Thakurgaon is a district located on the north-western part of Bangladesh under the jurisdiction of Rangpur division. The district lies in between 25°40′ and 26°12′ north latitudes and in between 88°05′ and 88°39′ east longitudes. Thakurgaon is bounded by Panchagarh district on the north, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts on the east, West Bengal of India on the south and west. Thakurgaon was established as a district on 1 February, 1984. Thakurgaon has an area of 1,809.52 sq. km. The district consists of 5 Upazilas, 3 municipalities and 53 Union Parishads. According to the 2011 Bangladesh Census, Thakurgaon district has a population of 1,390,042. Males constitute 51.65% of the population and females 48.35%. Density of the population is 751 inhabitants/sq. km.
Thakurgaon was first established as a thana in 1800, then gradually upgraded to a sub-division under Dinajpur district in 1860. Thakurgaon started its journey as a separate district on 1 February, 1984. The district was ruled by Maithil Brahmins and Bengali Brahmins like Bikhash Jha, Barun Thakur and Vidhenesh Roy before 1879. The district had a Hindu majority population of 52% untill 1947. Most people believe that Thakurgaon has got its name after a famous Brahmin or Thakur family of the area. This region was once inhabited by the family of the influential Hindu priest Thakur. At the initiative of this Thakur family, a police station was set up at a place near the present municipality during the British rule. Thakurgaon police station is named after this family. The place is also called Thakurgaon due to the large number of “Thakurs” or Brahmins.
The Human Development Index (HDI) of Thakurgaon is 0.614 which is 7th among all districts of Bangladesh. It indicates moderate life expectancy, literacy Rate and per capita income of the inhabitants. The district has a literacy rate of 52% for the population 7 years and above. The average high temperature is 33.5°C and the average low temperature is 10.05°C. Annual rainfall averages 2931 millimetres. Thakurgaon is situated on the bank of the river Tangon. Kulik, Nagar, Tirnai, Pathari and Katchna Beel are notable among other waterbodies. Hard rock and pebbles are notable mineral resources of Thakurgaon. Numerous daily and weekly newspapers are published from Thakurgaon. Daily Thakurgaon Darpan, Daily Sangrami Bangla, Daily Gram Bangla and Weekly Janarab are notable among them.
Jari, Sari, Bhawaya, Kabigan, Satta Pirer Palagan, etc. are notable folk songs of the district. Charak Puja, Ras Jatra, proverbs, riddle, rhymes, etc. are notable folk culture prevailing in Thakurgaon. Some cultural events are arranged on a regular basis in Thakurgaon. The inhabitants celebrate Boishakhi Mela with colorful vibe every year. Eid fairs are also arranged during both Eids at Thakurgaon Boro Matth. Several drama clubs, namely, Sapla Natto Gosty, Nischintopur Theater and some others practice and perform in original and famous dramas regularly. Dhamer Gaan is a unique cultural tradition of the inhabitants of Thakurgaon. The indigenous people living in this area enjoy their own heritage and cultural practices. Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart were the traditional transports in the rural areas of Thakurgaon district, which are now either extinct or nearly extinct. Now-a-days, all the upazilas are connected with the district headquarters with metalled roads. Bus, minibus, three wheelers ply over the district.
The economy of the district is mostly dependent on agriculture. Major sources of income comprises of agriculture with 76.74%, non-agricultural laborer 2.84%, industry 0.36%, commerce 9.05%, transport and communication 2.34%, service 3.91%, construction 0.76%, religious service 0.11%, rent and remittance 0.17% and others 3.72%. Fish of different varieties are caught from rivers, tributary channels and even from paddy fields during the rainy season. Besides crops, livestock and fishery are the main sources of household income. There are many fish farms, fish fry production farms and ponds under fish farming in Thakurgaon. Non-farm activities are also significant in the district. There are 1 heavy industry, 2638 light industries and 11 medium industries in Thakurgaon. There are also 9175 cottage industries and 6 cold storage present here. The sugarcane plantation has become the main livelihood of the inhabitants of this area. Poultry firms have been also quite productive business in here.
The Pakistani army brutally killed a number of Bangalis on the road side of the Bhatarmari Farm of Pirganj upazila on 17 April, 1971 during the Liberation War. They kept on killing innocent people throughout the nine months of war, they also set many houses of the district on fire. Thakurgaon is witness to uncountable battles between freedom fighters and Pakistani forces in 1971. There are 6 mass grave and 4 mass killing sites in the district as marks of the Liberation War.
The district is predominately Muslims with a population of 924254. There are 278703 Hindus, 7156 Buddhists, 131 Christians and 4132 others practicing other religions. There are many mosques, temples, churches, shrines and some other religious institutions in Thakurgaon. Indigenous communities such as Munda, Bodo, Santal, Orao, Koch, Palia, Rajbangshi, Ho, Mahato, Malo, Kumar, Hari, Bhuiyan and Ganghu lives peacefully in Thakurgaon. Ethnic population of the district is 12,229.
| At a glance of Lalmonirhat | ||
| 01 | Area | 1,809.52 sq. km. |
| 02 | Population | 1,390,042 |
| 03 | Founding Year | 1 February, 1984 |
| 04 | Density | 751/sq. km. |
| 05 | Literacy Rate | 52% |
| 06 | Seats in the Parliament | 3 |
| 07 | Postcode | 5100 |
| 08 | Sector in Liberation War | 6 |
Upazilas (5)
- Thakurgaon Sadar
- Baliadangi
- Ranishangkail
- Haripur
- Pirganj
Main Rivers
Tangon, Kulik, Nagar, Tirnai, Pathari
Main Newspapers
Daily Thakurgaon Darpan, Daily Sangrami Bangla, Daily Gram Bangla, Weekly Janarab
Notable Places
- Jagadal Zamindar Bari
- Saguni and Thumnia Sal forest
- The Tangon River
- Senua Bridge
- Old Air Port
- Jomidar Mosjid at Shibganj
- Balia Mosjid
- The Fair of Nekmordon
- Ramrai Dighi
- King’s Palace
- The river of Kulic
- Khunia Dhighi Memorial
- Palace of King Tonko Nath
- Gorkoi Heritage
- 500 acre shal garden on the bank of the Tangon River
- Horinmari Amgach (3 bigha)
- Haripur Rajbari
- Gorokkhonath temple
- Ranishankail Jomidar Bari
- Sangah Shahi mosque
- Fatehpur mosque
- Shalbari mosque
Highlighted Personalities
- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
- Ramesh Chandra Sen
- Shishir Bhattacharjee
- Professor Golam Mostafa
- Ashraful Islam
- Litu Anam
- Musa Ibrahim
→See More… Districts of Bangladesh
Written & Edited by Sadia Siddika Zitu.