Tanore Upazila

Geography

Tanore is located at 24.6028°N 88.5806°E / 24.6028; 88.5806.It is 30 kilometer away from Rajshahi city.It is surrounded by Niamatpur Upazila and Manda Upazila of Naogaon District to the north, Mohanpur Upazila of Rajshahi district to the east, Paba Upazila and Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi district to the south, Chapai Nawabganj Sadar Upazila and Nachol Upazila of Chapai Nawabganj District to the west.There is a river at Tanore Upazila called Shiba River. It has 47425 households and total area 295.40 km². The main river is the Shiba.

History

The literal meaning of Tanore in Bengali language is dismal area.In ancient time this area was a desert like place and with very few trees and people. As time goes by, People began to settle here and this area became habitable day by day. People of different castes and creeds live here peacefully for long time. People of different indigenous tribal group including Santhal, Mahali live here for many years.

Independence war

Tanore upazila was freed from Pakistani occupiers on 30th November in 1971. A last battle was fought at the night of 29th November in 1971. Safikur Rahman Raja who was a final year student of Rajshahi University at that time led the guerrilla team of freedom fighters in that battle. Six freedom fighters were captured by Pakistani army with the help of their local collaborators(Rajakars) near the river port of the village named Buruj on 29th November. They were being tortured in the torture cell of Tanore police station. A decision was taken to attack that police station in order to free the imprisoned freedom fighters immediately. A guerrilla team consisting of 30 to 35 freedom fighters subdivided by four groups attacked the police station abruptly at the night of 29th November which was led by Safikur Rahman Raja. Although the freedom fighters had less ammunition compared to that of Pakistani army, Their courage, intrepidity, fierceness and intelligent strategy forced the enemy to retreat. They were able to free the freedom fighters from imprisonment. Three freedom fighters were martyred in this battle while another one named Sirajul Islam alias Hanif Mridha was wounded severely but survived. The martyrs were Monayem Monjur, the student of Rajshahi Polytechnic institute, Muhammad Islam, student of class ten of Maskatadighi school at Katakhali and another one was an indigenous youth whose name was not known. Pakistan army withdrew their soldiers and police forces from this area in the very next day. Consequently this area got rid of the Pakistani oppressors forever from that day. For the first time Safikur Rahman Raja hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at Tanore on 17th December, 1971. There is s place of execution at Gollapara Bazaar in Tanore which bears the testimony of oppressions, tortures and atrocities done by autocratic Pakistan army.

Demographics

At the 2011 Bangladesh census, Tanore has a population of 191,330 (males 94041 and females 97289). Males constitute 49.15% of the population, and females 50.85%.Population density is 648/km2. Tanore has an average literacy rate of 48.8%(males 51.1% and Females 46.7%) (7+ years). According to religion Muslims are 162018 (84.68%), Hindus 15152 (7.92%), Christians 9329 (4.87%), Buddhists 17 (0.01%), Others 4814 (2.52%). Indeginous tribe Santhal people live in this sub-district. There are 510 mosques, 200 Eid-gahs, 22 temples, 16 Churches, 1 Pagoda.

Economy

The total agricultural area is around 22,665 hectare of which cultivable land area is 21,295 hectare & forest land area is 100 kilometer. The main crops of this sub-district are paddy, potato, wheat, maize, tomato, brinjal, onion, garlic etc. Rice is the staple food of the people of this area. Mango and Jack fruits are produced in this area very well.

Administration

Tanore has 2 Municipalities, 7 Unions/Wards, 211 Mauzas/Mahallas,169 villages and 47,425 households.

Unions are

Two municipalities are:

Education

The Literacy Rate of Tanore upazila is 48.8%. There are 127 primary schools(49 government and 78 non-government), 62 high/junior-high schools, 18 colleges(including 2 technical and vocational colleges) and 28 madrasas.

Transport

Tanore sub-district can be reached by road but there is no railway connection with this sub-district.Tanore Upazila Parisad is approximately 30 kilometer away from Rajshahi Bus stand.In rainy season Shiba river is used to transport goods to this upazila. There is 216 km metallic road, 51 km semi-metallic road and 427 km unmetalled road.

Notable personalities

1. Alhaj MD.Umar Faruq Chowdhuri, Honorable member of parliament, Rajshahi-1 (Jatiyo Sangshad constituency).

1. Mahiya Mahi- a popular heroin of Bengali cinema world.