Banshkhali Upazila is located at 22°02′55″N91°56′30″E / 22.0485°N 91.9416°E / 22.0485; 91.9416 in Bangladesh. Its neighbouring upazilas are Anwara Upazila to the north, Chakaria and Pekua upazilas of Cox's Bazar District to the south, Lohagara and Satkania upazilas to the east, and Kutubdia Upazila and the Bay of Bengal to the west. Through it runs a canal named "Shonaichari at Banshkhali" which is locally known as “Honaichari.” In the past, businessmen from Chakaria bought bamboo here and used the Shonaichari Canal to transport the bamboo to other areas. At that time, local people observed that the Shonaichari Canal was filled with bamboo. Banshkhali is named after this historical event. It has 84,216 households and a total area of 376.9 km2.
As of the 2011 Bangladesh census, Bashkhali upazila had 84,216 households and a population of 431,162. 128,881 (29.89%) were under 10 years of age. Banshkhali had an average literacy rate of 37.40%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1034 females per 1000 males. 36,910 (8.56%) of the population lived in urban areas.[2][3]
In 2001, Among the population, 87% are Muslim, 11% are Hindu, and 1% are Buddhist and other.[4]
Banshkhali Upazila is divided into Banshkhali Municipality and 14 union parishads: Baharchhara, Bailchhari, Chambal, Chhanua, Gandamara, Kalipur, Katharia, Khankhanabad, Puichhari, Pukuria, Sadhanpur, Saral, Sekherkhil, and Silkup. The union parishads are subdivided into 72 mauzas and 81 villages.[5]
Banshkhali Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 38 mahallas.[5]
Villages
1No. Pukuria Union villages: Pukuria, Chanpur, Chandpur, Hajigaon, Natmura, and South Borumchara.
Nurul Islam Chowdhury - Chairman and President of Bailchari Union Parishad, Member of Chittagong Jilla Parishad and Landlord, Bailchari, Banskhali.
Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury - Ex Member of Parliament of Banskhali and First Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation.
Freedom Fighter and Ex. Member of Parliament Mokhtar Ahmad -Shadhanpur
Zakirul Hoque Chowdhury -Union President and Chairman (1950–1973), Member Of Provincial Assembly (1962, 1965). Governor-Designate for Chittagong(south) district.
Abdul Karim - professor of history, vice chancellor of the University of Chittagong, Ekushey Padak awardee