Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a
metropolitan city
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big ci ...
and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous
division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
and
district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
. Located on the north bank of the
Padma River
The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...
, near the
Bangladesh-India border, the city has a population of over 763,580 residents.
The town is surrounded by the satellite towns of Nowhata and Katakhali, which together build an urban agglomeration of about 1 million population.
Modern
Rajshahi
Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi District ...
lies in the ancient region of
Pundravardhana
Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom ( sa, Puṇḍravardhana), was an ancient kingdom during the Iron Age period in India with a territory that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinaj ...
. The foundation of the city dates to 1634, according to epigraphic records at the mausoleum of
Sufi
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
saint
Shah Makhdum
‘Abd al-Quddūs Jalāl ad-Dīn ( ar, عبد القدوس جلال الدين), best known as Shah Makhdum ( bn, শাহ মখদুম), and also known as Rupos, was a Sufi Muslim figure in Bangladesh. He is associated with the spread of ...
. The area hosted a
Dutch settlement in the 18th century. The Rajshahi municipality was constituted during the
British Raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
in 1876. It was a divisional capital of the
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency, officially the Presidency of Fort William and later Bengal Province, was a subdivision of the British Empire in India. At the height of its territorial jurisdiction, it covered large parts of what is now South Asia and ...
.
Rajshahi is a significant administrative, educational, cultural, and business centre in Bangladesh. It is a historic center of
silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the coc ...
production.
Varendra Research Museum
Varendra Museum ( bn, বরেন্দ্র জাদুঘর) is a museum, research centre, and popular visitor attraction at the heart of Rajshahi and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh. It is considered the oldest museum i ...
, the oldest of its kind in Bangladesh, is located in the city. The city is home to many renowned educational institutions of Bangladesh. The head office of
Rajshahi Agricultural Development Bank and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is situated in the city.
The Shah Makhdum Airport serves Rajshahi. According to
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
it is the cleanest city in Bangladesh.
History
Rajshahi district was a part of the
Pundra region of ancient
Bengal
Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...
ruled by the
Pundra Kingdom
Pundravardhana or Pundra Kingdom ( sa, Puṇḍravardhana), was an ancient kingdom during the Iron Age period in India with a territory that included parts of present-day Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions of Bangladesh as well as the West Dinaj ...
. The capital of
Prince Vijaya
According to the ''Mahāvaṃsa'' chronicle, Prince Vijaya (c. 543–505 BCE) was the first Sinhalese monarchy, Sinhalese king. Legends and records from both Indian and Sri Lanka sources say that he along with several hundred followers came to ...
, the king who led military operations in
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
and Southeast Asia was located to the west of Rajshahi town.
Rajshahi was dominated by various
Maharaja
Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king".
A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, an ...
s, Rajas and
Zamindars
A zamindar ( Hindustani: Devanagari: , ; Persian: , ) in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semiautonomous ruler of a province. The term itself came into use during the reign of Mughals and later the British had begun using it as a ...
.During ''Deo Rajas period, the region was known as Mohakalgarh. In 1288-89 the Raja was defeated by
Shah Makhdum Rupos. The region came to be known as "Rampur Boalia" after establishment of administrative office in 1825. The origin of the present name of "Rajshahi" is debated among scholars. Most say that it takes its name from
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
Kings
Rajshahi Raj
Rajshahi Raj was a large ''zamindari'' (feudatory kingdom) which occupied a vast position of Bengal (present-day Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh and West Bengal, India). It was the richest and largest zamindari with an area of about 33,670 k ...
(or "
Raja
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...
s") as Raj and the persianised
Shah
Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...
i; both of which mean "
royal
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a cit ...
" or "kingdom". The administrative district was established in 1772 and the municipal corporation in 1876.
![A train at the Rajshahi station](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/A_train_at_the_Rajshahi_station.jpg)
During the
British raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
, it was also known as "Beuleah" and was the administrative headquarters of Rajshahi district in Eastern Bengal and Assam. It was originally chosen as a commercial factory for the silk trade, which was being officially encouraged by the agricultural department of that time. The town contained a government college, and an industrial school for
sericulture
Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, ''Bombyx mori'' (the caterpillar of the domestic silkmoth) is the most widely used and intensively studie ...
. Most of the public buildings were severely damaged by the
earthquake of 12 June 1897. Throughout much of the early part of the twentieth century there was a daily
steamer service on the Ganges which connected it to rail-heads that led to the then provincial capital of Calcutta as well as other cities in the province of Bengal.
Rajshahi witnessed great atrocities by the
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
army in the
1962 Rajshahi massacres
The Rajshahi ethnic cleansing, marked by widespread ethnic violence and killings of minority Hindus, took place in April 1962 in Rajshahi and Pabna districts of East Pakistan. People and property were attacked. Around three hundred non-Muslims di ...
of Bangladeshis. During the
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...
,
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...
created an ''ad hoc'' Rajshahi brigade, deployed in September.
Rajshahi was made a city corporation in 1991.
Geography
Topography
Geographically Rajshahi is situated within
Barind Tract Barind Tract (alternately called the Varendra Tract in English and Borendro Bhumi in Bengali) is the largest Pleistocene era physiographic unit in the Bengal Basin. It covers most of Dinajpur, Rangpur, Pabna, Rajshahi, Bogra, and Joypurhat dis ...
, 23 m (75 ft) above sea level, and lies at . The city is located on the alluvial plains of the
Padma River
The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...
, which runs through southern side of the city. It is bounded on the east, north and west by
Paba Upazila
Paba ( bn, পবা) is an Upazila of Rajshahi District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Geography
Paba is located at . It has 40,000 households and a total area of 280.42 km2.
Paba Upazila is bounded by Mohanpur and Tanore Upazil ...
(subdivision of a district) of the district.
Rajshahi district is bounded by Naogaon District to the north, Natore District to the east, and Chapai Nababganj District and the river Padma & Kushtia district to the south.
Climate
Under the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
, Rajshahi has a
tropical wet and dry climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...
. The climate of Rajshahi is generally marked with
monsoon
A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...
s, high temperature, considerable
humidity
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.
Humidity depe ...
and moderate rainfall. The hot season commences early in March and continues till the middle of July. The maximum mean temperature observed is about during the months of April, May, June and July and the minimum temperature recorded in January is about . The highest rainfall is observed during the months of monsoon. The annual rainfall in the district is about .
Although once noted for its air pollution, since 2014 the levels of
particulates
Particulates – also known as atmospheric aerosol particles, atmospheric particulate matter, particulate matter (PM) or suspended particulate matter (SPM) – are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. The ter ...
have been dramatically reduced by various efforts to switch to cleaner fuels and to battery-powered vehicles, to pave earth streets, to encourage walking and bicycle transport, and to plant vegetation.
The levels of PM10 dropped by 67% and PM2.5 which are particularly harmful to human health, dropped from 70 to 37 micrograms per cubic metre between 2014 and 2016.
[
]
Parks and greenery
is one of the popular public places of Rajshahi city. A wide area with green trees and grasses houses different animal species. It is located by the bank of the Padma River
The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...
. Other parks in the city are Bhubon Mohon park and Captain Monsur Ali park. Shahid Zia children's park is specially designed for children's amusement. The bank of the Padma river along the city is also a destination for recreation. The bank is a planned zone in many parts of the city to accommodate city dwellers for recreation purposes. In 2015, Munsguard park near the old Dutch Boro Kuthi
Boro Kuthi ( bn, বড়কুঠি ) is a historic building in Rajshahi, Bangladesh built by Dutch traders in eighteenth century. The building was also used as the first administrative center for Rajshahi University. The building is now under ...
building and Lalonshah park near Shahmukhdum Eidgah was built bordering the bank to provide residents a place to enjoy the views of the Padma river.
Points of interest
* Banks of the Padma River: One of the largest rivers in South Asia. During the Monsoon season, the water level rises.
* Varendra Research Museum
Varendra Museum ( bn, বরেন্দ্র জাদুঘর) is a museum, research centre, and popular visitor attraction at the heart of Rajshahi and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh. It is considered the oldest museum i ...
: Established in 1910, the museum is dedicated to ancient history and culture. It has a collection of artefacts relating to Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim heritage. Some of these date back to the 16th century. It is maintained by the University, located in the centre of town.
* Shrine of Shah Makhdum Rupos: A dargah
A dargah ( fa, درگاه ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargah'' दरगाह درگاہ, bn, দরগাহ ''dorgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often ...
(tomb) was established to mark the resting place of Shah Makhdum in 1635. He was the first preacher of Islam in the region. Legend has it that he arrived by riding down the Padma on two crocodiles. To preserve this myth, some crocodiles are kept in the pond next to the shrine.
* : The park is a wide area with trees and grass. The zoo houses a variety of animal species. It is located by the bank of river Padma.
* Shahid Zia Park: An amusement park, it has a mono rail and bumping cars
Bumper cars or dodgems are the generic names for a type of flat amusement ride consisting of multiple small electrically powered cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator. Bumpe ...
. It is under the Rajshahi City Corporation.
* University of Rajshahi
The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a public co-educational research university in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi cit ...
: This campus is within a few kilometres from the city centre. Second largest university in Bangladesh.
* Shaheb Bazar: This is the centre of the city, where most of the shopping malls and commercial buildings are located.
* Ghoramara: The oldest part of Rajshahi City, consisting most of the oldest (70 to 100 years old) buildings.
* Boro Kuthi
Boro Kuthi ( bn, বড়কুঠি ) is a historic building in Rajshahi, Bangladesh built by Dutch traders in eighteenth century. The building was also used as the first administrative center for Rajshahi University. The building is now under ...
: In the compound of the Barakuthi there is a small cemetery with groves dating back to the nineteenth century. There are 14 tombs with thirteen epitaph
An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
s within the cemetery.
* Upashohor: This is a planned model town. Rajshahi Cantonment is located beside this area.
* Motihar: Rajshahi University
The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a public co-educational research university in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi cit ...
is situated in this area on a large campus surrounded by mango groves.
* Kashia-Danga: From this area a massive mango tree garden area of Rajshahi starts. It is in the west part of the city, near to Rajshahi court railway station.
* Santal Para: Located inside the Mahish-Bathan Area. Some Santal tribes people live here.
* Bangabandhu Novo Theatre, Rajshahi: Establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre, Rajshahi is being implemented.
File:Saheb Bazaar Rajshahi.jpg, Saheb Bazaar Rajshahi
File:Shahid Zia Shishu Park 03.jpg, Shahid Zia Shishu Park
File:Boddhovumi, University of Rajshahi.JPG, The site of mass grave inside Rajshahi University campus
File:Rajshahi from Padma river.jpg, View of Rajshahi city from the Padma River
The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...
File:Smriti Amlan 02.jpg, Smriti Amlan Monument
Administration
Rajshahi is the headquarter of one of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. Divisional Commissioner, who is the administrative chief of Rajshahi Division, DIG for Rajshahi division and other divisional civil servants have their own offices in the city, which functions as part of the government administrative setup. Deputy Commissioner (DC) who is the administrative chief of Rajshahi District, Civil Surgeon and other district level civil servants have their offices in the city. District judges as well as Metropolitan magistrates have their offices within the city.
Rajshahi is one of seven metropolitan cities in Bangladesh. One mayor and 30 ward commissioners are elected for five-year terms by direct votes. Rajshahi City Corporation
Rajshahi City Corporation ( bn, রাজশাহী সিটি কর্পোরেশন - in short: RCC) is the self-governing corporation that is associated with the task of running the affairs of Rajshahi city. It is one of the major di ...
is responsible for all the administrative work related to city governance under its jurisdiction.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) is a division of Bangladesh Police, which is responsible for law enforcement within the metropolis of Rajshahi.
History
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police was established on 1 July 1992. RMP began with four police ...
(RMP), headed by a Commissioner, controls law and order as well as traffic movements within the metropolitan area.
Rajshahi Unnayan Kortripokhkho/Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) plans and coordinates the development related works within metropolitan area. Rajshahi WASA is responsible for water supply and drainage system within city area.
Economy
Rajshahi has been famous for its silk textiles since the British period. There are also several jute mills in Rajshahi. At present many glass making factories have been set up in Rajshahi. Rajshahi City Corporation has constructed BSIC. Industrial City-02 in Paba Upazila of Rajshahi. And work is underway on a leather industry area. There will also be a 1,200-acre industrial zone under the Bangladesh Economic Zone (BEPZA). Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park will play an important role in the development of IT in Rajshahi. When completed, it will revolutionize information and communication technology in the region, which will employ about 50,000 people.
There is also a char on the banks of the river Padma near the city of Rajshahi. Rajshahi City Corporation has plans to build another economic zone on the char. When the construction of the char is completed, it will become the commercial center of North Bengal
Culture
Arts and festivals
Rajshahi is famous for Rajshahi silk
Rajshahi silk is the name given to the silk products produced in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is famous because it is a high quality fabric used for clothing, especially for saris.
In 2021, it was given Geographical indication status as a product of B ...
, which has a special status as clothing material in Indian subcontinent. Rajshahi is the home of the region's best mangoes and lichis. Rajshahi is also the location of Barendra Museum, which is known for its collection of local sculpture and other artifacts dating from medieval times. It also has some important structures made by the British like the T Dam.
''Pohela Baishakh
Pohela Boishakh ( bn, পহেলা বৈশাখ) is the first day of the Bengali calendar which is also the official calendar of Bangladesh. This festival is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in the Indian states of We ...
'', the Bengali New Year, and Pahela Falgun
Pohela Falgun ( bn, পহেলা ফাল্গুন, ''Pôhela Falgun'' or পয়লা ফাল্গুন, ''Pôela Falgun''), also known as the first day of Spring of the Bengali month Falgun, is a festival celebrated in Bangladesh. ...
, the first day of spring
Spring(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* Spring (season)
Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of ...
of the Bengali month Falgun
Falgun or Phalgun (; ne, फाल्गुण) or Phagun ( as, ফাগুন) is the eleventh month of the year in the Bengali calendar, the Assamese calendar, and the Nepali calendar. In the revision of the Bengali calendar used in Banglades ...
, in the Bengali calendar
The Bengali Calendar or Bangla Calendar ( bn, বঙ্গাব্দ , , Baṅgābda), colloquially ( bn, বাংলা সন, Baṅgla Śon), is a solar calendar used in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. A revised version of th ...
, is celebrated in the city in a festive manner. There are widespread celebration of Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
festivals of Eid ul-Fitr
, nickname = Festival of Breaking the Fast, Lesser Eid, Sweet Eid, Sugar Feast
, observedby = Muslims
, type = Islamic
, longtype = Islamic
, significance = Commemoration to mark the end of fasting in Ramadan
, dat ...
, Eid ul-Adha, and Muharram
Muḥarram ( ar, ٱلْمُحَرَّم) (fully known as Muharram ul Haram) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month after R ...
; Hindu festivals of Durga Puja
Durga Puja ( bn, দুর্গা পূজা), also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated ...
, Buddhist festival of Buddha Purnima
Buddha's Birthday (also known as Buddha Jayanti, also known as his day of enlightenment – Buddha Purnima, Buddha Pournami) is a Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of East Asia and South Asia commemorating the birth of the Prince ...
; and the Christian festival of Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
across the city.
Media
There are many Bengali daily newspapers published from the city, including
Sonali Sangbad
',
Sunshine
', ''Dainik Barta'',
Sonar Desh
', ''Natun Provat'', and ''Amader Rajshahi''. There are also many online news portal such a
Uttarkal
Padmatimes24
rajshahinews24.com, silkcitynews.com, and others.
The government-run Bangladesh Television
Bangladesh Television ( bn, বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন), commonly known by its acronym BTV ( bn, বিটিভি), is the state-owned television network of Bangladesh. The network was originally established as the East ...
and Bangladesh Betar
Bangladesh Betar ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বেতার; ), or BB is the state-owned radio broadcaster of Bangladesh, initially established as the Dhaka station of All India Radio in 1939. It was later made part of Radio Pakistan. After t ...
have transmission centres in Rajshahi.
A local FM radio station, Radio Padma
Radio broadcasts commenced in what is now known as Bangladesh in 1939 under British rule, as a part of All India Radio. The state-owned Bangladesh Betar monopolized the radio industry of the country until the launch of Radio Metrowave in 1999. Th ...
, transmits at 99.2 MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
frequency and Radio Foorti
Radio Foorti is a Bangladeshi FM radio station. The station went live on 22 September 2006, and is currently available in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet. Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Noakhali and Kushtia. It ha ...
transmits at 88.0 MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
.
There is also five pressclub in Rajshahi City.Known as Rajshahi City Press Club, Rajshahi Press Club, Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club, Rajshahi Varendra Press Club and Rajshahi Model Press Club.
Sports
There are three 15,000+ capacity stadium in the city. One at the centre of the city which is normally called the Rajshahi District Stadium
Muktijuddho Sriti Stadium is a former international stadium located at Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is also known as Rajshahi District Stadium. The venue currently hosts domestic football matches.
There are 3 multi-purpose sporting venue in the Rajs ...
, another is inside the Rajshahi University and the last one basically used for cricket is located at Terokhadia called Shaheed Qamaruzzaman Stadium
Shaheed A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman Stadium ( bn, শহীদ এএইচএম কামারুজ্জামান স্টেডিয়াম), also known as Rajshahi Divisional Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The sta ...
. There is also an international standard tennis complex and few sports training academy in the city.
Many national level footballers groomed in the city such as former Bangladesh national team captain Mohammed Mohsin and recently midfielder Manik Hossain Molla. The city is the home of several national level club teams like Digonto Proshari and Sonali Otit Sonali is a popular Indian female given name.
Persons
* Sonali Bendre (born 1975), Indian actress
* Shonali Bose (born 1965), Indian filmmaker
* Shonali Bhowmik (born 20th century), Indian-American musician
* Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee, Indian ...
. There are also a few football training academies including one in the Rajshahi's central ''eidgah'' (large open ground used on special occasions for Muslim prayers) and in the Zilla stadium.
The city is an important place for cricket in Bangladesh. As regular supplier of cricketer in the national team, it is also the home of Bangladesh Premier League
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ প্রিমিয়ার লীগ) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league consisting of seven franchises. The BPL is one of the three professional cricket leagues in ...
team Rajshahi Kings
Rajshahi Royals ( Varendri/ bn, রাজশাহী রয়্যালস) were a Bangladeshi franchise Twenty20 cricket team. The team was based in Rajshahi in Bangladesh and competes in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), a Twenty20 fr ...
. The city has two cricket academies Banglatrack and Clemon, to grow and train upcoming cricketers.
Rajshahi is also known for hockey. There are many local hockey practice clubs that give opportunity to play in national, inter-university, college, and school levels. There are National Team hockey players from Rajshahi. Late Mintu was one of them and by his name there is "Mintu Chottor" at lokkhipur mor, Rajshahi.
Transport
Road
Rajshahi is connected to most other parts of the country via the N6 national highway. There are two intercity bus terminal in the city. It takes about 5 to 6 hours by road to reach the capital city Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
. A number of bus services, including air-conditioned and non-air conditioned buses, are available to and from Dhaka. Bus services to other major cities and districts headquarter are also available from Rajshahi.
Railway
Four inter-city train services are operated by Bangladesh Railway, named ''Silk City Express'', ''Padma Express'' and ''Dhumketu Express'', and Bonolota Express
The Banalata Express is a Bangladeshi Intercity train (Train no. 791/792) which runs between Chapainawabganj and Dhaka under Bangladesh Railway.
History
A new passenger train with modern facilities had started serving people to connect the Ban ...
between Dhaka and Rajshahi railway station
Rajshahi Railway Station is a railway station at Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The railway station is the main station of the city, and links to Dhaka via the Iswardi–Sirajganj line. The station is one of the most modern, largest and important statio ...
regularly. There are other inter-city, mail and local trains operated from Rajshahi to Khulna
Khulna ( bn, খুলনা, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of Khulna District and Khulna Division. Khulna's economy is the third-largest in Bangladesh, contributing $53 b ...
and other regions of the country.
Air
The city is served by Shah Makhdum Airport
Shah Makhdum Airport is a domestic airport serving Rajshahi, the principal city of the Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh. The airport is named after Sufi saint Shah Makhdum Rupos. The airport also serves as a base for two flying training academ ...
, named after the Islamic preacher Shah Makhdum Rupos, situated at Nowhata, a commuter town of the city. Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines ( bn, বিমান বাংলাদেশ এয়ারলাইন্স) commonly known as Biman ( bn, বিমান), pronounced (), is the national flag carrier of Bangladesh. With its main hub at Hazra ...
, Novoair
NOVOAIR ( bn, নভোএয়ার) is an airline based in Dhaka, Bangladesh operating mostly domestic flights. It operates 25 flights each day from Dhaka to its seven destinations.
History
NOVOAIR was established in October 2007 as an aviat ...
, and US-Bangla Airlines
US-Bangla Airlines ( bn, ইউএস বাংলা এয়ারলাইন্স) is a privately owned Bangladeshi airline headquartered in Dhaka and based at Shahjalal International Airport under the umbrella companies of US-Bangla Group ...
operate domestic flights to and from Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
.
Public transport
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport. It is a type of hatchback tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for-hire basis. It is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab ...
s and auto rickshaws
An auto rickshaw is a motorized version of the pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many terms in various countries including auto, auto rickshaw, baby taxi, mototaxi, pigeon, jonnybee, bajaj ...
are the main mode of transport within the city and metro area. Once there were plenty of Tomtom
TomTom N.V. is a Dutch multinational developer and creator of location technology and consumer electronics. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom released its first generation of satellite navigation devices to market in 2004. ...
(horse driven cart) in the city, which are still found, but fewer in numbers. There are bus and minibus services in a limited number of routes, connecting suburban areas of the city. Plenty of rental car agencies operate within the city and metro area, where sedans, SUVs, and micro-buses are available to hire on an hourly or daily basis. Ride sharing services like Uber
Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber), based in San Francisco, provides mobility as a service, ride-hailing (allowing users to book a car and driver to transport them in a way similar to a taxi), food delivery (Uber Eats and Postmates), package ...
and ''Obhai'' also available in the city.
Healthcare
The city has many government, private and NGO run hospitals. Rajshahi Medical College
Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) is a public medical school located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The college is affiliated to Rajshahi Medical University. It was the second such institution in erstwhile East Pakistan after Dhaka Medical College. It ...
Hospital (RMCH) is a tertiary level public hospital with a teaching facility in graduate and postgraduate medical education. There are two private medical college hospitals, and another two are under construction in the city. There are also a government run children's hospital, one chest hospital, a district level government hospital and a Christian missionary hospital within the city area.
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 census, Rajshahi had a population of 449,756 in 99,545 households. Rajshahi has a sex ratio of 930 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 74.1%.
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
is the main language for the citizens of the city. Many distinctive Bengali dialects and regional languages are also spoken. There is a minority Urdu-speaking population, who are descendants of displaced Muslims from the eastern part of British India who sought refuge during separation of India and Pakistan in 1947.
Education
Rajshahi is home to many government and private educational institutions. The city is home to the Rajshahi College
Rajshahi College ( bn, রাজশাহী কলেজ ''Rajshahi Kôlej'') is the third oldest institution of higher education in Bangladesh. Established in 1873 in Rajshahi city, it is the third oldest college in Bangladesh after Dhaka Col ...
- which is the third oldest college in Bangladesh after Dhaka College
Dhaka College ( bn, ঢাকা কলেজ also known as DC) is the oldest secular educational institution of Bangladesh located in Dhaka. It offers higher secondary education ( HSC). It has Honours and Masters programs as well which are aff ...
, and Chittagong College
Chittagong College is a government college in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is the second college established in Bangladesh after Dhaka College. It offers higher secondary education (HSC), bachelor's degree and master's degree.
History
Having begun ...
, Rajshahi Medical College
Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) is a public medical school located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The college is affiliated to Rajshahi Medical University. It was the second such institution in erstwhile East Pakistan after Dhaka Medical College. It ...
, the second oldest medical college in erstwhile East Pakistan. The University of Rajshahi
The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a public co-educational research university in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi cit ...
is the second oldest and one of the largest public universities in the country. Rajshahi Engineering College, now known as RUET, was the second engineering college established in the then East Pakistan in 1964.
Major educational institutes include:
* University of Rajshahi(RU)
* Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology(RUET)
* Rajshahi Medical College(RMC)
* Rajshahi College(RC)
* Rajshahi Government City College(RGCC)
* New Government Degree College, Rajshahi(NGDC)
* Rajshahi Cadet College(RCC)
* Rajshahi Shikkha Board Government Model School & College
* Rajshahi Cantonment Public School & College
* Rajshahi Collegiate School
Rajshahi Collegiate School ( bn, রাজশাহী কলেজিয়েট স্কুল) in Boalia Thana in the center of Rajshahi, a city in northern Bangladesh, is the oldest school in the country.
History
After completing MA in Phi ...
* Govt. Promoth Nath Girls' High School, Rajshahi
* Rajshahi Govt. Girls' High School, Helenabad
* Rajshahi Government Model School & College
* Rajshahi Mohila Polytechnic Institute
* Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute
* Government Women's College, Rajshahi
* Barind Medical College
* Seroil Government High School, Rajshahi
SHiroil Government High School, Rajshahi is a secondary school in the Shiroil suburb of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It was established in 1967. Its first principal was Mr. Riaj Uddin Ahmed.
Academic
There are 5 houses in this school to use different wo ...
* Government Laboratory High School Rajshahi
Government Laboratory High School, Rajshahi is a secondary school in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It was established in 1969 as the laboratory of Rajshahi Teacher's Training College to establish an ideal school. The founding headmaster was Izharul Haque. ...
* Rajshahi University School
Rajshahi University School (RUS) ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ষ্কুল) is a co-educational Bangladeshi school (Grade I-XII) situated in Rajshahi University. It was established in 1966. Admissio ...
* Haji Abul Hossain Institute of Technology, Rajshahi
* Higher Secondary Teacher's Training Institute
* Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School
* Islami Bank Medical College
Islami Bank Medical College is a private Medical College located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
History
Islami Bank Medical College was established on 2003 in Rajshahi by Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, Islamic bank Bangladesh. Islamic Bank is connected wit ...
* Mohanogor College, Rajshahi
*
* Nowhata Govt. Degree College, Nowhata, Rajshshi
* Shah Mokhdum College
* Shah Mokhdum Medical College
* Silk Research and Training Institute
*Shahid A.H.M Kamruzzaman Government Degree College
* Teacher's Training College
* Udayan Dental College
* Varendra Government College, Rajshahi
* Varendra University
Varendra University (VU) is a private university in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It obtained approval from the Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various othe ...
Notable residents
* A.H.M. Quamruzzaman, politician
* Amir Ali, MLA, Politician and Zamindar
* Ataur Rahman, Politician and former Governor
* Ritwik Ghatak
Ritwik Kumar Ghatak (; 4 November 19256 February 1976) was a noted Indian film director, screenwriter, and playwright. Along with prominent contemporary Bengali filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha and Mrinal Sen, his cinema is primarily remembe ...
, filmmaker
* Hasan Azizul Huq, linguist
* Fazle Hossain Badsha
Fazle Hossain Badsha (born 15 October 1952), is a Bangladeshi politician. He has served as a member of the Jatiyo Sangshad since 2008, representing Rajshahi-2 for the Workers Party of Bangladesh
The Workers Party of Bangladesh ( bn, বা ...
, Politician
* Selina Hossain
Selina Hossain (born 14 June 1947) is a Bangladeshi novelist and the current president of Bangla Academy since February 2022. Her major works include ''Hangor Nodi Grenade'' (1976) and ''Poka Makorer Ghor Boshoti'' (1996). She earned all major nat ...
, novelist
* Andrew Kishore
Andrew Kishore Kumar Baroi (widely known as Andrew Kishore, 4 November 1955 – 6 July 2020) was a Bangladeshi playback singer. He is considered as the "Playback King" of Bangladesh music industry who sang more than 15 thousands songs. He sang ...
, singer
* Rajanikanta Sen
Rajanikanta Sen, also known as Kantakobi, (26 July 1865 – 13 September 1910) was a Bengali poet and composer, known for his devotional (bhakti) compositions, as well as his patriotic songs.
Early life, education and profession
File:Guruprasad ...
, Poet
* Akshay Kumar Maitreya
Akshay Kumar Maitreya ( bn, অক্ষয় কুমার মৈত্রেয়) (1 March 1861–10 February 1930) was an Indian historian and social worker from Bengal.
Life
Maitreya was born in Nadia (now in West Bengal) to Mathu ...
, historian
* A. H. M. Khairuzzaman Liton, Politician
* Khaled Mashud
Khaled Mashud, popularly known as Khaled Mashud Pilot ( bn, খালেদ মাসুদ; born 8 February 1976) is a former Bangladeshi cricketer and a captain in Tests and ODIs. A wicketkeeper and middle order batsman, he was a regular mem ...
, cricketer
* Ila Mitra, activist
* Sabbir Rahman
Mohammad Sabbir Rahman ( bn, মোহাম্মদ সাব্বির রহমান; born 22 November 1988) is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is from Rajshahi and besides the national team, he plays for Rajshahi Division and the BPL. He is a ...
, cricketer
* Sir Jadunath Sarkar
Sir Jadunath Sarkar (10 December 1870 – 19 May 1958) was a prominent Indian historian and a specialist on the Mughal dynasty.
Academic career
Sarkar was born in Karachmaria village in Natore, Bengal to Rajkumar Sarkar, the local Zamindar ...
, historian
* Mohammad Shamsuzzoha
Mohammad Shamsuzzoha (died 1969) was a writer , professor and proctor at Rajshahi University. Shamsuzzoha was the first university teacher in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who was killed by the Pakistani Military forces at the eve of 19 ...
, academic
* Junaid Siddique
Mohammad Junaid Siddique (born 30 October 1987) is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is sometimes referred to by his nickname Imrose. A left-handed batsman and occasional right arm off break bowler, he made his debut for Rajshahi Division in 2003/04 ...
, cricketer
* Najmul Hossain Shanto, cricketer
* Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Enamul Karim Nirjhar (born 29 November 1962) is a Bangladeshi architect and filmmaker.
Nirjhar is the founder and principal architect of System Architects. As one of the most prominent architectural studio practicing contemporary architecture ...
, architect
* Mizanur Rahman Minu, Politician
* Mahiya Mahi
Mahiya Sharmin Akter Nipa (born 27 October), known as Mahiya Mahi, is a Bangladeshi film actress. She is considered as the current highest paid actress of Bangladeshi film industry. She made her debut in the film '' Bhalobashar Rong'' in 2012 w ...
, Actress
* Malay Bhowmick
Malay Bhowmick is a Bangladeshi playwright, actor, director, and educationist.
Bhowmick has a broad role to play in the movement of pedestrians, especially in the open play movement in the northern region of Bangladesh. Although professor of the M ...
, Playwright and director
* Shahriar Alam, politician
* Mrinal Haque, sculptor
Twin towns and sister cities
Rajshahi's twin town and sister city is:
* Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a seaside resort city and municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 112,000 as of January 2020, following the incorporation ...
, Norway (1979)
See also
* List of cities and towns in Bangladesh
This article presents a list of cities and towns in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives of Bangladesh, there are 532 urban centres in Bangladesh.
...
* Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, commonly known as RUET (রুয়েট), is a PhD granting public research university in Bangladesh. It is one of the oldest public universities in the country that specialises in the field of ...
* Rajshahi University
The University of Rajshahi, also known as Rajshahi University or RU ( bn, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), is a public co-educational research university in Bangladesh situated near the northern Bangladeshi cit ...
References
Notes
External links
Map of Rajshahi District
E-Rajshahi (in English)
an online portal for information and government services managed by Rajshahi City Corporation
FinancialExpress-bd.com
News about LSE survey
Radio Bangladesh website for information on Bangladesh Betar
information on Shah Mokhdum Airport
Uttorbongo Protidin
a popular online Newspaper from Rajshahi.
{{Authority control
Populated places in Rajshahi Division
Cities in Bangladesh