Judiciary
Bagerhat

Bagerhat at a Glance:

Bagerhat district is located in the southwest of Bangladesh bordering the Bay of Bengal. Today's Bagerhat was a police station under Khulna subdivision in 1842, a subdivision under Jessore district in 1863 and elevated to a district on 23 February 1984. Bagerhat district has a total area of 5882.18 sq km (1,834.74 sq km including forest area).

Historical Background:

Who gave the name Bagerhat and when is subject to research but it is difficult to determine today. According to some, the area was infested with tigers due to the Sundarbans near Bagerhat, hence the name "Bagherhat" and gradually evolved into Bagerhat. On the other hand, the famous "Bagh" meaning garden of "Khalifat-e-Abad" founded by Hazrat Khan Jahan (RA) became so prosperous in this region that Bager Abad or "Bagherhat" became from it. But the most accepted view is that the long bend from Harikhali on the north side of the river Bhairav, which flows by the city, to the present Nag Bazar, used to have a haat in the old market area of that bend. And after this hut, this place is called Bakherhat. Over time Bankerhat changed to Bagerhat.

Although Bagerhat is not a very old land, the history of the prosperity of Bagerhat is contemporary and contemporaneous with many ancient towns of the subcontinent. During the dighi excavations of this region during the time of Hazrat Khanjahan (RA) especially the meditative Buddha statue found during the excavation of "Khanjeli Dighi" it is assumed that there was a forgotten town in Bagerhat long before the arrival of Hazrat Khanjahan (RA).

When Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1442-1459) was the ruler of Bengal, Hazrat Khanjahan (RA) planted the region and named it "Khalifat-e-Abad" or the region of representative. For the welfare of people, he built numerous mosques with six domes, ponds and built innumerable bazaars. Although the date of arrival of Hazrat Khanjahan (RA) is not known, this saintly man along with many pious followers reached Bagerhat by crossing the Bhairab River through Bar-Bazar of Jeshore district in the early fifteenth century. From the inscriptions engraved on his shrine, it is known that he died on 26 Zilhaj 863 Hijri (1459 AD).

Jashore was made a district in 1786 during the rule of Lord Cornwallis. In 1842, when Khulna was a subdivision of Jashore district, Bagerhat was a police station under Khulna. In 1849, two Englishmen named Morel established a port called Morelganj at Bagerhat. On November 26, 1861, a bloody conflict known as "Model-Rahimulsnah" took place, when Sahitya Samrat Bankimchandra was the Deputy Magistrate of Khulna. He investigated the conflict and recommended the establishment of a subdivision at Bagerhat for administrative purposes. As a result, in 1863, Bagerhat was included in Jashore district as a subdivision. Khulna district was formed in 1882 with Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat subdivisions. On 23 February 1984, Bagerhat Sub-Division was elevated to District.

Liberation War and Bagerhat

Bagerhat, the leader of the anti-British movement, also set a unique example of impenetrable bases in the Sundarbans region during the independence struggle of Bangladesh. During the liberation war in 1971, Bagerhat district was under Sector No. 9. On April 21, Pak forces killed around 200 people in Khalishakhali and Babuganj markets. 35 freedom fighters were martyred in the fight between freedom fighters and razakars in Morelganj and they killed more than a hundred people in Tandabanka canal of Sharankhola upazila. On May 3, Pak forces killed 42 people at Shakarikathi market of Badal Union of Kachua Upazila. On May 21, Rajakars killed many people in Rampal upazila and set fire to houses. On August 25, Pak army and Rajakars jointly captured 9 people in Mansa of Bahirdia Union of Fakirhat Upazila and on October 15, killed 70 innocent Bengalis from Bhasa Bazar of Moghia Union of Kachua Upazila near Vasarhat Pool of the village. Also, during the war of independence, 200 Pak soldiers, including a captain, were killed in a fight between the freedom fighters and the Pak army at a place called Chakulia (Charkulia) in Mollahat. On 23 February 1984, Bagerhat was elevated from a subdivision to a district. Bagerhat is an "A" category district consisting of 09 upazilas, 75 unions, 1047 villages and 03 municipalities. 

Bagerhat Judicial Division

It is known from history that the first Munsef Court was established here in 1872 and three Sub Judge Courts were established here. In 1984, Bagerhat was elevated as an independent district from Greater Khulna and District Judge Court was established at Bagerhat. Mr. Abdul Matin Chowdhury English took charge as the first District and Sessions Judge in 1984. Thereafter Mr. Mohammad Azizul Haque served as District and Sessions Judge. The next Third District and Sessions Judge Zabar Abdul Qadi died in office (30-03-91 AD). Currently, Mr. Moha Rabiul Islam is serving as the 19th District and Sessions Judge of Bagerhat District. Bagerhat district currently has a total of 28 courts of various levels. In addition to the District and Sessions Judge Courts, there are 2 more District Judges Courts (Women and Child Torture Suppression Tribunal), 3 additional District and Sessions Judges Courts, 2 Joint District and Sessions Judges Courts, There is 1 Land Survey Tribunal, 4 Senior Assistant Judge Courts, 5 Assistant Judge Courts. On the other hand, there are 3 Senior Judicial Magistrate Courts and 4 Judicial Magistrate Courts along with Chief Judicial Magistrate and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate courts. In the traditional Bagerhat Lawyers Association, there are currently around four hundred learned lawyers engaged in the legal profession.