Shariatpur

About Shariatpur

Shariatpur sits on the south bank of the Padma, opposite Munshiganj, with the Meghna and Chandpur to the east, Barishal to the south and Madaripur to the west. Its six upazilas are Shariatpur Sadar (Palong), Zajira, Naria, Bhedarganj, Damudya and Gosairhat. About 1.29 million people were counted in the 2022 census.

The district is low, young land built by the shifting Padma, crossed by the Palong, Jayanti and Kirtinasha rivers and dotted with chars near the confluence of the Padma and Meghna. River erosion is a constant threat, especially in Naria and Zajira, where whole villages and markets have been lost to the water in recent years.

Shariatpur has changed fast since 2022, when the Padma Multipurpose Bridge opened with its southern end at Zajira. A trip that once meant a long ferry crossing now takes a couple of hours by road from Dhaka.

History

The district is named after Haji Shariatullah (1781-1840), the founder of the Faraizi reform movement, who was active in this region. Historically the area lay between the ancient lands of Vanga and Samatata and was later held by Baro-Bhuiyan chiefs such as Chand Rai and Kedar Rai. In the 18th century Raja Rajballabh, a powerful official of the Nawabs of Bengal, built his seat at Rajnagar with temples and palaces; the river that later swept them away is remembered as the Kirtinasha, the destroyer of glories.

Under the British the area was part of Faridpur district, and in 1984 the Madaripur subdivision's eastern thanas became the new Shariatpur district. During the 1971 war, freedom fighters fought several engagements in Naria, Bhedarganj, Damudya and Gosairhat.

Economy and livelihoods

Farming and fishing support most families: rice, jute, wheat, onion, ginger, tomato and sweet potato grow on the river soil, and jute, onion, ginger and tomato are sold well beyond the district. The Padma and Meghna yield hilsa, and fish markets in Zajira, Naria and Bhedarganj are busy in season. Shariatpur also has one of the country's largest overseas communities in Italy, and remittances from Italy, the Middle East and elsewhere are a major part of the local economy. Bamboo and cane crafts are a traditional cottage industry.

Food, culture and festivals

Shariatpur's best-known dish is bibikhana pitha, a rich rice-flour cake made for guests, weddings and festivals, along with payesh and mango pickle in season. The sweet shops of Palong Bazar are famous for their rasgolla. Folk culture includes jari and kabigan, wedding songs, jatra performances and boat races, and in the past bull fights were held at Poush and Chaitra Sankranti.

Religious sites range from the Sureshwar Darbar Sharif in Naria, which attracts many devotees, to old Hindu temples and maths in the countryside.

Places to visit in Shariatpur

1. Padma Bridge at Zajira

   The southern end of the 6.15 km Padma Multipurpose Bridge lands in Zajira upazila. Riverside viewpoints near the approach roads offer wide views of the bridge and the river, especially at sunset.

2. Rudrakar Math

   A tall old Hindu math (temple tower) in Rudrakar union of Shariatpur Sadar, rebuilt in 1898 according to the local plaque and now partly overgrown. It is a striking sight in the village landscape.

3. Dhanuka Manasa Bari

   An old temple complex dedicated to the goddess Manasa at Dhanuka in Shariatpur Sadar, with ponds, several shrines and a fair ground, sacred to the local Hindu community.

4. Fateh Jangpur Fort

   The remains of a fort in Naria upazila listed by Banglapedia as the district's main archaeological site, linked to the region's medieval defences.

What Shariatpur is famous for

• Padma hilsa
• Bibikhana pitha
• Bamboo and cane crafts
• Ginger

How to get to Shariatpur

From Dhaka, buses from Jatrabari, Sayedabad and Gulistan cross the Padma Bridge and reach Shariatpur town in roughly two to two and a half hours. Trains on the Padma Bridge rail link pass nearby on their way to Bhanga. Launches from Sadarghat still serve river towns such as Naria, Sureshwar and Gosairhat, an enjoyable overnight or day trip on the river.

Markets and haats

Palong Bazar

The central market of Shariatpur town, known for its long-established sweet shops and for fish, vegetables and household goods.

Naria Bazar

A large river-town market in Naria upazila trading in fish, jute and farm produce, though parts of the area have been hit by Padma erosion.

Zajira fish markets

Riverside fish markets in Zajira where Padma hilsa is sold fresh in season.

Shariatpur at a glance

Shops from Shariatpur on Midmart

No shop from Shariatpur is selling on Midmart yet.

Questions about Shariatpur

More districts in Dhaka Division

• Dhaka The capital on the Buriganga: Mughal forts, muslin memories and a city that never pauses
• Faridpur Jute country on the Padma, and home of the poet of rural Bengal
• Gazipur Sal forests, jackfruit orchards and the factory belt north of Dhaka
• Gopalganj Beel country on the Madhumati, with floating gardens and Tungipara
• Kishoreganj Gateway to the haors, home of Sholakia and the poet Chandrabati
• Madaripur Arial Khan river town of date-palm gur, Shah Madar and Shakuni Lake
• Manikganj Where the Jamuna meets the Padma: zamindar palaces and hajari gur
• Munshiganj Ancient Bikrampur: potatoes, patkhir and the north end of the Padma Bridge
• Narayanganj Old Sonargaon, jamdani looms and the knitwear port on the Shitalakshya
• Narsingdi Looms of Madhabdi, lotkon orchards and the ancient city of Wari-Bateshwar
• Rajbari Goalundo and Daulatdia: the Padma gateway of onions and jute
• Tangail Tangail saree, Porabari chamcham and the sal forests of Madhupur