District Overview

Gazipur, known historically as the Bhawal region, carries a rich legacy dating back over 2,500 years to the reign of Emperor Ashoka. During the Mughal period, it was called Dashkahania Baju. The district's name likely derives from local Gazis (Muslim warriors) who captured the area, or from a wrestler named Gazi during Tughlaq's era. The Bhawal zamindars established Joydebpur (named after Joydeb Narayan Roy Chowdhury), which remains the administrative center. Gazipur was separated from Dhaka district and officially became a district on March 1, 1984.

Gazipur holds a distinguished place in Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971—the first armed resistance occurred here. Notable mass killing sites and memorials include the pond at Joydebpur Rajbari, Sathkhamaier, Tongi Shahid Smriti School, and Gachha. The Jagrata Chourangi (Awakened Crossroads) was the country's first Liberation War sculpture.

Today, Gazipur is the industrial capital of Bangladesh, hosting the Dhaka-Tongi industrial belt, export processing zones, and major state-owned enterprises like the Machine Tools Factory, Ordnance Factory, and Diesel Plant. It is also a premier educational hub, home to the National University, Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), and agricultural research institutes (BRRI, BARI). The district is globally renowned for the Bishwa Ijtema, one of the world's largest Muslim congregations, held annually on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi.

Key attractions include the Bhawal Garh (fort), Joydebpur Rajbari (now the DC office), Meghnad Saha's birthplace, and memorials honoring distinguished sons like Tajuddin Ahmad (Bangladesh's first Prime Minister), scientist Meghnad Saha, and poet Gobindachandra Das.

Upazilas (6)