Rajbari District () is a district in central Bangladesh, located in Dhaka Division.
History
During the reign of
Mughal emperors Jahangir, a fief in Padamdi was decreed to the family of an Iraqi Muslim immigrant by the name of Syed Shah Pahlwan in 1607. The
family, known as the Nawabs of Padamdi actively commanded the artillery and served the Mughal army, eventually leading to Emperor
Shah Jahan bestowing them the title of Mir.
Rajbari in the Bengali language means palace, and pays homage to the rich families that feudally ruled modern-day Rajbari. In the 17th century, the Mughal governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan, appointed Sangram Shah of Panchthupi as the Nawara of what is present-day Rajbari in order to suppress the Portuguese pirates. The Nawara settled permanently in the populated neighbourhood of Banibaha and built a fort at a place called Lalgola. Sangram Shah and his family later became known as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha.
After the Battle of Plassey of 1757, one of Siraj ud-Daulah's officers by the name of Prabhuram went into hiding in Lakshmikol to avoid the British colonialists. Prabhuram's son, Dwigendra Prasad, eventually became a prominent zamindar in the area, and his son Surya Kumar earned the title of Raja. In 1890, the Rajbari railway station was established, and it is said that it was named after Raja Surya Kumar. Other zamindars such as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha objected to this as the name of Rajbari was said to have been established long before Kumar.
During the Bangladesh War of 1971, an organisation named the Sangram Parishad (Struggle Council) was established on 26 March. On 21 and 22 April, six Bengali fighters were murdered during an encounter with the Pakistan Army. In the villages of Majhpara, Ramcole and Mathurapur, the army killed 10 pro-independence Bengalis and individuals in addition to setting many houses on fire. The Bengali fighters captured a large amount of equipment and resources from the Army in November. Another brawl took place in that month in the village of Alhadipur leading to 9 Pakistan Army casualties.
Geography and climate
The district is bounded by
Pabna District on the north, Faridpur and
Magura District districts on the south, Manikganj District on the east,
Kushtia District and Jhenaidah districts on the west. The land of the district is mainly alluvial raised from the
Padma.
Annual average temperature of this district is maximum 35.8 °C and minimum 12.6 °C. Annual rainfall is 2105 mm.
Major rivers
Demographics
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rajbari District had 295,216 households and a population of 1,189,818 with an average 3.99 people per household. Among the population, 215,341 (18.10%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,089 people per km
2. Rajbari District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 69.49%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1044 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 15.11% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 3,324.
Religion
| +Religion in present-day Rajbari district
! rowspan="2" | Religion
! colspan="2" | 1941 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2022 |
|
| Islam | 211,005 | 63.09% | 563,451 | 83.08% | 724,361 | 86.73% | 847,616 | 89.04% | 942,527 | 89.78% | 1,078,677 | 90.66% |
| Hinduism | 123,011 | 36.78% | 113,975 | 16.81% | 109,614 | 13.12% | 103,664 | 10.89% | 106,974 | 10.19% | 110,569 | 9.29% |
| Others | 460 | 0.14% | 779 | 0.11% | 1,198 | 0.15% | 626 | 0.07% | 277 | 0.03% | 572 | 0.05% |
|
The district is predominantly Muslim. Muslims are 1,078,677, Hindus 110,569, and Christians 163.
Places of interest
Dighi (a kind of water body) in Rajbari include
Kallyan Dighi, situated in Baliakandi of Islampur union. Rajbari is situated by the bank of
Padma River.
"Godar Bazar", bank of Padma River and also a well-known place of interest is situated near at Rajbari town. And also well known place is "UK BEACH" (Urakanda Padma River Side Resort)
Administration
Once Rajbari region was a part of
Jessore District. In 1811 when Faridpur District was formed Rajbari was included in it. Besides, the upazilas under Rajbari district were included in different districts in the past.
Pangsha Upazila was once included into
Pabna District. In 1859, Pangsha and Baliakandi were included in the newly formed Kumarkhali Upazila. In 1871, when
Goalanda Upazila was formed, Pangsha and Rajbari were included in it and its headquarters was established in Rajbari. Goalanda was upgraded into a district in March 1984 and it was renamed as Rajbari District.
Parliamentary seats
-
Rajbari-1
-
Rajbari-2
Upazilas
There are 5 upazilas in this district.
They are:
-
Baliakandi Upazila
-
Goalanda Upazila
-
Pangsha Upazila
-
Kalukhali Upazila
-
Rajbari Sadar Upazila
Deputy commissioner
The DC is the chief administrative and revenue officer of Rajbari District.
|
|
| 26/2/1984 - 5/10/1986 |
| 29/9/1986 - 25/2/1989 |
| 22/2/1989 - 8/1/1991 |
| 13/8/1992 - 1/8/1995 |
| 2/8/1995 - 21/8/1995 |
| 22/8/1995 - 27/4/1996 |
| 22/4/1996 - 14/7/1999 |
| 15/7/1999 - 28/3/2001 |
| 28/3/2001 - 25/4/2002 |
| 25/4/2002 - 1/9/2004 |
| 1/9/2004 - 3/9/2006 |
| 3/9/2006 - 19/11/2006 |
| 19/11/2006 - 26/1/2008 |
| 24/1/2008 - 28/4/2009 |
| 27/4/2009 - 27/4/2010 |
| 27/4/2010 - 12/12/2012 |
| 12/12/2012 - 20/6/2014 |
| 21/6/2015 - 27/4/2015 |
| 20/6/2014 -2/2/2016 |
| 2/2/2016 - 11/5/2017 |
| 11/5/2017 - 24/6/2019 |
| Present |
Education
Rajbari District features a robust educational network spanning secondary schools, colleges, and madrasas.
Tertiary Education
The flagship institution is **Rajbari Government College**, founded on 23 June 1961 by civil servant Quazi Azhar Ali and nationalized on 1 March 1980. Initially housed in a former Baptist Mission building, the college expanded to a 14-acre campus through land donations and acquisitions. It began with Humanities and Commerce courses, added Science in 1963, and gradually expanded to include numerous honors and postgraduate departments. By 2023, it enrolled approximately 11,000 students and employed around 65 faculty members. Notable alumni include actor Chanchal Chowdhury, former state minister Kazi Keramat Ali, and High Court Justice S. M. Kuddus Zaman.
Other prominent colleges in the district include Rajbari Government Adarsha Mohila College, Dr. Abul Hossain University College, Pangsha Government College, Kalukhali Government College, Govt. Goalanda Kamrul Islam College, Baharpur College, Baliakandi Degree College, and Mir Mosharraf Hossain Degree College, among others. The district also includes Bhandaria Siddiqia Kamil Madrasah.
Secondary Education
Secondary-level education is served by institutions such as Rajbari Government High School (established 1892), Baharpur High School (1933), Rajbari Government Girls High School, Baliakandi Pilot Model High School, Rajdharpur Madhyamik Bidyalay, Yasin High School, and several additional government and private high schools.
Notable people
-
Padamdi Nawab family
-
Mir Mosharraf Hossain, novelist and playwright
-
Haroa/Ratandia Choudhury family
-
Katakhali Chowdhury family
-
Abdul Wajed Chowdhury (died 1992), politician
-
Salma Chowdhury (born 1971), politician
-
Maguradangi Chowdhury family
-
Rowshan Ali Chowdhury (1874–1933), journalist
-
Yakub Ali Chowdhury (1888–1940), essayist
-
Bagmara Qazi family
-
Qazi Motahar Hossain (1897–1981), scientist, author and teacher
-
Sanjida Khatun (1933–2025), musicologist
-
Qazi Anwar Hussain (1936–2022), novelist
-
Fahmida Khatun, singer
-
AKM Aszad, politician
-
Lieutenant General S. M. Matiur Rahman
-
Kazi Keramat Ali, former MP & Education Minister
-
Md. Zillul Hakim, former MP & Railways Minister
-
Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, former MP
-
Jahanara Begum, politician
-
Kazi Abdul Wadud, dramatist
-
Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, former Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
-
Monsur Ul Karim, painter
-
Rokanuzzaman Khan, journalist
-
Shohely Akhter, cricketer
-
S. M. Kuddus Zaman, justice
-
Satish Chandra Vidyabhusan, eminent Sanskrit scholar
-
Shohely Akhter, cricketer
-
Kangalini Sufia, folk singer
-
Kazi Abul Kasem, polymath
-
Rozina, actress
-
Khurshida Begum Sayeed, former commissioner
-
Khabiruzzaman, Bir Bikrom
-
Mohammad Yakub Ali Chowdhury,
Essayist, Journalist
See also
Notes
