Gangachara (Town) consists of two mouzas. It has an area of 9.86 sq km. The town has a population of 12600; male 52.02%, female 47.98%. The density of population is 1278 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 28.6%. Gangachara is noted for tobacco production.

AdministrationGangachara thana, now an upazila, was established in 1917. The upazila consists of 10 union parishads, 73 mouzas and 123 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relicsMandail Mosque at Barabeel, Hari Mandir at Chandanhat and Thakurdaha Mandir.

Marks of the War of LiberationA Memorial monument at Mahipur.

Population 192336; male 52.04%, female 47.96%; Muslim 86.53%, Hindu 13.43% and others 0.04%.

Religious institutionsMosque 305, temple 48.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 22.4%; male 29%, female 15.1%. Educational institution: college 5, high school 26, junior high school 5, madrasa 33, government primary school 84, non-government primary school 77, kindergarten 1, community school 5, music school 1 and satellite school 18.

Cultural organisationsClub 56, orphanage 4, cinema hall 2, theatre group 2.

Main occupationsAgriculture 43.94%, agricultural labourer 32.53%, wage labourer 6.11%, commerce 7.44%, service 3.28% and others 6.7%.

Land useTotal cultivable land 18823 hectares; single crop 37.34%, double crop 11.9% and treble crop 50.76%; land under irrigation 66.9%.

Land controlAmong the peasants 48% are landless, 28% small, 14% intermediate and 10% rich.

Value of landThe market value of the land of the first grade is Tk. 7500 per 0.01 hectare.

MaincropsPaddy, jute, wheat, potato, ginger and vegetables.

Extinct or nearly extinct cropsLinseed, sesame, sweet potato and kaun.

Main fruitsMango, jackfruit, black berry, papaya and banana.

Fisheries, dairies, poultriesPoultry 4, fishery 7.

Communication facilitiesRoads: pucca 25 km, semi pucca 5 km and mud road 295 km; waterways 14 nautical mile.

Traditional transport palanquin and bullock cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.

ManufactoriesTobacco crushing mill 7, rice mill 10, saw mill 6 and welding 7.

Cottage industriesBamboo work 35, weaving 20, goldsmith 3, blacksmith 27, potteries 37, wood work 17, tailoring 35 and bidi 11.

Hats, bazars and fairsTotal number of hats and bazars are 9, most noted of which are Gajaghanta, Mahipur, Gangachara, Maulvibazar, Betgari, Manthana, Bakshiganj, Khaprikhal and Chowdhury Hat; noted fair: Sharif Mela at Pakuria.

MainexportsTobacco, ginger and vegetables.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, grameen bank, Thengamara Mahila Sabuj Sangha.

Health centresUpazila health complex 1, family planning centre 10, satellite clinic 2. [Md. Abdus Sattar]