Thakurgaon District

Subdistricts

The Upazilas in this district are:

1. Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila
2. Pirganj Upazila
3. Baliadangi Upazila
4. Haripur Upazila
5. Ranisankail Upazila
6. Ruhia Upazila

There is also another Pirganj upazila under Rangpur district.

Geography

Thakurgaon is in the north west corner of Bangladesh, it is about 467 km from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It is surrounded by Dinajpur district on its south, Panchagarh district to the east and India on its west and north sides, it is a part of the Himalayan plain land.

History

During British rule Thakurgaon was a tehsil (a district subdivision). In 1947 at the time of the Partition of India, Thakurgaon Subdivision became part of East Pakistan and became part of the newly established Dinajpur District of East Bengal. In 1984 Takurgaon subdivision was split off Dinajpur and became a separate district (i.e. Thakurgaon District).

Economy

In Bangladesh as a whole agriculture is the basis of the economy, and Thakurgaon has been striving for a long time to be economically productive, agriculture forming a major part of the districts economy. Thakurgaon produces many agricultural products, such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, seasonal vegetables and fruits etc. The sugarcane plantation - TSM (Thakurgaon Sugar Mill)--is part of the BSFIC. These become the main livelihood of the native. Poultry firms are quite productive business in Thakurgaon, there are several cold-stores in the district. Different businesses for producing and repairing agricultural tools have grown up.

However the community's distance from the capital causes difficulties in getting sufficient technical and logistic support and in transporting local products to the national market. It is not easy for the investors to set up their business far away from the center of national trade and commerce.

Places of interest

There are various places of interest in the district, these include:

1. The Tangon River
2. Senua Bridge
3. Old Air Port, destroyed during the second world war, situated at Modergonj beside of Arazipaickpara
4. Jomidar Mosjid at Shibganj
5. Balia Mosjid at Balia Union
6. The Fair of Nekmordon
7. Ramrai Dighi, it is a pond having 50 acres (200,000 m²) of area. A beautiful tourist spot.
8. King's Palace
9. The river of Kulic
10. KhuniaDhighi Memorial
11. Palace of King Tonko Nath
12. Gorkoi Heritage
13. 500 acre shal garden on the bank of the Tangon River
14. Horinmari Amgach (Stand by 3 bigha area )

Culture

There is a versatile practice of culture in the district; few festivals and cultural events are regularly arranged there. Alpona Sansad arranges Boishakhi Mela in every Bangla new year. Held "Eid Fair" at the occasion of Eid-Ul-Adha & Eid-Ul-Fitre every year at Thakurgaon Boro Matth also. Several drama clubs (Sapla Natto Gosty-Estd.1974, Nischintopur Theater-1983 etc. ) practice and perform regularly and stage original and famous dramas every month. Dhamer Gaan is a unique traditional cultural invention of Thakurgaon people. The existing 10 tribes in this area enjoy their own heritage and cultural practices.