Kurigram District
Kurigram
কুড়িগ্রাম | |
|---|---|
| Kurigram District | |
 Location of Kurigram District in Bangladesh | |
 Expandable map of Kurigram District | |
  Kurigram Location in Rangpur Division | |
| Coordinates: 25°45′N 89°40′E / 25.75°N 89.66°ECoordinates: 25°45′N 89°40′E / 25.75°N 89.66°E | |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Division | Rangpur Division |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Md Rezaul Karim [1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,245.04 km2 (866.81 sq mi) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
| • Total | 2,069,273 |
| • Density | 920/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| Literacy rate | |
| • Total | 56% (2011) |
| Time zone | UTC+06:00 (BST) |
| Postal code | 5600 |
| HDI (2018) | 0.591[2] medium · 15th of 21 |
| Website | kurigram |
Kurigram District (Bengali: কুড়িগ্রাম) is a district of Bangladesh in the Rangpur Division. The district is locted in northern Bangladesh along the country's border with India.[3] Under Indian rule, the area was organized as a mahakuma and was not established as a district until 1984.
Etymology[]
The name "Kurigram" is derived from the words Kuri and Gram. Kuri means "twenty" and Gram means "village" in Kole, a member of the Austro-Asiatic language group.[4]
History[]
The region has historically been viewed as a part of Gaurabardhan (today Mahasthangarh) or Kamrup (today Assam). When the Kamrup kingdom was divided into many small kingdoms, the northern half of the Kurigram area was controlled by the new polity Cooch Behar, while the southern half became a part of the Uari kingdom.[4]
At the beginning of the 12th century, the Khen dynasty emerged as a power in the area of Kurigram, led by such kings as Chakradhwaj and Nilambor. The capital of this new dynasty was located in Chatra, today found in the Ulipur upazila. In 1418, Hosen Shah, the Sultan of Gouro, attacked and defeated Nilambar. Nilambar was killed in battle and the area fell under the control of Muslims, eventually becoming a part of the Mughal Empire.[4]
When the British regime took control over India, Hare Ram and Debi Sing, a broker of the East India Company, were placed in charge of the area as dewans (controllers). In 1770, the mismanagement of the East India Company caused the Great Bengal famine, leading to numerous rebellions led by native Kurigramis. At that time Kurigram was not one administrative unit, but was split up into the districts of Borobari, Ulipur, Chimari, and Nageshwari.[4]
On 22 April 1875, the British government established the Kurigram mahakuma under the name "Kuriganj". It consisted of eight thanas called Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, Nageshwar, Bhurungamari, and Pulbari. It as established as a district on 1 February 1984 and today consists of nine upazilas.[4]
Geography[]
Kurigram District is located in the northern region of Bangladesh along the border with India. Its population was 2,069,273 as of the 2011 Bangladeshi census. The district is bordered by the Cooch Behar and Gaibandha districts of India to the north and east respectively, and the Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts of Bangladesh to the west. In total, the district has 278.28 kilometers of international border with India. The district consists of 9 upazilas, 72 unions, and 1,872 villages.[5]
The climate of the district is higher in the summer and lower in the winter compared to other parts of Bangladesh. The average maximum temperature is around 32–33 degrees Celsius and the average minimum temperature is around 5-10 degrees Celsius. Like other parts of Bangladesh, the district experiences heavy rainfall during the rainy season, and the average annual rainfall is about 3,000 millimetres (120 in).[5]
Several rivers flow through the center of Kurigram. The major rivers are the Brahmaputra, Dharla, and Tista. Minor rivers include the Dudhkumar, Phulkuar, Gangadhar, Jinjiram, and others. The three northern upazilas of the district were recently connected to the southern upazilas by a bridge over the Dharla river.[6]
Economy[]
 | This section does not cite any sources. (March 2021) |
Kurigram's primary economic activity is that of agriculture. Its main products include rice, jute, wheat, tobacco, and potatoes. During the winter season, while the groundwater level is lower than in the rainy season, irrigation systems are used to cultivate several high yield varieties of rice. New cold storage facilities have recently added value and stability to the economy of the district by allowing for agricultural products, especially potatoes, to be preserved during the hot summer season.
Language[]
A majority of people in the region speak the Rangpuri dialect of Bengali, but are able to understand formal Bengali. People from larger towns in the district are more likely to speak in proper Bengali than those in village areas, and most of them can speak in English as well. The indigenous people in the district usually speak the Rangpuri language.
Food[]
Rice, vegetables, meat, and fish curries are some of the most common foods in the district. Various kinds of freshwater fish collected from the rivers which flow through the district are widely available. Korti, a small white fish which is similar to the Ilish fish in other parts of Bangladesh, is very popular in the district. Today, fast foods are also growing in popularity.
Subdivision[]
Kurigram District is divided into nine upazilas (subdistricts):[3]
- Bhurungamari Upazila: northernmost subdistrict, easily connected with the other two northern subdistricts. Shares a border with India.
- Char Rajibpur Upazila: island subdistrict in the south of Kurigram. Only accessible via water transport.
- Chilmari Upazila: subdistrict found on the banks of the central rivers. The subdistrict is an important port and economic hub.
- Kurigram Sadar Upazila: central subdistrict of Kurigram on the bank of the Dharla river. It is considered the main subdistrict of Kurigram.
- Nageshwari Upazila: northern subdistrict and largest by size.
- Phulbari Upazila: northern subdistrict on the border with India and the Bengali district of Lalmonhirhat.
- Rajarhat Upazila: western subdistrict which has developed as a business center.
- Raomari Upazila: independent subdistrict which played an important role in the Bangladeshi War for Independence.
- Ulipur Upazila
Places of interest[]
- North Bengal Museum
- Dhorla Bridge
- Shahi Mosque[7]
- Chandi Mandir[7]
- Dolmancha Mandir[7]
- Bir Protik Taramon Bibi's house
- Naodanga Royal Palace
- Sindur Moti
- Enclaves
- Pangeshwari Temple
- Bhetarbandh Royal Palace[7]
- Chandamari Mosque[7]
- Two Canons of Panga Kingdom (Preserved at the BGB Gate)
- Kazir Mosque Ulipur Kurigram
- Chilmari land port[7]
- Ghogadaha Bazar[7]
Infrastructure[]
Health[]
In Kurigram, there is a single government hospital, two private hospitals, and an eye hospital. In addition, there are eight upazila-level health complexes, a maternity clinic, and a tuberculosis clinic in the district. The district has 100% Expanded Program on Immunization coverage, 96% sanitation coverage, and 96% pure drinking water coverage.[8]
Transport[]
| This section does not cite any sources. (March 2021) |
Bus transportation is the most widely used transportation in the district. Railways also connect the Raharjat subdistrict in the west with the Ulipur and Chilmari subdistrict in he south. Boats and ferries are also used to cross rivers in the district and reach the mainland of the district. Rickshaws are used as a cheaper method of transport and can be found across the district.
Education[]
| This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
Like in other parts of Bangladesh, there is a four level system for education. Students spend five years in Primary, five years in Secondary, two years in Higher Secondary, and four to nine years in Tertiary Education. There are 43 colleges, 257 high schools, 563 registered and 552 non-registered primary schools, 224 madrasa, 1 polytechnical institute, and 1 technical school and college in the district.[8] Along with Bengali, English is compulsory at all levels of education.
- Kurigram Govt. College
- Kurigram Collectorate School and College
- Majida College
- Khalilganj High School and College
- Border Guard public School (BGPS), kurigram
- Kurigram Nursing Institute
- Kurigram Technical school & College
- Shishu Niketan kurigram
- kisoloy primary school
- Kurigram River View High school
- Kurigram Alia Kamil Madrasah
- Kurigram Farigat Madrasha(only for girls)
Notable people[]
- Taramon Bibi (freedom fighter)[9]
- Syed Shamsul Haque (poet and writer)[9]
- Kanai Lal Sarker (politician)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ pmis.mopa.gov.bd/pmis/Forms/dclist.php
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
- ^ a b Md Kamal Hossain (2012). "Kurigram District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ a b c d e কুড়িগ্রাম জেলার পটভূমি [District Background]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
- ^ a b ভৌগোলিক পরিচিতি [Geographical Introduction]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
- ^ Kurigram
- ^ a b c d e f g দর্শনীয় স্থান [Places of interest]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
- ^ a b একনজরে কুড়িগ্রাম জেলা [Kurigram district at a glance]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
- ^ a b প্রখ্যাত ব্যক্তিত্ব [Eminent personalities]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kurigram District. |
- Kurigram District
- Districts of Bangladesh