Banshkhali Upazila: History
Banshkhali's recorded history traces back to the 16th century when it was part of Chakaria under the rule of Khodabakhsh Khan during the Sultanate of Bengal. Following the decline of the Bengal Sultanate, the region came under the control of the Arakanese kingdom (Rakhine), which exerted authority over coastal Chittagong for several decades.
In 1666, the Mughal subahdar Shaista Khan launched a successful military campaign to drive out the Arakanese, bringing Banshkhali and the rest of southeastern Bengal under Mughal control. The area remained under Mughal influence until the advent of British colonial rule, during which Banshkhali was incorporated into the Chittagong district and designated as one of nine revenue chaklas in 1772.
The British period saw administrative restructuring, but the region remained largely agrarian. In 1958, during the Pakistan era, Banshkhali was established as a Thana, and after Bangladesh's independence in 1971, it was upgraded to an Upazila in 1983.
In more recent times, Banshkhali has experienced political and social unrest, including the 2016 protests over land acquisition for a coal-fired power plant that led to deadly clashes, as well as the Banshkhali carnage.