Kalapara Upazila: History
The Rakhine tribe of Bangladesh first settled in this upazila. A section of the people belonging to the Buddhist Rakhine tribe of Arakan came to this upazila in quest of better living and first settled at Khepupara and Kuakata. Tradition goes that the Rakhines on excavating wells traced fresh water in the area and thereby settled there. The Rakhine word 'kansai' means 'beach of fate'. The place was named as Kansai after this. The place was subsequently renamed as Kuakata (digging of well) after the wells dug out by the Rakhines. The upazila though named as Kalapara, the upazila sadar is known as Khepupara. It is said that two influential Rakhine chiefs used to reside on either side of a canal running northsouth through the upazila, Kalau Magh on the eastern bank and Khepu Magh on the western side. The habitation on eastern bank of the canal was named as Kalapara after the name of Kalau Magh and that on the western bank as Khepupara after Khepu Magh.