Panchagarh (Bengali: পঞ্চগড়, Ponchogorh, means five forts) is a district of Rangpur division in the extreme northern part of Bangladesh with an area of 1404.62 square km, is bounded on three sides Indian border, having Darjeeling district on the north, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar Districts on the northeast, West Dinajpur District and Purnea district on the west. Dinajpur and Thakurgaon Districts on the south, Nilphamari District on the east. Its soil is sandy, alluvial and bears close affinity with the soil of the old Himalayan basin. On the northern part of the district there exists underground layer of pebbles.
It is 150 feet (46 m) high from the sea level. Panchagarh has 16
rivers. Among them some main rivers are Karatoya, Atrai, Tista, Nagor,
Mahananda, Tangon, Dahuk, Pathraj, Bhulli, Talma, Chawai, Kurum, Versa,
Tirnoi, and Chilka.
Contents
Administration
Members of tenth Jatiyo Sangsad
The members of the tenth Jatiyo Sangsad, elected 2014 are:
- Panchagarh-1: Nazmul Haque Prodhan [from Awami League]
- Panchagarh-2: Nurul Islam Shujon [from Awami League]
Geography
Panchagarh is the situated in the north side of Bangladesh. It is 150 feet (46 m) high from the level.
Some important data about Panchagarh:
- Area: 1404.63 km².
- Total Boundary: 302.68 km
- Estublished: 01.02.1984
- No. of City Corporation: 2
- No. of Upzilla: 5
- No. of Union: 43
- No. of Village: 825
- No. of Mouza: 463
- Population: 9,01,091
- Men: 4,65,056
- Women: 4,36,035
- Density of Population: 641 per km2.
- Rate of education:
- Men: 42%
- Women: 24%
- Hat-Bazar(Markets): 138
- Main Crops: Rice, Wheat,Sugar-Chan etc.
- No. of Rivers: 16
- Main Rivers: Korotoya, Dahuk,Chawai, Tirnoy.
- Famous People: Advocate S.Bosirul Alam, Advocate Sirajul Islam, Mirza Ghulam Hafiz,Jomir Uddin Sirkar,Nazmul Haque Prodhan,Comred Forhat,Safiul Alam Prodhan and Nayok Rahman
- Rivers: Panchagarh has 23 rivers. Among them some main rivers are Karatoya, Atrai, Tista, Nagor, Mahananda, Tangon, Dahuk, Pathraj, Bhulli, Talma, Chawai, Kurum, Versa, Tirnoi, and Chilka.
Religion
The district of Panchagarh consists 1729 mosques, 812 temples, 45 Buddhist temples and five churches.
History
The existence of fifteen garhs (fortifications) has hitherto been
traced, of which the most noted are Bhitargarh, Hosaingarh, Mirgarh,
Rajangarh and Devengarh. Panchagarh is named after these five garhs.
Here Panch stands for five. (need to be edited)
Culture
In pohela boishak, the first day of Bengali year, boys-girls and all
section of people play with color water (similar to Holy in India) in
every road.
Transport
Bi-cycle, rickshaw, motor cycle are the main modes of transport for
the local people. Regular buses connects the district to their neighbor
districts and subdivisions. The road distance from Dhaka (Capital city
of Bangladesh) to Panchagarh is 475 km. Road transportation between
Dhaka & Panchagarh is a private sector affair operating
predominantly in domestic routes.
Education
B.P(Bishnu Prasad)Govt.High school which is located near the
Panchagarh Town,is the biggest and most famous boys' school of
Panchagarh and the S.S.C examination (public exam) result of the school
is very good.In 2009,85 students of this school got GPA 5 in the SSC
examination.Panchagarh Govt.Girls' High School,which is situated at the
heart of the Panchagarh Town,is the most famous girls' school of the
district. In 2008 SSC examination,32 students of this school got GPA 5
in the SSC examination.M.R(Moqbular Rahman)Govt. College is the biggest
and most famous college of Panchagarh while Panchagarh Govt. Women's
college is the most famous women's college of the district.It has
another 2 Govt High School in Debiganj Upazilla. a) N.N(Nripandra
Narayan)Govt. High School b) Debiganj Alodini Govt. Girls' High School
which are famous for good academic results.
Industry and resources
Industry: Tea, Sugar, Rice mill, ice factory, garments factory, oil mill, and Saw mill.
Banglabandha land port is located in about 10 acres (40,000 m2)
of acquired land at the north-western tip of Bangladesh in Tetulia
under Panchagarh district on the Bangladesh-India highway.The port is
situated 60 km from Panchagarh Town. The place is of international
character and used for Nepal transit traffic passing through a small
corridor of India. It is about 22 meter away from the Bangladesh-Indian
borderline.
The growing tea sector in Panchagarh has ushered in a new hope
for further enhancing the standard of socio-economic life and women
empowerment, they said. The female workers are yet to get their just
wages from the garden-owners as the growing tea-farming sector in the
region has been facing manifold problems including present unfair prices
of the tea leaves for the tea farmers. Presently, over 7,000 skilled
and unskilled workers, mostly women, have been working in 246 tea
gardens, including 18 big estates, 13 medium-size and 215 small-scale
gardens set up on more than 1,815 acres (7.35 km2) of land in
Tetulia and its surrounding areas, they said. Of them nearly 2,300
workers, mostly women, are working alone at the giant Kazi and Kazi Tea
Estate (KKTE) at Tetulia which has earned reputation in both national
and international markets by producing, processing and marketing the
famous and most popular Kazi & Kazi Organic Tea and earning foreign
exchange.
Industry for manufacturing SPC electric poles, established a plant
(Gemcon Ltd.) over a land of 35 Acres in Panchagarh District, here all
the products in the plant are manufactured by using indigenous raw
materials. The factory has created direct or indirect job opportunity
for more than 1500 people and helping the nation in poverty alleviation.
Gem Jute Limited was established in Panchagarh in 2003, with the
corporate vision is to improve the livelihood of the local population by
providing employment and advancement opportunities, stimulate the local
economy through direct and indirect economic activities. Gem Jute
promotes sustainable development and support the environment by
providing high-quality, organic, biodegradable products to the world
market.Over 5000 people are working at Gem Jute Limited.
Under Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC), Panchagarh Sugar Mills Ltd.
is the oldest industry of the district. Panchagarh Sugar Mills was set
up by the Government in 1965-69 at a cost of Tk.55.55 million. It is
near the district headquarters of Panchagarh and is the northernmost
sugar mill in Bangladesh. Machinery and equipment of the sugar mill were
supplied by M/S. Stork Werkspoor of Holland. The sugar mill started its
trial production in 1969-70. Since independence of Bangladesh (until
2005), the sugar mill has produced 8,536 m. tons of Sugar per annum on
average at an average sugar recovery rate of 8.10% from sugarcane.
Agriculture
Main Crops: Paddy, Jute, Wheat, Potato, Sugarcane and Tea. Nearly Extinct Crops are Barley, Aus Paddy and Kaun. Main fruits: Mango, Jackfruit, Litchi, Banana, Blackberry, Papaya, Guava, Coconut and Betel nut.
Statistics
| Description | 2011 | 2001 | % of National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area(km2) | 1,404.62 | 1,404.63 | 0.96 |
| Population | 10,26,141 | 836,196 | 0.71 |
| Description | 2011 | 2001 | 1991 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 703 | 595 | 507 | 17.36 |
| Litrecy rate | 51.8 | 40.82 | 27.80 | 46.83 |
Administrative
Panchagarh has five Upazilas:
| upazila | population (2011) |
|---|---|
| Panchagarh Sadar | 271707 |
| Debiganj | 224709 |
| Boda | 232124 |
| Atwari | 133650 |
| Tetulia | 125454 |
Tourist spots and places of interest in Panchagarh
Atwari
As tourist spot, Atwari has the three domed mosque at Mirzapur,
Chhaprajhar (Pahar bhanga) and Sardarpara, which bears the relics of
Mughal architecture; remains of the ruined the “Zamindar Bari” of
Aloakhoa. The Bara Awliyar Majar is another notable place in the
upazila.
Atwari has the marks of War of Liberation of 1971. These are 2 mass graves, 1 twin grave and 1 martyr memorial monument.
Mirzapur Jamei Mosque Chaprajhar Mosque Solthori Mosque Shordarpara Mosque
Tetulia
Tetulia has great hospitality for tourists. It has a “Dak Banglo”
situated on the bank of river Mahananda facing Darjeeling, a charming
ice city of India. Tea of Tetulia has same quality like tea of
Darjeeling. The “Kazi & Kazi” tea garden, the “Tetulia Tea” garden,
the Banglabandha land port are the attractive places for the visitors.
Remnants of a fort at a place named Buraburi between Bhajanpur and
Tetulia. Also Bhadreswar temple and Shiva-temple are the two tombstones
of the Greek sculptural.
Bhadreswar Temple
Vitorgarh
Panchagarh Sadar
Mirzapur in Panchagarh
Maharaja Dighi (Pond) at Bhitargarh is well known tourist attraction
of the sadar upazila. Bhitrar Shalmara is a notable beel (Lake). Shal
forest of Bhitargarh and the government forest on the banks of the
Chawai and Karatoya are notable.
During the War of Liberation
in 1971 the guerrilla fighters demolished the bridge on the Chawai near
the Amarkhana camp thereby obstructing the advance of the Pak-army
towards the north. At the initial stage of the war Maqbul Darji &
the Badi Howladar (EPR) were killed in an encounter with the Pak army
which however lost eighteen of its soldiers.
The Shaheed Farooque Ahmad memorial monument at Dhakka-mara in
Panchagarh town is the marks of war of liberation. Also the grave of the
martyr freedom fighter Sakimuddin at Jagdal-hat in front of the Baital
Aman mosque is another Mark of the war.
Pond of beside the 12 Auliar mazar in Panchagarh
Panchagarh Rocks Museum
Boda
The Vadeswari mosque, Vadeswari temple and Govinda temple are the tourist attractions in Boda.
Vadeshari Mosque
Vadeswari Temple
Shaldanga Golokdham Temple
Debiganj
In Debiganj, the Revenue office building and old residential house of
the raja of Kuch-Bihar is famous; Also Jagabandhu Thakur-bari is
another place of interest for the tourists. The town has one Dakbungalow
(Rest house).
Jogbondhu Thakurbari
Other tourist spots other places of interest near Panchagarh
Kantoji Temple in Dinajpur.
Biggest Mango Tree of Bangladesh, in Thakurgaon – in Mondomala
village of Baliadangi upazilla has the biggest mango tree of the
country. Its name is "Shurjopuri Aam Gachh (Mango tree)". From a
distance, the huge number of its branches looks like a mango garden. The
large tree is on 3-acre (12,000 m2). of land. The tree has
20 naut encircled. Saidur Rahman of Mondomala village is the owner of
the tree. This large tree produces a lot of mango every year.
Thakurgaon Sugar Mills – is situated in 5 k.m. south from Thakurgaon
city. Established in 1957, this industry is still (2009) the largest
industry in Thakurgaon district.
Residence of Raja (King) Tonkonath – the residence of Raja Tonkunath
is one of the transference of attributes of Thakurgaon. This is also
known as Ranishonkoil Jomidar Bari. Jomidar (Landlord) Tonkunath
achieved the title "Raja (King)" from the British government, from then
it was known as Rajbari (residence of the king). In the east side of
Ranishonkoil upazilla, this Rajbari is in the bay of Kulik river.
Jomidar Buddhinath Chowdhuri started to build this residence, and Raja
Tonkunath finished the build.
Jamalpur Mosque.
Gobindojiu Mondir (Temple) – in the bay of the Tangon river, Raja
Gobinda Narayan Thakur build Gobindojiu temple in near 1707. This temple
has the golden statue of Radha-krishno.
Shibmondir in Harinmari.
Shibmondir in Baliadangi – There is a 400 years old Shib mondir
(temple) in 8 km north-south side of Baliadangi upazilla of Thakurgaon
district. The 30 feet (9.1 m) tall temple has reduced its height a lot
due to subside.
Nekmorod Majar Shorif.
See also
References
- Md Sherozzaman (2012). "Panchagarh District". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- List of 10th Parliament Members
- "Community Report Panchagarh Zila June 2012". Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
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