Rangpur, Bangladesh

Rangpur is a major metropolitan city in Bangladesh. It is the administrative center of the Rangpur Division and lies on the banks of the Ghaghat River, close to the Teesta River. As the second-largest city corporation in Bangladesh, Rangpur has grown quickly in recent years with better roads, buildings, and services. Many students from nearby areas come to Rangpur for its good schools and colleges.

The city has a rich history. In 1575, a general serving the Mughal Emperor Akbar took control of Rangpur. It became fully part of the Mughal Empire in 1686. On December 16, 1769, Rangpur was named a district seat, and in 1869, it became a municipality—one of the oldest in the country. The municipal office building was finished in 1892.

In 1984, the larger Rangpur district was split into five separate districts: Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Rangpur. Today, Rangpur remains an important center for education, culture, and community life, with many traditional festivals and events held throughout the year.

Etymology

The city of Rangpur got its name from an older name, "Rongpur". Long ago, English rulers grew a plant called indigo here because the soil was very good for it. The local people called this plant "Rongo", so the area became known as "Rongopur". Over time, this name changed to Rangpur. Another story says the name comes from a place called Rangmahal, which means "Palace of Entertainment", linked to an old king named Bhagadatta, who was the son of Narakasura, the ruler of the Pragjyotisha Kingdom.

History

Mughal Period

During the Mughal time, Rangpur had three types of areas for managing things. In 1575, a commander named Raja Man Singh, who worked for the Mughal emperor Akbar, took control of Rangpur. But it wasn’t until 1686 that Rangpur fully became part of the Mughal Empire. Names like Mughalbasa ("a place of the Mughals") and Mughalhat ("a market set up by the Mughals") remind us of this time. After that, Rangpur came under the control of the ruler of Ghoraghat.

British Period

When the East India Company took control in 1765, Rangpur became part of British rule. There were important uprisings here, such as the Fakir-Sannyasi rebellion, led by people like Fakir Majnu Shah. Leaders like Devi Chaudhurani and Bhabani Pathak came from this area. In 1857, soldiers who were unhappy with British rule caused fear among the British in Rangpur. In 1930, people in Rangpur started one of the first movements against British rules. In 1946, leaders from North Bengal met here, and a big movement called the Tebhaga movement began soon after.

Pakistani Period and Liberation War

When Bangladesh was part of Pakistan, Rangpur was a district in East Pakistan. People from Rangpur joined many important movements, like the one for the Bengali language and the big uprising in 1969. On March 3, 1971, the first person from Rangpur died fighting for freedom. Just three days after Pakistan’s attack, on March 28, 1971, people in Rangpur began the fight for independence. During the war to free Bangladesh, Rangpur was very important because it was close to the border with India.

Post-Independence Period

In 1984, the big Rangpur area was split into five smaller districts. In 2012, Rangpur Municipality became Rangpur City Corporation. Then, in 2018, Rangpur was named the 8th major city in Bangladesh.

Geography

Rangpur is an important city and the main center of Rangpur Division. It is located near the Ghaghat River and the Teesta River. The city sits about 34 meters above sea level. The weather there can get as warm as 32 degrees Celsius and as cool as 11 degrees Celsius, with about 2931 mm of rain each year. The town covers around 42 square kilometers and became a municipality in 1869.

Climate

Rangpur has a humid subtropical climate, which means it has hot, wet summers and cool, dry winters. The city experiences four main seasons: a warm summer with frequent thunderstorms from March to May, a rainy monsoon season from June to September that can cause flooding, a short cooler autumn, and a pleasant winter from December to February. Winters can sometimes be foggy, with cold nights but still warm days. Most of the year's rain falls during the monsoon months, while winter and spring are much drier. Snow and frost are very rare in Rangpur.

Demographics

Rangpur is a big city in Bangladesh. In 2022, it had over 170,000 homes and more than 700,000 people living there. Many of these people were children, with almost 16% under the age of 10. Most people could read and write, with a literacy rate of about 81% for those aged 7 and older.

Earlier data from 2011 shows that Rangpur had around 65,000 homes and about 301,000 people. About 17% of the population were children under 10. The literacy rate was 72%, which is higher than the national average at that time.

Economy

Rangpur is a busy city where people buy and sell many things. You can find government offices, banks, and places to stay, as well as restaurants with foods from China, Thailand, India, and Mexico. There are also shops for everyday items and gifts. Rangpur is important for the country because it is located in a place that connects it to the world.

The city is also known for growing tobacco, and some big companies have offices in the northern parts of Rangpur.

Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in Rangpur, Bangladesh, but football is also enjoyed by many. The city has a big stadium called Rangpur Stadium where people play football and other sports. There is also a special place called Cricket Garden mainly used for cricket games. Rangpur even has its own team in the Bangladesh Premier League called the Rangpur Riders. Many young athletes train in the city's sports academies, dreaming of one day playing for the national team.

Government

The Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) governs the Rangpur Metropolitan Area. It was created on 28 June 2012 and covers an area of 205.70 square kilometers, where 796,556 people live. The city is led by a mayor, who is elected along with ward councillors every five years. The mayor oversees all 33 wards in Rangpur, with main income coming from taxes and special charges.

Rangpur is the headquarters of the 66th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army.

Education

Rangpur, Bangladesh, has many places where students can learn and grow.

The city is home to Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, a major university for higher education.

For medical training, there are several colleges such as Rangpur Medical College and Rangpur Army Medical College, along with other medical schools.

Students can also attend well-known schools like Rangpur Zilla School and Rangpur Govt. Girls' High School. Other schools include Police Lines School and College, Rangpur and Cantonment Public School and College, Rangpur.

Colleges in the area include Carmichael College, Rangpur Cadet College, and Rangpur Government College, among many others.

English medium schools such as The Millennium Stars School & College and International Grammar School offer education in English.

The city also has technical training at places like Rangpur Polytechnic Institute.

Neighbourhoods

Rangpur City Corporation has 33 areas called wards and many smaller parts known as neighbourhoods (Mahallah). These neighbourhoods can be split into two types: Urban and Suburban. Some of these neighbourhoods include Burirhat, Chabbis Hazari, Panadardighi, Uttam, Hazirhat, CO Bazar, Dhap, Kellabond, Radhaballov, Shimulbag-Sagarpara, Keranipara, Munshipara, Lalkuthi lane, Khalifapara, Jummapara, Jahaj Company, Nababgonj, Betpotti-Taltola, Kotkipara, Parjantan Para, Modern, Ashratpur, Alamnagar, Robertsonganj, Darshana, Lalbagh, Khamarpara, Islampur, Pirjabad, Parbatipur, Mahiganj, Tajhat, Ganeshpur, Babukha, DC More, Adarshapara, and Mistry Para.

Transport

Rangpur is connected by highways to major cities like Chittagong and Dhaka. Traveling to Dhaka by road takes about 6 to 7 hours using National Highway 5. Buses are available to other districts, and there is a special double-decker bus service linking the suburbs to the city center through the Asian Highway 2 and the BRTC double-decker bus service.

The main railway station in Rangpur offers train services across the country, run by Bangladesh Railway. The Rangpur Express is one of the trains that goes between Rangpur and Dhaka, along with the Kurigram Express and Lalmoni Express.

For air travel, Saidpur Airport serves Rangpur. It is a domestic airport with flights by several private airlines including Novoair, US-Bangla Airlines, Air Astra, and the government airline Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is based in Dhaka. The airport is currently being renovated to become an international airport for northern Bangladesh.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Rangpur

Rangpur has been home to many important people in Bangladesh's history. Some have led the country as presidents or chief justices, while others have made their mark in arts, politics, and sports.

The city has produced leaders like former presidents and chief justices, as well as famous actors, singers, and writers. Many have served in important government roles, and others have been key figures in cultural and social movements. Rangers have also seen athletes grow to represent Bangladesh on national teams.