The divisions of Bangladesh are further divided into districts or zilas (Bengali: জেলা).[1] The headquarters of a district is called the district seat (Bengali: জেলা সদর, romanized: zila sadar). There are 64 districts in Bangladesh. The districts are further subdivided into 495 subdistricts or upazilas.[2]
Before independence, Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) had 19 districts.
English spelling change
In April 2018, the government changed the English spelling of five districts to avoid inconsistencies in the Bengali and English spellings and to make them consistent with the Bengali pronunciation. The spellings have been changed from Bogra to Bogura, Barisal to Barishal, Jessore to Jashore, Chittagong to Chattogram and Comilla to Cumilla.[3]
Administration
Deputy commissioner
A Deputy Commissioner (DC), popularly abbreviated to 'DC,' serves as the executive head of the district. Individuals appointed to the role are selected by the government from the Deputy Secretary BCS Administration Cadre.
A district council (or zila parishad) is a local government body at the district level.[4] The Bengali word parishad means council and zila parishad translates to district council.
The functions of a district council include the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. They are also responsible for building hospitals, dispensaries, schools, and other educational institutions. In addition, district councils oversee health facilities and sanitation projects, as well as the installation of tube wells for drinking water. They also manage rest houses and coordinate activities among the Union Parishads within the district.
^ abHarun, Jasim (2012). "Chittagong District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^খান, শামসুজ্জামান (2014). আব্দুল জলিল, মুহম্মদ (ed.). বাংলাদেশ লোকজ সংস্কৃতি গ্রন্থমালা : রংপুর. বাংলা একাডেমি.
^ abHossain, Ashfaq (2012). "Sylhet District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Mahbubar Rahman, Md. (2012). "Rajshahi District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Siddiqi, Mahibbullah (2012). "Jessore District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
^ abHossain, Ashfaq (2012). "Dinajpur District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^ abcএক নজরে জেলা [District at a Glance]. Mymensingh District (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
^Siddiqi, Mamun (2012). "Comilla District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Saiful Islam, KAM (2012). "Barisal District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Reza, Masud (2012). "Faridpur District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Lipi, Jahanara (2012). "Noakhali District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Nazmul Haq, Md (2012). "Bogra District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Shariful Alam, Md (2012). "Pabna District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Mallik, Sandipak (2012). "Khulna District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^Jerin, Iffat (2012). "Patuakhali District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^"Feni District". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
^Siddiqi, Mahibbullah (2012). "Cox's_Bazar District". In Sirajul Islam; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.