Rajshahi Division

Rajshahi Division রাজশাহী বিভাগ
Division
Map of Rajshahi Division
Coordinates:
Country	Bangladesh
Capital	Rajshahi
Area
• Total	18,153.08 km2 (7,008.94 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	18,484,858
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)

Rajshahi Division (Bengali: রাজশাহী বিভাগ) is one of the seven administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of 18,174.4 km² and a population at the 2011 Census of 18,329,000 (preliminary figures). Rajshahi Division consists of 8 districts, 70 Upazilas (the next lower administrative tier) and 1,092 Unions (the lowest administrative tier). This division is characterized by its cheap labour force. It has an excellent rail and road communication infrastructure. The divisional capital of Rajshahi is only six-seven hours road journey away from Dhaka, the capital city.

Until 2010 this Division comprised 16 districts, but early in that year it was divided into two, when a new Division (Rangpur Division) was formed out of the 8 northerly districts that until then had been part of Rajshahi Division. Rajshahi was dominated by various Rajas, Maharajas and Zamindars.

Location

Rajshahi Division is in the mid western corner of Bangladesh. The famous Padma River borders Rajshahi Division on the south and another famous river, Jamuna River, lies across the eastern border. In the West, Rajshahi Division shares a border with India.

Districts of Rajshahi

• Joypurhat
• Bogra
• Naogaon
• Natore
• Chapainawabganj
• Pabna
• Rajshahi
• Sirajganj

Major places

The major cities of Rajshahi division are Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Bogra and Pabna. Rajshahi has an airport, with daily flights to Dhaka and Saidpur.

Education

The major educational institutes in Rajshahi are:

• University of Rajshahi (RU)
• Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET)
• Rajshahi Medical College (RMC)
• Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogra
• Joypurhat Girls Cadet College, Joypurhat
• Rajshahi College
• Rajshahi Cadet College
• Azizul Haque College, Bogra
• Bogra Zilla school
• Govt. Edward College, Pabna
• Pabna University of Science and Technology
• Pabna Medical College, Pabna
• Joypurhat Government College
• Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, Sirajganj

The University of Rajshahi (established 1953) is the second largest university of Bangladesh with around 50 disciplines and 6 institutes.

Points of interest

Varendra Research Museum, the oldest museum of this region.

Chalan Beel
as seen from the highway

Rajshahi is a well known tourist destination within Bangladesh, with there being many interesting landmarks.

Notable places include:

• Sompur Bihar, a large Buddhist monastery.
• Varendra Research Museum in Rajshahi is one of the foremost museums specializing in history of ancient Bengal.
• Mahasthangarh, home to archaeological sites of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods.
• Shishu Uddan, Joypurhat.
• Asranga & Nandail Dighi, Joypurhat.
• Puthia Temple Complex and Palaces, the palaces of old Jamidars, some Kilometers drive from Rajshahi city.
• Bagha Mosque, in Bagha thana of Rajshahi District.
• Lokma Rajbari, Joypurhat.
• Uttara Gonobhaban, palace of the famous Queen of Dighapatia, located in Natore district.
• Baro Shibaloy, Joypurhat.
• Kusumba Mosque, Naogaon.
• Sona Mosque, Chapai Nawabgonj
• Chalan Beel, the largest water body in Bangladesh, spreading in Natore and Pabna districts.

Crops

Rajshahi is well known for its fruit, particularly for mango and lichi. Rajshahi also produces a lot of corps and vegetables like potato, carrot, rice, onion, wheat, sugarcane, pulse, spicy, banana etc. Joypurhat is known as the storehouse of food of Bangladesh.

Notable residents

• Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani
• Mohammad Ali Bogra
• Ziaur Rahman
• Khaleda Zia
• Tareq Rahman
• James
• Manzoor Alam Beg
• Montazur Rahman Akbar
• Mushfiqur Rahim
• Partha Pratim Majumder
• Samson H. Chowdhury
• Zahid Hasan
• Apu Biswas
• Mahiya Mahi
• Bidya Sinha Mim
• Taijul Islam

External links

• E-Rajshahi, An online portal for information and government services managed by Rajshahi City Corporation