Tangail (টাঙ্গাইল জেলা) formerly a small Mohokuma of Greater Mymensingh district is a district (zila) in the central region of Bangladesh. In 1969, Tangail district was created by Tangail Mohokuma from its 237 square kilometers of its land and 3177 square kilometers of land from Mymensingh district. It is the largest district of Dhaka division by area and second largest by population (after Dhaka district). The population of Tangail zila is about 3.8 million and its area is 3,414.28 km2. The main city of the district is Tangail. It is surrounded by Jamalpur District on the north, the Dhaka and Manikganj Districts on the south, the Mymensingh and Gazipur on the east, and the Sirajganj on the west.
Tangail was a part of Greater Mymensingh till 1969. Tangail was separated from Mymensingh District in order to subdue its dominance. Before the 6 Upazila event, Mymensingh District had a greater economic growth rate than the capital, Dhaka. As the ruler believed, the greater economy cannot exist alongside capital. Greater Mymensingh was separated from Mymensingh's 6 out of 5 Upazila Tangail, Kishorganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, and Netrokona (now known as District) in order to subdue Mymensingh. To prevent conflict with Dhaka, six sub-districts were elevated to district level. Thus the district of Tangail was formed. The main rivers that cross the Tangail district are the Jamuna, Dhaleshwari, Jhenai, Bangshi, Louhajang, Langulia, Elongjani, Jugni, Pouli, Fotikjani and the Turag.
