Tongi

Tongi is a major township located in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh.

It serves as a vital part of the Greater Dhaka area. The town sits immediately north of the capital city, Dhaka. It is part of the Dhaka Division. Tongi is divided into two administrative areas called thanas. These are known as Tongi East Thana and Tongi West Thana.

The town is home to approximately 350,000 people.

The geography of Tongi is defined by its unique geological structure. The area is a southern extension of the Madhupur tract. This tract is a long, narrow area of tectonically elevated land. It is composed of older sediments. The land sits only a few meters above the surrounding Turag River. The tract is subdivided into the Bhawal Garh terrace. This is an inlier, which is an elevated area surrounded by lowlands. These lowlands are filled with very young riverine sediments. The ground layers consist of sandstone from the Dupi Tila Formation. This is overlain by Madhupur Clay and then by alluvium. The elevation ranges from 2 to 14 meters above mean sea level. This shallow bedrock provides a firm substrate for large structures.

Tongi has a deep history that stretches back centuries. During his reign as a Mughal subadar from 1660 to 1663, Mir Jumla II built a fort. This fort was meant to protect the northern entry of Dhaka. He also constructed a bridge over the Turag River.

Mir Jumla II built a road to connect Tongi with Bag-e-Badshahi. This road is now a part of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. This highway became an axis for urban growth in the 19th and 20th centuries. New settlements like Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Uttara grew along this highland axis. In 1786, the East India Company designated Tongi-Jamalpur as the northern boundary of Dhaka. John Taylor, the first English Commercial Resident of Dhaka, reaffirmed this in 1800.

Transportation is a central part of life in Tongi. The town sits on the banks of the Turag River.

Local commuters and traders use the river actively. Transport boats and cargo boats are also available here. The Narayanganj–Dhaka–Mymensingh State railway opened in 1885–86. Tongi serves as a break of gauge junction station. This is where the new cross-country line from the Jamuna Bridge joins the eastern section.

Additionally, the newly constructed Tongi Diversion Road is an important artery for travel to Dhaka.

The economy of Tongi is very active and industrial. The town features a BSCIC industrial area. This area produces BDT 1500 crore of industrial products every year. Many people work in Export Processing Zones. These are special areas where the government provides tax and tariff exemptions. These exemptions are designed to stimulate industry. Because of these jobs and the proximity to the capital, many residents commute to Dhaka by bus.

There are many important social and religious landmarks in the area. The annual Biswa Ijtema is a major event held beside the banks of the Turag River. The town also holds significant historical weight. The Tongi Shahid Smrity high school compound is a mass burial site. It marks the genocide from the Bangladesh Liberation War.

For medical needs, the area has several large facilities. The International Medical College & Hospital has 500 beds. The Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College & Hospital provides 375 beds. Many educational institutions also serve the population, such as Tongi Government College.

Tongi connects local industry to the wider national economy. Its position as a gateway to Dhaka makes it a hub for movement. The combination of firm geological ground and major transport links allows for heavy industry and large buildings. It remains a critical point where the urban growth of Dhaka meets the industrial landscape of Gazipur.