# Rajshahi District

By [odno](https://paragraph.com/@odno) · 2023-05-29

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**Rajshahi District** ([Bengali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_language): রাজশাহী জেলা) is a district in mid-western [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh). It is a part of the [Rajshahi Division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_Division).[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_District#cite_note-Banglapedia-3) The metropolitan city of [Rajshahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi) is in Rajshahi District.

Geography
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Rajshahi District is bounded by [Naogaon District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naogaon_District) to the north, [Natore District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natore_District) to the east, [Chapai Nababganj District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawabganj_District) to west and a small part of [Kushtia District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushtia_District) and the river [Padma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_River) to the south. The district consists of alluvial plain.

### Rivers

There are ten rivers in this district, totaling 146 km in length. The main river is the Padma (Ganges). Other rivers include [Mahananda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahananda_River), [Baral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baral_river) and Barnai.

History
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The Mughal Emperor [Akbar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar) gave the Rajshahi region to the [Puṭhia Raj family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puthia_Raj_family) to govern. The governor was Pitambar.

In 1772, the Rajshahi District was established. Parts of it eventually became the districts of [Bogura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogura_District), [Malda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malda_district), [Natore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natore_District), [Naogaon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naogaon_District), [Nawabganj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapai_Nawabganj_District), and [Pabna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabna_District). On 1 April 1876, Rajshahi town was made into the municipal town.

During the [Bangladesh Liberation War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Liberation_War) in 1971, the town was the site of battles between the [Mukti Bahini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukti_Bahini) and the [Pakistan Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Army). Between 26 and 30 March, Pakistan's forces killed 31 people in [Godagaɽi upazila](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Godaga%C9%BDi_Upazila&action=edit&redlink=1). A battle on 30 March resulted in the death of an East Pakistan Rifles member. On 13 April, the Pakistan army killed [Rajshahi Cadet College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_Cadet_College) Professor AB Siddiqi. On 24 May, it attacked Tahirpur Haṭ in [Bagmara upazila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagmara_Upazila), killing 25 people. Mukti Bahini commander Havilder Shafiq led an attack on a Pakistani boat on 8 August, killing 18 personnel. Pakistan then killed two members of [Bangladesh Ansar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Ansar) and established a camp in the Zoha Hall of [Rajshahi University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_University), where they massacred hundreds of civilians. The Pakistan army also established camps inside [Rajshahi Cadet College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_Cadet_College), Roy Saheb [brickfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickfield), Sardaha Pilot School, and Sardah Police Academy. It tortured members of [Mukti Bahini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukti_Bahini) and civilians in the camps, and killed hundreds of refugees on the banks of the Padma river who were fleeing to India. In a battle between Mukti Bahini and Pakistan near Kabasmul, a Pakistani army major was killed. Pakistan retaliated by killing 44 civilians in Gaganbari and Palsa.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_District#cite_note-Banglapedia-3) On 17 December, Pakistan surrendered to the [Indian Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army) Captain Nanda in Naṭore, a day after its forces signed the [Pakistani instrument of Surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_Instrument_of_Surrender) in Dhaka. Its camp in Rajshahi University was taken over by Mukti Bahini members On 18 December, the Pakistan army stationed in Pabna and Rajshahi districts surrendered. Surrender ceremonies took place on 20 December.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_District#cite_note-4)

Rajshahi town was upgraded to a [municipal corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_corporation) on 13 August 1987. In 1997, the government of Bangladesh made the town into a full city corporation, [Rajshahi City Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_City_Corporation).[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_District#cite_note-Banglapedia-3) In 2016, [Rezaul Karim Siddiquee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rezaul_Karim_Siddique), a professor at University of Rajshahi, and a 65 year old Sufi preacher, Shahidullah, were killed by Islamic extremists.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajshahi_District#cite_note-5)

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