Lably
Skip to content

Rajshahi

Metropolitan city in North-Western Bangladesh

  • 13 min read
  • 11 chapters
Rajshahi city, Bangladesh
RockyMasum · CC BY-SA 4.0

Related on Lably

Through Urban area, Bangladesh and Silk

Lab · Class 6–11How India Is GovernedLabClothes & Fabrics

Rajshahi is a historic center of silk production. Varendra Research Museum, the oldest of its kind in Bangladesh, is located in the city. Sometimes the city is referred to as the City of Education, on account of being home to many renowned educational institutions of Bangladesh. The head office of Rajshahi Agricultural Development Bank and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority is situated in the city. The Shah Makhdum Airport and Rajshahi railway station serves Rajshahi.

According to The Guardian, Rajshahi is the cleanest city of Bangladesh, and it is also the most environmentally friendly city in the country.

History

Modern Rajshahi lies in the ancient region of Pundravardhana. The foundation of the city dates to 1634, according to epigraphic records at the mausoleum of Sufi saint Shah Makhdum. The area hosted a Dutch settlement in the 18th century.

Rajshahi district was a part of the Pundra region of ancient Bengal ruled by the Pundra Kingdom. The capital of Prince Vijaya, the king who led military operations in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia was located 14 kilometres (9 mi) to the west of Rajshahi town. Rajshahi was dominated by various Maharajas, Rajas and Zamindars. During Deo Raja's period, the region was known as Mohakalgarh. In 1288-89 the Raja was defeated by Shah Makhdum Rupos. The administrative district was established in 1772 and the municipal corporation during the British Raj in 1876.

Its wealth peaked under the Pala Empire, when the Barind area became an important agricultural and cultural zone. In the Mughal period, the area gained further prominence for its silk production. Rajshahi Raj was the largest zamindari (feudatory kingdom) during the British Raj which occupied a vast position of Bengal. When Nawab Murshid Quli Khan divided the Bengal Subah into 13 divisions in 1717, Rajshahi was included as one of the divisions .

During the British raj, it was also known as "Beuleah" and was the administrative headquarters of the Rajshahi district in Eastern Bengal and Assam. It was originally chosen as a commercial factory for the silk trade, which was being officially encouraged by the agricultural department of that time. The town contained a government college and an industrial school for sericulture. Most of the public buildings were severely damaged by the earthquake of 12 June 1897. Throughout much of the early part of the twentieth century there was a daily steamer service on the Ganges which connected it to rail-heads that led to the then provincial capital of Calcutta as well as other cities in the province of Bengal.

Rajshahi was made a city corporation in 1991.

Etymology

The region came to be known as Rampur Boalia after the establishment of an administrative office in 1825. The origin of the present name of "Rajshahi" is debated among scholars. Most say that it takes its name from Hindu Kings Rajshahi Raj (or "Rajas") as Raj and the persianised Shahi; both of which mean "royal" or "kingdom".

Sign in to keep reading

10 more chapters are free with a Lably account.

More in Cities

Washington, D.C.Capital city of the United StatesBerlinCapital and largest city of GermanyChicagoMost populous city in Illinois, USViennaCapital and largest city of AustriaPhiladelphiaMost populous city in Pennsylvania, USBostonCapital and largest city in Massachusetts, United States