Thakurgaon
ঠাকুরগাঁও
District of Bangladesh
Thakurgaon District
Clockwise from top-left: Balia Mosque, Haripur Rajbari, Dholpur Temple, Gondor River, Jamalpur Jamia Masjid
Location of Thakurgaon District in Bangladesh
Location of Thakurgaon District in Bangladesh
Expandable map of Thakurgaon District
Coordinates: 25°57′N 88°15′E / 25.95°N 88.25°E / 25.95; 88.25
Country Bangladesh
DivisionRangpur Division
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerK.M. Kamaruzzaman Selim
Area
 • Total1,781.74 km2 (687.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Total1,533,894
 • Density860/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+06:00 (BST)
Postal code
5100
HDI (2018)0.614[2]
medium · 7th of 21

Thakurgaon (Bengali: ঠাকুরগাঁও জেলা, Thakurgaon Jela also Thakurgaon Zila) is a district in the north-western side of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division and borders India to the west.[3] It was established as a mahakuma in 1860 consisting of 6 thanas named Thakurgaon sadar, Baliadangi, Pirganj, Ranishankail, Haripur and Ruhia. In 1947, it was re-established as a mahakuma including 3 thanas of Jalpaiguri and a thana of kochbihar of India. In 1981, Atoari was included in the new Panchagarh district and the area was shrunk in just 5 thanas. It was then established as a district on 1 February 1984.[4]

Subdistricts

There are 5 upazilas, 6 thanas, 53 unions, 647 mouzas and 1016 villages in Thakurgaon. The Upazilas in this district are:

  1. Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila
  2. Baliadangi Upazila
  3. Haripur Upazila
  4. Ranisankail Upazila
  5. Pirganj Upazila

There is also an upazila named Pirganj under Rangpur district.

History

The Monument of 1971 War beside Tangon River.

During British rule Thakurgaon was a tehsil (a district subdivision). In 1947 at the time of the Partition of India, Thakurgaon Subdivision became part of the newly established Dinajpur District of East Bengal. In 1984 Thakurgaon subdivision was split off Dinajpur and became a separate district (i.e. Thakurgaon District). Before 1879 Thakurgaon District was ruled my Maithil Brahmin and Thakurs like Bikhash Jha, Barun Thakur and Vidhenesh Roy. Until 1947 Thakurgaon district had a just Hindu majority population of 52%. Most people believe Thakurgaon district has got its name from Barun Thakur.

Geography

The area of Thakurgaon is 1,781.74 square kilometres (687.93 sq mi). Thakurgaon is in the north west corner of Bangladesh, it is about 467 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is surrounded by Dinajpur district on its south, Panchagarh district to the east and India on its west and north sides, it is a part of the Himalayan plain land. Highest average temperature of this district is 33.5 °C and lowest average is 10.05 °C.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1974 633,331—    
1981 817,732+3.72%
1991 1,010,948+2.14%
2001 1,214,376+1.85%
2011 1,390,042+1.36%
2022 1,533,894+0.90%
Sources:[6]

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Thakurgaon District had 382,400 households and a population of 1,533,894, 18.6% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 861 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 74.3%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.[1]

Religions in Thakurgaon district (2011)[6]
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 76.70%
Hindus
 
 22.26%
Christianity
 
 0.57%
Other or not stated
 
 0.47%
Religion in present-day Thakurgaon district[lower-alpha 1]
Religion Population (1941)[7]: 88–89  Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[6] Percentage (2011)
Islam 183,554 53.96% 1,066,176 76.70%
Hinduism 150,366 44.20% 309,423 22.26%
Tribal religion 5,627 1.65% 6,283 0.45%
Christianity 453 0.13% 7,897 0.57%
Others [lower-alpha 2] 181 0.06% 263 0.02%
Total Population 340,181 100% 1,390,042 100%

Muslims make up 76.70% of the population, while Hindus are 22.26% and Christians 0.57% of the population.[6]

Economy

In Bangladesh as a whole agriculture is the basis of the economy, and Thakurgaon has been striving for a long time to be economically productive, agriculture forming a major part of the districts economy. Thakurgaon produces many agricultural products, such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, seasonal vegetables and fruits etc. The sugarcane plantation - TSM (Thakurgaon Sugar Mill)--is part of the BSFIC. These become the main livelihood of the native. Poultry firms are quite productive business in Thakurgaon, there are several cold-stores in the district. Different businesses for producing and repairing agricultural tools have grown up.

However the community's distance from the capital causes difficulties in getting sufficient technical and logistic support and in transporting local products to the national market. It is not easy for the investors to set up their business far away from the center of national trade and commerce. Above all of these, thakurgaon are now developing fast.Some business group started to invest in thakurgaon like Younis Group, KAZI Firmsetc. From these agriculture base district will be converted into industrial soon.

Places of interest[8]

Nagor River at Haripur upazila

There are various places of interest in the district, these include:

  1. The Tangon River
  2. Senua Bridge
  3. Old Air Port, destroyed during the second world war, situated at Modergonj beside of Arazipaickpara
  4. Jomidar Mosjid at Shibganj
  5. Balia Mosjid at Balia Union
  6. The Fair of Nekmordon
  7. Ramrai Dighi, it is a pond having 50 acres (200,000 m2) of area. A beautiful tourist spot.
  8. King's Palace
  9. The river of Kulik
  10. Khunia Dhighi Memorial
  11. Palace of King Tonko Nath
  12. Gorkoi Heritage
  13. 500 acre shal garden on the bank of the Tangon River
  14. Horinmari Amgach (Stand by 3 bigha area )
  15. Haripur Rajbari
  16. Gorokkhonath temple
  17. Ranishankail Jomidar Bari
  18. Jagdal Rajbari
  19. Sangah Shahi mosque
  20. Fatehpur mosque
  21. Shalbari mosque
  22. Bhulli badh
  23. Burir bad

Culture

There is a versatile practice of culture in the district; few festivals and cultural events are regularly arranged there. Alpona Sansad arranges Boishakhi Mela in every Bangla new year. Held "Eid Fair" at the occasion of Eid-Ul-Adha & Eid-Ul-Fitre every year at Thakurgaon Boro Matth also. Several drama clubs (Sapla Natto Gosty-Estd.1974, Nischintopur

Eid Ul Adha

Theater-1983 etc. ) practice and perform regularly and stage original and famous dramas every month. Dhamer Gaan is a unique traditional cultural invention of Thakurgaon people. The existing 10 tribes in this area enjoy their own heritage and cultural practices.

Notable people

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Thakurgaon, Baliadangi, Ranisankail, Haripur and Pirganj thanas of Dinajpur district
  2. ↑ Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thakurgaon District.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Thakurgaon District.
  1. 1 2 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.
  2. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Abu Md. Iqbal Rumi Shah (2012). "Thakurgaon District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. ↑ "History of Thakurgaon". Bangladesh national portal.
  5. ↑ "Thakurgaon at a glance". Bangladesh national portal.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Thakurgaon" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  7. ↑ "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Notable places of Thakurgaon". Bangladesh national portal.
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