Barisal Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Barisal Town
Head-quarters of Backergunge District, Eastern Bengal and Assam, situated in 22° 42' N. and 90° 22' E., on the west bank of the Barisal river. Population (1901), 18^978, In the middle of the eighteenth century Barisal was an important salt chauki, or place where salt tax was paid. The head-quarters of the District, formerly at Backergunge, were transferred here in 1801. The Barisal river is navigable by steamers all the year round ; and daily steamers ply to Khulna and Narayanganj, establishing communication with Calcutta and Dacca respectively, the journey to the former occupying twenty-four hours and to the latter twelve hours. It has also steamer communica- tion with Patuakhali in the District and Ichakhali and Bhawaniganj in Noakhali. Barisal was constituted a municipality in 1876. The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 31,000, and the expenditure Rs. 29,000. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 47,000, of which Rs. 10,000 was derived from a tax on persons (or property tax), and Rs. 12,000 from a conservancy rate ; the income was also augmented by contributions of Rs. 4,000 for medical purposes and Rs. 10,000 for general purposes from Local funds and other sources. The expenditure in the same year was Rs. 35,000. The town has wide, straight, and well-kept streets, the river-side road to Sagardi being bordered by fine avenues ; and it is intersected by numerous creeks, which are flushed twice a day at flood tide, and add much to the healthiness of the town. There are numerous tanks, of which four, unconnected with the river, are reserved for drinking purposes ; a scheme to supply filtered water is under consideration.
In addition to the usual public offices and the jail, the town contains three churches belonging to the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Baptist denominations, and a public library founded in 1855. The District jail has accommodation for 580 prisoners, who are employed on oil-pressing, brick-pounding, brick-making, carpet and mat-making, weaving, and bamboo work. A first-grade college teaches up to the B.A. standard. A District school is controlled by a joint committee of the municipality and District board, and two girls' schools are maintained respectively by the Baptist Zanana Mission and by subscriptions ; a technical school is affiliated to the District school. There are five printing presses, and three vernacular newspapers are published in the town.
