Bogra (), officially Bogura,
Bogra is named after Nasiruddin Bughra Khan, the Governor of Bengal from 1279 to 1282 and a son of Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban.
The city has produced notable personalities including Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra of Pakistan, and President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh, both of whom were born and lived in the city.
Bogra is now called 'Bogura' officially by the government and people. This spelling of the city's name were changed on 02 April 2018 because of the Misunderstanding and difference between the Bengali and English spelling.[1][2]
History
Bogra is considered the oldest city of Bengal, dating to the reign of the
Emperor Ashoka, who ruled India from 268 to 232 BCE. When Ashoka conquered the Bengal (Bongo) region, he founded Bogra and called it
Pundravardhana. This is supported by the discovery in October 2008 of an ancient engraved stone believed to be produced in the
Gupta era near
Sura Mosque at Ghoraghat Upazila in Dinajpur.
Bogra has been a transportation, cultural and economic hub for thousands of years. In the early 800 AD, it was a core place of doing business through the Karatoya River (a sub-river of the Bangali River, not to be confused with the Large Karatoya River). By 1200 AD it had also become an important geopolitical center for spreading Islam through the Mahasthangarh. In the late fiftieth century, it became a statistical trade area by the British East India Company.
In the late seventeenth century, the British East India Company gave control of the area to Nowab and Shatani families, who still are two of the most reputed families in the city.
During the Bangladesh War of Independence, the area witnessed the Battle of Bogra, a fierce conflict between the guerrilla units of the Bangladesh Forces under Sector 7 and the Pakistan Army.
Climate
The city enjoys a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) bordering on a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with two main seasons: winter and summer. Winters are dry with warm afternoons and cool nights (although frosts have never occurred in recent history), while summers are hot and humid with heavy rainfall due to the monsoon season.
Demographics
According to the 2022 Bangladesh census, Bogra city had 126,412 households and a population of 486,016. Bogra had a sex ratio of 104.23 females per 100 males and a literacy rate of 87.87%. 15.34% of the population were under 10 years of age.
Economy
Statistically, Bogra's workforce is primarily engaged in agriculture (35.09%), followed by commerce (20.32%) and service sectors (16.15%). Other significant sources of income include transport and communication (8.47%), construction (2.87%), non-agricultural labor (2.79%), and industry (2.67%). Additionally, religious services (0.18%), rent and remittance (0.69%), and other industries (10.77%) contribute to the local economy.
Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) is the largest national-level non-govt. contributor of Bogra.[ Devex. Retrieved 24 March 2025.]
Tourism
Near Bogra is
Mahasthangarh, the earliest known urban archaeological site in Bangladesh, as well as the village of Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of
Bogra District. This site contains the remains of
Pundranagara (or Paundravardhanapura), an ancient city in the territory of Pundravardhana.
[Brochure: Mahasthan – the earliest city-site of Bangladesh, published by the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, 2003] This place is considered sacred to Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus alike.
The Behular Bashor Ghor is a popular tourist attraction in the city and is close to other popular spots and monuments such as the Mahasthangar, Nawab Palace (called Neelkuthi during the British period), Kherua Mosque (Sherpur Upazila), Bara Mosque, Mazar of Shah Sultan Balkhi, Mazar of Panchpir, Gokul Medh, Palace of Parshuram, Basu Bihara, Palli Unnayan Academy, Saudia City Park, Bhimer Jangle, Museum of Nawab Bari Palace, Wonderland Shishupark (a children's park), Shanewaz Shishubagan, Woodburn Park, Dreshtinandan Park, Bijayangan (the War of Liberation museum), and the Jaina Temple.
Notable residents
-
Pinaki Bhattacharya, Human rights activist, anti-fascist
-
Ziaur Rahman, former President of Bangladesh, army officer, Chief Martial Law Administrator
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Humayun Ahmed, writer and filmmaker
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Khademul Bashar, Bir Uttam, chief of the Bangladesh Air Force in 1976
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Apu Biswas, film actress
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Muhammad Ali Bogra, Prime Minister of Pakistan (1953–1955)
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Akhteruzzaman Elias, novelist and short story writer
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Gaziul Haque, Bengali language movement activist
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Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, physicist
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Shafiul Islam, cricketer
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Tarun Majumdar, Indian film director
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Mushfiqur Rahim, cricketer
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Towhid Hridoy, cricketer
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Tanzid Hasan, cricketer
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Amalesh Sen, footballer
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Shahinur Kabir Shimul, footballer
-
Nabib Newaj Jibon, footballer
See also
Notes
External links
