Borhanuddin Upazila: History
In the eighteenth century, Agha Baqer Khan held numerous jagirs across South Bengal including the area now known as Borhanuddin. During his time, he gifted two rent-free islands in the east and west of present-day Borhanuddin to an Arab family which had arrived in the region. The chief of the family was an Islamic preacher who became renowned among the locals by the name Syed Auliya. The Sufi heritage of Borhanuddin can be recognised through the mazars of many faqirs there such as that of Rahman Faqir in Gunaighar, Kawthar Dawlat Shah Faqir in Mashakira and Muin ad-Din Faqir in Ponra.
Khairullah Hawladar was a Muslim zamindar based in Kalaiya, Patuakhali. His son and successor, Borhanuddin Chowdhury Hawladar, purchased the Kaliganj area of Krishnadevpur Pargana from Kaliprasanna Bhattacharjee, a zamindar of Faridpur. The area was first named Kaliganj by the British administration, and was unified on 15 January 1872. As Kaliganj came under the control of the Hawladars, it started to become known as Borhanuddin Hawladar's Haat. Thus at that time, Borhanuddin Haat was under the Hawladars and Baramganj (later Borhanganj) was under the control of the Hindu Bhattacharyas. Borhanuddin was first established as a replacement thana (police station headquarters) in 1876, due to a flood which heavily damaged the former thana in nearby Borhanganj. It was officially established as a thana in 1928. Around 1939, the closing of the pond ghatla designated for Borhanuddin Jame Masjid caused adverse reactions among the local Muslims. After a few lawsuits, a conflict emerged. A total area of 55 feet on both sides of the road from Onek Tiktokar Poler Para to the present Thana was settled in the name of Borhanuddin Howladar and given the present name (Borhanuddin).
During the Bangladesh War of 1971, the Borhanuddin Thana Sangram Parishad was founded on 9 March with Reza-e-Karim Chowdhury Chunnu Miah as president, Bashiruddin Miah as vice-president, Muhammad Sirajul Islam as general secretary, Doctor Sayyid Ahmad as treasurer, Anwar Husayn Bhuiyan as publicity officer and Fakhrul Alam Chowdhury and Sirajul Islam Chandu Master as members. Its student wing, the All-Parties Student Sangram Committee, was led by Muhammad Zulfiqar Ali, Tazimuddin Nurnabi, Moslem Hawladar, Jahangir Mahbub, Shahid Rab and Abu. All of the forces of Bhola were based in Borhanuddin such as the force of Abul Kashem of Char Fasson in Borhanuddin High School and Havildar Majibur Rahman's force in Borhanuddin Primary School. The India-trained faction had possession of modern weaponry. High Command Subedar Siddiqur Rahman led the home Borhanuddin force, battling the army in the villages of Sachra and Deula. Mawlana Maqsufur Rahman played an important role in the Deula victory. Other notable members of the home force of Borhanuddin were Akbar Ali, Shamsul Haq, Ibrahim Miah, Muhammad Siddiq, Nayek Asmat Ali and Lance-Nayek Ziaul Haq. On the morning of 18 October, Siddiqur Rahman and one hundred Bengali fighters besieged the thana. The OC (Officer in Charge) of Borhanuddin Thana flew a white flag, signalling a surrender. Motahar Uddin, Reza-e-Karim Chowdhury MPA and CO Azizul Islam made the officers at the thana surrender. The fighters collected seventy rifles and ammunition. On 22 October, houses in the villages of Tetulia, Betua and Deula were set on fire by the army. …