Rangpur is considered to be a part of the greater floodplain. The union of rivers and plains has made this northern district of the country unique and there is so much to love about Rangpur. Today we will discuss all the reasons why I love Rangpur.
Life in Rangpur
If you want to know a place well, you have to know the lifestyle of the people who live there. In that respect, the hardworking and workaholic attitude of the people of Rangpur is quite noticeable. But that came with a price. For a long time, the district had been plagued by poverty and hunger are also known as “monga” or “mora Kartik”, which means “months of death and disaster”. The frequent occurrence of this phenomenon has changed people’s perspective on lives quite a bit.
There are many theories on how this area got its name. One is associated with indigo cultivation. During the British period, English people introduced indigo cultivation to the area due to the fertile soil of this region. The locals called this indigo as ‘Rang’, which later led this area to be known as Rangpur. Another common idea is that the name Rangpur came from the naming of the Rangmahal by Bhagdatta.
Another name of the Rangpur district is Jangpur. Due to the prevalence of malaria, some people called this district Jampur (The city of death). However, Rangpur district has been the main base of resistance to the movement since the distant past. Therefore, the name Jangpur is considered as the original name of Rangpur to many. ‘Jung’ means war, ‘Pur’ means city or town. Rangpur was often dubbed as Lal Rangpur because of the way in which the peasant movement developed in the district in the late thirties. That is why the quality of fighting against the adversity of nature is inherent to them.
Most of the people of this district are now employed. However, many of the residents of Rangpur are involved in agriculture. Like other parts of Bangladesh, people of different cultures, ethnicities, and professions live together in Rangpur with harmony and peace.
Communications
Journey to this northern district is definitely one of the reasons why I love Rangpur. That being said, there are two primary ways to reach Rangpur: buses and trains. Modern buses in conjunction with well-built roads will ensure a smooth ride throughout the journey. The nearest airport is located in the Syedpur district only 42 km away from Rangpur. So there is an option to reach Rangpur by air. Rangpur and other districts of the northern region are well connected by train as well. Every train going to Rangpur is equipped with improved facilities. The roads inside the Rangpur district are also much better than before. There are plenty of rickshaws and CNG fueled auto-rickshaws if you want to travel inside the city.
Places of interest
Rangpur is a place of historical interest. There are many historic landmarks across the region as a dazzling emblem of our glorious past. Tajhat Jamidar Bari is one of them. It was built by Maharaja Kumar Gopal Lal Roy in the early twentieth century. From 1974 to 1991, the palace was used as Rangpur High Court, a branch or bench of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. President Ershad set up regional benches of the High Court Division of Bangladesh in different districts of the country with the aim of decentralizing the judiciary, one of which was set up in Rangpur. Later, this system was abolished after the establishment of a democratic government in 1991. In 1995, the Department of Archeology of the Government of Bangladesh declared the palace as a protected structure and now holds the Rangpur museum.
Besides, there is a Liberation War Museum named Shaswatbangla, Rangpur Zoo, Mithapukur Tinkatar Mosque, Itakumari Zamindarbari, Rangpur Carmichael College, Dewanbari Zamindarbari, Begum Rokeya Memorial Center, Anandnagar, etc.
Apart from that, Rangpur is located by the Teesta river. The picturesque scenery along the river draws tons of people across the country. This along with all the other things mentioned before are some of the reasons why I love Rangpur so much.
Foods of Rangpur
Every part of Bangladesh is distinct when it comes to food. Rangpur is no different. The sheer diversity of delicious food in Rangpur can amaze anyone. And this is one of the biggest reasons why I love Rangpur. ‘Sendol’ or ‘Sindol’ is a popular traditional dish made from dried fish. Another traditional dish of Rangpur is called ‘Sholaka’. This regional dish is cooked with jute and soda. Yogurt and the sweets of Rangpur are also delicious. Ghosh Bhandar and Pusti sweet shops are very famous all over Rangpur. If you are a foodie, Rangpur will not disappoint.
River of Rangpur
There are many small and big rivers scattered in the Rangpur district. Teesta, Brahmaputra, Jumna, Dharla, Ghaghat, and Dudhkumar flow through greater Rangpur and have a large impact on the agriculture and the economy of the area. The area of rivers in Rangpur is 523.72 km or 302 square miles.
The main river of Rangpur is Teesta. It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra. It originates in the hilly areas of North Sikkim, India. There is also a small river called Akhira. It flows over Pirganj thana of Rangpur district and Ghoraghat thana of Dinajpur district. The river originated during the famine of 116 BS to provide food on an emergency basis. Although it is like a canal in size and shape, it has played a very important role in the lives of people living in the area.
Tobacco industry
The Rangpur region is famous for tobacco cultivation. The tobacco produced here cater to the needs of the entire country. Rangpur also produces a large quantity of paddy-jute-potato and Haribhanga mango in abundance. Also, combined farms are emerging and having a huge impact on the economy.
If I keep talking about the reasons why I love Rangpur, there will be no end to it. Rangpur is all about enjoying the serenity of nature and the murmur of the river. Rangpur means a quiet, secluded town filled with amiable people. But there is more to Rangpur than meets the eye. You must visit and experience the beauty of Rangpur to understand its true depth.
In the previous episodes of the ‘Why I Love’ series, we have discussed Dhaka, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna. You can read the article if you are interested.
Do let us know what are the reasons you love Ranpur in the comments section below.
