Rajbari District

Rajbari (Bengali: রাজবাড়ী) is a district in central Bangladesh, located in the Dhaka Division.[3][4] It is a part of the Greater Faridpur subregion of Bengal due to the historical and cultural identities of its inhabitants.

Rajbari District
রাজবাড়ী
Daulatdia Ghat, Rajbari, Bangladesh
Daulatdia Ghat, Rajbari, Bangladesh
Location of Rajbari District in Bangladesh
Location of Rajbari District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Rajbari District
Coordinates: 23.70°N 89.50°E / 23.70; 89.50
Country Bangladesh
DivisionDhaka Division
Government
  Deputy CommissionerDilsad Begum
  District Council ChairmanFaqir Abdul Jabbar
  MP (Rajbari-1)Kazi Keramat Ali
  MP (Rajbari-2)Md. Zillul Hakim
Area
  Total1,118.8 km2 (432.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
  Total1,189,821
  Density1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
DemonymRajbarian
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
7700
HDI (2018)0.596[2]
medium · 11th of 21
Websitewww.rajbari.gov.bd

History

During the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, a fief in Padamdi was decreed to the family of an Iraqi Muslim immigrant by the name of Syed Shah Pahlwan in 1607. The zamindari family, known as the Nawabs of Padamdi actively commanded the artillery and served the Mughal army, eventually leading to Emperor Shah Jahan bestowing them the title of Mir.

Rajbari in the Bengali language means palace, and pays homage to the rich zamindari families that feudally ruled modern-day Rajbari. In the 17th century, the Mughal governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan, appointed Sangram Shah of Panchthupi as the Nawara of what is present-day Rajbari in order to suppress the Portuguese pirates. The Nawara settled permanently in the populated neighbourhood of Banibaha and built a fort at a place called Lalgola. Sangram Shah and his family later became known as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha.

After the Battle of Plassey of 1757, one of Siraj ud-Daulah's officers by the name of Prabhuram went into hiding in Lakshmikol to avoid the British colonialists. Prabhuram's son, Dwigendra Prasad, eventually became a prominent zamindar in the area, and his son Surya Kumar earned the title of Raja. In 1890, the Rajbari railway station was established, and it is said that it was named after Raja Surya Kumar. Other zamindars such as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha objected to this as the name of Rajbari was said to have been established long before Kumar.[5]

During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, an organisation named the Sangram Parishad (Struggle Council) was established on 26 March. On 21 and 22 April, six Bengali freedom fighters were murdered during an encounter with the Pakistan Army. In the villages of Majhpara, Ramcole and Mathurapur, the army murdered 10 people in addition to setting many houses on fire. The Bengali freedom fighters captured a large amount of equipment and resources from the Army in November. Another brawl took place in that month in the village of Alhadipur leading to 9 Army casualties.[3]

Administration

Once Rajbari region was a part of Jessore District. In 1811 when Faridpur District was formed Rajbari was included in it. Besides, the upazilas under Rajbari district were included in different districts in the past. Pangsha Upazila was once included into Pabna District. In 1859 Pangsha and Baliakandi were included in the newly formed Kumarkhali Upazila. In 1871, when Goalanda Upazila was formed, Pangsha and Rajbari were included in it and its headquarters was established in Rajbari. Goalanda was upgraded into a district in March 1984 and it was renamed as Rajbari District.[3]

Parliamentary seats

  1. Rajbari-1
  2. Rajbari-2

Upazilas

There are 5 upazilas in this district.[4] They are:

  1. Baliakandi Upazila
  2. Goalanda Upazila
  3. Pangsha Upazila
  4. Kalukhali Upazila
  5. Rajbari Sadar Upazila
  • Administrator of Zila Porishod: AKM Shafiqul Morshed [6][7]
  • Deputy Commissioner (DC): Dilsad Begum
  • Mayor of Rajbari Pouroshova : Mohammad Ali Choudhury[8]

Deputy Commissioner

The DC is the chief administrative and revenue officer of Rajbari District.

NameTerm
Shahiduddin Ahmad26/2/1984 - 5/10/1986
Muhammad Najmul Ahsan29/9/1986 - 25/2/1989
Zillur Rashid Chowdhury22/2/1989 - 8/1/1991
Chowdhury Ghulam Mawla13/8/1992 - 1/8/1995
Muhammad Wahidur Rahman2/8/1995 - 21/8/1995
AFM Matiur Rahman22/8/1995 - 27/4/1996
Amirul Karim22/4/1996 - 14/7/1999
ASM Hanifuddin Sarkar15/7/1999 - 28/3/2001
Raziyah Begum28/3/2001 - 25/4/2002
Bijankanti Sarkar25/4/2002 - 1/9/2004
Muhammad Nurul Alam1/9/2004 - 3/9/2006
Muhammad Jamal Husayn Majumdar3/9/2006 - 19/11/2006
Tawhidah Bulbul19/11/2006 - 26/1/2008
Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman24/1/2008 - 28/4/2009
Fayz Ahmad27/4/2009 - 27/4/2010
Sayyidah Sahana Bibi27/4/2010 - 12/12/2012
Muhammad Hasanuzzaman Kallol12/12/2012 - 20/6/2014
Arafatul Islam Jim21/6/2015 - 27/4/2015
Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Khan20/6/2014 -2/2/2016
Jinnat Ara2/2/2016 - 11/5/2017
Muhammad Shawqat Ali11/5/2017 - 24/6/2019
Dilshad BegumPresent

Education

Schools

  • Rajbari Government High School (also known as Rajbari Zilla School and previously as Goalondo High School)
  • Baliakandi Pilot Model High School
  • Rajbari Government Girls High School
  • R.S.K Institution ( It was established in 1888 by the name of Raja Surja Kumar )
  • Rajdharpur Madhyamik Bidyalay
  • Baharpur High School
  • Kola Sadar Uddin High School
  • Atdapunia High School
  • Goalanda Nazir Uddin Pilot Govt. High School
  • Goalundo Proper High School
  • Mulghor High School
  • Kashbamajail A.H High School
  • Suraj Mohini Institute & Tamijuddin Girls High School
  • Mohonpur K.B Academy
  • Nalia Shyama Mohon Institution
  • Lotus Collegiate School

Colleges

  • Rajbari Government College[8]
  • Rajbari Government Adarsha Mohila College
  • Dr. Abul Hossain University College
  • Pangsha Government College
  • Govt. Goalanda Kamrul Islam College
  • Baharpur College
  • Baliakandi Degree Collage
  • Mansur Ali Degree College
  • Mir Mosharraf Hossain Degree College
  • Jamalpur Degree College

There are also so many institutes which are popularly known by the people.

Geography and climate

The district is bounded by Pabna district on the north, Faridpur and Magura districts on the south, Manikganj district on the east, Kustia and Jhenidah districts on the west. The land of the district is mainly alluvial raised from the Padma.

Annual average temperature of this district is maximum 35.8 °C and minimum 12.6 °C. Annual rainfall is 2105 mm.

Major rivers

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 569,461    
1981 678,205+2.53%
1991 835,173+2.10%
2001 951,906+1.32%
2011 1,049,778+0.98%
2022 1,189,821+1.14%
Sources:[1][9]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rajbari District had 295,219 households and a population of 1,189,821, 15.1% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,089 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 69.4%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.[1]

Religion

Religions in Rajbari District (2011)[9]
Religion Percent
Muslims
89.78%
Hindus
10.19%
Other or not stated
0.03%
Religion in present-day Rajbari district[lower-alpha 1]
Religion Population (1941)[10]:100–101 Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[9] Percentage (2011)
Islam 211,005 63.09% 942,527 89.78%
Hinduism 123,011 36.78% 106,974 10.19%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 460 0.14% 277 0.03%
Total Population 334,476 100% 1,049,778 100%

The district is predominantly Muslim. Muslims are 942,527, Hindus 106,974, and Christians 1420. The Hindu population fell from a high of 113,000 in 1981 to 106,000 in 2011.

Places of interest

Dighi (a kind of water body) in Rajbari include Kallyan Dighi, situated in Baliakandi of Islampur union. Rajbari is situated by the bank of Padma River.

"Godar Bazar", bank of Padma River and also a well-known place of interest is situated near at Rajbari town.

Notable people

See also

Notes

  1. Goalundo subdivision of Faridpur district
  2. Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

References

  1. Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. viii, 29, 38, 45. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  3. BM Rezaul Karim (2012). "Rajbari District". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. "Rajbari District Information". Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. "জেলার পটভূমি" [Background of the District]. Rajbari Jela (in Bengali).
  6. https://zprajbari.gov.bd/%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%b0%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%9a%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a4-%e0%a6%aa%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%a4%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a8%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a7%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%97%e0%a6%a3/
  7. AL men appointed administrators
  8. Rajbari district information
  9. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Rajbari" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  10. "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
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