Shariatpur was named after Haji Shariatullah (1781–1840), who was the founder of Faraizi Movement and an eminent Islamic reformer/revivalist during British Raj.

[5] In 1971 the Pak army in collaboration with their local agents conducted mass killing and plundering; they also set many houses of the district on fire.

A number of freedom fighters were killed in two encounters and one frontal battle with the Pak army in Bhedarganj Upazila.

Nine freedom fighters including Ahsanul Hoque and Abdul Wahab were killed in an encounter with the Pak army at a place on the southern side of Damudya College.

Muktijoddha and Mujib Bahini jointly conducted attack on the Pak army by guerrilla technique in the upazila.

Shariatpur District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 72.90%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1083 females per 1000 males.