Nilphamari District

Nilphamari District (rangpur division) area 1546.59 sq km, located in between 25°44' and 26°19' north latitudes and in between 88°44' and 89°12' east longitudes. It is bounded by west bengal state of India on the north, rangpur district on the south, lalmonirhat district on the east, panchagarh and dinajpur districts on the west.

Population Total 1834231; male 922964, female 911267; Muslim 1538916, Hindu 293385, Buddhist 53, Christian 1108 and others 769. Indigenous community such as santal belongs to this upazila.

Water bodies Main rivers: tista, Jamuneshwari, Buri Tista, Ghagat.

Administration Nilphamari Sub-division was formed in 1875 and it was turned into a district in 1984. Of the six upazilas of the district nilphamari sadar is the largest (373.09 sq km) and saidpur is the smallest (121.68 sq km).

District
Area (sq km) Upazila Municipality Union Mouza Village Population Density (per sq km) Literacy rate (%)
Urban Rural
1546.59 6 4 60 355 361 289974 1544257 1186 44.4
Others Information of District
Name of upazila Area (sq km) Municipality Union Mouza Village Population Density (per sq km) Literacy rate (%)
Kishoreganj 205.01 - 9 50 53 261069 1273 38.5
Jaldhaka 303.51 1 11 61 61 340672 1122 37.9
Dimla 326.74 - 10 53 53 283438 867 42.2
Domar 216.36 1 10 47 47 249429 1153 48.3
Nilphamari Sadar 373.30 1 15 105 108 435162 1166 45.7
Saidpur 121.66 1 5 39 39 264461 2174 54.6

Source Bangladesh Population Census 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

War of Liberation On 23 March the non-Bengalis (Biharis) of Saidpur launched attack on innocent Bangalees and killed a number of them. On 7 April the Pak army conducted torture and killing in this upazila. On 7 April the freedom fighters captured 300 rifles and 10000 ammunitions from the Armory. On 8 April the Pak army took control over Nilphamari District Town. In May the Pak army, in collaboration with the razakars, captured Rabindranarh Kundu, a noted businessman of Kishoreganj, and killed him after keeping him confined for eight days. On 23 June the Pak army shot 350 persons dead at Golahat of Saidpur. On 11 December the Pak army captured Mustafizur Rahman of Kishoreganj and later killed him. An encounter was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on 14 December in Kishoreganj in which two freedom fighters were killed. On 7 April the freedom fighters captured 300 rifles and 10000 ammunitions from the armory. On 8 April the Pak army took control over Nilphamari Town. Mass graves have been discovered at 8 places of the district and there is a mass killing site at Golahat; two memorial monuments (‘Swadhinatar Smriti Amlan’ and Bashar Gate at the Nilphamari Town) have been built.

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 44.4%; male 47.6%, female 41.1%. Noted educational institutions: Nilphamari Government College (1986), Kishoreganj Degree College (1972), Jaldhaka Degree College (1972), Saidpur Mohila Degree College (1981), Dimla Islami Degree College (1983), Saidpur College (1953), Masiur Rahaman College (1958), Government Mohila College (1972), Dimla Mohila College (1998), Nilphamari Government High School (1882), Saidpur Pilot Girls' High School (1904), Saidpur Pilot High School (1906), Khaga Kharibari High School (1906), Khaga Barabari Girls' High School (1907), Nautara Abeunnesa High School (1911), 'Nilphamari Government Boys' High School (1914), Tulshiram Girls' High School (1914), Dimla Rani Brinda Rani Government High School (1917), Domar Multilateral High School (1919), Magura High School (1923), Jaldhaka Pilot High School (1939), Kishoreganj Multilateral High School (1939), Nilphamari Government Girls' High School (1945), Simulbari SC High School, Golmunda Fazil Madrasa (1919).

Main sources of income Agriculture 68.51%, non-agricultural labourer 3.93%, industry 0.66%, commerce 11.77%, transport and communication 3.06%, service 5.93%, construction 0.89%, religious service 0.23%, rent and remittance 0.17% and others 4.85%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Nil Kantha; weekly: Nilphamari Barta, Nilsagar, Nilsamachar, Jaldhaka, Alpana, Saidpur Barta, Janasamashsha, Manabsamashsha, Dag; 'monthly: Trino, Atanda; 'fortnightly: Diganta; defunct: Jagari (1962), Nilanchan (1972), Shalki, Jaltaranga, Pallab.

Folk culture Bhawaiya songs are mostly prevalent in the district. These songs are primarily based on traditional stories. Other notable folk songs of the district are Bishari or Manasar song, Hudumdeo song, Jari' song on the occasion of muharram, marriage song or Heroya, Bhasan Jatra, songs of Satya Pir. Various Sari song such as Nayanshari Bostam Baudia, Shital Shori Janakpala, Ambal Shori Pichhal Baudia, Paimal Shori Bhodai Member etc are very popular. The rural people arrange for a folk festival called 'Pasti' within three to six days of the birth of a baby. In addition, other folk traditions and beliefs prevalent in the district include Ashta Mangala, Bhadar Katani, Paush Katani, etc.

Important installations nilsagar Dighi (Nilphamari Sadar Upazila), Uttara EPZ, Tista Barrage (Dimla Upazila). [Abdus Sattar]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001 and 2011, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Nilphamari District 2007.