Background: Jessore is a district of southwestern Bangladesh. It is a part of Khulna Division. There is a controversy about the origin of the district name. The general belief is that the name of the district has been originated from the Bengali words Jasho and Har meaning loss of glory. According to another view the area was previously named as Jasor meaning bridge in Arabic because of its topography was completely intersected by deep water courses. The present name Jessore is the phonetic corruption of the word Jasor. It was firstly named as ‘Jessore’ during Raja Bikromaditto, the father of Protapoditto.
Geographic Area and Location: Jessore district is surrounded on the north by Jhinaidah district, on the east by Narail and Magura districts, on the south by Khulna and Satkhira districts and on the west by India. The total area of the district is 2606.94 sq. km.(1006.00 sq. miles) of which 23.39 sq. km(9.03 sq. km miles) is reverine .The district lies between 22º48' and 23º22' north latitudes and between 88º51' and 89º34' east longitudes.
Annual Average Temperature: Annual average temperature varies from maximum 37°C to minimum 11°C. Annual rain fall is 1537 mm.
Historical Events: Jessore was the first district of Bangladesh to become independent. It gained independence from Pakistan on 6 December 1971. Jessore district belongs to the ancient Samatat Janapada. During the partition of India in 1947, Jessore was also partially divided. The entire district, except for Boangaon and Gaighata thanas, was included into East Pakistan. The Bengali soldiers posted at Jessore cantonment mutinied against the Pakistan Army on 29 March 1971. They were led by Capt Hafiz Uddin and Lt Anwar in an uprising in which about 300 soldiers were killed. The rebels killed 50 Pakistani soldiers by machine gun fire at Chanchara.
Administration: Jessore district was established in 1781.It was reformed as present Jessore in 1984. The district consists of 8 upazilas, 92 unions, 1329 mauzas, 1419 villages.It has also 8 paurashavas, 72 wards and 173 paura mahallas. The upazilas are Abhoynagar, Bagherpara, Chowgacha, Jessore Sadar, Jhikargacha, Keshabpur, Monirampur and Sarsha.
Places to See: Sagardari, the birth place of Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Remnants of the Chanchara Rajbari, Kali Mandir, Dargaha of Ghazi Kalu, Rajbari, Dighee and Mandir at Siddirpasha, Remnants of the palace of king Mukut Roy (12th century), Residence of Nawab Mir Jumla (17th century), Imam Bari built by Haji Muhammad Muhsin at Murli, Dosh Mahabidya temple and Jora Shiv temple at Murali, Jessore Collectorate Building in Daratana etc. are famous visiting places of this district.
Famous Personalities of this District: The great poet and dramatist Michael Madhusudan Datta, the great philanthropist and eductionist Mahendra Lal Bose, the great actor Dhiraj Bhattacharya and the Indian novelist Manishankar Mukherjee are great personalities in this district.
Newspapers: There are many daily newspapers in this district like Daily Kollan, Daily purbi, Daily Telegram, Daily Jessore, Daily Loksamaj, Daily Gramer Kagoj, Daily Provat Feri, Daily Somager Kagoj, Daily Spandon, Daily Raner, Daily Somajer Kotha, Daily Sottopath and Weekly Gramer Kagaj.
Main Rivers: The Bhairab and Kapotakhho are noted rivers of Jessore district.
Population: The Total population for both male and female of this district is 27, 64,547, of which male is 13,86,293 and female is 13,78,254.
Archaeological Heritage and Relics: Remnants of the Chanchara Rajbari, Kali Mandir, Dargaha of Ghazi Kalu, Rajbari, Dighi and Mandir at Siddirpasha, Remnants of the palace of King Mukut Roy (12th century), and Residence of Nawab Mir Jumla (17th century), Imam Bari built by Haji Muhammad Muhsin at Murli are notable archaeological heritage and relics of this district.
Marks of the War of Liberation: 5 Memorial, 1 mass killing site, 1 memorial preservation centre are the testimony of war of liberation of this district.
Main Crops: Paddy, jute, sugarcane, tuberose, vegetables etc. are main crops of this district.
Main Fruits: Date, jackfruit, papaya, banana, litchi, coconut etc.are main fruits of this district.
Economic Situation: The economy of Jessore is predominantly agricultural. Out of the total 591 thousand holdings of the district, 63.38% holding are farms that produce varieties of crops, namely local and HYV paddy, wheat, jute, vegetables, spices, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane and others. Various fruits like mango, banana, Jackfruit guava, coconut and betel nut etc. are grown. Fish of different varieties abound in the district. Varieties of fishes caught from rivers, tributary, channels and creeks and even from paddy field during rainy seasons. Besides crops, livestock and fishery are other sources of household income.