| Gaibandha | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Location of Gaibandha in Bangladesh | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Rangpur Division |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,179.27 km2 (841.4 sq mi) |
| Population (1991) | |
| • Total | 2,117,959 |
| • Density | 971.9/km2 (2,517.1/sq mi) |
| Literacy rate | |
| • Total | 24.3% |
| Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
| • Summer (DST) | BDST (UTC+7) |
| Website | Gaibandha District portal, Banglapedia Article |
Gaibandha is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division. Gaibandha was established in 1875 when the subdivision was transferred from Bhabaniganj to Gaibandha. Gaibandha municipality was established in 1923. The literacy rate among the town people is 61.9%.
Contents |
Gaibandha has a total area of 2179.27 square kilometres. It has boundaries with the Kurigram and Rangpur to the north, Bogra District to the south, Dinajpur and Rangpur districts to the west, and Jamalpur and Kurigram districts, and the Brahmaputra River to the east.
The average literacy rate is 24.3%; among them: male 31.6% and female 16.5%. Among educational institutions, there are 3 government colleges, 41 non-government colleges, 4 government high schools, 287 non-government high schools, 31 junior high schools, 498 madrasas, 737 government primary schools, 546 non-government primary schools, 14 kindergartens, 83 satellite schools, 32 community schools, 1 primary teacher's training institute.
Gaibandha District is divided into 7 upazilas/thanas, which are further divided into 82 union parishads, and 1244 villages. The upazilas/thanas of the district are:
1. Fulchhari 2. Gaibandha sadar 3. Gobindaganj 4. Palashbari 5. Sadullapur 6. Saghata 7. Sundarganj
It also has 3 municipalities, which have a total of 18 wards and 56 mahallas. The municipalities are: 1. Gaibandha Sadar 2. Gobindaganj 3. Sundarganj
The total population of the district, according to a 2003 estimate [1], is 2,117,959. Out of that, males constitute 50.26% and females 49.74%.
Most poeple of Gaibandha speak Rangpuri. But a good number of people speak Bengali.
The district of Gaibandha consists 3682 mosques, 335 temples, 26 churches and 15 Buddhist temples.
The main occupations of Gaibandha district are agriculture 44.45%, agricultural laborer 27.72%, wage laborer 2.58%, transport 1.89%, commerce 9.11%, service 4.49% and others 9.76%. Total cultivable lands are 149475 hectares, fallow land are 67565.16 hectares; the amount of crop: single crop 20.5%, double crop 58.5% and treble crop 21%; land under irrigation 27.16%. Main crops are Paddy, wheat, jute, sugarcane, potato, brinjal, mustard seed, chili, onion, garlic and vegetables. There are 277 poultries, 273 dairies, 245 fisheries, 5 hatcheries, 16 nurseries and 2 artificial cattle breeding centers.
There are 124 clubs, 11 public libraries, 25 theatre groups, 23 cultural organizations, 6 literary organizations, 18 women's organizations, 25 cinema halls and 6 theatre stages, 10 opera parties, 1 Shilpakala academy, 1 Shishu academy, 5 children organizations, 61 playgrounds.
The total measurements of all kinds of roads are: metal roads 365 km, semi metal 93 km, mud road 3684 km; waterways 64 nautical mile; railways 54 km; flood protection dam 76 km.
Special people from Gaibandha are as follows.
Archaeological heritage and relics in this district include Vardhan Kuthi, Gobindaganj (17th century), house of Naldanga Zamindar along with its Shiva Linga made of black basalt, Vrisa Mandir of white stone and a large pond, Mosque of Shah Sultan Gazi at Mirer Bagan (1308), house of Bamandanga Zamindar, Mosque at Jamalpur, large pond at Faridpur, Masta Mosque at Gobindaganj.
Historical events This region was a part of the Mourya, Pala, Gupta and Kamarupa kingdoms at different times. Movement was held in 1783 in this district against collection of excess taxes. Anti British movement (1921) and tebhaga movement (1946) were initiated in the district. Fayezuddin and Puti Sheikh were killed by Police firing in 1949 in a movement to stop collection of tolls at hats and bazars. A Peasant Convention was held at Fulchhari in 1956 under the leadership of maulana abdul hamid khan bhasani.
Gaibandha has a glorious history of anti-British movement. Among 200 andama celuler jail prisoner 7 are from gaibangha, they are