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Kurigram District

Coordinates: 25°45′N 89°40′E / 25.75°N 89.66°E / 25.75; 89.66
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Kurigram
কুড়িগ্রাম
District of Bangladesh
Kurigram District
Clockwise from top: Jamuna River, Ulipur Munshibari, Mekurtari Shahi Mosque at Rajarhat Upazila, Dharla Bridge
Location of Kurigram District in Bangladesh
Location of Kurigram District in Bangladesh
Map
Expandable map of Kurigram District
Coordinates: 25°45′N 89°40′E / 25.75°N 89.66°E / 25.75; 89.66
Country Bangladesh
DivisionRangpur Division
HeadquartersKurigram
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerMd Rezaul Karim[1]
Area
 • Total
2,245.04 km2 (866.81 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[2]
 • Total
2,329,160
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
5600
Area code0581
ISO 3166 codeBD-28
HDI (2018)0.591[3]
medium · 15th of 21
Websitekurigram.gov.bd

Kurigram District (Bengali: কুড়িগ্রাম) is a district of Bangladesh in the Rangpur Division. The district is located in northern Bangladesh along the country's border with India.[4] Under British rule, the area was organized as a mahakuma and was not established as a district until 1984.

Etymology

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The name "Kurigram" is derived from the words Kuri and Gram. Kuri means "twenty" and Gram means "village" in Kol, a Munda language formerly spoken in the district.[5]

History

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The region has historically been viewed as a part of Gaurabardhan (today Mahasthangarh) or Kamrup (today Assam). When the Kamrup kingdom was divided into many small kingdoms, the northern half of the Kurigram was controlled by the new polity Cooch Behar, while the southern half became a part of the Uari kingdom.[5]

At the beginning of the 12th century, the Khen dynasty emerged as a power in the area of Kurigram, led by such kings as Chakradhwaj and Nilambor. The capital of this new dynasty was located in Chatra, today found in the Ulipur upazila. In 1418, Hosen Shah, the Sultan of Gouro, attacked and defeated Nilambar. Nilambar was killed in battle and the area fell under the control of Muslims, eventually becoming a part of the Mughal Empire.[5]

When the British regime took control over India, Hare Ram and Debi Sing, a broker of the East India Company, were placed in charge of the area as dewans (controllers). In 1770, the mismanagement of the East India Company caused the Great Bengal famine, leading to numerous rebellions led by native Kurigramis. At that time Kurigram was not one administrative unit, but was split up into the districts of Borobari, Ulipur, Chimari, and Nageshwari.[5]

On 22 April 1875, the British government established the Kurigram mahakuma under the name "Kuriganj". It consisted of eight thanas called Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, Nageshwar, Bhurungamari, and Pulbari. It as established as a district on 1 February 1984 and today consists of nine upazilas.[5]

Geography

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Kurigram District is located in the northern region of Bangladesh along the border with India. The district is bordered by Jamalpur district of Mymensingh division to the south, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts as well as West Bengal state of India to the west, and the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya to the east. In total, the district has 278.28 kilometers of international border with India. The district consists of 9 upazilas, 72 unions, and 1,872 villages.[6]

The climate of the district is higher in the summer and lower in the winter compared to other parts of Bangladesh. The average maximum temperature is around 32–33 degrees Celsius and the average minimum temperature is around 5-10 degrees Celsius. Like other parts of Bangladesh, the district experiences heavy rainfall during the rainy season, and the average annual rainfall is about 3,000 millimetres (120 in).[6]

Several rivers flow through the center of Kurigram. The major rivers are the Brahmaputra (now called the Jamuna), Dharla, and Teesta. Minor rivers include the Dudhkumar, Phulkuar, Gangadhar, Jinjiram, and others. The three northern upazilas of the district were recently connected to the southern upazilas by a bridge over the Dharla river.[7]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 1,117,434—    
1981 1,307,824+2.27%
1991 1,603,034+2.06%
2001 1,792,073+1.12%
2011 2,069,073+1.45%
2022 2,329,160+1.08%
Sources:[2][8][9]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Kurigram District had 605,722 households and a population of 2,329,160, of whom, 21.73% of the inhabitants lived in urban areas. 18.67% of the population was under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,037 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 65.13%, compared to the national average of 74.80% and teh sex ratio was 96.84 males per 100 females. The ethnic population was 275.[2]

Religion

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Religions in Kurigram District (2022)[9]
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 93.82%
Hindus
 
 6.16%
Other or not stated
 
 0.02%
Religion in present-day Kurigram District
Religion 1941[10]: 92–93 [a] 1981[8] 1991[8] 2001[8] 2011[8] 2022[9]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam 433,514 77.24% 1,198,500 91.64% 1,469,161 91.65% 1,666,880 93.01% 1,932,779 93.41% 2,185,248 93.82%
Hinduism 127,035 22.63% 107,976 8.26% 123,446 7.70% 123,627 6.90% 135,484 6.55% 143,381 6.16%
Others [b] 697 0.12% 348 0.10% 10,427 0.65% 1,566 0.09% 810 0.04% 531 0.02%
Total Population 561,246 100% 1,307,824 100% 1,603,034 100% 1,792,073 100% 2,069,073 100% 2,329,160 100%

Muslims are the majority with 92.82% while Hindus are 6.16%. The Hindu population has fallen in percentage from 6.55% to 6.16% from 2011 to 2022.[9]

Subdivision

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View of the Dharla River in Kurigram.

Kurigram District is divided into nine upazilas (subdistricts):[4]

Places of interest

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  • Brahmaputra River
  • Sonahat Landport
  • Sonahat Bridge
  • Potaka Bhaban
  • Shongram thaky Shadhinota Museum
  • North Bengal Museum
  • Dhorla Bridge[11]
  • Mekurtari Shahi Mosque[12]
  • Chandi Mandir[12]
  • Dolmancha Mandir[12]
  • Bir Protik Taramon Bibi's house
  • Naodanga Royal Palace[13]
  • Sindur Moti
  • Enclaves
  • Pangeshwari Temple
  • Bhetarbandh Royal Palace[12]
  • Chandamari Mosque[12]
  • Two Canons of Panga Kingdom (Preserved at the BGB Gate)
  • Kazir Mosque Ulipur Kurigram
  • Chilmari land port[12]
  • Ghogadaha Bazar[12]
  • Munshibari

Infrastructure

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Health

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In Kurigram, there is a single government hospital, two private hospitals, and an eye hospital. In addition, there are eight upazila-level health complexes, a maternity clinic, and a tuberculosis clinic in the district. The district has 100% Expanded Program on Immunization coverage, 96% sanitation coverage, and 96% pure drinking water coverage.[14]

Education

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Like in other parts of Bangladesh, there is a four level system for education. Students spend five years in Primary, five years in Secondary, two years in Higher Secondary, and four to nine years in Tertiary Education. There are 1 agricultural University, 43 colleges, 257 high schools, 563 registered and 552 non-registered primary schools, 224 madrasa, 1 polytechnical institute, and 1 technical school and college in the district.[14] Along with Bengali, English is compulsory at all levels of education.

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 1941 figures are for Kurigaon subdivision of Rangpur district excluding Lalmonirhat thana.
  2. ^ Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

References

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  1. ^ "List of Deputy Commissioners". Pmis.mopa.gov.bd. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. viii, 28, 30, 39, 44, 46. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  4. ^ a b Md Kamal Hossain (2012). "Kurigram District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  5. ^ a b c d e কুড়িগ্রাম জেলার পটভূমি [District Background]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
  6. ^ a b ভৌগোলিক পরিচিতি [Geographical Introduction]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
  7. ^ Kurigram
  8. ^ a b c d e "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Kurigram" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  9. ^ a b c d Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Kurigram (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-277-1.
  10. ^ "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  11. ^ "ধরলা ব্রিজ, কুড়িগ্রাম - ভ্রমণ গাইড". Vromonguide.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g দর্শনীয় স্থান [Places of interest]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
  13. ^ "Naodanga Royal Palace, Kurigram" দর্শনীয় স্থান [Places of interest]. Tourist places (in Bengali).
  14. ^ a b একনজরে কুড়িগ্রাম জেলা [Kurigram district at a glance]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
  15. ^ "Kurigram Government Women's College | Government Women's College in Kurigram, Bangladesh". Kgwc.gov.bd. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  16. ^ "কুড়িগ্রাম সরকারি উচ্চ বিদ্যালয়". Kurigramghs.edu.bd. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  17. ^ "krgghs". Kurigramgghs.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  18. ^ "Kurigram Nursing Institute, Kurigram, Kurigram, Rangpur Division(+880 1865-766123)".
  19. ^ a b প্রখ্যাত ব্যক্তিত্ব [Eminent personalities]. Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali).
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