Natore District

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Natore district
নাটোর
Uttara Gonobhaban 01-Porag61.jpg
Natore Rajbari-(front side) Photo by porag.jpg
Gosai Akhra 002.jpg
Chalon Bil, Natore.JPG
Clockwise from top-left: Uttara Gano Bhaban, Akhra Bhabon Chalan Beel, Natore Rajbari
BD Natore District locator map.svg
Location of Natore in Bangladesh
Natore District
Expandable map of Natore
Coordinates: 24°25′N88°56′E / 24.41°N 88.93°E / 24.41; 88.93
CountryFlag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
Division Rajshahi
Headquarters Natore
Government
   Deputy Commissioner Md. Shamim Ahmed
Area
  Total1,900.19 km2 (733.67 sq mi)
Population
 (2022) [1]
  Total1,859,922
  Density980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
6400
Area code 0771
ISO 3166 code BD-44
HDI (2019)0.612 [2]
medium · 9th of 21

Natore district is a district of Rajshahi Division located in northern Bangladesh. [3] It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi and used to be a part of Rajshahi District.

Contents

History

Natore was the District Headquarters of Rajshahi from 1769 to 1825. [4] Administrative Natore subdivision was established in 1825 under Rajshahi district, on the eve of the shifting of the headquarters.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, a battle was fought between the Pakistani army and the freedom fighters of Mukti Bahini on March 29. About 40 members of the Pakistani army including Major Aslam and Captain Ishaq were killed. On 5 May 1971 Pakistani Army killed 42 employees of North Bengal Sugar Mills (Lalpur) including the general manager of the mill, Lieutenant Anwarul Azim. They were killed near a pond in the mill campus. The pond is now known as Shaheed Sagar, and there is a memorial beside the pond.[ citation needed ]

Geography

Most parts of Natore district are plain land. Chalan Beel, the largest beel in Bangladesh, is a part of the district.

Natore District is 1,900.05 km2 (733.61 sq mi). It is bordered by Naogaon and Bogra districts to the north, Pabna and Kushtia districts to the south, Pabna and Sirajganj districts to the east, and Rajshahi district to the west. The road distance from Natore to Dhaka is 220 kilometres. Lalpur is the lowest Average annual rainfall area of Bangladesh. [4]

Etymology

In 1845, Natore Mahakuma was established. The Natore Municipality was established in 1869.[ citation needed ]

Economy

Kacha Golla is a kind of sweet, made from milk and available in Natore District. Natore er KachaGolla1 (One Kind of Sweet).JPG
Kacha Golla is a kind of sweet, made from milk and available in Natore District.

The economy of Natore is based on agriculture.

There are 2 sugar mills in Natore; North Bengal Sugar Mills Limited and Natore Sugar Mills Limited. They are the enterprises of the Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corporation. Pran Agro Ltd., Ekdala, Natore Sadar (2005) is a private food manufacturing plant of Pran-RFL Group. Jamuna Distillery Limited (1995) is another private industry of Jamuna Group. The distillery produces industrial alcohol, and is situated near Natore Sugar Mills Limited.

Hats, bazaars and fairs

The total number of hats and bazaars are 152. There are 13 fairs. Bonpara Bazar, (which is situated 18 km from Natore town) is a traditional bazar which sits every Saturday and Tuesday Bonpara is one of the biggest hats of Natore and Bangladesh.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 858,619    
1981 1,067,058+3.15%
1991 1,387,761+2.66%
2001 1,521,336+0.92%
2011 1,706,673+1.16%
2022 1,859,922+0.78%
Sources: [1] [5]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Natore District has 501,957 households and a population of 1,859,922 with an average 3.66 people per household. Among the population, 305,843 (16.44%) inhabitants are under 10 years of age. The population density is 979 people per km2. Natore District has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 71.51%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 97.88 males per 100 females. Approximately, 19.15% (356,166) of the population live in urban areas. Ethnic population is 11,198 (0.60%), mainly Oraon, Mal Pahari and Santal. [1]

Religions in Natore District (2022) [1]
ReligionPercent
Islam
93.78%
Hinduism
5.76%
Christianity
0.42%
Other or not stated
0.04%
Religion in present-day Natore District
Religion1941 [6] :88–89 [lower-alpha 1] 1981 [5] 1991 [5] 2001 [5] 2011 [5] 2022 [7]
Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 276,23774.02%943,22488.39%1,255,55090.47%1,409,63492.66%1,590,91993.22%1,744,27493.78%
Hinduism Om.svg 85,73122.97%112,91810.58%117,5308.47%101,5506.68%103,7476.08%107,1245.76%
Tribal religion9,8632.64%
Christianity Christian cross.svg 8550.23%6,2950.59%8,4320.61%8,2820.54%8,0540.47%7,8440.42%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 4990.14%4,6210.44%6,2490.45%1,8700.12%3,9530.23%6800.04%
Total Population373,185100%1,067,058100%1,387,761100%1,521,336100%1,706,673100%1,859,922100%

Muslims make up 93.78% of the population, while Hindus are 5.76% of the population. The Muslim population has constantly increased, while the Hindu population has generally decreased. [5]

Administrative structure

Upazilas

Natore was the district headquarters of Rajshahi from 1769–1825. At the eve of that replacement, Natore was declared as a Subdivision. That event made Natore the first Subdivision of Bangladesh. Natore was established as a district in 1984.

Monument with names of martyrs Natore-Monument.jpg
Monument with names of martyrs

There are seven upazilas in the district: [3] [8]

Pourasavas

There are eight pourasavas in Natore district, 4 of them being the seat of upazilas (sub-districts). They are:[ citation needed ]

  1. Bagatipara
  2. Banpara (Baraigram Upazila)(A class Pouroshova)
  3. Baraigram (Baraigram Upazila)
  4. Gopalpur (Lalpur Upazila)
  5. Gurdaspur
  6. Naldanga
  7. Natore
  8. Singra

Natore town

The town has a population of 120,000; male population percentage is 51.57%, female population percentage is 48.43%. The density of population is 4,825.[ citation needed ] Chalkbuddhnath, Station bajar, Borgasa, Alaipur, Kanaikhali, Nichabazar, Lalbazar, Madrasamor, Bongojal are the most populated areas of Natore town.[ citation needed ]

Administration

The Deputy Commissioner is Mohammad Shamim Ahmed. The Superintendent of Police is Liton Kumar Shaha and the Administrator of Zila Porishod is Advocate Sajedur Rahman Khan Chowdhury. [9]

Points of interest

Tourist attractions in Natore include Rani Bhabanir Rajbari, the palace of Rani Bhabani of Natore. [10] It is a historical palace, situated in the Bongojol area nearby Natore zero (Madrasamore/old bus stand). There is a college and schools named after Rani Bhobani.

Kachari Bari, Natore. Kachari House of Choto Taraf.jpg
Kachari Bari, Natore.

Chalan Beel is a large natural wetland. During the monsoon, the area of the Bil increases and touches four upazilas (sub-districts) of the district. The picnic parties come to Cholon Bil every season.

Uttara Gonobhaban (formerly known as Dighapotia Rajbari) is the former residence of the kings of Natore. Today it is the official residence of the Prime Minister in North Bengal.[ citation needed ]

Notable persons

See also

Notes

  1. Natore subdivision of Rajshahi district
  2. Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajshahi Division</span> Division of Bangladesh

Rajshahi Division is one of the eight first-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of 18,174.4 square kilometres (7,017.2 sq mi) and a population at the 2022 Census of 20,353,119. Rajshahi Division consists of 8 districts, 70 Upazilas and 1,092 Unions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kushtia District</span> District of Bangladesh in Khulna

Kushtia District is a district in the Khulna administrative division of western Bangladesh. Kushtia is the second largest municipality in Bangladesh and the eleventh largest city in the country. Kushtia has existed as a separate district since the partition of India. Prior to that, Kushtia was name of a subdivision of Nadia district. Kushtia is the birthplace of many historical figures including Mir Mosharraf Hossain (1847–1912), Bagha Jatin (1879–1915) and Lalon (1774–1890). Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore lived his early life at Shelaidaha, a village in the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naogaon District</span> District of Bangladesh in Rajshahi Division

Naogaon District is a district in northern Bangladesh, part of the Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sirajganj District</span> District of Bangladesh in Rajshahi Division

Sirajganj District is a district in the North Bengal region of Bangladesh, located in the Rajshahi Division. It is the 25th largest district by area and 9th largest district by population in Bangladesh. It is known as the gateway to North Bengal.

North Bengal or Uttar Banga is a term used for the north-western part of Bangladesh and northern part of West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division. Generally, it is the area lying west of Jamuna River and north of Padma River and includes the Barind Tract. The West Bengal part denotes Jalpaiguri Division and the Malda division together. The Bihar parts include the Kishanganj district. It also includes parts of Darjeeling Hills. Traditionally, the Ganga River divides Bengal into South Bengal and North Bengal, divided again into Terai and Dooars regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rani Bhabani</span> Queen

Rani Bhabani, also known as Ardhabangeshwari(অর্ধবঙ্গেশ্বরী) and Natorer Rani or the Queen of Natore, was a Hindu zamindar during the British colonial era in what is now Rajshahi, Bangladesh. She became the zamindar after the death of her husband Raja Ramkanta Moitra (Ray), 'Zamindar' of Natore estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baral River</span>

Baral river is one of the offshoots of the Ganges, starts its journey at Charghat Upazila of Rajshahi District of Bangladesh. The Baral, flowing through Natore and Pabna, meets with the Gumani River at the east of Bhangura and finally meets with the Hurasagar River after joining with the Karatoya south of Shahjadpur Upazila. The river is approximately 147 kilometres (91 mi) long, and 120 metres (410 ft) wide and 6 metres (20 ft) deep on average. The river receives water from the Ganges only in the monsoon season. But it maintains its flow throughout the year with local runoff water and water from Chalan Beel. Its drainage area is about 230 square kilometres (89 sq mi). Some important places located on the banks of the Baral are: Charghat, Baraigram, Bagatipara, Gurudaspur, Chatmohar, Bhangura and Bera upazilas of Bangladesh. The Baral Bridge is located on this river at Bhangura Upazila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daulatpur Upazila, Kushtia</span> Upazila in Khulna, Bangladesh

Daulatpur is an upazila of Kushtia District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh. Daulatpur Thana was formed in 1854. It became an upazila in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atrai Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Atrai is the southernmost upazila of Naogaon District, located in Bangladesh's Rajshahi Division. It is named after its principal watercourse, the Atrai River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagatipara Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Bagatipara is an upazila of Natore District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baraigram Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Baraigram is an upazila of Natore District, located in the Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurudaspur Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Gurudaspur is an upazila of Natore District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalpur Upazila</span> Administrative area in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Lalpur is an upazila of Natore District, located the Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natore Sadar Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Natore Sadar is an upazila of Natore District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singra Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Singra is an upazila of Natore District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagha Upazila</span> Upazila in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Bagha is an upazila of the Rajshahi District, located in Bangladesh's Rajshahi Division.

The Singranatore family is the consanguineous name given to a noble family in Rajshahi of landed aristocracy in erstwhile East Bengal and West Bengal that were prominent in the nineteenth century till the fall of the monarchy in India by Royal Assent in 1947 and subsequently abolished by the newly formed democratic Government of East Pakistan in 1950 by the State Acquisition Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dighapatia Raj</span>

Dighapatia Raj was a zamindari in present-day Rajshahi, which was ruled by this dynasty of 7 generations of Rajas from early 18th century till the mid-20th century; when the democratic government took power after the end of the British Monarchy's rule in India, in 1950, the East Pakistan government abolished aristocracies and the zamindari system in present-day Bangladesh. The family was seated at the Dighapatia Palace.

Nagar River begins in the Bogra District of Bangladesh and ends in Natore District.

The Chalanbil's Horse Races are annual horse races that take place in the Chalan Beel region of Pabna, Natore, Sirajganj, Bogra, and Naogaon district, in Bangladesh.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Natore (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN   978-984-475-230-6.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 Md. Rezaul Karim (2012). "Natore District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. 1 2 Natorer Gaurab (The Glory of Natore), edited by Md. Mokshuder Rahman, A Publication of Natore District Administration, December 1989.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Natore" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics .
  6. "Census of Inda, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF).
  7. Population and Housing Census 2022 District Census Handbook: Natore (PDF). Vol. 1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. July 2024.
  8. Mohammad Zakaria (21 May 2014). "59.47% vote in 6th phase upazila polls". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  9. "Natore District". www.natore.gov.bd. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  10. ABM Mahmood (2012). "Rani Bhabani". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  11. William Hunter, Annals of Rural Bengal.
  12. Mukherji, Raju, Eden Gardens Legend & Romance: Eden Gardens, the heritage cricket venue, celebrated 150 years. Kolkatatoday.com. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  13. Division, Bangladesh Ministry of Cabinet Affairs Establishment; Ishaq, Muhammad. Bangladesh District Gazetteers: Rajshahi 1976. Bangladesh Government Press. pp. 240–41. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  14. Akhter, Shamima (2012). "Zaman, Sultana". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.