Khetlal Upazila, having an area of 142.61 km2, is located in between 24°56' and 25°08' north latitudes and in between 89°02' and 89°12' east longitudes.

Khetlāl was listed in the Ain-i-Akbari (as "Khetnāl") as a mahal in sarkar Ghoraghat.

[5]: 43  It was listed with an assessed revenue of 40,367 dams (this translation spells the name "Kaṇhṭál").

Khetlal had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 53.47%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 998 females per 1000 males.

[8][9] Par the 2001 Bangladesh census, the upazila had a population of 115918 constituting 59274 males, 56644 females, 105728 Muslims, 9981 Hindus, 65 Buddhists, 18 Christians and 126 from other religions.