The Rakhain tribe of Bangladesh first settled in this upazila.

A section of the people belonging to the

Buddhist Rakhain tribe of Arakan came to this upazila in quest of better living and first settled at
Khepupara and Kuakata. Tradition goes that the Rakhains on excavating wells traced fresh water in
the area and thereby settled there. The Rakhain 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 Rakhanis. The upazila though named as Kalapara, the upazila sadar is
known as Khepupara. It is said that two influential Rakhain 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.

Geography[edit]
Kalapara is located at 21.9861°N 90.2422°E . It has 31324 households and total area 483.08 km2.
The major rivers are the Andharmanik, Nilganj, and Dhankhali.[1]

Demographics[edit]
As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Kalapara has a population of 174921. Males constitute 50.89%
of the population, and females 49.11%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 82394. Kalapara
has an average literacy rate of 34.9% (7+ years), and the national average of 32.4% literate.[2]

Administration[edit]
Kalapara thana was established in 1921 and was turned into an upazila in 1983.[1] It consists of 9
union parishads, 57 mouzas and 247 villages. Kalapara town consists of 9 wards and 24 mahallas.
The area of the town is 19.49 km2. It has a population of 16330; male 55.18%, female 44.82%. The
density of population is 838 per km2. The literacy rate among the town people is 39.37%. The town
has one bungalow.

 Member of Parliament: Mahbubur Rahman Talukder

 Chairman: Md Motaleb Howlader
 Woman Vice Chairman: Bilkich Jahan
 Vice Chairman: Mostafa
 Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO): Dider-e-Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury[3]
Unions:

1. Chakamoya Union (চাকামইযা ইউনিযি)

2. Tiyakhali Union (টিযাখালী ইউনিযি)
3. Lalua Union (লালুযা ইউনিযি)
4. Dhankhali Union (ধািখালী ইউনিযি)
5. Mihagonj Union (নমঠাগঞ্জ ইউনিযি)
6. Nilgonj Union (িীলগঞ্জ ইউনিযি)
7. Dhulasar Union (ধুলাসার ইউনিযি)
8. Latachapli Union (লতাচাপলী ইউনিযি)
9. Mohipur Union (মনিপুর ইউনিযি)
10. Dalbugonj Union (ডালবুগঞ্জ ইউনিযি)
11. Baliatali Union (বানলযাতলী ইউনিযি)
 12. Champapur Union (চম্পাপুর ইউনিযি)

Points of interest[edit]
Kuakata Buddhist Vihara, Kapradanga Buddhist Math (dilapidated), Mistripara Buddhist Vihara
(dilapidated).

 Kuakata, a sea beach offering decent views of the Bay of Bengal.

 Earthen Fort of Kachimkhali Village in Chakamaya Union.
 Earthen Fort of Newapara Village in Chakamaya Union.
 Mohipur (Fishing Boat).
 Buddhist monastery of Mishripara at Kuataka.
 Gangamatir Char
 Kaurar Char

Religious institutions[edit]
Mosque 275, temple 41, pagoda 4, Buddhist Vihara 8, church 2, mazar 1. Notable institutions:
Kalapara Jami Masjid, Kuakata Buddhist Vihara, mazar of pir Bashiruddin at Kalapara.

See also[edit]
 Upazilas of Bangladesh
 Districts of Bangladesh
 Divisions of Bangladesh