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| Rangpur Division | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rangpur Division |
| Native name | রংপুর বিভাগ |
| Settlement type | Division |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Established | 2010 |
| Capital | Rangpur |
| Area km2 | 16,320 |
| Population | 15,665,000 |
Rangpur Division is an administrative division in northern Bangladesh centering on the city of Rangpur and encompassing a region historically linked to Bengal, the Mughal Empire, and British India. The division contains a mosaic of districts that have been shaped by events such as the Bengal Presidency, the Partition of Bengal (1947), and post-independence reorganizations culminating in the formation of the division in 2010. The region's identity is intertwined with figures and movements like Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and institutions such as Rajshahi University and Bangladesh Agricultural University.
Rangpur's territory was part of the medieval Pundra Kingdom and later absorbed into the Bengal Sultanate and the Mughal Empire under governors who administered districts like Dinajpur and Kurigram. During the colonial era the area was incorporated into the Bengal Presidency and experienced agrarian change linked to the Permanent Settlement and events affecting zamindars such as the Manikganj zamindari disputes; the region also witnessed uprisings associated with the Famine of 1770 and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In the 20th century Rangpur was a stage for the Bengal Renaissance, political activity around the All-India Muslim League, and anti-colonial movements tied to leaders like A. K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy leading up to the Partition of Bengal (1947). Post-1947 developments included incorporation into East Pakistan, participation in the Bangladesh Liberation War, and administrative changes culminating in the 2010 creation of the present division, influencing local politics involving parties such as the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The division occupies a portion of the Ganges Delta and the lower reaches of the Himalayan foothills adjacent to India’s West Bengal (state), featuring rivers like the Teesta River, Brahamaputra River, and Mahananda River that carve floodplains through districts such as Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. Landscapes include alluvial plains, charlands, and pockets of the Chalan Beel wetland system influenced by seasonal monsoons from the Bay of Bengal and cyclonic events tracked by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The climate is tropical monsoon with influences from the Indian Ocean, recurrent floods related to the Teesta Barrage projects, and variations recorded in studies by Bangladesh Water Development Board and Islamic Development Bank–supported research.
The division is divided into several districts including Rangpur (city), Dinajpur District, Lalmonirhat District, Nilphamari District, Panchagarh District, Gaibandha District, Kurigram District, Thakurgaon District, and Natore District in administrative reassignments, each containing upazilas and union parishads administered through offices of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (Bangladesh). Local governance interacts with bodies such as the Election Commission of Bangladesh during national elections and with Bangladesh Police and Armed Forces Division for security coordination, while development planning is often coordinated with agencies like the Planning Commission (Bangladesh) and international partners including the World Bank.
Population data collected by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics indicate a diverse populace comprising ethnic Bengalis alongside communities such as the Santal people, Oraon, and Garo people in pockets; religious communities include adherents of Islam in Bangladesh, Hinduism in Bangladesh, Buddhism in Bangladesh, and Christianity in Bangladesh. Linguistic variations include dialects related to Bengali language varieties and influences from Rajbanshi language in border districts, with migration patterns tied to labor flows toward Dhaka and international migration to destinations noted in International Organization for Migration reports.
The region's economy relies on agriculture dominated by crops like paddy, jute, and potato with contributions from agro-industries such as mills connected to Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute outputs and cold storage networks serving markets including Chittagong Stock Exchange-linked traders. Key economic nodes include the city markets of Rangpur and Dinajpur, export-oriented firms interacting with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, and remittances tracked alongside national figures by the Bangladesh Bank. Infrastructure projects such as the Teesta irrigation project and investments from multilateral lenders including the Asian Development Bank influence productivity and rural livelihoods.
Transport corridors include the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway and rail links connecting Rangpur railway station with Chilahati railway station and the national network administered by Bangladesh Railway. Air connectivity is provided by regional aerodromes and proposals to expand services at Rangpur Shah Makhdum Airport, while inland waterways utilize the Teesta River and smaller channels integrated into national river transport overseen by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. Utilities and electrification initiatives have involved agencies like Bangladesh Power Development Board and projects financed by the Islamic Development Bank and JICA.
Higher education institutions include Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Rangpur Medical College, and satellite campuses of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University linked to agricultural research centers such as Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute. Primary and secondary schooling operates under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dinajpur, with vocational training through Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Bangladesh). Health services are provided by facilities including Rangpur Medical College Hospital and district hospitals coordinated by the Directorate General of Health Services (Bangladesh) and supported by programs from the World Health Organization.
Cultural life features festivals like Eid al-Fitr, Durga Puja, and regional events celebrating figures such as Kazi Nazrul Islam; traditional music and crafts connect to the Palli Komar heritage and folk forms showcased in venues like the Rangpur Museum and cultural programs supported by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Tourist attractions include historical sites such as remnants near Dinajpur Rajbari, riverine landscapes along the Teesta River, and eco-tourism possibilities near Sajek Valley-linked highlands across the border region, promoted in coordination with the Bangladesh Tourism Board and NGOs like Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.
Category:Divisions of Bangladesh