Badarganj Upazila

Badarganj Upazila (rangpur district) area 301.29 sq km, located in between 25°32' and 25°46' north latitudes and 88°56' and 89°10' east longitudes. It is bounded by taraganj, rangpur sadar and saidpur upazilas on the north, nawabganj (dinajpur) and parbatipur upazilas on the south, Rangpur Sadar and mithapukur upazilas on the east, Parbatipur upazila on the west.

Population Total 257846; male 132611, female 125235; Muslim 225502, Hindu 30073, Buddhist 1891, Christian 66 and others 314.

Water bodies Main rivers: Jamuneshwari, Chirnai, Katgara; Bhelakoba, Nandair, Chaprar, Haribhanga, Bashdaha, Varardaha, Patil Vasa, Saila and' Boali beels are notable.

Administration Badarganj Thana was formed in 1793 and it was turned into an upazila in 1983.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	10	64	120	31974	225472	846	49.3	36.5

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
6.79	9	12	23842	3511	53.57

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
11.71	75	8132	694	36.14

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Kutubpur 63	7189	10562	10023	29.69
Gopalpur 31	5490	13575	12629	38.30
Gopinathpur 37	7264	11476	11048	41.79
Damodarpur 25	8397	12495	11637	32.23
Badarganj 12	8023	8149	7675	33.37
Bishnupur 18	8066	14028	13382	33.23
Madhupur 75	7340	14424	13424	38.47
Radhanagar 82	5613	10897	10580	34.67
Ramnathpur 88	8700	13138	12813	49.16
Lohani Para 69	8366	11390	10659	31.22

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Nine-domed Mosque at Lal Dighir Par of Radhanagar union (Mughal period), tomb of Kutub Shah at Kutubpur union, Bakhtyar Danga, Bhim Garh at Mansinghapur, Madai Khamar, Zamindar Bari at Dilalpur, Baroari Kali Mandir (BS. 1305) Sree Sree Praneswari Kali Mandir (BS. 1310), Gopinathpur Ashram and Mandir (BS. 1335), ruins of Jalubar Mandir, Ghatabeel Mandir, Burir Mandap, Shiva Mandir at Sekher Hat.

Historical events Badarganj was a part of Barind region during the eleventh century. The king of the Barind area, Mahipal II used to collect taxes mercilessly. As a result the kaibarta (fishermen) community rebelled against the king in 1071. The people of this region took part in anti British fakir-sannyasi resistance and Krishak Praja Bidraha (peasant-tenant rebellion) during 1760 to 1812. The indigo planters of Badarganj constructed a number of Neekhutis including Hariar Kuthi and Chandamari Kuthi. It is known that the peasants of Badarganj participated in indigo resistance movement during 1859-1862. Besides, tebhaga movement in favour of the sharecroppers, was held under Haji mohammad danesh of Dinajpur in which Darajuddin Mandal, Comrade Jiten Datta, Chhayen Uddin participated. During the war of liberation Badarganj was declared a free zone during April 2 to April 14. The freedom fighters destroyed the railway lines to disrupt the movements of the Pak army. On 17 April 1971 the Pak army and their local collaborators conducted mass killings and set on fire the villages like Khalisa Hajipur, Bujruk Hajipur, Ghatabeel and Ramnathpur.

Marks of War of Liberation Mass killing site 2 (Jharuar Beel and Padmapukur).

Religious institutions Mosque 315, temple 32, church 6, sacred place 1.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 38.2%; male 42.83%, female 33.3%. Educational institutions: college 7, secondary school 53, primary school 161, satellite 9, madrasa 41. Noted educational institutions: Badarganj Degree College, Bakshmiganj High School and College, Radhanagar Bilateral High School (1920).

Newspapers and periodicals daily Dainik Rangpurer Kagoj; Magazine: Batayan (BS. 1409), Sanko (2006).

Cultural organisations Library 9, theatre group 6, theatre stage 1, women organisation 3, cinema hall 2.

Important establishments Shampur Sugar Mill, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation.

Main sources of income Agriculture 69.54%, non-agricultural labourer 3.32%, industry 0.48%, commerce 13.8%, transport and communication 2.25%, service 4.58%, construction 0.75%, religious service 0.2%, rent and remittance 0.07% and others 5.01%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 41.42%, landless 50.58%; agricultural landowner: urban 36.56% and rural 51.26%.

Main crops Paddy, jute, wheat, potato, mustard seed, tobacco, vegetables.'

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Kaun, sesame, pulse.

Main fruits Mango, banana, blackberry, jamrul, custard-apple.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries This upazila has a number of fisheries, dairies and poultries.

Communication facilities Pucca road 79 km, semi-pucca road 21 km, mud road 866 km; railway 19.31 km; waterway 29.70 nautical miles.

Extinct or nearly extinct traditional transport Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart.

Noted manufactories Sugar mill, rice mill, flour mill, threshed rice (chira) mill, ice cream factory, welding, steel factory, brick field, cold-storage.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, weaving, wood work, sataranji industry, bidi factory, tailoring, bamboo work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 43, fairs 7; most noted of which are Badarganj Hat, Laldighi Hat, Kutubpur Hat, Bagmara Hat, Faridpur Hat, Bakshmiganj Hat, Mominpur Hat, Sekher Hat, Teker Hat, Pathaner Hat, Chilapaker Hat, Shampurer Hat, Nager Hat, and Badarganj Mela, Bakshmiganj Mela, Sekher Hat Baruni Mela, Karatoa Mela, Burir Parban Mela and Charak Mela.

Main exports Paddy, wheat, mango, jute, vegetables.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 11.77% (urban 9.72% and rural 26.21%) of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 84.62%, pond 0.33%, tap 0.68% and others 14.37%.

Sanitation 7.93% (urban 21.41% and rural 6.02%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 18.89% (urban 26.93% and rural 17.75%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 73.18% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, health centre 1, union health and family welfare centre 10, private clinic 1.'

Natural disasters Famine occurred in Badarganj in 1770, 1944 and 1947. Besides, many people died due to epidemics like cholera and small pox. There was heavy casualties occurred due to earth quake in 1897.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, rdrs, Seba. [Abdus Sattar]

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Badarganj Upazila 2007.