Natore | town, district

 town, district

Natore District (Rajshahi division) with an area of 1896.05 sq km, is bounded by Naogaon and Bogra districts on the north, Pabna and Kushtia districts on the south, Pabna and Sirajganj districts on the east, Rajshahi district on the west. Average annual temperature: maximum 37.8°C, minimum 11.2°C; annual rainfall 1862 mm. Rivers: 10 most noted of which are Atrai, Baral, Narod, Nandakunja; Chalan Beel is notable. Most part of Natore district is plain land. The road distance from Natore to Dhaka is 220 Kilometres.

The location of Natore town is 24.4100546N 88.9801598E. Natore (Town) consists of 9 wards and 33 mahallas. Natore municipality was established in 1869 but it was transformed into Town Committee in 1959; municipality was again established in 1993. The area of the town is 15.05 sq km. The town has a population of 72615; male 51.57%, female 48.43%; density of population is 4825.

Natore subdivision was established in 1845 under Rajshahi district and it was turned into a district in 1984. It consists of 6 upazilas, 4 municipalities, 36 wards, 93 mahallas, 52 unions, 1272 mouzas and 1377 villages. The upazilas are natore sadar, bagatipara, baraigram, gurudaspur, lalpur and singra.

Archaeological heritage and relics: Natore Rajbari and Dighapatia Rajbari (Uttara Ganabhaban), Dayarampur Rajbari (Bagatipara) and Budpara Kali Mandir (Lalpur).

Historical events: Indigo resistance movements were held in this district during 1859 to 1860.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 1521359; male 50.86%, female 49.14%; Muslim 90.47%, Hindu 8.47%, Christian 0.61% and others 0.45%; ethnic national: Santal.

Religious institutions: Mosque 1946, temple 216, church 12.

Literacy and educational institutions: Average literacy 27%; male 33% and female 20.5%. Educational institutions: government college 5, non-government college 17, government high school 3, non-government high school 206, government primary school 407, non-government primary school 281, madrasa 30, teacher's training college 1, nursing institution 1.

Cultural organisations: Club 285, public library 10, cinema hall 18.

Main occupations: Agriculture 41.75%, agricultural labourer 28.84%, wage labourer 3.01%, commerce 10%, service 5.02%, fishing 1.32% and others 10.06%.

Land use: Total cultivable land 142880 hectares; fallow land 1772 hectares; single crop 72%, double crop 25% and treble crop land 3%. Cultivable land under irrigation 64%.

Land control: Among the peasants 29% are landless, 37% small, 25% intermediate and 9% rich.

Communication facilities- Roads: pucca 236.04 km, semi pucca 35 km and mud road 1703.85; railways 64 km.

Manufactories: Sugar mill, rice mill, oil mill, flour mill, printing, biscuit factory, ice factory, etc.

Cottage industries: Potteries, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, mat making, etc.

NGO activities: Operationally important ngos are brac, CARE, grameen bank, ITCL, thengamara mahila sabuj sangha, etc.

Health centres: District hospital 1, upazila health complex 5, TB hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1, mission hospital 1, maternity and child care centre 12, family planning centre 27.

Places of interest: Tourist attractions in Natore include Dighapatiya Rajbari (Uttora Gonobhaban) one of the official residences of the President (the raja of Natore lived here), Rani Bhabanir Rajbari situated in the Bongojol area and Chalan Beel- a large natural wetland, the area increases and touches four upazilas (sub-districts) of the Natore district and looks like a sea. Kacha Golla sweets of Natore made of milk is famous all over the country for its taste.