Nesarabad Upazila: History
Nesarabad, formerly known as Swarupkati, has a recorded administrative history dating back to the early 20th century. Nesarabad Thana was established in 1906 and was upgraded to an upazila in 1983. In 1985, the upazila was officially renamed from Swarupkati to Nesarabad.
The area contains several sites of archaeological and historical significance, including the Gayebi Mosque and 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, some dating back to the 18th century.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Nesarabad was the site of extensive atrocities. The Pakistan Army launched its first attack on the upazila on 11 May 1971. In May and June, with assistance from local collaborators (razakars), the army carried out widespread looting, arson, and killings in areas such as Miar Hat and Inder Hat, resulting in the deaths of around 100 people. On 10 November 1971, 18 civilians were tied and tortured to death at Barajkati Kachhari, and seven members of one family were killed earlier at Barajkati village under Sohagdal Union. Overall, approximately one thousand people were killed in the upazila during the war, with the most brutal massacre occurring at the Peara Bagan (guava garden) of Atghar Kuriana. After independence, about 300 human skulls were recovered from a ditch behind Kuriana College, indicating the scale of the killings. One mass grave and one mass killing site have been identified in the upazila, notably at Barchakati.
The region has also been affected by major natural disasters over time. The earthquake of 1762 significantly altered its geological formation by causing rivers to silt, while floods and cyclones between the late 18th and early 20th centuries caused extensive damage to settlements and livelihoods.