Sandwip, Chattogram

Once known as a land of business and trade, the Sandwip upazila or Sandwip Island of Chattogram District used to have a vast land area of 630 square miles. However, the upazila lost its land over time due to various natural disasters. Now, it only has a land area of about 80 square miles, which is 25 miles in length and 3-9 miles in width. The population of Sandwip is around 3,27,533 (2022 Census).

According to the old Sandwip area guide and history written by the Europeans, the island is over 3 to 4 thousand years old. It was known for producing salt and manufacturing ships and garments. There are also many debates and theories on how the island was named. Some people say that there were no men on the island when Baro Auliya discovered it. They named it Shunno (Zero) Dip (Island), which later turned into Sandwip. Others say that Europeans named it Sand-Heap as the land was filled with sand and was later called Sandwip.

However the name came, Sandwip remains one of the most beautiful landscapes of Bangladesh, surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, Chattogram, Companiganj of Noakhali, Hatiya Island, Bamoni, and Meghna Rivers. While it is still one of the prosperous land areas, the lack of proper transportation facilities has made the island remote and less accessible. The only means of travel to the Sandwip Upazila is the ferry terminal from Kumira Ghat of Sitakund. There are no buses or bus routes inside the Island either.

Sandwip was formed by silt deposits from the Meghna River’s estuary, which is highly fertile and suitable for agriculture. Along with rice, jute, potato, betel nuts, sugarcane, radish, mango, and jackfruits, many other crops and fruits are grown in the land of Sanwip Upazila.

Even though it is a remote Island, the seaside and natural beauty of Sandwip attract many national and international tourists every year. Some of its popular and well-known locations are Sandwip Sea Beach, Travelly Eco Village, the Sandwip Channel, and the Bay of Bengal.

The area is prone to natural disasters, which is why it has several cyclone shelters to ensure people’s safety. However, one of the upcoming projects in Sandwip includes the construction of a jetty, which will make communication with the mainland more accessible and ensure better safety in the future.