Islampur Upazila lies on the floodplain where the Jamuna River flows along its western edge and the Brahmaputra passes through the northeastern part, creating a low-lying landscape with numerous khals, beels and riverine chars. It is bordered by Melandaha and Madarganj to the south, Sariakandi and parts of Gaibandha District to the west, Dewanganj to the northwest, Bokshiganj to the north, and Sherpur District to the east.
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Road Network:
Dewanganj is moderately accessible with key regional connections, though riverbank zones still face seasonal mobility constraints.
The upazila contains a functional mix of regional and upazila roads, with higher road density around settlements. Peripheral floodplain areas rely on vulnerable village roads.
Islampur performs moderately in early warning inclusion. Electricity coverage is excellent at 98.67%, allowing strong potential for communication during emergencies. However, digital access remains limited, especially for women. Only 11.88% of women use the internet compared to 30.64% of men, and female mobile ownership is low at 42.91% compared to 79.85% for men. With overall mobile ownership at 60.9% and total internet use at just 21.01%, these gaps significantly reduce women’s ability to receive and act on early warning messages. As a result, early warning inclusion remains at a medium–low level.
WASH and shelter conditions in Islampur are very poor. Sanitation coverage is extremely low at 41.41%, and handwashing facilities are available in only 48.66% of households, reflecting serious hygiene challenges. Shelter vulnerability is high, with 86.96% of homes being kancha and 0.6% jhupri structures, offering very limited protection during disasters. These fragile living conditions contribute to a very low overall WASH and shelter status.
Islampur faces strong displacement pressure due to its high population density (905 persons per km²), extremely high proportion of kancha housing (86.96%), and very low sanitation coverage. These combined structural vulnerabilities heighten exposure to floods, erosion, and other hazards. As a result, the upazila experiences a high to very high displacement risk.
Economic participation in Islampur shows a significant gender divide. The female NEET rate is extremely high at 56.48%, meaning more than half of women are not engaged in employment, education, or training, while the male NEET rate is much lower at 16.71%. This sharp gap highlights persistent barriers limiting women’s involvement in economic activities, resulting in medium–low status for livelihoods and participation.
Access to resources and decision-making for women remains limited. Female mobile ownership is low at 42.91%, and female internet use is only 11.88%, restricting women’s ability to access critical information, financial services, and digital platforms. These limitations reduce women’s visibility and participation in both household and community-level decision-making.
Health services in Islampur are comparatively strong. The upazila is served by 8 UH&FWCs, 13 Union Health Centres, and a very high number of community clinics (56), ensuring wide community-level access. Although private (2) and NGO (1) facilities are limited, the strong presence of public health infrastructure significantly improves healthcare availability across the upazila.
Education facilities in Islampur are well-developed and diverse. The upazila has 150 primary schools and 37 secondary schools, providing strong foundational and mid-level learning opportunities. Higher education is supported by 8 colleges, and 88 additional institutions offer various alternative or specialized learning pathways. This broad and balanced educational system ensures good overall access, earning Islampur a solid rating for education.