Jessore was the first district of Bangladesh to become independent. It gained independence from Pakistan on 6 December 1971.

Jessore district belongs to the ancient Samatat Janapada. During the partition of India in 1947 to create Pakistan, Jessore was also partially divided. The entire district, except for Boangaon and Gaighata thanas, was included into East Pakistan.

The Bengali soldiers posted at Jessore cantonment mutinied against the Pakistan Army on 29 March 1971. They were led by Capt Hafiz Uddin and Lt Anwar in an uprising in which about 300 soldiers were killed. The rebels killed 50 Pakistani soldiers by machine gun fire at Chanchara.

Population 2,440,693; male 51.22%, female 48.78%; Muslim 85.5%; Hindu 14.21% and others 0.29%.[citation needed] Average literacy 33.4%; male 41% and female 25.1%.

The main occupations are agriculture 39.84%, agricultural labourer 24.13%, wage labourer 2.68%, commerce 11.99%, service 8.66%, industry 1.41%, transport 3.11% and others 8.18%.

The main crops are paddy, jute, sugarcane, tuberose, vegetables. Main fruits are date, jackfruit, papaya, banana, litchi and coconut. Main exports are cotton, jute, leather, jackfruit, banana, comb and date molasses, and vegetables.