Dinajpur Sadar Upazila

Dinajpur Sadar Upazila (dinajpur district) area 354.34 sq km, located in between 25°28' and 25°48' north latitudes and in between 88°34' and 88°46' east longitudes. It is bounded by kaharole and khansama upazilas on the north, west bengal state of India on the south, chirirbandar upazila on the east and biral upazila on the west.

Population Total 424776; male 221697, female 203079; Muslim 349900, Hindu 68703, Buddhist 4044, Christian 68 and others 2061. Indigenous community such as santal belongs to this upazila.

Water bodies punarbhaba and atrai rivers and ramsagar Dighi are notable.

Administration Dinajpur Sadar Thana was formed in 1899 and it was turned into an upazila in 1984.

Upazila
Municipality	Union	Mouza	Village	Population		Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
				Urban	Rural		Urban	Rural
1	10	211	205	167374	257402	1199	68.5	52.0

Municipality
Area (sq km)	Ward	Mahalla	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
19.23	12	80	157914	6734	69.17

Upazila Town
Area (sq km)	Mouza	Population	Density (per sq km)	Literacy rate (%)
4.02	10	9460	2353	56.20

Union
Name of union and GO code	Area (acre)	Population		Literacy rate (%)
		Male	Female
Auliapur 17	7851	21728	19682	54.98
Askarpur 16	7503	11027	10233	58.27
Uthrail 94	8463	11532	10525	52.99
Kamalpur 43	8444	10412	9663	57.10
Chehelgazi 25	9735	17731	15821	42.40
Fazilpur 34	8511	13421	12507	51.21
Shankarpur 60	8959	11438	10285	56.98
Shashara 69	6858	12821	11567	56.94
Sekhpura 77	7163	15278	13846	46.97
Sundarban 86	8969	14241	13104	48.20

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Archaeological heritage and relics Ramsagar Dighi (excavated in 1750), Gora Shahid Mosque, Singha Duar Palace, Kanta Nagar Fort, Sree Chandrapur Fort, Mazar of Chehelgazi, Dinajpur Rajbari, Jor (twin) Mandir at Golapganj, Dighan Mashan Kali Mandir, ancient Mandir at Chauliapatti, Mahish Mardini Mandir at Ganeshtala, Nimtala Kali Mandir, Kalitala Mashan Kali Mandir.

Historical events On 6 January 1972 about 500 freedom fighters were killed in a mine explosion at the temporary camp of the war returned freedom fighters located in the Maharaja Girijanath High School. The deformed bodies of about 100 freedom fighters were buried with state honour near the mazar of Chehelgazi.

Marks of the War of Liberation Memorial monument 1.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 58.7%; male 62.8%, female 54.1%. Educational institutions:' University 1, veterinary college 1, college 27, secondary school 72, primary school 174, madrasa 36. Noted educational institutions: Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (1999), William Carey Junior Secondary School (1799), Dinajpur Zila School (1854), Dinajpur Government Girl's High School (1869), Jubilee High School (1887), Maharaja Girijanath High School (1913), Saradeshwari Girls' High School (1927), Dinajpur High School (1930), Academy High School (1933), St. Philips High School, Nurjahan Alia Madrasa.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Uttara, Pratidin, Tista, Janamat, Uttar Banga, Ajker Protibha, Patralap; Weekly: Atapar, Ajker Barta; Monthly: Noaroj (defunct).

Cultural organisations Club 305, library 6, museum 1, cinema hall 7, theatre group 3, literature study group 15, women's organisation 1, literary organisation 13, Santal Academy 1.

Tourist spots Dinajpur Rajbari, Ananda Sagar, Sukhsagar, Matasagar, Ramsagar Dighi.

Main sources of income Agriculture 33.25%, non-agricultural labourer 3.32%, industry 1.01%, commerce 16.02%, transport and communication 6.01%, service 14.73%, construction 12.89%, religious service 0.21%, rent and remittance 0.65% and others 11.91%.

Ownership of agricultural land Landowner 42.15%, landless 57.85%; agricultural landowner: urban 35.05% and rural 46.55%.

Main crops Paddy, wheat, sugarcane, potato, mustard, vegetables.'

Extinct or nearly extinct crops Jute, sesame, kaun.

Main fruits Mango, banana, litchi.

Fisheries, dairies and poultries Fishery 42, dairy 15, poultry 125.

Communication facilities Pucca road 200 km, semi-pucca road 50 km, mud road 400 km; railway 42 km.

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

Noted manufactories Rice mill, cotton mill, ice factory, brick-field, oil industry, chemical industry, welding factory.

Cottage industries Goldsmith, blacksmith, potteries, embroidery, wood work.

Hats, bazars and fairs Hats and bazars are 20, fairs 8, most noted of which are Railbazar, Bahadur Bazar,' Shikdarganj, Gadabari, Sahebganj, Sahebdanga, Fasila, Panchbari, Khanpur, Nasipur and Lakshmitalar hats and Cheradangi, Muradpur and Goalerhat melas.

Main exports Rice, litchi, mango.

Access to electricity All the wards and unions of the upazila are under rural electrification net-work. However 41.50% of the dwelling households have access to electricity.

Sources of drinking water Tube-well 93.11%, pond 0.10%, tap 2.26% and others 4.53%.

Sanitation 32.92% (rural 12.94% and urban 65.16%) of dwelling households of the upazila use sanitary latrines and 21.77% (rural 20.34% and urban 24.07%) of dwelling households use non-sanitary latrines; 45.31% of households do not have latrine facilities.

Health centres Hospital 6, union health and family planning centre 10, community health centre 3, diabetic hospital 1, satellite clinic 2, eye hospital 1, child hospital 1, heart foundation and research centre 1, blood transfusion centre 1, veterinary hospital 1.

Natural disasters The earth quake of 1897 caused heavy damages to life and properties including' settlements of the upazila. The flood of 1968 caused damages to 95% settlements and 90% crops. Besides, it completely disrupted the railway communications.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, caritas, thengamara mahila sabuj sangha. [Zubayerur Rahman]

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