores.[6]: 173 

The hastily demarcated Feni-Tripura border by the Radcliffe Boundary Commission led to challenges for local residents. Many farmers found their houses in East Pakistani Feni while their cultivated land remained in Indian Tripura, causing households to straddle two countries. This created the issue of jiratiya, where individuals became citizens of both nations due to the border cutting through their homes.[6]: 174 

Pakistani rule and the language movement