Background, Geographic Area and Location: The area now constituting Jessore Zila comprises of only sadar sub-divisions of the former Jessore zila. It was up-graded to zila in 1984. There is a controversy about the origin of the zila name. The general belief is that the name of the zila has been originated from the Bengali words Jasho and Har meaning loss of glory. According to General Cunningham the area was previously named as Jasor meaning bridge in Arabic because of its topography which was completely intersected by deep water courses. The present name Jessore is the phonetic corruption of the word Jasor. The zila is bounded on the north by Jhinaidah zila, on the east by Narail and Magura zilas, on the south by Khulna and Satkhira zilas and on the west by India. The total area of the zila is 2606.94 sq. km.(1006.00 sq. miles) of which 23.39 sq. km(9.03 sq. km miles) is reverine .The zila lies between 22º 48' and 23º 22' north latitudes and between 88º 51' and 89º 34' east olngitudes.
Annual Average Temperature: Maximum 37.1°C, minimum 11.2°C; annual rain fall 1537 mm.
Main Rivers: BHAIRAB and Mukteshwari; beel 3.
Jessore (Town) stands on the River Bhairab. Jessore municipality was established in 1864.
Administration: Jessore zila was established in 1781. The zila consists of 8 upazilas, 91 unions, 1323 mauzas, 1477 villages, 8 paurashavas, 72 wards and 245 mahallas. The upazilas are ABHAYNAGAR, BAGHERPARA, CHAUGACHHA, JHIKARGACHHA, KESHABPUR, JESSORE SADAR, MANIRAMPUR and SHARSHA.
Archaeological Heritage and Relics: Remnants of the Chanchara Rajbari, Kali Mandir, Dargaha of Ghazi Kalu, Rajbari, Dighi and Mandir at Siddirpasha, remnants of the palace of king Mukut Roy (12th century), residence of Nawab Mir Jumla (17th century), Imam Bari built by Haji Muhammad Muhsin at Murli.
Historical Events: Jessore zila belongs to the ancient Samatat Janapada. On the partition of India in 1947 Jessore was also partially divided. The entire zila excepting Boangaon and Gaighata thanas was included into East Pakistan. The Bangali soldiers posted at Jessore cantonment revolted against the Pak army on 29 March 1971 led by Capt Hafiz Uddin and Lt Anwar in which about 300 soldiers were killed. The freedom fighters killed 50 Pak soldiers by machine gun at Chanchara.
Marks of the War of Liberation: Memorial 5, mass killing site 1, memorial preservation centre1.
Main Crops: Paddy, jute, sugarcane, tuberose, vegetables. Extinct or nearly extinct crops are Local varieties of paddy, tobacco.
Main Fruits: Date, jackfruit, papaya, banana, litchi and coconut.
Traditional Transport: Palanquin and bullock cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.
Main Export Items: Cotton, jute, leather, jackfruit, banana, comb and date molasses and vegetables.
