Rajshahi Division

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.

• Name — Rajshahi Division • Native Name — রাজশাহী বিভাগ • Native Name Lang — bn • Type — Division • Other Name — Varendra • Nickname — Land of Zamindars • Mapframe — yes • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Bangladesh • Established Title — Established • Established Date — 1829 • Seat Type — Capital and largest city • Seat — Rajshahi • Leader Title — Divisional Commissioner • Leader Name — A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid • Leader Title1 — Deputy Inspector General (DIG) • Leader Name1 — Mohammad Shahjahan • Leader Title2 — Parliamentary constituency • Leader Name2 — Jatiya Sangsad (39 seats) • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 18174.4 • Population Total — 20353116 (Enumerated) • Population As Of — 2022 • Population Blank1 Title — Adjusted Population • Population Blank1 — 20794019 • Population Urban — 4840396 • Population Rural — 15511404 • Population Metro — 553,241 • Demographics Type1 — Languages • Demographics1 Title1 — Official language • Demographics1 Info1 — Bengali • Demographics1 Title3 — Minority languages • Demographics1 Title2 — Recognised foreign language • Demographics1 Info2 — English • Time Zone1 — BST • Utc Offset1 — +6 • Iso Code — BD-E • Website — rajshahidiv.gov.bd/ • Custom Label Sec1 — HDI (2023) • Custom Data Sec1 — 0.700 high Rajshahi Division is one of the eight first-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of 18,174.4 sqkm 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.

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.

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.

• Natore • Rajshahi • Sirajganj • Pabna • Bogura • Chapainawabganj • Naogaon • Joypurhat

Notable schools in Rajshahi invoice:

• 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

• Rajshahi Medical College • Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura • Pabna Medical College • Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, Sirajganj • Islami Bank Medical College

• 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

• Rajshahi University School • Bogura Zilla School • Govt. Laboratory High School, Rajshahi • Pabna Zilla School • Rajshahi Collegiate School

• 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 • Bidya Sinha Saha Mim • Mohammed Fazle Rabbee, cardiologist, intellectual • Mushfiqur Rahim • Arifur Rahman • Tarique Rahman • Ziaur Rahman • Sqn Ldr Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, Pakistani war hero of Indo-Pak War of 1965