Natore District
Encyclopedia
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
, and used to be part of Rajshahi district.
History
Natore was the District Head Quarter of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. Administration Natore subdivision was established in 1825 under Rajshahi district, at the eve of the replacement of the HQ and it was turned into a district in 1984. It consists of 6 upazilas, 4 municipalities, 36 wards, 93 mahallas, 52 unions, 1272 mouzas and 1377 villages. The upazilas are natore sadar, bagatipara, baraigram, gurudaspur, lalpur and singra.Archaeological heritage and relics Natore Rajbari and Dighapatia Rajbari (Uttara Ganabhaban), Dayarampur Rajbari (Bagatipara) and Budpara Kali Mandir (Lalpur).
Historical events Indigo resistance movements were held in this district during 1859 to 1860. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 a direct battle was fought between the Pakistan army and the rebels on 29 March in which about 40 members of the Pakistan army including Major Aslam and Captain Ishaq were killed. On 5 May,1971,Pakistan Army killed 42 employees of North Bengal Sugar Mills(Lalpur) including the then General Manager of the mill Lieutenant Anwarul Azim,they were killed near a pond in the mill campus.The pond is known as “Shaheed Sagar” and there is a memorial in the pond side. Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 5, memorial 1.
Origin of Name
Once upon a time Cholon Bill was being spread over Natore. At that time one day raja ram jibon was traveling by boat for searching suitable place for his capital. While traveling in Cholon bill by boat, he saw that a frog caught a snake.By seeing this his fellow learned personals told him that it will be his desired place. Then he ordered the boatmen- “NAO THARO”. It means stop the boat. From this word “NAO THARO” this place was named “NATOR”.At first Natore was a bill whose name was Chaivhanga. At 1706 Raja Ramjibon Rai established his capital here by filling the bill. Up to 1821 Natore was the central office of Rajshahi district. At 1845 Natore Mahukuma was established. Natore Municipally was established at 1869. Natore became district at 1984. “Indigo resistance” movements were held in this district during 1859 to 1860. 1971 a direct battle was fought between the Pak army and the freedom fighters on 29 March in which about 40 members of the Pak army including Major Aslam and Capt Ishaq were killed.
Geography
Most part of Natore district is plain land. Chalan BeelChalan 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...
, the largest beel
Beel
A beel or a bheel is a term for a pond with static water , in the Ganges - Brahmaputra flood plains of the Eastern Indian states of West Bengal, and Assam and in the country of Bangladesh...
in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
is in part of Natore district.
Natore District (Rajshahi division) with an area of 1896.05 km², is bounded by Naogaon and Bogra
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
districts on the north, Pabna
Pabna
Pabna is a town in Rajshahi Division ofBangladesh and the administrative capital of eponymous Pabna District. It is located on the north bank of Padma river and has a population of about 138,000.-Name:...
and Kushtia districts on the south, Pabna
Pabna
Pabna is a town in Rajshahi Division ofBangladesh and the administrative capital of eponymous Pabna District. It is located on the north bank of Padma river and has a population of about 138,000.-Name:...
and Sirajganj
Sirajganj
Sirajganj is a town in central Bangladesh, lying just west of the Brahmaputra River and about 70 mi. northwest of Dhaka.- Overview :...
districts on the east, Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
district on the west. Average annual temperature: maximum 37.8°C, minimum 11.2°C; annual rainfall 1862 mm. Rivers: 10 most noted of which are Atrai, Baral, Narod, Nandakunja; Chalan Beel is notable.The road distance from Natore to Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
is 220 Kilometres. Lalpur is the lowest Average annual rainfall area of Bangladesh.
Demography & Education
Population: 1521359; male 50.86%, female 49.14%; Muslim 90.47%, Hindu 8.47%, Christian 0.61% and others 0.45%; ethnic national: Santal.Religious institutions: Mosque 2589, temple 216, church 12.
Literacy Rate: Average literacy 59%; male 65% and female 53%.
Educational institutions: government college 5, non-government college 89 Khalishadanga degree college,Dhanaidah,Baraigram,natore is one of them oldest college, government high school 3, non-government high school 241, government primary school 407, non-government primary school 281, madrasa 133, teacher's training college 1, nursing institution 1.
Nawab Siraj-Ud Dowla(N.S)Govt. College(1956)is the largest and oldest college of Natore.there are
Infrastructure
Communication facilities: Roads: pucca 236.04 km, semi pucca 35 km and mud road 1703.85; railways 64 km.NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are BRAC, CARE, Grameen bank, ITCL, Thengamara Mahila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) etc.
Health centres- District hospital 1, upazila health complex 5, TB hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1, mission hospital 1, maternity and child care centre 12, family planning centre 27.
Upa-Zillas
Natore was the District HQ of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. At the eve of that replacement,Natore was decleared as a Subdivision; that's why Natore is the first Subdivision of Bangladesh. Natore has been established as a district in 1984. At present,Itconsists of 6 Upa-Zillas :
1. Natore Sadar, 2. Bagatipara, 3. Lalpur, 4. Baraigram, 5. Singra and 6. Gurudaspur
Bagatipara is one of the most important Upa-Zillas of Natore. It is a model thana (Police Station) of Natore.Quadirabad Cantonment of Bangladesh Army(Engineering Core)is situated at Dayarampur of Bagatipara Upazilla.
Kalishadanga degree collage,Dhanaidah,baraigram,natore.
Pourasavas
There are eight(8) Pourasavas(Municipalities)in Natore.They are: 1.Natore,2.Singra,3.Boraigram,4.Gurudaspur,5.Bagatipara,6.Gopalpur(Lalpur Upazilla),7.Naldanga(Natore Sadar Upazilla,8.Bonpara(Baraigram Upazilla)Natore town
Natore (Town) consists of 9 wards and 33 mahallas. Natore municipality was established in 1869 but it was transformed into Town Committee in 1959; municipality was again established in 1993. The area of the town is 15.05 km². The town has a population of 72615; male 51.57%, female 48.43%; density of population is 4825.Alaipur,Kanaikhali,Nichabazar,Lalbazar are the most populated areas of Natore Town.Notable persons
- Maharanee BhabaneeRani BhabaniRani Bhabani was a zamindar of Rajshahi, in Bangladesh during the British colonial era.-Life:Born in Chhatin gram,Thana: Adamdighi, Bogra District, Bhabani was married off to Raja Ramkanta, the then zamindar of Rajshahi. After his death, Bhabani became the de jure zamindar, and started being...
(1715–1802) was an Independent Jamindar of Natore during British India. - Jadunath SarkarJadunath SarkarSir Jadunath Sarkar was a prominent Indian Bengali aristocrat and historian.-Background:Born in Singra, Natore. He was the son of Rajkumar Sarkar, the Zamindar of Karchamaria in Natore in Bengal.-Education:...
(1870–1958) - Banalata SenBanalata SenBanalata Sen is a Bengali poem written in 1934 by the poet Jibanananda Das that is one of the most read, recited and discussed poems of Bengali literature. The title of this lyric poem is a female character referred to by name in the last line of each of its three stanzas. A draft of the poem was...
of Natore (fictional character) - Kumar Sharatkumar RoyPrince Sarat kumar Rai of DighapatiaKumar Saratkumar Rai was a member of the royal family of Dighapatia. A noted scholar, he was the son of the Raja Pramadanath and lived in the Maharaja's Palace. He co-founded the Varendra Research Museum, Lord Dundas the Governor of Bengal, inaugurated it in November 1919...
(1876–1946) - Sofi Uddin Sordar: Great novelist
- Shonkor Gobinda: Ex M.P. of Natore-2 constituency and great politician of this land.
- Momtaj Uddin Ahmad: Popular politician and ex M. P. of Natore-1 constituency.
- Fozlur Rahman: Popular politician and ex M. P. of Natore-1 contituency and Minister of Youth and Sports.
- Md. Abdul Hamid: He stood first on the merit list of HSC examination, in 1996, under Rajshahi Education Board. He scored the second highest marks among all commerce students of Bangladesh of that year. He also achieved the highest marks, in BBA, among all departments of Rajshahi University in the year 2000. Now he is an Assistant professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet. In study leave, he is doing research on Europen Tourism in Denmark, Slovenia and Spain with EU scholarships.
- Abu Hena Rony: A grat participant of Mirakkel 6 (standing comedy show organized by Zee Bangla channel of India).
History
Natore was the District Head Quarters of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. Administrative Natore subdivision was established in 1825 under Rajshahi district, on the eve of the shifting of the HQ. the subdivision made a district in 1984. It consists of 6 upazilas, 4 municipalities, 36 wards, 93 mahallas, 52 unions, 1272 mouzas and 1377 villages. The upazilas are Natore sadar, Bagatipara, Baraigram, Gurudaspur, Lalpur and Singra.Among archaeological heritage and relics notable are Natore Rajbari and Dighapatia Rajbari (Uttara Ganabhaban), Dayarampur Rajbari (Bagatipara) and Budpara Kali Mandir (Lalpur).
Historical events: Indigo resistance movements were held in this district during 1859 to 1860. During the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in 1971 a direct battle was fought between the Pakistani army and the rebels on 29 March in which 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 then 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.
Marks of the War of Liberation: Mass grave 5, memorial 1.
Economy
Population 1521359. Sectoral share of occupations are Agriculture 41.75%, agricultural labourer 28.84%, wage labourer 3.01%, commerce 10%, service 5.02%, fishing 1.32% and others 10.06%.Economy of Natore is based on agriculture.
Land use: Total cultivable land 142880 hectares; fallow land 1772 hectares; single crop 72%, double crop 25% and treble crop land 3%. Cultivable land under irrigation 64%.
Land control: Among the peasants 29% are landless, 37% small, 25% intermediate and 9% rich.
Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Tk. 6000 per 0.01 hectare.
Main crops Paddy, wheat, sugarcane, betel leaf. Extinct or nearly extinct crops Indigo, Aus and aman paddy. Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, coconut and litchi.
Not too many industries. Manufactories Sugar mill, rice mill, oil mill, flour mill, printing, biscuit factory, ice factory, etc. Cottage industries Potteries, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, mat making, etc.There are two sugar mills in Natore.One is Natore Sugar Mills Limited,Natore Sadar,Natore(1985),Natore Sugar Mills Limited is 2.5 km away from Natore Town.Another is North Bengal Sugar Mills Limited,Lalpur,Natore(1933),this two sugar mills are the enterprises of the Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corporation(BSFIC).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 ,the Distillery is situated near Natore Sugar Mills Limited.
More industries will be set up if gas is supplied through pipeline in Natore.For a long time,the people of Natore are demanding gas supply through pipeline as soon as possible.
Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 152, fair 13. Tebaria Hat,which is situated 3 km from Natore Town is a traditional hat which sits every Sunday, Tebaria is the biggest Hat of Natore.
Exports: Main exports Sugar, paddy and vegetables.
Kacha Golla
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Places of interest
Tourist attractions in Natore include Rani Bhabanir Rajbari, the palace of Queen Bhabani. Rani BhabaniRani Bhabani
Rani Bhabani was a zamindar of Rajshahi, in Bangladesh during the British colonial era.-Life:Born in Chhatin gram,Thana: Adamdighi, Bogra District, Bhabani was married off to Raja Ramkanta, the then zamindar of Rajshahi. After his death, Bhabani became the de jure zamindar, and started being...
was a great social worker. She was the pioneer to spread education for the women of Bengal. It is a historical palace, situated in the Bongojol area in the Natore district town. There is a college, a school, and other institutions named after Rani Bhobani.
Chalan Beel
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...
is a large natural wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
. During the monsoon, the area of the Bil increases and touches four upazilas (sub-districts) of the Natore district. The picnic parties come to Cholon Bil every season. They cook, sing, dance, and do everything they wish in their boats. It looks like a sea, especially during the monsoon.
Dighapatiya Rajbari is the most popular sight with visitors. The kings of Natore lived here. Today, it is called Uttara Gano Bhaban
Uttara Gano Bhaban (Prime Minister's Residence)
Uttara Gano Bhaban also known as The Maharaja's Palace or Dighapatia Palace is a historic, formerly royal palace in Natore, Bangladesh. It was built by the Raja of Dighapatia but is used as the official residence of the heads of states of Bangladesh in North Bengal. In the north, it serves as an...
, and is one of the official residences of the president of Bangladesh. It is situated in large grounds, with decorative gates, a large garden, and hundreds of rooms. There is a pond and a sculpture here. It is 5 km from Natore district town.
Other places to visit include:
- Pagla Raja's PalacePagla Raja's PalacePagla Raja's Palace is one of the few palaces situated in Natore District....
(jubo park) - Palace of Bagatipara UpazilaPalace of Bagatipara UpazilaBagatipara Upazila head quarter is situated really a very nice place. Beside the river Boral and Khulna-Parbottipur broadgage Rail lines it is a nice place to visit. Qadirabad contonment is situated in a wonderful location as well. Bagha is famous for the mazar of great saints, Eid fair is...
- Modoner Pukur Par
- Natore Adhunik Stadium
- Maharaja's Palace
- Beautiful village of Moshinda
- Natore Sugar MillsNatore Sugar MillsNatore Sugar Mills is one of the 16 sugar mills in Bangladesh. It is situated by the river Narod....
- North Bengal Sugar Mills and the "Shaheed Sagar" memorial on the mill campus.
- Pran-Agro Limited
- Chalan Beel
See also
- Districts of BangladeshDistricts of BangladeshThe divisions of Bangladesh are divided into 64 districts, or zila . The districts are further subdivided into 493 sub-districts, or upazila ....
- Rajshahi Division