Rajbari District () is a district in central Bangladesh, located in Dhaka Division.
History During the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, a fief in Padamdi was decreed to the family of an Iraqi Muslim immigrant by the name of Syed Shah Pahlwan in 1607. The zamindari family, known as the Nawabs of Padamdi actively commanded the artillery and served the Mughal army, eventually leading to Emperor Shah Jahan bestowing them the title of Mir.
Rajbari in the Bengali language means palace, and pays homage to the rich zamindari families that feudally ruled modern-day Rajbari. In the 17th century, the Mughal governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan, appointed Sangram Shah of Panchthupi as the Nawara of what is present-day Rajbari in order to suppress the Portuguese pirates. The Nawara settled permanently in the populated neighbourhood of Banibaha and built a fort at a place called Lalgola. Sangram Shah and his family later became known as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha.
After the Battle of Plassey of 1757, one of Siraj ud-Daulah's officers by the name of Prabhuram went into hiding in Lakshmikol to avoid the British colonialists. Prabhuram's son, Dwigendra Prasad, eventually became a prominent zamindar in the area, and his son Surya Kumar earned the title of Raja. In 1890, the Rajbari railway station was established, and it is said that it was named after Raja Surya Kumar. Other zamindars such as the Nawara Chowdhuries of Banibaha objected to this as the name of Rajbari was said to have been established long before Kumar. The Amirabad Estate, which was the largest zamindari estate in colonial Faridpur,L. S. S. O'Malley, C. I. E. Bengal District Gazetteers: Faridpur (1925; Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, Calcutta) p. 89-90 controlled huge swathes of farmland in Rajbari, including near Goalundo Ghat.
During the Bangladesh War of 1971, an organisation named the Sangram Parishad (Struggle Council) was established on 26 March. On 21 and 22 April, six Bengali fighters were murdered during an encounter with the Pakistan Army. In the villages of Majhpara, Ramcole and Mathurapur, the army killed 10 pro-independence Bengalis and individuals in addition to setting many houses on fire. The Bengali fighters captured a large amount of equipment and resources from the Army in November. Another brawl took place in that month in the village of Alhadipur leading to 9 Pakistan Army casualties.
Geography and climate The district is bounded by Pabna District on the north, Faridpur and Magura districts on the south, Manikganj District on the east, Kushtia and Jhenaidah districts on the west. The land of the district is mainly alluvial raised from the Padma.
Annual average temperature of this district is maximum 35.8 °C and minimum 12.6 °C. Annual rainfall is 2105 mm.
Major rivers Padma Jalangi Kumar Garai Madhumati Harai Chandana Chitra
Demographics
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rajbari District had 295,216 households and a population of 1,189,818 with an average 3.99 people per household. Among the population, 215,341 (18.10%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 1,089 people per km2. Rajbari District had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 69.49%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 1044 females per 1000 males. Approximately, 15.11% of the population lived in urban areas. The ethnic population was 3,324.
Religion
+Religion in present-day Rajbari districtReligion194119811991200120112022%%%%%%Islam 211,00563.09%563,45183.08%724,36186.73%847,61689.04%942,52789.78%1,078,67790.66%Hinduism 123,01136.78%113,97516.81%109,61413.12%103,66410.89%106,97410.19%110,5699.29%Others 4600.14%7790.11%1,1980.15%6260.07%2770.03%5720.05%Total population334,476100%678,205100%835,173100%951,906100%1,049,778100%1,189,818100%
The district is predominantly Muslim. Muslims number 1,078,677, Hindus 110,569, and Christians 163.
Places of interest Dighi (a kind of water body) in Rajbari include Kallyan Dighi, situated in Baliakandi of Islampur union. Rajbari is situated by the bank of the Padma River.
Godar Bazar, the bank of Padma River and also a well-known place of interest is situated near at Rajbari town. Another well known place is UK Beach (Urakanda Padma River Side Resort).
Administration Once Rajbari region was a part of Jessore District. In 1811 when Faridpur District was formed Rajbari was included in it. Besides, the upazilas under Rajbari district were included in different districts in the past. Pangsha Upazila was once included into Pabna District. In 1859, Pangsha and Baliakandi were included in the newly formed Kumarkhali Upazila. In 1871, when Goalanda Upazila was formed, Pangsha and Rajbari were included in it and its headquarters was established in Rajbari. Goalanda was upgraded into a district in March 1984 and it was renamed as Rajbari District.
Parliamentary seats Rajbari-1 Rajbari-2
Upazilas
There are 5 upazilas in this district. They are: Baliakandi Upazila Goalanda Upazila Pangsha Upazila Kalukhali Upazila Rajbari Sadar Upazila
Deputy commissioner The DC is the chief administrative and revenue officer of Rajbari District. Name Term Shahiduddin Ahmad 26/2/1984 - 5/10/1986 Muhammad Najmul Ahsan 29/9/1986 - 25/2/1989 Zillur Rashid Chowdhury 22/2/1989 - 8/1/1991 Chowdhury Ghulam Mawla 13/8/1992 - 1/8/1995 Muhammad Wahidur Rahman 2/8/1995 - 21/8/1995 AFM Matiur Rahman 22/8/1995 - 27/4/1996 Amirul Karim 22/4/1996 - 14/7/1999 ASM Hanifuddin Sarkar 15/7/1999 - 28/3/2001 Raziyah Begum 28/3/2001 - 25/4/2002 Bijankanti Sarkar 25/4/2002 - 1/9/2004 Muhammad Nurul Alam 1/9/2004 - 3/9/2006 Muhammad Jamal Husayn Majumdar 3/9/2006 - 19/11/2006 Tawhidah Bulbul 19/11/2006 - 26/1/2008 Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman 24/1/2008 - 28/4/2009 Fayz Ahmad 27/4/2009 - 27/4/2010 Sayyidah Sahana Bibi 27/4/2010 - 12/12/2012 Muhammad Hasanuzzaman Kallol 12/12/2012 - 20/6/2014 Arafatul Islam Jim 21/6/2015 - 27/4/2015 Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Khan 20/6/2014 -2/2/2016 Jinnat Ara 2/2/2016 - 11/5/2017 Muhammad Shawqat Ali 11/5/2017 - 24/6/2019 Dilshad Begum Present
Education
Rajbari District features a robust educational network spanning secondary schools, colleges, and madrasas.
Tertiary education The flagship institution is Rajbari Government College, founded on 23 June 1961 by civil servant Quazi Azhar Ali and nationalized on 1 March 1980. Initially housed in a former Baptist Mission building, the college expanded to a 14-acre campus through land donations and acquisitions. It began with humanities and commerce courses, added science in 1963, and gradually expanded to include numerous honors and postgraduate departments. By 2023, it enrolled approximately 11,000 students and employed around 65 faculty members. Notable alumni include actor Chanchal Chowdhury, former state minister Kazi Keramat Ali, and High Court Justice S. M. Kuddus Zaman.
Other prominent colleges in the district include Rajbari Government Adarsha Mohila College, Dr. Abul Hossain University College, Pangsha Government College, Kalukhali Government College, Govt. Goalanda Kamrul Islam College, Baharpur College, Baliakandi Degree College, and Mir Mosharraf Hossain Degree College, among others. The district also includes Bhandaria Siddiqia Kamil Madrasah.
Secondary education Secondary-level education is served by institutions such as Rajbari Government High School (established 1892), Baharpur High School (1933), Rajbari Government Girls High School, Baliakandi Pilot Model High School, Rajdharpur Madhyamik Bidyalay, Yasin High School, and several additional government and private high schools.
Notable people Padamdi Nawab family Mir Mosharraf Hossain, novelist and playwright Haroa/Ratandia Choudhury family Yusuf Hossain Choudhury, politician Rashid Hossain Choudhury, artist Katakhali Chowdhury family Abdul Wajed Chowdhury (died 1992), politician Salma Chowdhury (born 1971), politician Maguradangi Chowdhury family Rowshan Ali Chowdhury (1874–1933), journalist Yakub Ali Chowdhury (1888–1940), essayist Bagmara Qazi family Qazi Motahar Hossain (1897–1981), scientist, author and teacher Sanjida Khatun (1933–2025), musicologist Qazi Anwar Hussain (1936–2022), novelist Fahmida Khatun, singer AKM Aszad, politician Lieutenant General S. M. Matiur Rahman Kazi Keramat Ali, former MP & Education Minister Md. Zillul Hakim, former MP & Railways Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, former MP Jahanara Begum, politician Kazi Abdul Wadud, dramatist Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, former Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan Monsur Ul Karim, painter Rokanuzzaman Khan, journalist Shohely Akhter, cricketer S. M. Kuddus Zaman, justice Satish Chandra Vidyabhusan, eminent Sanskrit scholar Shohely Akhter, cricketer Kangalini Sufia, folk singer Kazi Abul Kasem, polymath Rozina, actress Khurshida Begum Sayeed, former commissioner Khabiruzzaman, Bir Bikrom Mohammad Yakub Ali Chowdhury, essayist, journalist
Gallery
See also Districts of Bangladesh Rajdharpur
Notes
References