Noakhali District: History
Noakhali is situated on relatively young alluvial deposits, therefore its human history dates from a more recent time than other parts of Bengal. It was in ancient days under the rule of Samatata, Pundra and Harikela Kingdom of ancient Bengal. In the early mediaeval period, the region was under the reign of Khadga, Chandra, Sena and Deva dynasty. The Bhulua Kingdom was founded in the 13th century, and ruled over the region until the 16th century. After the invasion of Muslims in eastern Bengal, Bhulua became a vassal of the Bengal Sultanate, and was continually on the border between the Tripura and Arakan. During this time, many Muslim pirs arrived in the region and the Bhulua kings employed Muslims in many administrative posts. After the collapse of the Sultanate, Bhulua was aligned with the Baro-Bhuyan rulers. During their suppression of the Baro Bhuiyan insurgency, the Mughals under Sarhad Khan conquered Bhulua, bringing it under Mughal Empire. It became part of the Sarkar of Sonargaon. They successfully defended it against Magh raids, and ruled it until 1762 when the East India Company took control of Bengal.
The Noakhali District was established in 1868 as a renaming of the Bhulua district, which the British founded on 29 March 1822. It had witnessed Noakhali riots in October-November of 1946 where around 200 people were killed. It headquarters was in the town of Noakhali until the town vanished in the river-bed in 1951, as a result of the Meghna River erosion. A new headquarters for the Noakhali District was then established at Maijdee.
In 1964 under the Government of East Pakistan, the Sadar subdivision was divided into two sub-divisions; Noakhali Sadar and Lakshmipur though the Feni subdivision remained how it was. In 1984, the District of Noakhali was further divided into three districts for administrative convenience; Noakhali District, Lakshmipur and Feni.