Belabo Upazila: History
Belabo is the site of the ancient Wari-Bateshwar civilisation in Amlab Union, discovered by Hanif Pathan and his son, Habibullah Pathan, in their village in 1933. The artefacts in this fort city suggest that it dates as far back as 2000 BC. The ancient people of Belabo had brick houses, walked on wide roads, and used silver coins and iron weaponry, among many other things. The city also has Asam Rajar Garh (King Asam's Fort). Wari-Bateshwar is thought to be the oldest city in Bengal and the eastern part of the subcontinent.
Belabo later came under the geopolitical division of Samatata before passing on the Khadga dynasty from the 7th century to the 8th century. Following the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303, a 40-year-old Iranian nobleman and preacher migrated to Habashpur in present-day Patuli Union. He is known by locals as Shah Irani, and is credited for ending the oppression of local chief Raja Bijaya Mishra and the kingdom of Asam Raja and for introducing Islam in this area. Irani also helped to cure the sick daughter of the chief of Rampur, Ram Narayan. Celebrating the joyous moment, Narayan dug a large reservoir (Maharanir Dighi), embraced Islam, and gave his daughter's hand in marriage to Irani, though they did not end up having any children. Irani died in the 1350s and was buried in a mazar (mausoleum), where his wife also lies. The mausoleum is an example of Sultanate architecture, and Bengal Sultanate coins have also been discovered in the Wari-Bateshwar ruins.
In the 18th century, Mahbub Ali Bepari of Birbaghab village established the seven-domed Belabo Bazar Central Mosque. The mosque was later renovated and expanded by educationist and Thermax Group chairman Alhaj Abdul Qadir Mullah. The Poradia Muslim High School was founded in 1930.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, a battle took place on 14 July in Belabo Sadar, leading to the death of 5 Bengali freedom fighters, including Commander Abul Bashar. Mass killings took place in Kaliakandi in Sallabad Union, with many houses being set on fire.
A grant during the reign of Raja Bhojavarman was discovered in Belabo in the early 20th century. In 1979, the Maharanir Dighi (Maharani's reservoir) was re-excavated, and an eight-cubit big turtle was found among other things. The turtle migrated to a canal in the west of the Shah Irani Waqf estate.
In 1982, 6 unions of Monohardi Thana and 2 unions of Raipura Thana (Narayanpur and Sallabad) were taken to form a new upazila as part of the President of Bangladesh H M Ershad's decentralisation programme. The upazila was named after and headquartered in Belabo, which was previously under Monohardi.