Sylhet Division

Sylhet is in the northeast of Bangladesh.

It sits near many hills. The land has many green tea gardens.

Many people work in these gardens. They pick tea leaves. This helps the area grow.

There are also big lakes called haors. One is called Hakaluki Haor.

It is a very beautiful place to see.

Sylhet Division is in the northeast of Bangladesh.

It sits near the borders of India. The land is very green and pretty. Many hills sit near the area. These small hills are called tillas.

The region is famous for tea. There are over 150 tea gardens here. Many people work in these gardens. Most of the workers are women. They pick the tea leaves.

Sylhet has many large lakes. These lakes are called haors. The biggest one is Hakaluki Haor.

The weather is often hot and wet. It rains a lot from April to October. This is the rainy season. Heavy storms can happen almost every day.

Animals live in the forests too. You might find Asian elephants there. Some parts of the land have tropical forests. People like to visit the many parks and waterfalls. It is a very special place in Bangladesh.

Sylhet Division is a beautiful region in the northeast of Bangladesh.

It sits near the borders of India. To the north, east, and south, it touches the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura. Inside Bangladesh, it is next to the Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Chattogram divisions. The area is famous for its green hills and many water features. Many people visit to see the pretty landscapes.

The land has a very special shape. Most of the area is a flat plain. However, it is surrounded by small hills called tillas. In the south, eight different hill ranges stretch across the land. One of the highest points is a peak called Kala pahar.

The ground also has large, low areas called haors. These are big, saucer-shaped lakes. The largest one is called Hakaluki Haor.

Some of these lakes were made by an earthquake long ago.

History has changed this region many times. In 1874, the area was part of the Assam Province. Later, it joined the Surma Valley Division. During the partition of India in 1947, people voted on where the land should belong. A vote was held to choose between India and East Pakistan. Sylhet joined Pakistan by a narrow margin. Later, in 1971, it became part of the new nation of Bangladesh. In 1995, it became its own official division.

Tea is a very important part of life here. The Surma Valley has many terraces covered in tea gardens. There are over 150 tea gardens in this region. Srimangal is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh.

Many people work on these large estates. More than 75% of the workers are women. They are often chosen because they do a great job picking leaves. Some of these tea gardens, like Malnicherra, are very old. Malnicherra was started way back in 1854.

Sylhet is a place of many connections. It has a "friendship link" with the city of St Albans in the United Kingdom. This link started in 1988 to help with housing. Many people from Sylhet also live in other UK cities like London and Oldham. The region is also a spiritual place for many. It is the resting place of the saint Shah Jalal. People also visit the many national parks and waterfalls.

The Sylhet Division is a major administrative region in northeastern Bangladesh.

It covers a vast area of approximately 9,225 square kilometers. The division shares international borders with three Indian states. To the north lies Meghalaya. To the east is Assam. To the south is Tripura. Domestically, it borders the Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions to the west. It also touches the Chattogram division to the southwest. The region is known for its unique landscapes and spiritual importance.

The geography of Sylhet is quite complex and diverse. Most of the region consists of a vast, low-lying floodplain. This plain contains many saucer-shaped depressions called haors. These haors are large, wetland ecosystems. Some of the most famous ones include Hakaluki, Kawadighi, Tanguar, and Hail.

The largest is Hakaluki Haor. The landscape is also defined by hillocks known locally as tillas. In the south, eight distinct hill ranges enter the plains. These include the Raghunandan and the Hararganj-Singla ranges. The highest peak in the entire division is Kala pahar.

Geological history has shaped the physical features of this land. Scientists believe the area was once under the ocean. This is suggested by limestone deposits found in different parts of the division. Tectonic subsidence, or the sinking of the earth's crust, likely created the beels. These are large depressions that function like oxbow lakes. The region is also located in an earthquake-prone zone. In the last 150 years, three major earthquakes have hit the city. These had a magnitude of at least 7.5 on the Richter Scale. The most recent of these occurred in 1918.

The history of Sylhet involves many shifts in political control. In 1874, the area was part of the Assam Province. It was separated from mainland Bengal to help Assam's commercial development. Later, in 1905, it rejoined Bengal as part of the Surma Valley Division. In 1912, it was moved back to the Assam Province. A major change occurred during the Partition of India in 1947. A plebiscite, which is a direct vote by the people, was held. The people chose between staying with India or joining East Pakistan. Sylhet joined Pakistan by a very narrow margin. Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it became part of the new nation.

Sylhet is a vital center for the tea industry in Bangladesh. The Surma Valley is famous for its many tea gardens. There are over 150 tea gardens in this region. This includes three of the largest tea plantations in the world. Srimangal is recognized as the tea capital of the country.

The Malnicherra Tea Estate is particularly notable. It was established in 1854 and is the oldest in South Asia. Nearly 300,000 people work on these tea estates. More than 75% of these workers are women. They are often hired because they are skilled at plucking tea leaves.

The division is also a significant spiritual and cultural hub. It is often called the spiritual capital of Bangladesh. This is because it is the resting place of the Sufi saint Shah Jalal. He spread Islam throughout the region along with his disciples. The Sylhet Shahi Eidgah is another important site. It was built by Farhad Khan during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Today, the region attracts many tourists to its natural landmarks. Visitors go to see the Madhabkunda waterfall and the Ratargul Swamp Forest. They also visit national parks like Lawachara and Satchari.

Sylhet maintains strong international connections, especially with the United Kingdom. A "friendship link" exists between Sylhet and the city of St Albans. This was established in 1988 to support a housing project. This link exists because many people in St Albans have roots in Sylhet. In fact, about 95% of ethnic British Bangladeshis originate from this region. This connection extends to other UK cities like London, Oldham, and Rochdale. Within Bangladesh, the division is organized into four districts. These are Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, and Sylhet. The division is managed by a Divisional Commissioner.