Rajshahi Division () is one of the eight first-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of and a population at the 2022 Census of 20,353,119. Rajshahi Division consists of 8 districts, 70 upazilas (the next lower administrative tier) and 1,092 unions (the lowest administrative tier).
The region has historically been dominated by various feudal Rajas, Maharajas and Zamindars.Encyclopedia of Bangladesh pp 6 Formerly comprising 16 districts, a new division (Rangpur Division) was formed with the 8 northern districts of the old Rajshahi Division from early 2010.
Etymology and names The Rajshahi Division is named after Rajshahi District. Dominated by various feudal Rajas, Maharajas and zamindars of mixed origins throughout history, the name is a compound of the words Raj and Shahi, both of which can be translated into reign or kingdom. Archaic spellings in the English language also included Rajeshae.
Demographics
At the time of the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Rajshahi division had a population of 20,351,864. Muslims are 19,071,092 which is 93.71% of the population, while Hindus are 1,159,152 which is 5.70% of the population. Other religions (almost entirely Christianity and indigenous faiths) are 0.59% of the population and are mainly found among the ethnic minorities.
Districts Natore Rajshahi Sirajganj Pabna Bogura Chapainawabganj Naogaon Joypurhat
Education Notable schools in Rajshahi invoice: Universities University of Rajshahi Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) Rajshahi Medical University Varendra University Rajshahi Science & Technology University North Bengal International University Rabindra University, Bangladesh Pabna University of Science and Technology Naogaon University Bangladesh Army University of Engineering & Technology University of Bogura Pundra University of Science & Technology
Medical Colleges Rajshahi Medical College Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura Pabna Medical College Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, Sirajganj Islami Bank Medical College
Colleges Rajshahi College Rajshahi Cadet College Rajshahi Government City College New Government Degree College, Rajshahi Pabna Cadet College Joypurhat Girls Cadet College, Joypurhat Govt. Azizul Haque College, Bogura Govt. Edward College, Pabna
Schools Rajshahi University School Bogura Zilla School Govt. Laboratory High School, Rajshahi Pabna Zilla School Rajshahi Collegiate School
Notable residents Montazur Rahman Akbar, film-maker Group Captain (Rtd.) Saiful Azam, fighter pilot, Member of Parliament (MP) for Pabna-3 Manzoor Alam Beg, photographer Apu Biswas Mohammad Ali Bogra General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, OBE, former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army Pramatha Chaudhuri, writer Samson H. Chowdhury, business mangate Zahid Hasan, stage actor Amjad Hossain, (Member of National Assembly of Pakistan), organiser of Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. A. B. Mirza Azizul Islam, advisor of military-backed 2007-2008 caretaker government Taijul Islam, player for the Bangladesh national cricket team Abdul Jalil, politician James Air Vice Marshal (Rtd.) A. K. Khandker, first Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (1971–1975), Former Minister, Ministry Planning of Bangladesh Mahiya Mahi Amiya Bhushan Majumdar, Indian novelist Partha Pratim Majumder Bande Ali Mia, poet Bidya Sinha Saha Mim Mohammed Fazle Rabbee, cardiologist, intellectual Mushfiqur Rahim Arifur Rahman Tarique Rahman Ziaur Rahman Sqn Ldr Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, Pakistani war hero of Indo-Pak War of 1965
See also List of mosques in Rajshahi Division Districts of Bangladesh Divisions of Bangladesh Upazila Administrative geography of Bangladesh
References
External links
UttorbongoProtidin.Com 24/7 Bengali and English newsportal from Bangladesh.