Rajshahi Division (Bengali: রাজশাহী বিভাগ) is one of the eight first-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of 18,174.4 square kilometres (7,017.2 sq mi) 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.
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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