Rangpur Division রংপুর বিভাগ | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: | |
 Rangpur Division in Bangladesh Districts of Rangpur Division Relief map of Rangpur Division | |
| Coordinates:25°50′N89°00′E / 25.833°N 89.000°E /25.833; 89.000 | |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Established | 1 July 2010 |
| Capital and largest city | Rangpur City |
| Government | |
| • Divisional Commissioner | Md. Shahidul Islam[1] |
| • Deputy Inspector General | Aminul Islam |
| • Parliamentary constituency | Jatiya Sangsad (33 seats) |
| Area | |
• Total | 16,184.99 km2 (6,249.06 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 5th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 216 km (134 mi) |
| • Width | 85 km (53 mi) |
| Elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 134 m (440 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 17,610,956 |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Density | 1,088.104/km2 (2,818.177/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Rangpuriya |
| Languages | |
| • Official language | Bengali • English[5] |
| • Regional language | Rangpuri |
| • Indigenousminority languages | |
| Time zone | UTC+6:00 (BST) |
| Postal Code | 5XXX |
| ISO 3166 code | BD-F |
| HDI (2022) |  0.656medium[6] |
| National Highway | N5 Asian Highway 2  |
| Airport | Saidpur Airport |
| Notable cricket teams | Rangpur RidersRangpur Division |
| Website | rangpurdiv |
Rangpur Division (/rʌŋˈpʊər/;Bengali:রংপুর বিভাগ,romanized: Rongpur Bivag;pronounced[rɔŋpuɾbibʱag]ⓘ) is a first-leveladministrative division of Bangladesh. It covers the northernmost part of the country with a population of about 18 million inhabitants within an area of 16,184.99 km2 (6,249.06 sq mi).[7] Rangpur Division shares borders with theRajshahi andMymensingh divisions. It is also bordered by theIndian states ofWest Bengal,Assam andMeghalaya and separated fromBhutan andNepal by theSiliguri Corridor, and from China by the Indian state ofSikkim.Rangpur City is the administrative headquarter and the largest city. Rangpur Division includes theTeesta andJamuna rivers.[8]
The Rangpur division consists of eight districts. There are 58 upazilas or subdistricts under these eight districts. The major cities of Rangpur Division areRangpur,Dinajpur, andSaidpur.
Mansingh, commander ofEmperor Akbar, conquered part of Rangpur in 1575. Rangpur came completely under theMughal empire in 1686. Mughalbasa and Mughalhat of Kurigram district still bear marks of theMughal rule in the region. During theMughal rule part of Rangpur was under thesarkar ofGhoraghat, and part under the sarkar of Pinjarah.[9]Ghoraghat has been mentioned in theRiyaz-us-Salatin. During the early period of the company ruleFakir-Sannyasi Rebellion and peasant rebellion were held in Rangpur.
Rangpur Division has 8 Districts, 58Upazilas, 1City Corporation, 21Pourasavas and 536Union councils.
| District Name | Capital | Area (km2) | Population (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangpur District | Rangpur | 2,400.56 | 3,169,615 |
| Dinajpur District | Dinajpur | 3,444.30 | 3,315,238 |
| Kurigram District | Kurigram | 2,245.04 | 2,329,161 |
| Gaibandha District | Gaibandha | 2,179.27 | 2,562,232 |
| Lalmonirhat District | Lalmonirhat | 1,247.371 | 1,428,406 |
| Nilphamari District | Nilphamari | 1,643.70 | 2,092,567 |
| Panchagarh District | Panchagarh | 1,404.63 | 1,179,843 |
| Thakurgaon District | Thakurgaon | 1,781.74 | 1,533,894 |
| Total Districts | 8 | 16,184.99 | 17,610,956 |
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muslims | 86.51% | |||
| Hindus | 12.98% | |||
| Christians | 0.41% | |||
| Buddhism | 0.02% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.08% | |||
According to the2022 census, Rangpur Division has a total population of 17,610,956, with a population density of 1088/km2.
The majority of the population areMuslims, comprising 86.51%, followed byHindus at approximately 12.98%. A small percentage of the population adheres toChristianity and other religions.
Bengalis are the largestethnic community with some other small native ethnic groups including theSantal,Munda,Oraon, andRajbanshi includingKaibarta andKoch etc.
In comparison, the2011 census recorded a total population of 15,787,758, with a population density of 980/km2. At that time, males made up 51.18% of the population, while 48.82% was female.
Once considered the poorest division in Bangladesh—with over a third of the population living inextreme poverty as of 2016, according toWorld Bank data,[11] Rangpur has since undergone significant transformation, driven by industrial growth and improved infrastructure. Rangpur is now home to thriving industries, including food processing, textiles, and light engineering, especially in cities like Rangpur and Saidpur. The establishment of manufacturing units for ceramics, electronics, and consumer goods has stimulated the local economy, creating jobs and attracting investment. Saidpur has also become a center for railway workshops and an expanding light engineering sector. The expansion of natural gas lines, better road infrastructure, and enhanced rail connectivity have been crucial to supporting these industries, allowing for more efficient production and distribution across the region.
While agriculture remains important, with Rangpur being a key producer of rice, potatoes, and sugarcane, it is the rise of industry and infrastructure that has accelerated the division's economic progress. The development of industrial zones, access to utilities like gas and electricity, and improved transport networks have positioned Rangpur as a growing hub for industry and commerce, helping lift the division out of its past struggles.
This industrial and infrastructural growth reflects the determination and innovation of the people, transforming Rangpur into a region of increasing prosperity.[12]
Rangpur has goodroad,rail andair communications with the capital as well as other parts of the country. TheN5 (National Highway 5) links the division with the capital. There are a total of 21 express trains which connect different districts of the division with the capital and other parts of the country. There are also threeDomestic airports, among themSaidpur Airport is the major one.
The main transportation methods here are by air, rail, or road. To travel by air, people have to first travel to Dhaka Domestic Airport and then fly toSaidpur Airport (DAC-SPD route). Seven flights travel this route daily. TheUS-Bangla Airlines,Novoair, and theBiman Bangladesh Airlines offer the flights. The distance by airways from Dhaka to Saidpur is 254.28 km (158 mi). By rail, the district is accessible fromKamalapur Railway Station which runs a daily-except-Sunday trainRangpur Express to Rangpur Railway Station. The total journey by rail is of 453 km (281 mi). By road, travelers have to travel 307 km (191 mi) using the Savar-Kaliakair route or 327 km (203 mi) using the Tongi-Mawna route, Shamu.
Rangpur Division has a warm and temperate climate.The division experiences more rainfall in the summer than in winter, with an annualrainfall of 2498 mm. The average temperature in Rangpur is 24.3 °C, with the highest temperatures typically occurring in August and the coldest in January.
Summer lasts from June to September, with the heaviest rainfall in June (522 mm) and the least in December (6 mm).
September sees the highest relative humidity (50.41%), while March has the lowest. The month with the most rainfall is July, and the least are December and January.
March also has the highest sunshine hours, with an average of 9.51 hours per day, while January has the least (8.04 hours). The total annual sunshine in Rangpur is around 2802.78 hours, averaging 233.56 hours per month.
Climate data for Rangpur (1991–2020, extremes 1883-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.4 (84.9) | 34.4 (93.9) | 43.3 (109.9) | 42.5 (108.5) | 41.2 (106.2) | 38.2 (100.8) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.8 (103.6) | 38.5 (101.3) | 37.2 (99.0) | 33.4 (92.1) | 30.6 (87.1) | 43.3 (109.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) | 26.4 (79.5) | 30.3 (86.5) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.9 (89.4) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.5 (90.5) | 31.9 (89.4) | 31.0 (87.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 25.0 (77.0) | 29.7 (85.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 23.7 (74.7) | 26.2 (79.2) | 27.5 (81.5) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.9 (84.0) | 29.1 (84.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 26.5 (79.7) | 22.5 (72.5) | 18.3 (64.9) | 24.6 (76.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.3 (79.3) | 25.5 (77.9) | 22.9 (73.2) | 17.7 (63.9) | 13.3 (55.9) | 20.3 (68.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 3.7 (38.7) | 8.6 (47.5) | 14.7 (58.5) | 16.4 (61.5) | 19.4 (66.9) | 21.1 (70.0) | 20.7 (69.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 5.2 (41.4) | 3.5 (38.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 9 (0.4) | 10 (0.4) | 27 (1.1) | 121 (4.8) | 277 (10.9) | 426 (16.8) | 416 (16.4) | 343 (13.5) | 382 (15.0) | 171 (6.7) | 6 (0.2) | 4 (0.2) | 2,192 (86.4) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 108 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 82 | 75 | 68 | 74 | 81 | 85 | 86 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 80 | 81 | 81 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 184.6 | 206.9 | 239.3 | 210.0 | 199.4 | 150.2 | 154.9 | 172.0 | 165.5 | 227.8 | 236.6 | 214.8 | 2,362 |
| Source 1:NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Bangladesh Meteorological Department (humidity 1981-2010)[14][15] | |||||||||||||
Rangpur Division's healthcare system is mainly centered inRangpur City, which has advanced medical facilities. Everydistrict has a well-functioning hospital, andsub-districts are served by health complexes.[16] However, for better treatment, residents rely onRangpur city. The city also has numerousprivate hospitals and clinics, such as Doctors Clinic andPrime Medical, known for their quality but expensive services.[17] Rangpur city serves as the hub for medical treatments in the division, though for specialized or critical cases, patients travel toDhaka or abroad.
Rangpur has lent its name to the fruitRangpur (fruit) andTanqueray Rangpur Gin.
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Data from Wikidata| Geographic | |
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| Other | |
Places adjacent to Rangpur Division | ||||||||||||||||
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| Barisal Division |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chittagong Division | ||
| Dhaka Division | ||
| Khulna Division | ||
| Mymensingh Division | ||
| Rajshahi Division | ||
| Rangpur Division | ||
| Sylhet Division | ||
| Geographic | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
