View source for Cox's Bazar District

{{Short description|District of Bangladesh}}
{{Other uses|Cox's Bazar (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2009}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name               = Cox's Bazar District 
| native_name        = কক্সবাজার জেলা
| native_name_lang   = bn
| official_name      = 
| type               = [[Districts of Bangladesh|District of Bangladesh]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a = Cox's bazar marine drive-6.JPG 
|photo1b = 
|photo2a = View of cox's bazar city.jpg 
|photo2b = Coxs Bazar Rail Station (cropped).jpg
|photo3a = Cox's Bazar Airport Shevelev-1.jpg
|photo3b= Cox's Bazar–Tekhnaf Marine Drive (7).jpg 
|photo4a= Pink sky at sea beach.jpg
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Clockwise from top-left: Cox’s Bazar sea beach, Railway station, Marine drive road, [[Teknaf Beach]], Cox’s Bazar Airport and Hotel-Motel zone
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_shield       = 
| nickname           = 
| nicknames          = 
| motto              = 
| mottoes            = 
| image_map          = BD Cox's Bazar District locator map.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Cox's Bazar District within Bangladesh
| image_map1         = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|type=shape-inverse|id=|frame-width=260|frame-height=360|stroke-width=1|zoom=8|frame-align=center|frame-lat=21.1|frame-long=91.8|title=Cox's Bazar District}}
| map_caption1       = Expandable map of Cox's Bazar District
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh
| coordinates        = {{coord|21.25|92.10|region:BD_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Divisions of Bangladesh|Division]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Chittagong Division]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 2491.85
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2022census-prelim">{{Cite book |title=Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vhn2t_PbEzo5-NDGBeoFJq4XCoSzOVKg/view |date=August 2022 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |pages=viii, 29, 38, 45 |isbn=978-984-35-2977-0}}</ref>
| population_total   = 2823268
| population_as_of   = [[2022 Bangladeshi census|2022]]
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_demonyms = 
| population_note    = 
| timezone1          = [[Bangladesh Standard Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1        = +06:00
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Bangladesh|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 4700
| website            = {{URL|www.coxsbazar.gov.bd/}}
| footnotes          = 
| area_code          = 0341
| iso_code           = BD-11
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec1    = 0.574<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=|language=en|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref><br />{{color|#fc0|medium}} · [[List of regions of Bangladesh by Human Development Index|19th of 20]]
| blank_name_sec2    = 
| blank_info_sec2    = 
}}

'''Cox's Bazar District''' ({{langx|bn|কক্সবাজার জেলা }}) is a district in the [[Chittagong Division]] of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=Banglapedia>{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Cox's Bazar District}}</ref>
It is named after [[Cox's Bazar]] town. It is located {{convert|150|km}} south of [[Chittagong]]. Cox's Bazar is also known by the names ''Panowa'' ("yellow flower") and ''Palongkee''.  The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain [[Hiram Cox]] (died 1799), an army officer who served in [[British raj|British India]]. It is one of the fishing ports of Bangladesh, and contains one of the world's longest natural sea beaches ({{convert|120|km}} long including [[mud flats]]).

In 1984 during the [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad|Ershad regime]], Cox's Bazar district was established by dividing [[Chittagong District]]. Today, Cox's Bazar is a major tourist destination within Bangladesh.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

==Geography==
Cox's Bazar District has an area of {{convert|2491.86|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is bounded by [[Chittagong District]] on the north, [[Bay of Bengal]] in the south, [[Bandarban District]] on the east, and the [[Bay of Bengal]] on the west. Major rivers include [[Matamuhuri]], Bakkhali, [[Reju Khal]], [[Naf River]], [[Maheshkhali channel]] and [[Kutubdia channel]]. The area of the city of Cox's Bazar is {{convert|6.85|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

==History==
The known history of Cox's Bazar begins in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] period. On his way to [[Rakhine State|Arakan]], when the Mughal Prince [[Shah Shuja (Mughal)|Shah Shuja]] (1616–1660) passed through the hilly terrain of the present day Cox's Bazar, he was attracted to the scenic nature of the region. He commanded his forces to camp there. A place named ''[[Dulahazara]]'', meaning "one thousand palanquins", still exists in the area.

Cox's Bazar is named after [[Hiram Cox|Captain Hiram Cox]], an officer of the East India Company, who was assigned with the charges of the current day Cox's Bazar and its adjacent areas.<ref>{{cite journal |author=G. P. Ramachandra |date=September 1981 |title=Captain Hiram Cox's Mission to Burma, 1796-1798: A Case of Irrational Behaviour in Diplomacy |journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=433–451 |jstor=20070440 |doi=10.1017/s0022463400009966|s2cid=162684044 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4j6Euu_0YcAC&q=captain+hiram+cox&pg=PA512 |title=Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, Volume 8 |date= 1842-08-07|access-date=2013-09-07|last1=Jerdan |first1=William |last2=Workman |first2=William Ring |last3=Arnold |first3=Frederick |last4=Morley |first4=John |last5=Goodwin |first5=Charles Wycliffe }}</ref> The town of Cox's Bazar was established in 1799 as a market town to honour Captain Cox. In 1854, Cox's Bazar was made a Sub Divisional headquarter in [[Chittagong District|Chittagong district]] under the Bengal Presidency of [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]].

After the end of British rule in 1947, Cox's Bazar remained a part of [[East Pakistan]] under [[Pakistan]] till 1971. [[Captain Advocate Fazlul Karim]] was the first chairman after independence from the British of Cox's Bazar municipality. He established the [[Tamarisk]] Forest along the beach to draw tourism to the town and to protect the beach from the tide. He donated many of his father-in-law's and his own lands to establish a public library and town hall. In 1971, the wharf was used as a naval port by the [[Pakistan Navy]]'s gunboats. This and the nearby airstrip of the [[Pakistan Air Force]] were the scene of intense shelling by the [[Indian Navy]] during the [[Bangladesh War of Independence]] in 1971.

In the year 1984, Cox's Bazar was upgraded into a [[Districts of Bangladesh|District]] from a Sub Division under the Chittagong Division.

Starting in 2017, a "mass human exodus" of the [[Rohingya]] Muslim minority group from neighboring [[Myanmar]]'s [[Rakhine State]] has led to Cox's Bazar housing the "world's largest refugee settlement" over the following years. In the first year, the [[UNHCR]] estimated that 725,000 refugees had sought safety in Bangladesh.<ref>Kolstad, Kristine, [https://www.nrc.no/news/2018/august/coxs-bazar-the-worlds-largest-refugee-settlement/ "Cox's Bazar: The world's largest refugee settlement"], [[Norwegian Refugee Council]], 24 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2019.</ref>

==Upazila (Subdivisions)==
[[Image:inani beach.jpg|thumb|Inani Beach]]
There are nine [[Upazilas of Bangladesh|upazilas]] under this district, namely:
#[[Kutubdia Upazila]]
#[[Pekua Upazila]]
#[[Maheshkhali Upazila]]
#[[Chakaria Upazila]]
#[[Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila]]
#[[Eidgaon Upazila]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 July 2021|script-title=bn:নতুন আরও তিনটি উপজেলা|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/692596/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87|access-date=26 July 2021|work=[[Bangla Tribune]]|language=bn}}</ref>
#[[Ramu Upazila]]
#[[Ukhia Upazila]]
#[[Teknaf Upazila]]

== Education ==
* [[Cox's Bazar Medical College]]
* [[Cox's Bazar International University]]
* [[Cox's Bazar Polytechnic Institute]]
* [[Cox's Bazar Govt. College]]
* [[Cox's Bazar Govt. Women College]]
* [[Cox's Bazar Government High School]]
* [[Cox's Bazar Government Girls High School]]
* Cox's Bazar City College
* Cox's Bazar International University
* Cox's Bazar Commerce College
* Cox's Bazar Harvard College
* Chakaria College
* Dulahazara Degree College
* Ramu College

==Climate==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2016}}
The annual average temperature in Cox's Bazar is {{convert|32.8|C|F}} and a minimum of {{convert|16.1|C|F}}. The climate remains hot and humid with some seasons of temperate weather. The average amount of rainfall is {{convert|4285|mm|in|abbr=on}}.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|align=center
|percentages=pagr
|1974 |809310
|1981 |1026172
|1991 |1419260
|2001 |1773709
|2011 |2289990
|2022 |2823268
|footnote= Sources:<ref name="2022census" /><ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCenZilz2011/Zila_CoxsBazar.pdf|title=Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Cox's Bazar|website=|publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>
}}

According to the [[2022 Census of Bangladesh]], Cox's Bazar District had 587,114 households and a population of 2,823,268 with an average 4.75 people per household. Among the population, 671,286 (23.78%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,133 people per km<sup>2</sup>. Cox's Bazar District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 71.58%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 103.32 males per 100 females. Approximately, 43.62% (1,231,639) of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 14,881 (0.64%), mainly [[Rakhine people|Rakhine]] with some [[Chakma people|Chakma]] and [[Tanchangya people|Tanchangya]].<ref name="2022census">{{Cite book |url=https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/2023-11-20-05-20-e6676a7993679bfd72a663e39ef0cca7.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report |date=November 2023 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |isbn= |volume=1 |pages=}}</ref>


{{bar box
|title=Religions in Cox's Bazar District (2022)<ref name="2022census_report"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]]|green|94.57}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]]|darkorange|3.83}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism in Bangladesh|Buddhism]]|gold|1.50}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.10}}
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Religion
! colspan="2" |1941<ref name="1941religion">{{cite web |title=Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/37365/GIPE-020591.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y}}</ref>{{rp|104–105}}
! colspan="2" |1981<ref name="census2011" />
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name="census2011" />
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="census2011" />
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name="census2011" />
! colspan="2" |2022<ref name="2022census_report">{{Cite book |url=http://nsds.bbs.gov.bd/storage/files/1/Publications/PHCensus/Cox_s%20Bazar%20District%20Report.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 District Census Handbook: Cox's Bazar |date=July 2024 |publisher=[[Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics]] |isbn= |volume=1 |pages=}}</ref>
|-
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
!{{Abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!%
|-
|[[Islam in Bangladesh|Islam]] [[File:Star_and_Crescent.svg|15x15px]]
|342,378
|86.22%
|941,630
|91.76%
|1307467
|92.13%
|1,648,211
|92.92%
|2151958
|93.97%
|2,669,977
|94.57%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Bangladesh|Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|16x16px]]
|26,907
|6.78%
|58,974
|5.75%
|79,499
|5.60%
|87,123
|4.91%
|97,648
|4.26%
|108,166
|3.83%
|-
|[[Buddhism in Bangladesh|Buddhism]] [[File:Dharma Wheel (2).svg|15x15px]]
|{{N/a}}
|{{N/a}}
|24,011
|2.34%
|30,853
|2.17%
|35,737
|2.01%
|37,822
|1.65%
|42,305
|1.50%
|-
|Others {{efn|Including [[Jainism]], [[Christianity]], [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Ad-Dharmi]]s, or not stated}}
|27,828
|7.00%
|1,557
|0.15%
|1,441
|0.10%
|2,638
|0.16%
|2,562
|0.12%
|2,820
|0.10%
|-
!Total Population
!397,113
!100%
!1,026,172
!100%
!1,419,260
!100%
!1,773,709
!100%
!2,289,990
!100%
!2,823,268
!100%
|}
Muslims are the largest religious community. Prior to Partition, the southern upazilas of Ukhiya and Teknaf had a large ethnic Buddhist [[Rakhine people|Rakhine]] population, but most have moved to [[Rakhine State|the Rakhine state]] in Myanmar over the years. The local dialect is [[Chittagonian language|Chittagonian]] as well as presence of many [[Rohingya language|Rohingya]] speakers due to the massive refugee camps.

==Economy==
The most significant livelihood of Cox's Bazar district is tourism. Millions of foreign and Bangladeshi natives visit this coastal city every year. A number of hotels, guest houses, and motels have been built in the city and coastal region and the hospitality industry is a major employer in the area.

A number of people are involved in the fishing and collection of seafoods, sea products and salt-farming. Oysters, snails, pearls and jewelry made from shells are popular with the tourists in the seaside and city stores. A number of people are also employed by the transportation business for tourists. Additionally, many people of the district are farmers.

In 2002, a surfing club was initiated at Cox's Bazar by a local Bangladeshi. It has now extended to holding an annual competition including locals and foreign tourists. This is the first surfing initiative in Bangladesh's history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mapballadventures.com/coxs-bazar-surf-report-and-the-father-of-surfing-in-bangladesh/ | title=Cox's Bazar Surf Report and the Father of Surfing in Bangladesh | date=28 March 2020 }}</ref>

==Places of interest==
[[File:Cox's Bazaar After Sunset Sep2019.jpg|thumb|Cox's Bazar (Kolatoli Sea Beach) after sunset]]
*[[Cox's Bazar Beach]] 
*[[Inani Beach]]
* [[Teknaf Beach]]
[[File:Sunset at Saint Martin.jpg|right|thumb|220px| St. Martin's Island]]
*[[St. Martin's Island]], the only [[coral]] island in Bangladesh, is situated at {{convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Teknaf. It is a tourist spot.
* [[Chhera Island]]
* [[Sonadia Island]]
* [[Shapuree Island]]
*[[Dulhazra Safari Park]], a safari park in Bangladesh which is situated at [[Chakaria Upazila]]. It has a range of exotic animals such as birds, snakes,  and water beasts.
[[File:Himchori Mountain Sep2019.jpg|thumb|Himchori from top]]
*[[Himchari National Park|Himchori]], located about {{convert|8|km|mi|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} south of Cox's Bazar, is a picnic spot with waterfalls and hill top from where views of the sea can be seen. Birds and terrestrial animals roam near the road.
* [[Medhakachhapia National Park]]
* [[Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park]]
* [[Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary]]
* [[Adinath Temple, Maheshkhali]]
* [[Cox's Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive]]
* [[Sheikh Kamal International Stadium, Cox's Bazar]]
* [[Cox's Bazar International Airport]]
* [[Cox's Bazar railway station]]

==Notable people==
# [[Abdur Rahman Bodi]]
# [[Abdul Gani (Cox's Bazar politician)]]
# [[A. H. M. Hamidur Rahman Azad]]
# [[A. H. Salahuddin Mahmud]]
# [[A. T. M. Nurul Bashar Chowdhury]]
# [[AHA Gafur Chowdhury]]
# [[AMM Nasir Uddin]]
# [[ATM Zafar Alam]]
# [[Anisur Rahman Zico]]
# [[Alamgir Mohammad Mahfuzullah Farid]]
# [[Asheq Ullah Rafiq]]
# [[Aye Thein Rakhaine]]
# [[Badiul Alam]]
# [[Didarul Alam Chowdhury]]
# [[Enamul Haq Manju]]
# [[Farid Ahmad]]
# [[Fazlul Karim (lawyer)]]
# [[Hamidul Haque]]
# [[Hasan Murad]]
# [[Hasan Murad Tipu]]
# [[Helal Uddin Ahmed]]
# [[Ilias Kobra]]
# [[Jafar Alam]]
# [[Jahirul Islam]]
# [[Jalaluddin Ahmad]]
# [[Jinnat Ali]]
# [[Kaniz Fatema Ahmed]]
# [[Khorshed Ara Haque]]
# [[Lutfur Rahman Kajal]]
# [[Mahmudul Karim Chowdhury]]
# [[Md. Ishak]]
# [[Mominul Haque]]
# [[Mongsen Ching Monsin]]
# [[Mostaq Ahmad Chowdhury]]
# [[Mohammad Ali (Bangladeshi politician)]]
# [[Mohammad Ali (judge)]]
# [[Mohammad Ibrahim (footballer, born 1997)]]
# [[Mohammad Khalequzzaman]]
# [[Mohammad Nurul Huda]]
# [[Mohammad Shafiul Alam]]
# [[Mohammad Sahiduzzaman]]
# [[Mohammad Ziauddin]]
# [[Mohammad Zoynal Abedin]]
# [[Mohammed Ellias]]
# [[Nurul Mustafa]]
# [[Obaidullah Hamzah]]
# [[Osman Sarwar Alam Chowdhury]]
# [[Rashiduddin Ahmad]]
# [[Rima Sultana Rimu]]
# [[Salahuddin Ahmed (Cox's Bazar politician)]]
# [[Salimullah Khan]]
# [[Shamsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury]]
# [[Satya Priya Mahathero]]
# [[Shahin Akhtar]]
# [[Shaimum Sarwar Kamal]]
# [[Shahid Saber]]
# [[Shahjahan Chowdhury]]
# [[Shireen Akhter]]
# [[Sushanto Tripura]]
# [[Shyamal Kanti Biswas]]
# Sultan Zauq Nadvi
# [[Sunil Krishna Dey Chowdhury]]
# [[Tawhidul Alam Sabuz]]
# Wasim Akram

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{URL|http://www.coxsbazar.gov.bd/|Official website}}
*[http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/travel/24next.html?ref=travel New York Times Travel Article, December 2006]
{{Cox's Bazar District}}
{{Divisions and districts of Bangladesh}}
{{Authority control}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Cox's Bazar District]]
[[Category:Districts of Chittagong Division]]
[[Category:Districts of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Rohingya diaspora]]