Manikganj District: History
Manikganj subdivision was established in 1845. It was transferred from Faridpur District to Dhaka District in 1853. In 1984, Manikganj subdivision was promoted to a full district.
The liberation war in 1971 in Manikganj District was organized and led by Abdul Halim Chowdhury, Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Principal Abdur Rouf Khan, and other leaders.
On 29 October 1971, at the northwest corner of Golaidanga village, the Baldhara union (a group of freedom fighters) in Singair Upazila attacked boats carrying Pakistani troops, which was followed by a battle taking place on the Nuruni Ganga (canal of Kaliganga river). 81 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and many others were injured. The operation was led by Tobarak Hossain Ludu, commander of the Mukti Bahini Lodu group. There were no casualties inflicted upon the Mukti Bahini.
After this short-duration battle, the Mukti Bahini left the battlefield, while the Pakistani ranks were reinforced with more soldiers. They burnt 160 houses surrounding the area of Golaidanga village, and killed 9 local people, who were primarily elderly and staying at home. Some of the local youth assisted the freedom fighters in that ambush.
After the Golaidanga fight, Singair Upazila became free from Pakistani occupation on 13 November 1971. In the last week of November 1971, fresh groups of freedom fighters entered different areas of Manikganj and defeated Pakistani troops in a number of battles.
On 14 December 1971, a group of Pakistan soldiers moving towards Dhaka entered Barundi village in Manikganj Sadar Upazila. Meanwhile, a group of liberation forces (Mujib Bahini) under the leadership of Shahadat Hossain Biswas Badal was preparing to attack them within the place. Understanding this, the Pakistani soldiers immediately left the village, leaving 2 soldiers behind. One of them was arrested by the liberation forces at night on 14 December 1971. The other soldier was arrested by the same group after a small fight the next day. The sub-division was declared free on 13 December.
On 26 April 1989, Manikganj was the site of the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado, which became the deadliest tornado in recorded history. 1,300 people were initially reported as having been killed, with 12,000 injured. The towns of Saturia and Manikganj were leveled, and about 80,000 people were made homeless.