A copper plate has been found in present Mehendiganj upazila showing a land grant made to a Brahmin by Keshab Sen.

After a force of Portuguese pirates was defeated by the Mughals in 1608 in the Meghna, Sebastian Gonzales Tilao, with the support of the Raja of Chandradwip, took over Sandwip.

Although they had agreed to divide the revenue of the island, Tilao soon betrayed his ally and began raiding the eastern part of Chandradwip.

In 1615, the Arakanese took back Sandwip, but they soon extended their own piracy to Chandradwip and caused a mass flight of nobles to Madhabpasha in present Babuganj Upazila.

Aga Bakhar's heir inherited his land in Selimabad but was overthrown by the Naib Nazim Nawazish Muhammad Khan, advised by his diwan Raja Rajballabh.

At this time the Maghs also restarted their raids so that in British records the southern part of Barisal Division is depopulated.

Barisal District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 79.85%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1047 females per 1000 males.

However since partition, Hindus have been fleeing the district in large numbers, mainly to India, especially after major violence in 1950 and 1964 and during the independence war.