The anti-British Khilafat Movement in 1921 also spread to Moulvibazar and campaigners that were present included Congress leaders Chittaranjan Das, Hussain Ahmed Madani and Sarojini Naidu.

During the Bangladesh War of Independence, armed resistance begun at the village of Srirainagar in Kanakpur on 27 March 1971.

On 20 December, a number of people were killed and wounded by mine explosions at the premises of the Moulvibazar Government High School.

In 2005, the Saifur Rahman Stadium was established, acting as a multi-use arena fitting 15,000 people.

It is bordered by Balaganj in the north, Rajnagar and Kamalganj in the east, Srimangal in the south and Nabiganj in the west.

Moulvibazar Sadar had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 54.93%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 995 females per 1000 males.

[4] The Upazila has 5 colleges as well as vocational, primary teacher, nurse, youth, blind welfare training institutes.