Gaibandha District গাইবান্ধা জেলা | |
|---|---|
    Clockwise from top-left: Jamuna river, Jamalpur Shahi Mosque, Fulchari Ghat, Friendship Centre | |
 Location of Gaibandha in Bangladesh | |
 Interactive map of Gaibandha District | |
| Coordinates:25°15′N89°30′E / 25.25°N 89.50°E /25.25; 89.50 | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Rangpur Division |
| Established | 15 February 1984 |
| Government | |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Mohammad Masudur Rahman Molla |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,114.77 km2 (816.52 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,562,233 |
| • Density | 1,175.73/km2 (3,045.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+06:00 (BST) |
| Postal code | 5700 |
| Area code | 0541 |
| ISO 3166 code | BD-19 |
| Website | www |
Gaibandha District (Bengali:গাইবান্ধা জেলা) is a district in northern Bangladesh, located withinRangpur Division. Covering an area of 2,179.27 square kilometers (841.42 sq mi), it had a population of 2,562,232 as of the 2022 census. The district's administrative headquarters and largest urban center isGaibandha town. Originally established as a subdivision in 1875 under the name Bhabaniganj, it was renamed Gaibandha in the same year. On February 15, 1984, Gaibandha was officially upgraded to district status. The district is known for its agricultural production, particularly rice, jute, and vegetables, and is situated at the confluence of several major rivers, including theJamuna,Teesta, andBrahmaputra.
There are two prevailing theories regarding the origin of the nameGaibandha. The more widely accepted theory dates back around five thousand years to the time ofKing Birat, ruler of theMatsya Kingdom, which had its capital in theGobindaganj area. The termMatsya Desh (Bengali: মৎস্য দেশ) translates to "land of fish" (Matsya meaning "fish" andDesh meaning "country" in Bengali), as the kingdom was rich in fish. According to theMahabharata, King Birat owned 60,000 cows that were often targeted by robbers. To protect them, he built a large cattle-shed along the rivers in the area. The Bengali wordGai (গাই) means "cow," andBandha (বান্ধা) means "to tie up." Thus, the area where the cattle were tied came to be known asGaibandha.[3]
In ancient times, this region was submerged under water, gradually filled by the silt deposits of theTeesta,Brahmaputra, andJamuna rivers. Historical references to this can be found in the writings of the renowned Chinese travelerXuanzang, as well as in the astronomical works ofPtolemy. Significant natural events, such as the 1787 flood and the 1898 earthquake, dramatically altered the area's landscape, redirecting the flow of the Teesta River. These changes filled a vast 15-mile stretch betweenGhoraghat Upazila inDinajpur and Tulshighat in Gaibandha, leading to the formation of smaller rivers like theKartoa, Ghaghot, and Katakhali.
During theBritish colonial period,GovernorWarren Hastings established 24 police outposts (thanas) under the Rangpur district collectorate in 1793. According to a report by E.G. Glazier, the collector of Rangpur in 1873, three of these thanas were located in what is now Gaibandha. Two of them, Gobindaganj andSadullapur, were established in the Idrakpurpargana, while the third, Bhabaniganj, was set up in the Patildaho pargana.
TheIndian Rebellion of 1857 made it difficult to contain rebel activities in Rangpur, prompting the establishment of Bhabaniganj thana along the banks of the Brahmaputra River for better administrative control. Bhabaniganj was officially designated a subdivision (mahakuma) on May 27, 1858. Initially, it comprised only two thanas: Sadullapur and Bhabaniganj. Gobindaganj, which had been part of theBogra district since April 13, 1821, was incorporated into Bhabaniganj on August 12, 1871. Other areas likeSaghata,Phulchari,Palashbari, and finallySundarganj (in 1870) were also added to Bhabaniganj.
In 1872,river erosion began on the eastern side of the Brahmaputra River, prompting the relocation of the mahakuma (subdivision) from its original site to Gaibandha, 12 kilometers away from Bhabaniganj. The administrative center, or sadar, was under the control of three prominentlandlords. The Patiladaho pargana was governed by the Tagore family, reportedly related to the renowned poetRabindranath Tagore. The Baharbondo pargana was controlled by landlordManindra Chandra Nandy and his wife,Maharani Swarnamoyee of Kasim Bazar, while the Muktipur pargana was under the Lahiri family of Thanshinghopur.
There was a dispute among the landlords over the location of the new mahakuma headquarters. Eventually, through government intervention, the administrative building and courthouse were established in the Baharbondo pargana, on land donated by Queen Swarnamoyee. As the Bhabaniganjmouza (land area) began to deteriorate due to river erosion, the name of the mahakuma was officially changed from Bhabaniganj to Gaibandha. In the 1980s, when mahakumas were reorganized into districts, Gaibandha mahakuma was elevated to district status.[3]
Gaibandha District spans an area of 2,179.27 square kilometers (841.42 square miles).[4] It is bordered byKurigram andRangpur districts to the north,Bogra District to the south, andJoypurhat,Dinajpur, and Rangpur districts to the west. To the east, the district shares boundaries withJamalpur and Kurigram districts, as well as the mighty Jamuna River. Administratively, Gaibandha is divided into sevenupazilas (sub-districts) and 82 unions (local councils).
The district is rich in water resources, with five main rivers flowing through it. These include the Jamuna, Teesta, Kartoa, Brahmaputra, and Ghaghot rivers, covering a total river area of 107.71 square kilometers (41.59 square miles).[5] The Brahmaputra, Teesta, and Ghaghot are particularly significant due to their contribution to agriculture, transportation, and fisheries in the region.
Historically, Gaibandha had some forest coverage, as noted byFrancis Buchanan-Hamilton in his 1808–09 report. However, today there are no remaining forests. The district's soil composition is varied: around 20% of the land in Gobindaganj upazila, specifically the Khiar area, hasclay soil, while the rest of the district has a mix ofsandy,peat, andloam soils, which are crucial for the district's agricultural productivity.
Gaibandha experiences amonsoonal climate, characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity during the rainy season. Gaibandha's climate, part of thetropical monsoon system, leads to periodic flooding, which significantly impacts agriculture and infrastructure. Improved flood management projects have been initiated in collaboration with local and international organizations. However, no significant mineral resources have been discovered in the district as of now.[5]
| Climate data for Gaibandha | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.8 (76.6) | 28.3 (82.9) | 33.0 (91.4) | 34.6 (94.3) | 34.3 (93.7) | 32.1 (89.8) | 31.3 (88.3) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.5 (88.7) | 30.1 (86.2) | 27.5 (81.5) | 25.0 (77.0) | 30.5 (86.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.4 (79.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.8 (56.8) | 21.7 (71.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 15 (0.6) | 20 (0.8) | 32 (1.3) | 78 (3.1) | 160 (6.3) | 370 (14.6) | 530 (20.9) | 400 (15.7) | 270 (10.6) | 115 (4.5) | 12 (0.5) | 5 (0.2) | 2,007 (79.0) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 71 | 65 | 61 | 65 | 74 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 79 | 72 | 70 | 76 |
| Source:[6][7] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 1,339,045 | — |
| 1981 | 1,576,536 | +2.36% |
| 1991 | 1,949,274 | +2.14% |
| 2001 | 2,138,181 | +0.93% |
| 2011 | 2,379,255 | +1.07% |
| 2022 | 2,562,233 | +0.68% |
| Sources:[2][8][9] | ||
According to the2022 Census of Bangladesh, the population of Gaibandha District was recorded at 2,562,233, comprising 1,241,113 males, 1,320,967 females, and 153 individuals identifying as third gender. 19.04% of the population was under 10 years of age. The district remains predominantly rural, with 2,165,498 residents (84.52%) living in rural areas and 396,735 (15.48%) residing in urban centers. The high rural population in Gaibandha is consistent with other districts in northern Bangladesh, which remain heavily dependent on agriculture. This rural-to-urban ratio mirrors national trends where urbanization is gradual but significant. The literacy rate for individuals aged 7 and above stood at 67.00%, with a higher rate for males (70.31%) compared to females (63.96%).[2]
In terms of religious composition,Muslims form the majority, making up 92.89% of the population, followed byHindus at 6.93%. A small minority ofChristians (0.14%) and other religious groups (0.04%) also reside in the district, mainly from the ethnic communities. The district's population is ethnically homogenous, with 99.75% identifying as Bengali. Minority communities make up 0.25% of the population, totaling 4,150 individuals (2,044 males and 2,106 females), who mainly live in Gobindaganj Upazila.[8][9]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslims | 92.89% | |||
| Hindus | 6.93% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.18% | |||
| Religion | 1941[10][a] | 1991[8] | 1991[8] | 2001[8] | 2011[8] | 2022[9] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Islam | 606,904 | 78.82% | 1,438,923 | 91.27% | 1,779,493 | 91.29% | 1,977,778 | 92.50% | 2,205,539 | 92.70% | 2,380,128 | 92.89% |
Hinduism | 158,666 | 20.61% | 131,613 | 8.35% | 151,768 | 7.79% | 153,614 | 7.18% | 167,897 | 7.06% | 177,593 | 6.93% |
| Tribal religion | 4,004 | 0.52% | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
| Others[b] | 404 | 0.05% | 6,000 | 0.38% | 18,013 | 0.92% | 6,789 | 0.32% | 5,819 | 0.24% | 4,512 | 0.18% |
| Total Population | 769,978 | 100% | 1,576,536 | 100% | 1,949,274 | 100% | 2,138,181 | 100% | 2,379,255 | 100% | 2,562,233 | 100% |
The majority of Gaibandha's population speaks dialects of Bengali that belong to the Rangpur linguistic group, commonly referred to asRangpuriya. This dialect is prominent throughout the district due to its cultural and geographic connections with Rangpur Division. In the southern areas, specifically Shaghata and Gobindaganj upazilas, the accent is more similar to theNorth Central Bengali dialect spoken in Bogra, influenced by the neighboring Bogra District. Residents of thechars—the temporary river islands formed by the shifting Jamuna River—speakEastern Bengali dialects closely related to those from the Dhaka and Mymensingh regions, a result of the historic migrations of communities along the riverbanks.[11]
Agriculture is the primary occupation in Gaibandha District, engaging 44.45% of the population. Additionally, 27.72% work as agricultural laborers, 2.58% aswage laborers, 1.89% in transportation, 9.11% in commerce, and 4.49% in public and private services, while 9.76% are employed in other sectors. The district has 2,123 small industries, five medium industries, and one large industry.
In the agricultural sector, Gaibandha is home to 4,046poultry farms, 10,730dairy farms, 245fisheries, 18hatcheries, 16plant nurseries, and eight artificial cattle breeding centers. The total land area is 217,040hectares, of which 160,397 hectares arearable, 139,640 hectares areirrigated, and 56,643 hectares arefallow. Water reservoirs cover 5,050.30 hectares. The cropping pattern is diverse, with 20.5% of land producing a single crop, 58.5% producing double crops, and 21% yielding treble crops. Irrigated land accounts for 27.16% of the cultivated area.
The district's main crops includepaddy, wheat,jute,sugarcane,potatoes,eggplant,mustard,chili,onions, garlic, and various vegetables. Jute is predominantly grown in the upazilas of Gobindaganj, Palashbari, and northern Gaibandha. While the production of aush rice and tobacco has declined in recent years, banana cultivation has increased significantly, particularly in Gobindaganj and Palashbari.[12]
Gaibandha District is divided into 7upazilas, which are further divided into 82 union parishads. The upazilas of the district are:[14]
| upazila | Area (km2) | No. of unions | population (2022)[11] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulchhari Upazila | 306.53 | 7 | 166,662 |
| Gaibandha Sadar Upazila | 320.25 | 13 | 499,155 |
| Gobindaganj Upazila | 481.66 | 17 | 543,101 |
| Palashbari Upazila | 190.67 | 9 | 267,434 |
| Sadullapur Upazila | 227.97 | 11 | 313,616 |
| Sundarganj Upazila | 426.52 | 15 | 482,515 |
| Saghata Upazila | 225.67 | 10 | 289,597 |
Included in these upazilas are 4 municipalities, which have a total of 18 wards and 56 mahallas. The municipalities areGaibandha city,[15] Gobindaganj and Sundarganj.
Gaibandha district has one general hospital, Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, which is the only government general hospital serving the district and is located in Gaibandha Sadar. In addition, there are six government hospitals, 46 private hospitals/clinics, 54 family welfare centers, six Upazila health complexes, three maternity and childcare centers, and onetuberculosis clinic. Approximately 89% of the population has access to basicsanitation facilities, which marks significant progress in healthcare infrastructure.[12]
Gaibandha has an extensive road network comprising 1,719 kilometers of paved (concrete) roads and 2,638 kilometers of unpaved (dirt) roads. The district is also connected by 56 kilometers of railway lines, served by 14 railway stations, including notable stations like Gaibandha, Bonarpara Junction, and Bamandanga. Additionally, the district features one central bus station and seven helipads. Gaibandha has 5,890 bridges and culverts, playing a critical role in transportation, particularly in rural areas. The national highway runs for 32.8 kilometers, the regional highway spans 42.37 kilometers, and the district highway covers 208.95 kilometers. Although there is no airport in Gaibandha, the railway and road networks ensure connectivity to major cities.
The railway infrastructure dates back to 1875 when theEastern Bengal Railway established the first railway line in the area. Today, the district is served by intercity trains such as the Kartoa Express, Dolonchapa Express, Lalmoni Express, and Rangpur Express, along with mail trains like Uttarbanga Mail, Bogra Express, Padmarag Express, and Ramsagar Express.[16][17]
For bus travel, several major operators, including Alhamra Travels, Hanif Travels, Shyamoli Travels, Orin Travels, and S.R. Travels, provide inter-division services. Regular bus services also connect Gaibandha with neighboring districts such as Bogra and Rangpur.
While the Ghaghot River runs through Gaibandha, river transportation is not widely used. Limited boat services are available, offering short trips along the river, though road and rail remain the preferred modes of travel .
The literacy rate in Gaibandha District is approximately 54.03%. The district is home to a variety of educational institutions, including eight government colleges and 48 non-government colleges. In terms of secondary education, there are nine government high schools, 361 non-government high schools, and 44 junior high schools. Religious education is also prominent, with 466 madrasas operating in the district. Additionally, Gaibandha has 1,466 government primary schools and 196 kindergartens.
The district also hosts several specialized institutions, including one Primary Teachers' Training Institute, an Agricultural Training Institute, and an Institute of Livestock Science & Technology.[15]Some of the notable educational institutions in the district include:
Universities and Colleges
Secondary Schools
 | This list of residentsmay not follow Wikipedia'sverifiability policy. Please helpimprove it by addingreliable sources for existing names which prove they are residents. Unsourced names may be challenged and removed.(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Area | Elected MP | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Gaibandha-1 | Vacant | Vacant |
| Gaibandha-2 | Vacant | Vacant |
| Gaibandha-3 | Vacant | Vacant |
| Gaibandha-4 | Vacant | Vacant |
| Gaibandha-5 | Vacant | Vacant |
| Barisal Division |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chittagong Division | ||
| Dhaka Division | ||
| Khulna Division | ||
| Mymensingh Division | ||
| Rajshahi Division | ||
| Rangpur Division | ||
| Sylhet Division | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
