History
Rangpur was conquered by the army of Raja Man Singh, a
commander of the Mughal emperor, Akbar, in 1575, but it was not until 1686 that
it was fully integrated into the Mughal Empire. Names of places like
Mughalbasa, and Mughalhat bear testimony to the Mughal Association and past of
Rangpur and its hinterland. Later on, Rangpur passed under the control of
"Sarker" of Ghoraghat. During the period of the British East India
Company, the Sannyasi Rebellion took place. Rangapur Ghoraghat has been mentioned
in the Riyaz-us-Salatin. During the early period of the company rule fakir-sannyasi
resistance and peasant rebellion were held in Rangpur.
Geography
Rangpur town is the divisional headquarters. The soil
composition is mainly alluvial soil of the Teesta River basin ,
and the remaining is barind soil. The temperature ranges from 32 degrees
Celsius to 11 degrees Celsius, and the annual rainfall averages 2931 mm.
Rangpur town, covering an area of around 28 square kilometers, lies on the bank
of the Ghaghat river, and was turned into a municipality back in 1869. The
population of the Rangpur municipality as of 2006 is 251,699, with 52% male and
48% female, and the literacy rate is 54.6%. Establishment of Rangpur City
Corporation, as Divisional
City is now under way
after the establishment of Rangpur Division in January 2010.
Climate
Rangpur has a tropical wet and dry climate. The climate of
Rangpur is generally marked with monsoons, high temperature, considerable
humidity and heavy rainfall. The hot season commences early in April and
continues till July. The maximum mean temperature observed is about 32 to
36 °C during the months of May, June July and August and the minimum
temperature recorded in January is about 7 to 16 °C. The highest rainfall
is observed during the months of monsoon. The annual rainfall in the district
is about 1,448 millimetres.
Economy
The city is the commercial hub for the surrounding
districts. The city centre has number of government and private banks,
insurance companies, residential hotels, Chinese and Indian restaurants, fast
food, sweet shops, gift shop and many more. It is one of most important
economic zone in Bangladesh ,
because of its global positioning.
Places of interest
The place is situated three km on the south–east outskirts
of the town of Rangpur .
Probably this place was built by Maha Raja Kumar Gopal Lal Ray in the beginning
of the 20th century from 1984 to 1991. The palace was used as a Rangpur high
Court branch of the Bangladesh Supreme court in 1995. The palace was declared
as a Protected monument by the department of archeology. recognizing its
outstanding archeological value the government of Bangladesh decided to shift the
Rangpur museum here in 2002. Accordingly, the palace in being partly used as
Rangpur museum since 2005.
Town Hall
There is an ancient auditorium named 'Town Hall' at the
center of the city, where different cultural programs are held.
Jadu Nibash
Located in Radhaballav next to the Rangpur Government
College . Home of Late
Mashiur Rahman Jadu Mia. It is an ancient house, about hundred years old. The
house was probably built and owned by Raja Gopal Lal Rai Bahadur at the same
time that the Rangpur District Council, Rangpur
Town Hall and the famous Tajhat Palace
buildings were built.
Teesta Barrage
In the great Rangpur region, no economic development took
place until the 90s, mainly because of the yearly flooding the region used to
see before the making of "Teesta Barrage." The coal is found near
this district. There is a large military cantonment in the town.
Zoo
Rangpur central zoo is one of the main amusement and
recreation spot of Rangpur city. With an area of 20.27 acre of lush green trees
and grasses, the Rangpur zoo is located east side of Hanuman-tola road beside
police-line, not far from Rangpur district Administration office. The Zoo has
193 individual animals of 28 species. Many wild animals are available to
attract the visitors. A few of them are The Bengal tiger, African lion, Black
Panther, Rhinoceros, Leopard, Hippopotamus, Peacocks, Alligators, Turtles,
Spotted Deer, different kinds of Birds, Snakes and so on.
The Rangpur zoo was built in the 1880s. Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology completed a digital survey and
feasibility study of "Dhaka And Rangpur Zoo Modernization Project" to
upgrade the facilities to international standard.
Binodon Uddyan
"Binodon Uddyan" is a massive park located in the
middle of the city. A Shishu
Park , lake and a large
restaurant are situated inside of this park. The mini Tajmahal also latest
attraction.
Kellaband Mosque
Kellaband Mosque is situated at C.O. Bazar on the north of
Rangpur-Dinajpur Highway 02 km north-west of Rangpur town. This three-dome
mosque is about 200 years old. A concrete well and an ancient cemetery are
lying beside the mosque.
Pirgacha Landlord House
The Manthana Kingdom Estate was established sometime around
1100 AD. Her Royal Highness Maharani Joy Durga Devi Chaudhurani of Rangpur was
the most influential and famous ruler of the kingdom. After the death of His
Royal Highness Rajah Rajendra Narayan Roy Choudhury, the Monthana Kingdom
Estate was divided into two parts among his two sons Rajah Harendra Narayan Roy
Choudhury and Rajah Bhairab Narayan Roy Choudhury of Rangpur. As a result, the
landlord house also divided into two parts. After the death of HRH Rajah
Harendra Narayan Roy Choudhury his son HRH Rajah Mahendra Narayan Roy Choudhury
succeeded the kingdom. After his death HRH Rajah Bhupendra Narayan Roy
Choudhury succeeded to the throne of the kingdom and was the last crowned king
of this kingdom estate. His son HRH Prince Jyotirindra Narayan Roy Choudhury
was born in 1947 and is the crown prince of the estate. Soon after the birth of
HRH Jyotirindra Narayan Roy Choudhury, India
and East Pakistan got independence from imperial British rule and the partition
of Bengal took place. HRH Prince Jyotirindra
Narayan Roy Choudhury of Rangpur now resides in Calcutta , India
with his family. His son HRH Prince Rupendra Narayan Anirban Roy Choudhury of
Rangpur who uses the name Anirban Roy Choudhury is the present Titular Crown
Prince of the kingdom-estate. The Pirgaccha Landlord House popularly known as
the Manthana Palace or Manthana Rajbari is a massive
structure spread over hundreds of acres of land and houses ponds, lakes,
buildings, temples, and various other assets. HRH Princess Kabita Rani Roy
Choudhury is the present legal owner of the entire kingdom-estate. The Kachari
House of the Manthana
Palace is now used as
Pirgasha Registrar Office.
Devi Caudhuranir Jamindar Bari
The Landlord-King of Pirgacha sub district HRH Rajah
Narendro Narayan Roy Choudhury, son of HRH Rajah Raghabendra Narayan Roy
Choudhury died in 1765 without any legacy. Then the wife of the late King, HRH
Maharani Joy Durga Devi Chaudhurani of Rangpur managed the kingdom for three
decades. HRH Maharani Joy Durga Devi Chaudhurani is popularly known as Devi
Chaudhurani in history and was one of the most successful and popularly known
rulers of the kingdom. During the time of Sanyasi Bidroho for the independence
of India ,
she along with Bhabani Pathak raged war against the British. In this insurgency
Collector Richard Gudland and army commander Lieutenant Brenan, scared of the
war situation, forfeited the kingdom from Devi Chaudhurani. However the
imperial British could not keep the kingdom forfeited from the illustrious
Maharani, and soon after she again came to manage the kingdom and she ruled
until 1791. Later in history, the famous Bengali novelist, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhay,
who also happened to be the Collector of Rangpur and under the employment of
the British rule, wrote the famous novel Devi Chaudhurani to portray her as a
dacoit-queen. The novel has been adapted into very famous movies with the 1974
movie starring Suchitra Sen in the lead. And National Award winning director
Rituporno Ghosh is adapting the novel into another movie in recent times, in
which Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play the lead role of Devi Chaudhurani.
However the novel has tarnished the characted and image of Her Royal Highness
Maharani Joy Durga Devi Chaudhurani to a great extent. His Royal Highness Rajah
Bhupendra Narayan Roy Choudhury of Rangpur was the last king of the
kingdom-estate. An earthquake damaged much of the palace built by Devi
Chaudhurani. However the palace was rebuilt several times and is a sprawling
structure spread over several hundreds of acres. The property, land and the
assets of the estate kingdom is presently legally owned by Her Royal Highness
Princess Kabita Rani Roy Choudhury of Rangpur, who lives in Kolkata , India .
Her son His Royal Highness Prince Rupendra Narayan Anirban Roy Choudhury of
Rangpur who commonly uses the name Anirban Roy Choudhury is the present Titular
Crown Prince of the estate-kingdom. HRH Prince Anirban Roy Choudhury is
currently studying the law at Symbiosis
Law School
and lives in Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi
and Kolkata.
Itakumari Jamindar Bari
Itakumari Landlord house was established in the 19th
century. Shibchondro elder son of landlord Rajarai was the founder of Itakhula
Landlord house. Now most of the building are ruined. Now a well two large pond
and elderly building witness of time. point to be noted that leaders of the
public rebellion Devi singha and his assistant Harram sen one time on a time
get the owner by forcing. Again Shibchanda and Devi Chowdhurani lead the public
rebellion and free the people of Rangpur from Devi singha's torture.
Deowan Bari
Jamindaar Bari
The Deowan Bari Jamindaar Bari was built by Fonivuson
Mojumdar. Fonivuson Mijumdar was the son of Landlord Radharomon and mother
Kusum Kumari Devi who was the second wife of Radharomon. He was born in 1892.
This landlord house is a small 2 storied building. but the main gate of the
house is like a Mughal
Castle - gate. After ban
of the Real estate tenancy practices in 1952 the house was auctioned. The
property was purchased by one Nosor Ghatial who hailed from Kurigram. Now there
is a school and some business centers. It is located at Deowan Bari road in
Rangpur near the town.
Pirgachha
Pirgachha is one of the Upazilas in Rangpur that carries
some interesting aspects. The name is derived from some unknown
"pir", buried under a tree. In other words, there was this tomb of a
"pir" under a big tree in Pirgachha. Pirgachha has a Rajbari, home of
the Jomider. This one historic residence is now almost ruined. Also, there is a
minitarure prayer place such as a mosque and a mondir built together. It shows
a friendly Hindu-Muslim community at those ages.
Chicli vata
Near the stadium, there is a very beautiful place called
'Chicli vata' surrounding by many lakes and rice fields.
Other Places
There is a large military cantonment in the town. Apart from
the Tajbari museum there is another museum at the heart of the town. The town
is known as Green town for its beautiful garden and green park throughout the
town.
Education
Major educational institutes in the city including:
Universities:
Medical & Dental Colleges:
Northern Private
Medical College .
Polytechnic Institutes:
Rangpur Polytechnic Institute
Rangpur Technical Institute
Colleges:
Carmichael Collegiate School and College
The Millennium
Stars School
& College
Residential Model
School and College
Schools:
Rangpur Govt. Girls' High School
Govt. Commercial Institute
The Millennium
Stars School
& College
Healthcare
Rangpur is well known for its healthcare facilities
throughout the north-Bengal districts. There are hundreds of hospitals, private
clinics, diagnostic centers situated all over the city. The Rangpur Medical
College Hospital ,
a tertiary level thousand bed facility public hospital with teaching facility
in graduate and post graduate medical education. The campus of Rangpur Medical College
is located in the northwest area of Rangpur. It is 210 kilometres from the
Rajshahi District and 330 kilometres from Dhaka and is located next to the
inter-country highway that connects India
to Nepal .
Prime Medical
College hospital, Doctor's Community Hospital ,
Northern Private Medical
College Hospital ,
Christian missionary hospital are the well-known private institutes. Other
government institutes include a children hospital, a chest hospital and an
infectious disease hospital.
A 1000 bed-hospital known as Health
City is under construction aiming to
provide world class medical treatments and surgeries by expert physicians from
home and abroad using the latest equipments and technologies like in the
international standard Square, United and Apollo
Hospitals in Dhaka
at much lower costs.
Media
Newspaper
There are a number of locally published newspapers in the
district. Locally published newspapers and periodicals include Online News
Portal Rangpur Crime News, Daily Rangpur Chitra, Dabanal, Rangaprovat, Juger
Alo, Dainik Paribesh,Daily Gonoalo Dainik Rangpur, Weekly Atal, Rangpur Barta
and Weekly Bajrakantha. Former newspapers which are no longer published include
Rangapur Bartabaha, Rangapur Dik Prakash, Rangapur Darpan, Uttar Bangla and
Pravati.
Transportation
The main transport systems used in the city are cycle
rickshaws, auto rickshaws, buses, mini-buses and cars. There are about 50,000
rickshaws running each day.
Roads
Rangpur is well connected by highways to Chittagong
and Dhaka , as well as other parts of Rangpur.
It takes about 6 to 7 hours by road to reach the capital Dhaka
by National Highway 5. Bus services to other major districts are also available
from Rangpur. Highway links to India
have been established through the Asian Highway 2.
Railway
The Rangpur Railway Station is the main railway station
providing trains on national routes operated by the state-run Bangladesh
Railway. Rangpur Express
Air
The city of Rangpur is served
by Saidpur Airport , located at the north of the
city. Saidpur airport is a domestic airport.
Summary
Rangpur is one of the major cities in Bangladesh and
Rangpur Division. Rangpur was declared a district headquarters on 16 December
1769, and established as a municipality in 1869, making it one of the oldest
municipalities in Bangladesh .
The municipal office building was erected in 1892 under the precedence Raja
Janaki Ballav, Sen. Chairman of the municipality. During the period of 1890,
"Shyama sundari khal" was excavated for improvement of the town. The
Municipality is located in the north western part of Bangladesh . A Recently established
public university of Bangladesh named "Begum Rokeya
University , Rangpur"
is situated in the southern part of the city. Previously, Rangpur was the
headquarters of Greater Rangpur district. Later the Greater Rangpur district
was broken down into the Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and
Gaibandha districts.