Kalai Upazila (Joypurhat district) with an area of 166.30 sq km is surrounded by Panchbibi and Gonbindaganj upazilas on the north, Shibganj and Gobindaganj upazilas on the east, Khetlal and Shibganj upazilas on the south and Khetlal and Joypurhat upazilas on the west. 

Main rivers are Harabati and Nagor. 

Kalai (Town) consists of two mouzas. Its area is 5.36 sq km. The town has a population of 5904; male 53%, female 47%. The density of population is 1101 per sq km. The literacy rate among the town people is 36.8%. It has one dakbungalow. 

Administration Kalai thana, now an upazila, was established in 1981. It consists of 5 union parishads, 109 mouzas and 158 villages. Population 114183; male 50.86%, female 49.14%; Muslim 95.06%, Hindu 4.76%, Tribal and others 0.18%. 

Religious institutions Mosque 365, temple 18, tomb1. Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 23.6%; male 34.4%, female 11.8%. 

Educational Institutions: college 4, high school 22, junior school 2, government primary school 42, non-government primary school 12, madrasa 17, technical training centre 1. 

Noted educational institution: Kalai Mainuddin High School (1913). Cultural organisations Club 43, cinema hall 2. 

Main occupations Agriculture 59.55%, agricultural labourer 21.32%, wage labourer 1.45%, commerce 8.07%, transport 1.57%, service 2.18%, others 5.86%. 

Land use Cultivable land 13017 hectares, fallow land 3625 hectares; single crop 1%, double crop 75% and treble crop 24%; cultivable land under irrigation 98%.

Land control Among the peasants 29% are landless, 44% small, 23% intermediate and 4% rich. 

Value of land The market value of first grade land is Tk. 5000 per 0.01 hectare. 

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard seed, potato, sugarcane, vegetables. Extinct or nearly extinct crops Watermelon. 

Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, papaya. 

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 1318, dairy 146, poultry 184. 

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 52 km, semi pucca 5.3 km, mud road 161.28 km. 

Traditional transport Palanquin, bullock cart. These means of transport are extinct and nearly extinct. 

Cottage industries Weaving 620, bamboo work 44, goldsmith 20, wood work 15, sewing 25, blacksmith 40, potteries 18, welding 54, madur (mat) making 33, jute goods 33. 

Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 11, most noted hats are Punot, Molagari, Kalai, Harunja; fairs 2. 

Main exports Potato, paddy. 

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are Brac, ASA, Proshika, TMSS, ITCL, and HEED BANGLADESH. 

Health centres Hospital 1, upazila health complex 1, and union health centre 3.