Dinajpur (Bengali: দিনাজপুর [dinad͡ʒpur]) is a city and the district headquarters of Dinajpur district situated in Rangpur Division, Bangladesh. It was founded in 1786. It is located 413 km north-west of Dhaka in Bangladesh. It is bounded on the north by Suihari, Katapara, Bangi Bechapara, Pulhat, and Koshba on the south; on the east by Sheikhupura; and by the river Punarbhaba on the west.

Dinajpur
দিনাজপুর
From top (clockwise): Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University and Dinajpur Railway Station
Dinajpur is located in Rangpur division
Dinajpur
Dinajpur
Dinajpur is located in Bangladesh
Dinajpur
Dinajpur
Coordinates: 25°37′44″N 88°38′13″E / 25.629°N 88.637°E / 25.629; 88.637
Country Bangladesh
DivisionRangpur
DistrictDinajpur
UpazilaDinajpur Sadar
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyDinajpur Municipality
 • Paura MayorSyed Jahangir Alam[1]
Area
 • Total
22.8 km2 (8.8 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
212,275
 • Density9,300/km2 (24,000/sq mi)
 • Ethnicities
Bengali
Time zoneUTC+6 (Bangladesh Time)
National Dialing Code+880
Websitewww.dinajpur.gov.bd

Geography and climate

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Winter morning in Dinajpur

Dinajpur is located in the north-western part of the country. It covers an area of 20.7 square kilometers (8.0 sq mi).

It is situated at 25°37′N 88°39′E on the eastern bank of the river Punarbhaba. Dinajpur has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) that borders a tropical climate and has humid, hot summers, characterized monsoon season and mild, dry winters.

Climate data for Dinajpur (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.5
(85.1)
33.5
(92.3)
37.3
(99.1)
41.0
(105.8)
41.2
(106.2)
40.7
(105.3)
38.9
(102.0)
38.6
(101.5)
37.4
(99.3)
36.1
(97.0)
33.5
(92.3)
30.5
(86.9)
41.2
(106.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.6
(72.7)
26.6
(79.9)
30.9
(87.6)
32.6
(90.7)
32.8
(91.0)
32.9
(91.2)
32.4
(90.3)
32.7
(90.9)
32.2
(90.0)
31.3
(88.3)
29.2
(84.6)
25.0
(77.0)
30.1
(86.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)
19.4
(66.9)
24.0
(75.2)
26.8
(80.2)
28.0
(82.4)
29.0
(84.2)
29.0
(84.2)
29.2
(84.6)
28.4
(83.1)
26.5
(79.7)
22.2
(72.0)
17.7
(63.9)
24.7
(76.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.3
(50.5)
13.3
(55.9)
17.6
(63.7)
21.4
(70.5)
23.6
(74.5)
25.6
(78.1)
26.3
(79.3)
26.4
(79.5)
25.5
(77.9)
22.5
(72.5)
16.7
(62.1)
12.3
(54.1)
20.1
(68.2)
Record low °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
6.2
(43.2)
10.0
(50.0)
14.3
(57.7)
16.5
(61.7)
20.0
(68.0)
22.8
(73.0)
23.4
(74.1)
20.7
(69.3)
16.4
(61.5)
10.5
(50.9)
6.0
(42.8)
3.2
(37.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 9
(0.4)
11
(0.4)
15
(0.6)
74
(2.9)
214
(8.4)
358
(14.1)
387
(15.2)
337
(13.3)
373
(14.7)
148
(5.8)
6
(0.2)
5
(0.2)
1,937
(76.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 1 2 2 6 12 17 20 17 15 6 1 1 100
Mean monthly sunshine hours 183.0 214.1 250.6 222.2 212.6 160.2 154.5 171.4 172.1 227.3 235.9 205.4 2,409.3
Source: NOAA[3]

Demographics

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Religions in Dinajpur (2011)[4]
Religion Percent
Islam
86.04%
Hinduism
11.99%
Christianity
1.73%
Other or not stated
0.24%

According to the 2022 Bangladesh census, Dinajpur city had a population of 212,275 and a literacy rate of 88.79%.[2]: 388–394 

According to the 2011 Bangladesh census, Dinajpur city had 40,929 households and a population of 186,727. 31,320 (16.77%) were under 10 years of age. Dinajpur had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 75.37%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 942 females per 1000 males. The ethnic population was 2,402 (1.29%), of which 1,385 were Santal and 777 Oraon.[4]

Education

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Over the last 25 years, Dinajpur has attracted some prominent educational institutions, all of which are government financed. They are as follows:

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University is located 13 km north of Dinajpur town and is one of the prominent institutions in North Bengal. It offers various undergraduate programs such as computer science, BBA, agriculture, fisheries, veterinary medicine and postgraduate programs like agronomy, horticulture and soil science.

Established in 1992, M Abdur Rahim Medical College (former Dinajpur Medical College) is one of the 36 government financed medical institutions located at historical Ananda sagar area in Dinajpur City. Currently, it offers a five-year MBBS Program, along with a one-year compulsory post-graduation internship program. In 2009, Dinajpur city began an English version of education. Some notable English Version schools are: Bethel Int'l School, Dinajpur Ridge School, Dinajpur Labrotary School, Dinajpur Public School, South Point School and Green International School. Dinajpur Polytechnic Institute, Textile Institute Dinajpur, Saint Philip's High School & College, Saint Joseph School Dinajpur, Dinajpur Zilla school, Dinajpur Govt.Girls High School, Dinajpur High School, Dinajpur Police Line School, Dinajpur Collectorate School & College, Dinajpur Govt. College, is one of the best institutions in Dinajpur.

Tenth educational board of Bangladesh has been established in Dinajpur in 2007. From 2009 S.S.C. (Secondary School Certificate) and H.S.C. (Higher Secondary School Certificate) exams have been started to be taken. In S.S.C. exam for the first time it stood 2nd in the country in the G.P.A. 5 list.

Municipality

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At first, after its formation in 1856, the Dinajpur Municipality used to be run by a town committee presided over by the Deputy Magistrate. This was among the first 40 municipalities in Bengal at that time. Later in 1868, the 'District Town Act' commissioned a chairman of the municipality who replaced the Deputy Magistrate and given a similar rank as a District Magistrate. Mr. Patterson was appointed the first chairman of Dinajpur Municipality in 1869. Now present chairman is Syed Jahangir Alam whose family is a descendent from Bihar, India. It is indicative of how the demography of Dinajpur is largely diversified. People from Maldah, Bihar, Jalpaiguri and Rajsthan state of India can be easily seen sattled here throughout the district and city as well.[5]

Agriculture

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Dinajpur is famous for agriculture. Specially Dinajpur is famous for its Litchi and aromatic rice(Katarivog).

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Mayor Dinajpur city's civic body-Dinajpur Municipality". Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022 National Report (PDF). Vol. 1. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. November 2023.
  3. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Dinajpur". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Population & Housing Census 2011 (Zila Series & Community Series)". bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
  5. ^ Mehrab Ali, "History of Dinajpur Pourasava" www.dinajpurmunicipality.com
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