Bordered by India to the north and the Bay of Bengal to the south, it serves as the sole entry point linking Chittagong, the country's primary port city, to the northern districts.

Deriving its name from the Feni River, the district has a rich history spanning five millennia, having been historically part of the greater regions of Noakhali, Comilla, and Tripura.

Feni's students played a vital role during Bangladesh's language movement in the mid-20th century and subsequent liberation war, ultimately gaining independence from Pakistan on 6 December 1971.

[7][6]: 11–12 The Feni region, situated in eastern Greater Noakhali (historically known as Bhulua),[6]: 13, 28  is believed by scholars to have an ancient history, despite its relatively recent addition to the country's administrative landscape.

[6]: 55  After the establishment of the independent Sultanate of Sonargaon, Fakhruddin set up a military camp in Feni while aiming to conquer Chittagong, overseeing the construction of a mosque and excavation of a reservoir in the region.

[6]: 61–63 During the medieval era, a nobleman belonging to the Sur Dynasty named Nizam Shah established a kingdom called Jafarabad along the banks of the Feni River.

Following conflicts, Mogh settlements were established in southern Feni-Noakhali, but they fled when the Mughals conquered Chittagong in 1666, who also drove out Portuguese settlers in the region who arrived in late 16th century.

[6]: 77–78 Greater Noakhali fell under Mughal rule after they invaded the Bhulua Kingdom—which stretched as far as a portion of Comilla—and ousted its king Ananta Manikya in 1611, led by Subahdar Islam Khan.

[6]: 84–85, 50  To ensure control over the newly acquired territories, the Mughals set up a police station (thana), serving as the administrative hub of the area, at the mouth of the Feni River in Jugidiya.

Toward the Nawab era's end, a new administrative unit, Chakla Roshnabad, was formed, spanning parts of Sylhet and Comilla, extending to the Feni River's southern bank.

[6]: 123  Despite the implementation of the Permanent Settlement system in 1793, much of Feni-Noakhali remained under direct East India Company control, with armed enforcement of high land revenue collection.

[2]: xxvii  Notably, in 1883, Nabinchandra Sen assumed the role of governor of the mahakuma, overseeing significant developments that earned him the moniker of the true architect of Feni.

[8]: 29–30  Syed Amir Uddin, also known as Pagla Miah, was a Sufi saint who exerted significant influence in the Feni region during this period, earning recognition as its spiritual architect.

[8]: 31 Amidst the escalating tensions of the Pakistan Movement and the Indian independence struggle, Feni gained prominence as a significant military hub in South Asia throughout World War II.

Its strategic position led to the creation of an Allied forward base and the construction of a large airstrip, which now forms part of the premises of Feni Girls' Cadet College.

[8]: 49–51 After the 1954 legislative elections, Feni underwent a flurry of socio-economic advancements, including the straightening of Silonia and Muhuri rivers (which also saw construction of a dam), digging of Kalidas-Pahalia canal, and development of key infrastructure like bridges and roads.

[6]: 179–180 Following his release from imprisonment on sedition charges, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, was permitted to host a rally in Feni during Yahya Khan's rule, marking it as the first area he visited after Dhaka.

After the fall of Feni town, freedom fighters retreated eastward to Chhagalnaiya, where they inflicted significant casualties on the invaders and seized arms, despite later facing air attacks.

Feni's proximity to Tripura in India enabled freedom fighters to receive military training and employ guerrilla tactics against the invading forces and their collaborators in the second phase of the war.

[10] Feni is characterised by its flat terrain, previously featuring hills, mounds, forests, and jungles primarily in the eastern part of Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram upazilas.

[16] Extensive alluvial lands, known locally as চর, chôr, have formed due to the erosion caused by the Feni and Muhuri rivers, resulting in the displacement of numerous settlements.

[19] In the farmlands of Feni District, a diverse range of crops are cultivated, including local and high-yield variety (HYV) rice, jute, vegetables, spices, pulses, oilseeds, etc.

Additionally, bananas, L. chinensis (lychee), A. carambola (kaamranga), A. squamosa (custard apple), T. chebula (haritaki), and P. emblica (amloki) grow abundantly in the area.

[16] Feni district boasts a diverse range of wildlife, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, millipedes, and numerous insects.

Several types of reptiles and amphibians are found in the district, including snakes, lizards, T. hurum (tortoises), different species of iguana, N. naja (cobra), B. melanostictus (toad), R. maculatus (tree frogs).

These administrative bodies, both rural and urban, are responsible for a wide range of functions and duties concerning civic affairs, community welfare, and local development initiatives within the district.

[24][25] It also bears the responsibility of carrying out development activities by formulating annual and five-year plans in consultation with other local government institutions and individuals, considering their own financial capabilities.

[16] Since November 2024, Saiful Islam has been serving as the appointed Deputy Commissioner of Feni District,[27] superseding Mushammat Shahina Akhtar following protests demanding her removal.

[28][29] Khairul Bashar Majumdar Tapon was elected as the Chairman of the Zila Parishad in 2020,[30] while Nahida Akter Tania assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer in 2024.

However, the establishment of Feni College provided a local avenue for higher education, enabling students from diverse economic backgrounds to pursue advanced studies.