Nesarabad Upazila

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Nesarabad Upazila, formerly known as Swarupkati, is in Pirojpur District of Barisal Division, Bangladesh. It covers about 200.33 square kilometers. As of 2022, around 231,000 people live there in roughly 56,317 households. The upazila is famous for its guava gardens, a floating market, and the winding backwaters that attract visitors.

History and administration
Nesarabad’s administrative history goes back to the early 20th century. Nesarabad Thana was established in 1906 and was upgraded to an upazila in 1983. In 1985, the area was officially renamed from Swarupkati to Nesarabad, named after Nesaruddin Ahmad, founder of Sarsina Darbar Sharif.

Heritage and sites
The area is home to several historical and archaeological sites, including the Gayebi Mosque, a three-domed mosque at Barchakatigram, the Sarkar Bari Pancharatna Math at Alangkarkati, the Chakrabarti Bari Mandir at Atghar Kuriana, and remnants of Rajbari structures at Kaurikhara and Ragbari.

War of independence
During the 1971 Liberation War, Nesarabad experienced severe violence. The Pakistan Army attacked in May 1971, with widespread looting, arson, and killings in areas such as Miar Hat and Inder Hat. Around a thousand people were killed in the upazila, with a mass grave and other killings discovered after the war.

Natural and economic landscape
The region has faced major natural events, including the 1762 earthquake that changed river patterns, along with floods and cyclones over the centuries. The economy is mainly agricultural. Key crops include paddy, jute, sugarcane, wheat, pulses, onions, garlic, and various vegetables. Fruit cultivation is also important, especially guava, banana, coconut, hog-plum, lemon, and litchi. Commerce and small cottage industries—such as coconut fiber processing, welding, blacksmithing, bamboo work, and bidi making—support many households. Land ownership is uneven: about 60% of residents own land, while around 40% are landless. All unions have some access to electricity, but only a portion of households are connected.

Administrative divisions and demographics
Nesarabad Upazila comprises Swarupkati Municipality and ten union parishads: Atghar Kuriana, Baldia, Daihari, Guarekha, Jalabari, Nesarabad, Sarengkathi, Sohagdal, Somudoykathi, and Sutiakathi. These unions are subdivided into 80 mauzas and 134 villages; the municipality is divided into 9 wards and 9 mahallas.

Population and society
The 2022 census recorded 56,317 households and a population of 230,976. About 11.9% lived in urban areas. The literacy rate is high, at about 88.2% for people aged 7 and older (male 89.1%, female 87.3%). The sex ratio is roughly 1,033 females for every 1,000 males. The area is predominantly Muslim, with a Hindu minority.