Sirajganj District

Sirajganj District (Bengali: সিরাজগঞ্জ জেলা) is a district in the North Bengal region of Bangladesh, located in the Rajshahi Division.[3] It is an economically important district of Bangladesh. Sirajganj district is the 25th largest district by area and 9th largest district by population in Bangladesh. It is known as the gateway to North Bengal.

Sirajganj District
সিরাজগঞ্জ জেলা
District of Bangladesh
Clockwise from top-left: Shahzadpur Dargah Mosque, Jamuna Bridge, Hard Point, Jamuna Eco Park, Chalan Beel, China Barrage
Nickname: 
The Gateway to North Bengal
Location of Sirajganj District in Bangladesh
Location of Sirajganj District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Sirajganj District
Coordinates: 24.33°N 89.62°E / 24.33; 89.62
Country Bangladesh
DivisionRajshahi Division
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerDr. Farook Ahmed
Area
 • Total2,498 km2 (964 sq mi)
 Flood plain and Marsh land
Elevation
7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total3,357,708
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Sirajganji, Shirazgonji
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
6700-6760
HDI (2018)0.606[2]
medium · 10th of 21
Websitewww.sirajganj.gov.bd

Its administrative headquarter is Sirajganj. It is famous for its hand-loom cottage industries. In 1885, Sirajganj emerged as a thana. Formally under Mymensingh District in Dacca Division, it was transferred to Pabna District on 15 February 1866.[4] It was upgraded to become a subdivision of Pabna in 1885. In 1984, it was upgraded to a district.

History

In 1762, a severe earthquake changed the flow of the Jamuna river and created a new river named Baral. On the west bank of this Baral river, new land emerged and most of the land of surrounding it belonged to Zamindar Siraj Ali Chowdhury. So, after his name gradually this area got its recognition as Sirajganj.

The historic Salanga Movement in 1922 led to 1200 deaths, most notably in a massacre of independence activists on 27 January 1922, referred to as the Salanga massacre in Bengali history and memorialized with "Salanga Day" annually.[5] In 1924, a conference of All India Congress Party there. The convention of Brahmo Samaj in Sirajganj took place in 1928. In 1932, Kazi Nazrul Islam, currently known as the National Poet of Bangladesh visited Sirajganj. In 1940, the then Prime Minister of Bengal, A. K. Fazlul Huq laid the foundation stone of Sirajganj Government College. In 1942, a conference of All-India Muslim League there was attended by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Geography

Sirajganj District is the gateway to the North Bengal. It is bordered on the north by Bogra District and Natore District; on the west by Natore District and Pabna District; on the south by Pabna District and Manikganj District; on the east Manikganj District, Tangail District and Jamalpur District.

Sirajganj District of Rajshahi division has an area of about 2,497.92 square kilometres (964.45 sq mi). The main rivers are Jamuna, Baral, Ichamati, Karatoya, Phuljor and Hurasagor. The annual average temperature reaches a maximum of 34.6 °C, and a minimum of 11.9 °C. The annual rainfall is 1,610 millimetres (63 in).

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 1,559,007—    
1981 1,878,025+2.70%
1991 2,263,573+1.88%
2001 2,693,814+1.76%
2011 3,097,489+1.41%
2022 3,357,708+0.74%
Sources:[1][6]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Sirajganj District had 842,314 households and a population of 3,357,708, 20.2% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,398 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 Sirajganj district (2011)[6]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 95.19%
Hinduism
 
 4.57%
Other or not stated
 
 0.24%
Religion in present-day Sirajganj district[lower-alpha 1]
Religion Population (1941)[7]: 96–97  Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[6] Percentage (2011)
Islam 816,539 79.52% 2,948,505 95.19%
Hinduism 204,842 19.95% 147,514 4.57%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 5497 0.54% 1,470 0.24%
Total Population 1,026,878 100% 3,097,489 100%

Muslims make up 95.19% of the population, while Hindus are 4.57% of the population. The Hindu population has remained relatively constant while the Muslim population has constantly increased. The remaining 0.24% people follow other religions, mainly Christianity and Sarnaism.[6]

Language

Most of the people of this district are Bengalis, nearly 99.16%. They speak a local dialect of Bengali called Sirajganji dialect. The remaining 0.84% people are tribals, mainly Oraon and Mahato. The tribal population is 19,772.

Languages in Sirajganj district (2011)[6]
Language Percent
Bengali
 
 99.16%
Others
 
 0.84%

Economy

Sirajganj District is economically one of the most important district of Bangladesh. It is known for its unique economic structure. Sirajganj District has its own identity of clothes. Half of entire Bangladesh's weaving industries are in only Sirajganj District. Sirajganj District's great communication system helps to grow the entire North Bengal and Bangladesh's economy. Almost all kinds of crops are cultivated in this district.

Points of interest
  • Chalan Beel : Chalan Beel is a wetland in Bangladesh. It is a large inland depression, marshy in character, with rich flora and fauna. Forty-seven rivers and other waterways flow into the Chalan Beel. As silt builds up in the beel, its size is being reduced.
  • Homestead of Behula
  • Shiva Temple
  • Maha Prabhu Temple
  • Gopinath Bigraha
  • Kalika Debi Bigraha
  • Pratap Dighi
  • Joysagar Dighi
  • House of Suchitra Sen
  • Sirajganj Road : Sirajganj Road is one of the most important crossroads of entire Bangladesh
  • China Barrages : There are four barrages located near Sirajganj city which are also a part of Sirajganj economic zone.
  • Sirajganj Hard point
  • Jamuna Eco Park
  • Tarash Palace
  • Navaratna Temple
  • Katar Mahal Jamidar bari
  • Rautara Jamidar bari
  • Sannal Jamidar bari
  • Elliott Bridge : A bridge located in the centre of the Sirajganj city.
  • Makka Aoulia Mosque
  • Shahjadpur Dargah Mosque
  • Shahjadpur Kachharibari
  • Tomb of Khaja Yunus Ali Enaetpuri
  • Tomb of Shamsuddin Tabrizi
  • Tomb of Abdul Ali Baki Shah
  • Tomb of Makhdum Shah Doula
  • Jamuna Bridge : Also known as the Bangabandhu Bridge. It is 4.8 kilometers long and it has 50 pillars and 49 spans.
  • House of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani
  • House of Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji
  • Rasel Park
  • Milkvita
  • Baghabari Riverport
  • Meghai Riverport

Administration

Sirajganj Sub-division was established in 1885 under Pabna district and it was turned into a district in 1984. Of the nine upazilas of the district Ullahpara is the largest (414.43 square kilometres (160.01 sq mi)) and Kamarkhanda is the smallest (91.61 square kilometres (35.37 sq mi)). Moreover, the district has six municipals, six Parliament seats, 82 unions and 2016 villages.

List of Upazilas

There are nine (9) Upazilas, namely :

Transport

Sirajganj District's transportation system is very good. It has the most important highway and railway of Bangladesh which connects the entire North Bengal and a part of South Bengal with the rest of the country. It is very easy to travel through the district because of its great transport system. It has the 2nd largest bridge Jamuna Bridge and the largest railway bridge of Bangladesh. Sirajganj District is also famous for its River-ports.

Like many other districts in Bangladesh, Sirajganj is also a district with many rivers. The main bridges are Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge over the River Jamuna, Nalka Bridge Over the River Foljodre, Eliot Bridge etc.

Education

There are 3 medical colleges in the district, the public Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, established in 2014, the private North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, established in 2000, and the private Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College & Hospital, established in 2005. They are respectively allowed to admit 65, 85, and 95 students annually.[8]

There are 2 universities in the district, the public Rabindra University, established in 2017 and the private Khwaja Yunus Ali University, established in 2012.

There are 6 government colleges under National University in the district. They are Islamia Government College, Government Akbar Ali College, Sirajganj Government College, Government Kazipur Mansur Ali College, Government Rashidazzoha Womens College, Government Shahjadpur College.[9][3]

There are 3 government high schools in the district. They are B.L. Government Boys High School, Saleha Ishaque Government Girls High School and Kazipur A.M.U. Government Girls High School.

Notable people

Notes
  1. Sirajganj was a subdivision of Pabna 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, 28, 30, 39, 44, 46. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  3. Kamrul Islam (2012). "Sirajganj 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. E M Lewis (1868). "Mymensingh District". Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division. Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press Company. p. 213.
  5. "The Salanga Massacre of 1922: Bangladesh's forgotten bloodbath", by Shahnawaz Khan Chandan, The Daily Star (Dhaka), January 25, 2019)
  6. "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Sirajganj" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  7. "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF).
  8. "Statistical Year Book Bangladesh 2018" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. May 2019. pp. 485–486.
  9. "List of Colleges". Department of Secondary and Higher Education. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. Sartori, Andrew (2014). Liberalism in Empire: An Alternative History. University of California Press. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-520-95757-2.
  11. "Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani". Encyclopedia of World Biography Online. Gale. 1998. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. Rozina Kader (2012). "Tarkabagish, Maulana Abdur Rashid". 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.
  13. Md. Azom Baig (2012). "Ali, Captain M Mansur". 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.
  14. ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি [Language and culture]. Sirajganj District (in Bengali).
  15. Topu, Ahmed Humayun Kabir (7 April 2009). "Screen legend Suchitra Sen's ancestral home occupied". The Daily Star.
  16. Rana Razzaq (2012). "Shiraji, Ismail Hossain". 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.
  17. "Former AL MP Abdul Latif Mirza dies at 63". bdnews24.com. 5 November 2007.
  18. Sajahan Miah (2012). "Sharafuddin, Abdullah Al-Muti". 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.
  19. Shazu, Shah Alam (1 December 2010). "'I always work in my own way'". The Daily Star.
  20. Shazu, Shah Alam (4 October 2017). "Birthday felicitations for Zahid Hasan!". The Daily Star.
  21. "Får endelig tegne hva han vil". Journalen (in Norwegian Bokmål). Oslo Metropolitan University. 31 May 2011.
  22. Hossain, Selina; Islam, Nurul; Hossain, Mobarak, eds. (2000). Bangla Academy Dictionary of Writers. Bangla Academy. p. 115. ISBN 984-07-4052-0.
  • Bangladesh Population Census 2011.
  • Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  • Cultural survey report of Sirajganj District 2007:
  • Cultural survey report of Upazilas of Sirajganj District 2007.
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