Dhuliyan

Dhuliyan has been mentioned as an inland water transport (IWT) trading point between Murshidabad and the city of Rajshahi in Bangladesh. Low cost barges could ply the Ganges river, called Padma in downstream Bangladesh, exchanging goods and reducing smuggling. This proposal has not been agreed to yet by the two countries.

The site of Dhuliyan town was an important commercial centre during East India Company rule. There were indigo factories in and around Dhuliyan area, namely Ancoorah (Ankura) factory and Bunnyagaon (Baniagram) factory. These factories were attacked by the ryots from Dhoolean (Dhuliyan) and Kassemnuggur (Kashimnagar) during the Indigo revolt in Bengal. The Dhuliyan Municipality was established in the year 1909 with 9 Wards and population of 8,295.

Dhuliyan has an average elevation of 4 metres (13 feet). Dhuliyan is surrounded by Farakka (to the north), Aurangabad (to the South) Pakur (to the West) and Ganga River (to the East). Malda district and Chapai Nababganj of Bangladesh lies to the east across the river. Dhuliyan lies on the right bank of the Ganga river. Dhulian Urban Agglomeration includes: Dhulian (M), Anup Nagar (CT), Dhusaripara (CT), Uttar Mahammadpur (CT), Kankuria (CT), Chachanda (CT), Basudebpur (CT), Kohetpur (CT), Jaykrishnapur (CT), Jafrabad (CT).

Jangipur subdivision is crowded with 52 census towns and as such it had to be presented in two location maps. One of the maps can be seen alongside. The subdivision is located in the Rarh region that is spread over from adjoining Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand. The land is slightly higher in altitude than the surrounding plains and is gently undulating. The river Ganges, along with its distributaries, is prominent in both the maps. At the head of the subdivision is the 2,245 m long Farakka Barrage, one of the largest projects of its kind in the country. Murshidabad district shares with Bangladesh a porous international border which is notoriously crime prone (partly shown in this map). The subdivision has two large power plants the 2,100 MW Farakka Super Thermal Power Station and the 1,600 MW Sagardighi Thermal Power Station. According to a 2016 report, there are around 1,000,000 (1 million/ ten lakh) workers engaged in the beedi industry in Jangipur subdivision. 90% are home based and 70% of the home based workers are women. As of 2013, an estimated 2.4 million people reside along the banks of the Ganges alone in Murshidabad district. Severe erosion occurs along the banks. Note: The two maps present some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the maps are linked in the larger full screen maps.

Dhuliyan town has to face the burnt of erosion repeatedly due to its proximity to the Ganges. The town has shifted south westward at least five kms from its original location. In August 2020, this region again faced erosion which washed away dwelling places, temples, schools, litchi and mango orchards and agricultural lands along the right bank nearly after 50 years. It affected namely Dhanghora, Dhusaripara and Natun Shibpur villages of Samserganj block. In September–October 2022, Pratapganj and Maheshtola areas of Samserganj were the new victim of river bank erosion. Five houses, one temple and several bighas of land were washed away by the eroding river.

The Dhulian Municipality has population of 95,706 of which 47,635 are males while 48,071 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. The literacy rate is 63.03%. Male literacy is around 69.15% while female literacy is 56.98%. In the 2011 Census of India, Dhuliyan Urban Agglomeration had a population of 239,022, out of which 119,151 were males and 119,871 were females. as of 2001 India census, Dhulian had a population of 72,906 of which males are 36524 and females are 36382. Dhulian had an average literacy rate of 39%. Male literacy was 48% and female literacy was 31%.

Samserganj police station, located in Dhulian, has jurisdiction over Samserganj CD block.

The headquarters of Samserganj CD block are located at Dhulian.

According to the District Census Handbook, Murshidabad, 2011, Dhulian covered an area of 6.25 km2. It had 131.95 km roads with open drains. The protected water supply involved overhead tank, tap water from untreated source, hand pump. It had 6,071 domestic electric connections, 1 road lighting point. Among the medical facilities it had 1 hospital, 5 dispensaries/ health centres, 2 charitable hospitals/ nursing homes, 23 medicine shops. Among the educational facilities, it had 50 primary schools, 3 secondary schools, 3 senior secondary schools in town, 1 general degree college at Tarapar 3.5 km away. It had 4 recognised shorthand, typewriting & vocational training institutes, 1 non formal education centre (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan). Among the social, recreational & cultural facilities it had 1 public library, 1 reading room. It produced beedi, knitted products, pottery. It had the branch offices of 2 nationalised banks, 1 agricultural credit society, 1 non agricultural credit society.

Dhuliyan is a well known commercial centre from the time period of Company rule. A lot of people of Dhuliyan earn their livelihood by making & selling of Biris. A number of Biri Industries are located here. Some people are engaged in running business of wholesale & retail sale of articles like cloth, readymade garments, bedding, furniture, hardware goods and utensils made of bell metal, steel and aluminum. Wholesale business of rice, flour, and spice are also running from this place. As such gathering of carrying vehicles can be found on the road of entrance to the town, day & night.

Nur Mohammad Smriti Mahavidyalaya was established in 2008 at Dhulian. It has Bengali, English, History, Sociology and Education departments.