Rajshahi Division

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. 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.
History
Rajshahi Division was created in 1829 by the British Government. It was the largest division in Bengal Province. During partition of Bengal in 1947, the division was partitioned in two halves. The lion eastern half remained as Rajshahi division, while its western half became Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal, India. In January 2010 the Rangpur Division split out from Rajshahi division.
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 census, Rajshahi division had a population of 18,484,858. Muslims are 17,248,861 which is 93.31% of the population, while Hindus are 1,081,584 which is 5.85% of the population. Other religions (almost entirely Christianity and indigenous faiths) are only 0.24% of the population and are mainly found among the ethnic minorities.
Districts
Natore
Rajshahi
Sirajganj
Pabna
Bogura
Chapainawabganj
Naogaon
Joypurhat
Education
The major educational institutes in Rajshahi are:
University of Rajshahi (RU)
Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET)
Rajshahi Medical University (RMC)
North Bengal International University (NBIU)
Rajshahi Medical College (RMC)
Bangladesh Army University of Engineering & Technology
Rajshahi Science & Technology University
Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogra
Joypurhat Girls Cadet College, Joypurhat
Rajshahi College
Rajshahi Govt. City College, Rajshahi
New Govt. Degree College, Rajshahi
Rajshahi Cadet College
Azizul Haque College, Bogra
Bogra Zilla school
Pabna Zilla school
Pabna Cadet College
Pabna Textile Engineering College
Govt. Edward College, Pabna
Pabna University of Science and Technology
Pabna Medical College, Pabna
Joypurhat Government College
Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, Sirajganj
Seroil Government High School, Rajshahi (SGHS),Rajshahi
Government Laboratory High School Rajshahi
Rajshahi Collegiate School (RCS), Rajshahi
Naogaon K.D. Government High School,Naogaon
The University of Rajshahi (established 1953) is the second largest university of Bangladesh with around 50 disciplines and 6 institutes. Rajshahi Collegiate School (established in 1828) is one of the oldest school in the country and Indian sub-continent which became again the best school in Bangladesh in 2018.
Notable residents
Montazur Rahman Akbar, film-maker, grew up in Akkelpur.
Group Captain (Rtd.) Saiful Azam, fighter pilot, was Member of Parliament (MP) for Pabna-3 from 1991 to 1996.
Manzoor Alam Beg, photographer, was born in Rajshahi district in 1931.
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
Zahid Hasan
Amjad Hossain (Member of National Assembly of Pakistan), organiser of Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
A. B. Mirza Azizul Islam
Taijul Islam
Abdul Jalil
James
Air Vice Marshal (Rtd.) A. K. Khandker, first Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (1971–1975), Former Minister, Ministry Planning of People's Republic 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, murdered in the intellectual killing during the 24 Dec 1971 genocide in Bangladesh
Mushfiqur Rahim
Arifur Rahman
Tarique Rahman
Ziaur Rahman
References
External links
E-Rajshahi, An online portal for information and government services managed by Rajshahi City Corporation
Divisions of Bangladesh
Divisions of British India