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Jessore

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Jashore is a major city located in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. It serves as a primary urban center within the Jessore District. The city is part of the larger Khulna Division. It covers a total land area of 21.15 square kilometers.

Jessore Paurashava mahallah geocode map - Small Area Atlas Jessore
Jessore Paurashava mahallah geocode map - Small Area Atlas Jessore

The city is organized into 9 wards and 73 mahalls. These mahalls are smaller local areas within the municipality. As a large urban hub, it is the 22nd largest city in the country.

The name of the city has a complex and shifting history. Originally, the present-day city was known as Kasba. The name Jashore was taken from a surrounding pargana and zamindari estate. This estate was called Jashore or Jesar. As Kasba became the capital, the name of the estate was applied to the town. The name Jashore was also applied to two previous capitals. These former capitals are now known as Ishwaripur and Murali. Therefore, early mentions of Jashore do not refer to the modern town.

Etymology, or the study of word origins, offers a unique view of the name. Some traditions suggest Jashore comes from the Sanskrit word Yaśohara. This term translates to "glory-depriving." One writer, J. Westland, suggested a different meaning for this phrase. He thought it meant the city was so glorious that other cities seemed humble. This idea of overwhelming beauty is seen in other local inscriptions. For example, an inscription at Kanhaynagar uses a similar phrase. It describes a place as "depriving of beauty that which is beautiful."

The history of the region involves many powerful rulers and shifts in power. The Ain-i Akbari lists a pargana called Jesar within the sarkar Khalifatabad. This Jesar is identified as today's Ishwaripur. Over time, the zamindars of Jesar moved their capital several times. They first shifted to Murali and later to nearby Kasba. By approximately 1660, the name Jessore had transferred to each location. This timeline is supported by a map of Bengal made by Mattheus van den Broucke. This map shows "Jessoor" in the same location as the modern city.

Pratapaditya was a significant historical figure in this region. He was the only Hindu ruler among the 12 Bhuiyas of Bengal. He is famous for fighting against Mughal intrusion in East Bengal. However, Mughal forces eventually defeated him. His territories were then annexed into the Mughal Empire. In more recent history, the area played a vital role in the Liberation War. Jashore was the first district to be freed and taken back by Bengali rule. This occurred on 8 December 1971.

Jashore is a significant center for education and demographics. According to the 2022 census, the population is 209,352 people. This population lives in 53,733 households. The city has a very high literacy rate of 87.31 percent. This is much higher than the national average of 51.8 percent. Specifically, the male literacy rate is 89.07 percent. The female literacy rate is 85.50 percent. The city hosts many important schools. These include Jashore University of Science and Technology and Jessore Medical College. Other institutions include Army Medical College and BAF Shaheen College Jashore.

Transportation is a major feature of the city's identity. Jashore acts as a transport hub for the district and southern Bangladesh. It is connected to several places by national highways. Highway N7 connects the city to Jhenaidah in the north. Highway N806 runs east to Narail. Highway N7 also continues southeast toward the divisional headquarters in Khulna. To the west, highway N706 runs to Benapole on the Indian border. The city also features the Jessore Junction railway station. This station sits on the main line between Darshana and Khulna. In July 2023, the station served between 8 and 12 intercity trains every day.

Air travel is another essential component of the city's infrastructure. Jashore Airport is located in the western part of the city. It is a domestic airport that maintains scheduled flights to Dhaka. In December 2022, the airport served more than 19,000 passengers. The city also has a strong connection to the military. The Bangladeshi Air Force established its first flight training school here in 1971. This makes the city an important location for aviation training in the country.

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