Satkhira, located in the south-western part of Bangladesh, derives its name from the village of Satgharia. During the British Permanent Settlement, Vishnuram Chakraborty, a representative of Raja Krishnachandra of Nadia, purchased the local pargana at auction and established a settlement there. His son, Prannath Chakraborty, became well known for his development work in the area. In 1852, Satkhira was established as the fourth subdivision of Jessore district, with its headquarters at Kalaroa. Nawab Abdul Latif served as the first subdivisional officer. In 1861, the headquarters was shifted to Satgharia. British officials gradually pronounced the name as "Satkhira," which eventually became the official name of the district. The history of Satkhira dates back to ancient times. According to local tradition, the region was inhabited nearly 3,500 years ago. Legends from the Ramayana and Mahabharata state that Kapil Muni established a temple at present-day Kapilmuni in Paikgachha. Greek historians also mentioned the powerful Gangaridai Kingdom during Alexander the Great's invasion of India in 327 BCE, and the present Satkhira region is believed to have been part of that kingdom. Over the centuries, Satkhira came under the rule of the Maurya, Gupta, Pala, Chandra, Varman, and Sena dynasties. In the early seventh century, King Shashanka of Gauda incorporated the region into his kingdom and became the first Bengali ruler to establish an independent state beyond Bengal's traditional boundaries. During the 8th to 11th centuries, the Pala dynasty promoted Buddhism, education, literature, and culture. The Chandra and Varman dynasties later ruled the region before Vijay Sena united much of Bengal under the Sena dynasty. Today, Satkhira is renowned for its historical heritage and as the gateway to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.