# Joypurhat District

Joypurhat District (Bengali: জয়পুরহাট জেলা) is a district in the northern part of Bangladesh, part of the Rajshahi Division.

## Etymology

Prior to the coming of the Calcutta–Jalpaiguri railway line in 1884, the area was known as Jaipur. There was already a Jaipur railway station elsewhere in India, so when the local station was built it was named Jaipur Hat station (there was a hat, or market, nearby) to distinguish it from the other Jaipur. When the area was carved out of Bogra District in 1984, it took the name Joypurhat District.

## History
### Ancient history

Joypurhat was an area under the Pala Empire & Sena dynasty for a long period of time. Till 16th and 17th centuries, there was no clear information about Joypurhat's history. Previously the local name for Joypurhat was Baghabarihat. Later it was called Gopendraganjahat in many archives.
Once Lalbazar Thana was established by containing the present Joypurhat Sadar Upazila and Panchbibi Upazila. The thana was located on the east side of Small Jamuna River named Puranapoil. Then Puranapoil Union was known as Karimnagar. A post office was established in Lalbazar Thana. The sub-registry office was established in Nawabganj. There were many Neelkuthi established in this area. At that era, Lalbazar Thana was a town. Back then it was the only work for the ordinary people of that area. From Lalbazar Thana, Small Jamuna River gorge, the whole travel, commerce, and trade were maintained. At that period Lalbazar Thana, Khetlal Upazila & Badalgachhi Upazila were under Dinajpur District. As Dinajpur District, Rangpur District & Rajshahi District were very large, in 1821, a new district was formed from the three districts and named Bogra District. At that time, Bogra District occupied by Adamdighi, Bogra Sadar, Sherpur from Rajshahi District; two upazila from Rangpur District and Khetlal Upazila, Badalgachhi Upazila, Lalbazar Thana from Dinajpur. Later, on December 16, 1868, Lalbazar Police Thana was moved to Khasbaguri. The local name of Khasbabri was Panchbibi.

## Geography
### Rivers

Bangladesh is a country of many rivers. There are mainly five rivers in Joypurhat District. They are:
* Small Jamuna River passes through Joypurhat Sadar Upazila and Panchbibi Upazila.
* Tulshiganga River passes through Joypurhat Sadar Upazila, Khetlal Upazila and Akkelpur Upazila.
* Chiri River passes through Panchbibi Upazila.
* Haraboti River passes through Panchbibi Upazila.
* Sree River passes through Chakbarkat Joypurhat Sadar Upazila.

### Climate

Joypurhat is a district of Tropical climate. In winter there is much more rainfall in Joypurhat than in summer. According to The Köppen climate classification, The average annual temperature in here is 25.4 °C and The average annual rainfall is 1738 mm. The driest month is December with 3 mm. Most precipitation falls in July, with an average of 364 mm. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 28.9 °C. In January, the average temperature is 18 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
Climate data for Joypurhat :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.8 (76.6) | 27.6 (81.7) | 32.5 (90.5) | 35 (95) | 33.6 (92.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.3 (95.5) | 31.2 (88.2) | 29.5 (85.1) | 28.7 (83.7) | 25.9 (78.6) | 31.0 (87.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18 (64) | 20.2 (68.4) | 24.9 (76.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27 (81) | 22.8 (73.0) | 19.3 (66.7) | 25.4 (77.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.2 (52.2) | 12.9 (55.2) | 17.3 (63.1) | 21.9 (71.4) | 23.8 (74.8) | 25.4 (77.7) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.2 (79.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 22.9 (73.2) | 17 (63) | 12.6 (54.7) | 20.2 (68.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 10 (0.4) | 15 (0.6) | 21 (0.8) | 52 (2.0) | 186 (7.3) | 330 (13.0) | 364 (14.3) | 321 (12.6) | 283 (11.1) | 140 (5.5) | 13 (0.5) | 3 (0.1) | 1,738 (68.2) |
| Source: National newspapers ||||||||||||||
The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 361 mm. The average temperatures vary during the year by 10.9 °C.

## Demographics

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Joypurhat District has 269,905 households and a population of 956,431 with an average 3.50 people per household. Among the population, 140,366 (14.68%) inhabitants are under 10 years of age. The population density is 945 people per km$^2$. Joypurhat District has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 73.73%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 97.72 males per 100 females. Approximately, 23.44% (224,181) of the population live in urban areas. Ethnic population is 26,325 (2.75%) belonging to a variety of groups of which Oraon, Barman, Munda, Santal, Kudumi Mahato and Bedia have a population over 2,000.

### Religion

The district of Joypurhat has 2573 mosques, 186 mosque-based library, 675 trained Imam, 2200 Imam, 424 temples, 21 churches and 18 Buddhist temples. Hinda - Kasba Shahi Mosque is one such mosque in Joypurhat.
Religions in Joypurhat District (2022) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Islam | Islam | 89.91% | 89.91% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 9.16% | 9.16% |
| Christianity | Christianity | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.43% | 0.43% |
Religion in present-day Joypurhat District :
| Religion | 1941$^{:92–93}$ | 1941$^{:92–93}$ | 1981 | 1981 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Religion | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Islam | 165,275 | 73.46% | 538,293 | 86.91% | 674,584 | 88.18% | 758,324 | 89.56% | 819,235 | 89.66% | 859,960 | 89.91% |
| Hinduism | 47,664 | 21.18% | 68,152 | 11.00% | 73,193 | 9.57% | 76,033 | 8.98% | 80,696 | 8.83% | 87,595 | 9.16% |
| Ethnic religion | 11,929 | 5.30% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Christianity | 130 | 0.06% | 2,064 | 0.34% | 3,331 | 0.44% | 4,715 | 0.56% | 4,822 | 0.53% | 4,756 | 0.50% |
| Others | 2 | 0.00% | 10,842 | 1.75% | 13,903 | 1.81% | 7,624 | 0.90% | 9,015 | 0.98% | 4,120 | 0.43% |
| Total Population | 225,000 | 100% | 619,351 | 100% | 765,011 | 100% | 846,696 | 100% | 913,768 | 100% | 956,431 | 100% |
Muslims make up 89.91% of the population, while Hindus are 9.16% and Christians 0.50% of the population respectively. Other religions (mainly Sarna) are 0.43% of the population.

## Economy

Joypurhat's economy is mainly based on seasonal crops like rice, potato, wheat, onion, mango, jackfruit, and banana. It also produces a huge amount of sugarcane and it holds the country's largest sugar mill, Joypurhat Sugar Mill's Limited. There are also a lot of industries, rice mills and poultry farm sin this district. It exports many agricultural products. Hili land port is very close to Joypurhat district, so many people of this district do export-import business by this port and about all the vehicles of this port run over this district. This district is appropriate for all kind of business.

## Arts and culture

Joypurhat is a district of rural or rich folk culture. In British Raj period, many festivals such as keerton (কীর্তন), jaree (জারী), palagaan (পালাগান), kabigaan (কবিগান), baul (বাউল), murshidee (মুর্শিদী), lokgeeti (লোকগীতি), bhaoyaiya (ভাওয়াইয়া), and jattra (যাত্রা) were held on various occasions.
After 1971, many cultural organizations established in this district level and upazila level.

### Cultural groups

* Drama Circle

## Points of interest

Jamalganj is situated 10 km south west of Joypurhat. Pahar Pur (Buddhist Bihar), largely known as Somapura Mahavihara, is situated 6 km(approx)north-west of Jamalganj which is a symbol of past legacy of our knowledge on philosophy, architecture, arts and sculptures. It is UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) certified world heritage site.
Jamalganj is known for its long traditional bazar (in English market) fore surrounded places. It is also known for its agricultural products like banana, paddy, rice, wheat, and potato. Also famous for its coal (bituminous) and cement. Joypurhat is famous for various sweets including inception of sweet named “Harivanga” which is now popular in the country

## Administration
### Sub-districts

Joypurhat has five subdistricts (upazilas):
| Upazila | Official Website | Area (km$^2$) | Population (2022) |
| Akkelpur | akkelpur.joypurhat.gov.bd | 139.47 | 144,693 |
| Joypurhat Sadar | joypurhatsadar.joypurhat.gov.bd | 238.5 | 315,205 |
| Kalai | kalai.joypurhat.gov.bd | 166.30 | 146,055 |
| Khetlal | khetlal.joypurhat.gov.bd | 142.60 | 110,866 |
| Panchbibi | panchbibi.joypurhat.gov.bd | 278.53 | 239,612 |

### Municipalities

There are five municipalities in Joypurhat District.
Deputy Commissioner (DC): Mohammad Yasin
Mayor: MD Mustafizur Rahaman Mostak

### Parliamentary seats

Joypurhat has two parliament seats: Joypurhat-1 and Joypurhat-2.
| Constituency NO. | Constituency Name | Extent | Present Jatiyo Sangshad MP | Political party | Legislature | Election occupied |
| 34 | Joypurhat-1 (details) | Joypurhat Sadar Upazila Panchbibi Upazila | Advocate Shamsul Alam | Bangladesh Awami League | 11th Parliament | December 30, 2018 |
| 35 | Joypurhat-2 (details) | Akkelpur Upazila Kalai Upazila Khetlal Upazila | Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan | Bangladesh Awami League | 11th Parliament | December 30, 2018 |

## Transport
### Roads

Joypurhat is a small district in Rajshahi Division. It has 342.59 km cobbled road, 61.59 km semi-cobbled road and 1569 km raw road.

### Railway stations

Joypurhat contains eight railway stations. The total railways of Joypurhat are 38.86 km.
* Joypurhat railway station, Joypurhat Sadar Upazila
* Panchbibi railway station, Panchbibi Upazila
* Jamalganj railway station, Akkelpur Upazila
* Akkelpur railway station, Akkelpur Upazila
* Jafarpur railway station, Akkelpur Upazila
* Tilakpur railway station, Akkelpur Upazila
* Bagjana railway station, Panchbibi Upazila
Joypurhat Railway Station was established in 1884 in the British Raj period. It is a very important railway station in the northern part of Bangladesh.

## Education

There are 27 colleges in the district. They include
Joypurhat Government College, Akkelpur Mujibar Rahman College, Amdai United Degree College, founded 1946, Joypurhat Government Women's College (1972), Joypurhat Womens Degree College, Kalai Degree College, Khetlal Syeed Altafunnesa College, and Mohipur Haji Mohsin Government College (1969).
Joypurhat Girls' Cadet College, founded in 2006, is a military high school and college for girls.
According to Banglapedia, R.B. Govt. High School (1946), Haripur High School, founded in 1917, Joypurhat Government Girls' High School (1977), Kalai Moyen Uddin High School (1913), Khanjanpur High School (1901), Khanjanpur Mission Girl's High School (1919), Sonamukhi High School (1916), Teghar High School (1940), and Uchai Jerka S.C. High School (1925) are notable secondary schools.