Understanding Bigha, Katha, and Decimal in Bangladesh
For anyone dealing with land transactions or property in Bangladesh, understanding local land measurement units is essential. The primary unit often encountered is the ‘bigha’. While a bigha is a common unit across parts of South Asia, its exact size can vary significantly by region. However, in Bangladesh, a standardized measurement is widely used. This article clarifies the standard conversion of 1 bigha in katha decimal sq ft within Bangladesh.
The standard Bangladeshi bigha is defined as follows:
- 1 bigha = 20 katha
- 1 bigha = 33 decimal
- 1 bigha = 14,400 square feet
A ‘katha’ is a smaller unit, and a ‘decimal’ is another subdivision used for land area. It’s important to note that while these are the official figures, local customs might sometimes lead to slight variations in practice in different areas.
How Many Square Feet are in 1 Katha?
To understand the bigha conversion, it’s helpful to know the value of its subdivisions in square feet. Since 1 bigha equals 14,400 square feet and also equals 20 katha, we can calculate the size of one katha in square feet.
Calculation: 14,400 square feet / 20 katha = 720 square feet per katha.
Therefore, 1 katha is equivalent to 720 square feet in Bangladesh.
What is the Value of 1 Decimal in Square Feet?
Similarly, we can determine the size of a ‘decimal’ in square feet. Since 1 bigha equals 14,400 square feet and also equals 33 decimal, we can find the square footage of one decimal.
Calculation: 14,400 square feet / 33 decimal = approximately 436.36 square feet per decimal.
So, 1 decimal is approximately 436.36 square feet.
Comparing Bigha, Katha, and Decimal
Understanding the relationship between these units helps in visualizing land sizes. A bigha is the largest unit among the three, followed by katha, and then decimal. Here’s a summary:
| Unit | In Square Feet | In Katha | In Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bigha | 14,400 sq ft | 20 katha | 33 decimal |
| 1 Katha | 720 sq ft | 1 katha | ~2.18 decimal |
| 1 Decimal | ~436.36 sq ft | ~0.61 katha | 1 decimal |
This table illustrates that 1 katha is larger than 1 decimal. Specifically, 1 katha is about 2.18 decimals, and 1 decimal is about 0.61 katha.
Conversions to Other Units
The Bangladeshi bigha is also related to other units like square yards and square meters. As per the standard measurement:
- 1 bigha = 1,600 square yards
- 1 bigha = approximately 1,337.8 square meters
Additionally, the size of an acre in relation to the bigha is often mentioned: 3 bigha is approximately equal to 1 acre. This gives a broader context when comparing Bangladeshi land sizes to the internationally recognized acre unit.
Worked Examples
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
Example 1: Converting Katha to Square Feet
Question: How many square feet are in 5 katha?
Calculation: 5 katha * 720 sq ft/katha = 3,600 square feet.
Answer: 5 katha is equal to 3,600 square feet.
Example 2: Converting Decimal to Bigha
Question: How many bigha is 66 decimal?
Calculation: 66 decimal / 33 decimal/bigha = 2 bigha.
Answer: 66 decimal is equal to 2 bigha.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of 1 katha in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, 1 katha is standardized to 720 square feet.
How many katha are in 1 bigha?
There are exactly 20 katha in 1 bigha in Bangladesh.
What is 1 decimal in square feet in Bangladesh?
1 decimal in Bangladesh is approximately 436.36 square feet.
Is 1 bigha always the same size?
While Bangladesh uses a standard size, the size of a bigha can vary in different regions or neighboring countries.
