Bagmara Upazila HQ

 township, subdistrict, fourth-level administrative division, local government

Bagmara Upazila (Rajshahi district) with an area of 363.30 sq km, is bounded by Manda and Atrai upazilas on the north, Durgapur, Puthia and Natore sadar upazilas on the south, Atrai and Natore sadar upazilas on the east, Mohanpur upazila on the west. Noted rivers: Barani and Fakinni.

The location of Bagmara town is 24.5812092N 88.8201768E. Bagmara (Town) located at Bhabaniganj, stands on the bank of the river Fakinni. The area of the town is 3.84 sq km. The town has a population of 16289; male 51.13%, female 48.87%. Density of population is 4242 per sq km. Literacy rate among the town people is 40%.

Bagmara thana, now an upazila, was established in 1963. The upazila consists of one municipality (Taherpur), 15 union parishads, 292 mouzas, 362 villages.

Archaeological heritage and relics: Remnants of old palaces at Taherpur, Khaira, Goal Kandi, Machmoil and Birkutsha villages.

Historical events: The famous poet Kritibas translated the Ramayana in mid fifteenth century under the patronage of King Kangsanarayan, the founder of Taherpur. The Saradia Durga Puja was observed at Taherpur for the first time in the Indian Subcontinent under the endeavour of King Kangshnarayan.

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Population 282520; male 50.01%, female 49.99%; Muslim 94.43%, Hindu 5.49%, others 0.08%; ethnic nationals santal 106 families.

Religious institutions Mosque 705, temple 65, tomb 6 most noted of which are Taherpur Bara Mosque.

Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 22.9%; male 32.5%, female 13.3%. Educational institution: College 16, secondary school 59, madrasa 83, government primary school 104, non-government primary school 106. Noted educational institution: Birkutsa Abinash High School (1917).

Main occupations Agriculture 62.99%, livestock farming and fishing 2.38%, agricultural labourer 17.13%, wage labourer 1.43%, commerce 7.25%, service 2.34%, others 5.04%.

Land use Total cultivable land 26940.51 hectares; single crop 39%, double crop 42%, treble crop 19%; cultivable land under irrigation 85%.

Land control Among the peasants 32% are landless, 29% small, 28% intermediate,11% rich; cultivable land per head 0.10 hectare.

Fisheries, dairies, poultries Dairy 45, poultry 35, hatchery 5.

Communication facilities Roads: pucca 92 km, semi pucca 12 km and mud road 585 km.

Manufactories Ice factory 10, welding 25.

Cottage industries Weaving 18, bamboo works 214, cane work 76, goldsmith 336, blacksmith 89, potteries 144, wood work 152, tailoring 312.

NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are brac, asa, grameen bank, proshika, thengamara mahila sabuj sangha, Jatiya Tarun Sangha, Abas Society.

Health centres Upazila health complex 1, Family welfare centre 10, Satellite clinic 6.