Rangpur, Bangladesh

Rangpur is a district of Rajshahi division of Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by Nilphamari district, on the south by Gaibandha district, on the east by Kurigram, and on the west by Dinajpur district. Rangpur town is the district headquarters.

District

The district has 3 municipalities (namely, Rangpur Sadar, Badarganj, and Kaunia), and eight Upzillas, namely, Badarganj, Gangachara, Kaunia, Rangpur Sadar, Mithapukur, Pirgachha, Pirganj, and Taraganj.

Geography

The soil composition is mainly alluvial soil (80%) of the Tista basin, and the remaining is barind soil. The temperature ranges from 32 degree to 11 degree Celcius, and the annual rainfall averages 2931 mm.

History

Mansingh, a commander of the Mughal emperor, Akbar, conquered Rangpur in 1575, but it be completely integrated with the Mughal Empire only by 1686. Names of places like Mughalbasa (literal meaning being a locality of the Mughals), and Mughalhat (literal meaning a “local market” organized by the Mughals) bear testimony to the Mughal association and past of Rangpur and its hinterland. Later on, Rangpur passed under the control of “Sarker” of Ghoraghat. During the period of the East India Company, Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion took place.

Town

Rangpur town, covering an area of around 43 square kilometers, lies on the bank of Ghagat river, and was turned into a municipality long back in 1869. The current population of the Rangpur municipality is 251,699, with 52 % male and 48 % female, and the literacy rate is 54.6 %.