WELCOMETO

LALMONIRHAT

Media and Research CellDistrict Administration, Lalmonirhat

Geographical features

Lalmonirhat is a border-lying district in northern Bangladesh. It is located between 25.48 degree to 26.27 degrees North latitudes and between 88.38 degrees to 89.36 degrees East longitudes. To the north of this district lie the districts of Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri in the Indian state of West Bengal, to the south is Rangpur district, to the east are Kurigram and Indian Coochbehar districts, and to the west are Rangpur and Nilphamari districts. To the north of this district flows the Dharala river and to its south the river Teesta.

The geographical locations of the five upazilas of Lalmonirhat district are as follows:

Name ofUpazila

Area Location

Lalmonirhat Sadar

259.54 sq.km.

In the north are Coochbehar district of India, and Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district. In the south lie Kaunia upazila, Rangpur district and Rajarhat upazila, Kurigram district. In the east are Phulbari and Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram district. In the west are Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district and Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district.

Aditmari 190.03 sq.km.

In north is Coochbehar district of India, in the south is Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district, in the west is Kaliganj upazila and in the east, Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Kaliganj 236.96 sq.km.

In the north are Coochbehar district of India and Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district, in the south are Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district and Nilphamari district’s Kishoreganj upazila. In the east is Aditmari upazila and in the west is Nilphamari district’s Jaldhaka upazila.

Hatibandha 288.42 sq.km.

In the north are Coochbehar district of India, and Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district, in the south is Kaliganj upazila, in the east is Coochbehar district and in the west are Nilphamari district’s Jaldhakaand Dimla upazilas.

Patgram 261.51 sq.km.

In the east, west, and north is Coochbehar district of India and in the south also Coochbehar and Hatibandha upazila.

Etymology

There are several explanations for the origin of the name ‘Lalmonirhat’. They are:

1. When there was a lot of digging going on for the construction of the Bengal Duar Rail line in the 19 th century, workers found red stones beneath the ground. That is how the place came to be called ‘Red Gemstone’, or ‘Lal-moni’.

2. According to another story, the land that the British Railways occupied for the construction of the Bengal Dooars Rail-line belonged to a woman named Lalmoni. Local people began to call the area ‘Lalmoni’ as recognition of her contribution.

3. Yet another story is that in 1783, a female farmer by the name of Lalmoni helping the peasant leader, Nuruluddin, in the fight for peasants’ rights against British soldiers and Indian zamindars sacrificed her life. The place came to be called ‘Lalmoni’ in honour of her sacrifice.

With time, as settlement around this place grew, the word ‘haat’, meaning ‘market’ came to be added to ‘Lalmoni’ and the name became established as Lalmonirhat.

Emergence as a district:

On 1st February 1984, Lalmonirhat was formally inaugurated as a district from a sub-division by the then Minister of Social Welfare and Women’s Affairs, Dr Shafia Khatun. On

18th March 1984, it was announced that Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station would be an upazila. This brought the total number of upazilas in Lalmonirhat district to five – namely, Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari, and Lalmonirhat Sadar. At this time, the union parishads (Union council- the grass root/lowest tier of administrative unit in Bangladesh) of Chhinai, Rajarhat, and Ghariyaldanga of Lalmonirhat Sadar were added to the adjacent district of Kurigram, thus bringing the total number of union parishads in this newly formed Lalmonirhat district to 41, with 1 municipality. At present there are 45 union parishads in Lalmonirhat. In 1985 the enclaves Dahagram and Angarpota were recognized as a union parishad. With this official recognition on 19 th August 1985, the total number of unions in Lalmonirhat district increased to 42. The first office of the Deputy Commissioner was in the old premises of the Diabetic Society. It then moved to where the present day Majida Khatun Government Women’s College is located at the end of 1986. Finally in June 1988 this office moved to its present location.

District Information in Brief

Area 1247.371sq.kmLength of international border

(River border: 24 km.)281.6 km

Population 1256099 total (Census of 2011)Male: 628799Female: 627300

Rate of literacy 65%Number of upazilas: 5

Number of police stations 5Number of municipalities 2

Number of union parishads 45Number of mouzas 354Number of villages 478 (Census of 2011)

Number of rivers 6Number of mosques 2450Number of temples 741

Number of NGOs 57Number of Govt. grain storage 7

Capacity of grain storage 16,500 metric tonnesNumber of banks 49

Number of telephone exchanges 5Post office 70

Border outposts (BGB) 23Bangladeshi Enclaves inside

India31

Indian Enclaves inside Bangladesh

59

Number of secondary schools 212Number of government primary

schools754

Number of non-governmental primary schools

9

Number of Madrasas 85Private Polytechnic institute 3

Technical school and college 1Total amount of land 124093 hectares

Cultivable land 98875 hectaresIrrigated land 48450 hectares

Deep irrigation systems 210Shallow irrigation systems 38535

Agricultural khas (Public) land

7483.038 acres

Non-agricultural khas (Public) land

6070.33 acres

Number of model (Cluster) villages

46

Ashrayon scheme 38Abason scheme 17

Number of village/ town markets

101

Public ponds 46Abandoned property 132.85 acres

Vested property 3807.975 acresGovernment Hospitals (100-

bed)1

Upazila Health Complex (50-bed)

5

Private clinics 12Upazila health complex 510-bed special hospital 1

Maternal and child care centre 1

Community Clinic 160 Family Welfare Centre 38

Small-scale industries 642Animal Hospital 6

Union Animal care centres 20Cattle farms 320

Poultry farms 285Dairy farms 314

Pucca (asphalted) roads 964.95 kmUnpaved roads 2748 km

Rail tracks 96 kmRail stations 15

Public Fish Hatchery: 1 1Private Fish Hatchery 10

Number of ponds under fish farming (Public)

96

Number of ponds under fish farming (Private)

20696

33 KV line 156 km11 KV line 241 km

Rural electricity line 1081 kmNumber of fire stations 5

Govt. Forest Reserved forests – 483.66 Acres & Protected forests – 82 acre

Annual Average Rainfall 293.1 cmBuffer Storage ( For Chemical

Fertilizer)1

Dak-bungalow (Small Rest House of District Council)

5

Daily Newspapers 1 (not in publication presently)

Weekly newspapers 1

Places of Tourist and Historical Interest in the District

1. Teen Bigha Corridor and Dahagram-Angarpota enclaves:

Location: Patgram upazila, Kuchlibari Union.

Brief history: The largest Bangladeshi enclaves, falling under the jurisdiction of Lalmonirhat district, located within the Indian borderland are Dahagram and Angarpota. During pre-liberation period a ‘passage door’ arrangement had been established to connect these enclaves with mainland East Pakistan. This is known as the Teen Bigha Corridor today. From Pakistan times to the present day, numerous bilateral dialogues have been held at the prime ministerial and senior secretarial levels and agreements signed regarding the

Teen Bigha Corridor

transfer of the Teen Bigha Corridor. Since 1985, Angarpota and Dahagram have been constituted a separate union council called Dahagram under Patgram upazila, and this was officially established on 19 th August 1989.On 26th June 1992, the Teen Bigha Corridor was leased to Bangladesh for the passage of Bangladeshis for a fixed number of hours during the day. Subsequently, when the demand arose, on 27th April 2001 it was agreed to keep it open continuously from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm and necessary arrangements were made. Finally, from 6th September 2011, with the signing of the Hasina-Manmohan agreement in Dhaka, the Teen Bigha Corridor has been kept open 24 hrs for the passage of Bangladeshis.

2. Teesta Barrage and Abashar Rest House:

Location: Bangladesh’s largest dam and irrigation project, the Teesta Barrage, has been constructed between Gaddimari Union in Lalmonirhat district’s Hatibandha upazila and Khalisha Chapani Union in Nilphamari district’s Dimla upazila on the River Teesta. Right next to the Barrage, amidst wonderful natural beauty, is located the Abashar Rest House.

Brief history: In 1937, the government of the British India conceived of the Teesta Barrage project to increase the yield and acreage of cultivable land through irrigation facilities for the people of Greater Rangpur, Dinajpur and Bogra districts in northern Bangladesh. The main plan was finalized in 1953. Even though work on this project started in 1957 it could not be continued because of several complications. In 1979, work finally started in full swing to build the 44 radial gates in the 615 m wide Barrage on the River Teesta between the then Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari sub-divisions. Construction was completed in 1990.

Aboshor Rest House Teesta Barrage

3. Burimari Land Port:

Location: Srirampur Union in Patgram upazila.

Brief history: This land port was established in 1988 at the India-Bangladesh border for Bangladesh to conveniently import and export goods by land with India, Bhutan, and Nepal. Goods such as coal, timber, stone, cement, china clay, fertilizers, cosmetics, animal feed, various fruits, vegetables, and grains, seeds and so on are imported from India, Nepal, and Bhutan

Burimari Land Port

through this port. Among the goods that are exported from Bangladesh are hilsa fish (National fish of Bangladesh), melamine products and medicines.

4. House and Grave of Poet Sheikh Fazlal Karim: Location: Kakina Union in Kaliganj upazila, known locally as ‘Kabi Bari’ or ‘Poet’s House’.

Brief history: Writer Fazlal Karim was born on 30th Chaitra 1289 (Bengali calendar) in Kakina village under Kakina police station. His mother’s name was Kokila Bibi.

Poet Sheikh Fazlal Karim Graveyard of Poet Sheikh Fazlal Karim

He breathed his last in 1936 in his own house in Kakina and is buried there. To keep his memory and legacy burning bright, a primary and girls’ high school was established in the grounds of the Collectorate (Office of the Collector) in Lalmonirhat municipality in 1985.

5. Zamindari House of Tushbhandar:

Location: Tushbhandar village in Kaliganj upazila, 40 kms from Lalmonirhat town.

Zamindari House of Tushbhandar

Brief history: It was during the reign of Maharaja Pran Narayan of Coochbehar the founding ancestor of the Tushbhandar estate, Murari Deb Ghoshal Bhattacharya, moved from Joynagar, Kolkata to Coochbehar. Under the prevailing social system he acquired the said estate as a high caste Brahman and settled there in 1634. At that time, there was a custom of donating land for the use of religious purposes. Murari Deb Ghoshal brushed aside objections of using this land donated by a lower caste ruler and requested the Coochbehar state ruler to accept taxes from that land. Eventually the queen agreed to accept ‘tush’ (the granular remains after the husk has been taken off rice grains) as tax on the land. This ‘tush’ used to be collected in a mountainous pile near the estate before being sent to the Coochbehar royal palace. This ‘tush’ sent by the brahman would be used in all sacred rituals in the palace. It is said locally that this is how the name of the estate came to be ‘Tush bhandar’ or the ‘Storehouse of Tush’. It is through Murari Deb Ghoshal Bhattacharya’s reforms that the rigidity of caste decreased here and finally, with the death of zamindar Girindra Mohan Ray Choudhury in 1935, the zamindari ceased to exist altogether in this estate.

6. Zamindari House of Kakina:

Location: Kakina village in Kaliganj upazila, 30 kms from Lalmonirhat town.

Zamindari House of Kakina

Brief history: During the time of King Mod Narayan, Kakina used to be a kind of estate under the jurisdiction of the Coochbehar princely state. Indra Narayan Chakrabarty used to be in charge of this estate at that time. In 1687 when the Mughal faujdar of Ghoraghat, Ibadat Khan, declared war against the Koch king Mod Narayan, two cousins of Mod Narayan, Raghabendra Narayan and Ram Narayan both joined against the king. When the Mughals defeated the Koch army, Chakrabarty was removed from his position and these two cousins were made in charge at Kakina, marking the start of a new ancestry there. During a subsequent time of zamindar Mahendra Ranjan, his extravagant and wasteful ways led to the bankruptcy of this estate. Finally, in 1925, unable to pay debts to the princely state, colonial government, and moneylenders, the zamindari was auctioned off and its administration handed over to the colonial Court of Wards. The zamindar left with his whole family and went to Kurseong, where he died in 1939.

7. Nidariya Mosque:

Location: Kisamat Nagarbanda village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. It is located 2 km south off the Rangpur-Kurigram highway.

Nidariya Mosque Stone inscription of Nidariya Mosque

Brief history: Mughal subedar Mansur Khan donated 10.56 acres of land for and built this mosque in 1176 Hijri. Influential persons at that time were Izhar Mahmud Sheikh, Bijar Mahmud Sheikh, Khan Mahmud Sheikh and so on. As local memory and story-telling goes, since Subedar Mansur Khan did not have a beard, the newly built mosque came to be called ‘Nidariya’ or ‘Not-bearded’. Presently local residents use this mosque for prayer.

8. The Lost Mosque:

Location: Ramdas village in Panchagram union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, which is 1 km south off the Rangpur-Kurigram highway.

Relics of the Lost Mosque Rebuilt Lost Mosque

Brief history: For a long time there used to be a dense jungle at this spot, locally called “Majader Ara”. In the local language, ‘Ara’ means dense jungle. No one used to enter this jungle for fear of dangerous animals, snakes, and scorpions. An endeavor to clear out this jungle revealed ancient bricks with flowers engraved on them. Slowly as the jungle was cleared out, the foundation of a building was found. Amongst this was a plaque of 6” x 6” x 2” size with an Arabic inscription distinctly reading ‘La-Ilaha-Illallahu Muhammudur Rasulullah, Hijri year 69’. Local residents opine that this was the remains of an ancient mosque. If it is proved the history of propagation of Islam in this subcontinent is to be re-written. Today there is a new mosque at this old site.

9. Sindurmoti Lake:

Location: Panchagram Union in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

Sindurmoti Lake

Brief history: On the ninth day of the month of Chaitra (Bengali calendar), Hindu men and women offer prayers and worship at this pond. According to a local story, a Hindu zamindar of the area, Narayan Chakrabarti, dug a large pond for water during a drought. When there was no water to be found at the bottom of the bottom, the zamindar placed his two daughters, Sindur and Moti, in the middle of the pond to carry out a ritual of worship according to divine instructions he had received in a dream. The zamindar went to fetch some things that were missing for the ritual. Meanwhile, the pond started filling up with water and while everybody managed to climb out, Sindur and Moti, could not. Later the zamindar saw in a dream that his daughters had assumed divine form and become immortal.

10.Kalibari Temple and Mosque:

Location: In the yard of the Kalibari Temple in Saptana mouza of Lalmonirhat municipality area is located an enduring example of Bangladesh’s communal harmony – a temple and a mosque adjacent to each other.

Kalibari Temple and Mosque

Brief history: Towards the end of the 19th century, this Kali temple was built at the initiative of a wealthy Marwari, Kedar Maheswari. Idols of Radha-Krishna and a Shiv linga were established here. Subsequently the temple was expanded and separate rooms built for the idols. The whole area came to be known as ‘Kalibari’ because of this Kali temple. In the Bengali year 1307 a mosque was constructed next to the temple at the initiative of local residents as an emblem of communal harmony. Since then religious local residents of both religions have been visiting their respective place of worship without any conflict or tension at all. Along with all rituals of worship, an annual fair is also held at the Kalibari temple. At the mosque, prayers are offered five times daily and Jumma prayer held each Friday. Gatherings for Islamic teaching and discussion are also held once or twice a year.

11.Airfield:

Location: A living memory of the Second World War, this airfield is located between Lalmonirhat town and Mahendranagar.

Airfield

Brief history: In 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, the Axis Forces began to bomb Kolkata and different targets in Assam. To defend the eastern parts of British India from these air attacks, a temporary airfield was constructed in Lalmonirhat’s ‘Chinir

Pathar’ area. This chosen location was merely 2 miles away from the Lalmonirhat railway station and a 4 sq mile large jungle area. During the war, this air base was crucial for the Allied Forces’ mission to protect eastern colonial India, especially Assam. After the War ended on 14th August 1945, soldiers of the Allied Forces started leaving Lalmonirhat. With their departure this busy and supposedly Asia’s second largest airfield fell quiet. In 1958 airplane service started; the fare from Lalmonirhat to Dhaka was only 45 Taka. At that time the First Class fare to Dhaka by rail was 22 Taka. Air fare being double that of rail fare, the owners had to run this service practically empty on most days, and soon this service was stopped altogether. In 1965 after the India-Pakistan war, the Pakistani government sold all the equipment here. After Independence in 1972 there was a proposal to make this base as the national headquarters of the Bangladeshi Air Force. However this never materialized and at present only one maintenance unit of the Air Force is stationed here.

12.Teesta Rail Bridge:

Location: In Gokunda union of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, on the Teesta River. Built by the Northern Bengal State Railway with 13 iron columns, this bridge is considered to be the third largest rail bridge of the country.

Teesta Rail Bridge

Brief history: The Northern Bengal State Railway Company started the first railway service in British India in 1853. The work on extension of this line from Kolkata to Parbatipur and onward further north started in 1879 during a famine in order to carry food supplies and relief to affected areas. In the same year a meter-gauge rail line was constructed from Parbatipur to Rangpur through Kaunia; later this joined with Lalmonirhat. At this time it was not possible to build a rail bridge across the Teesta River, for crossing which a steam engine powered ferry was used. The rail bridge was built only in 1899-1900. Even though the bridge suffered some damages during the 1971 War of Liberation, it was repaired using parts from another colonial rail bridge. Given the high cost of building another bridge for road travel across the river, this bridge was opened to vehicular traffic as well in 1978. This remains a critical linkage between northern districts and the rest of the country.

13.Hala Banyan Tree Grounds:

Location: Spread over almost one and a half acre land this old banyan tree is located in the Lalmonirhat municipality area, in Saptana mouza.

Hala Banyan Tree Grounds

Brief history: According to local lore, the tree is at least 130 years old, and the idgah grounds around the tree even older. In Pakistan times, a local fakir invited a popular pir of Jounpur to deliver an address here. A well was dug at the corner of the grounds for people

to wash but when water did not spring at this well, the gathered crowds were at a loss. The pir sahib then instructed water to be poured into the well in a Badna (local water-pouring utensil). After this there was no scarcity of water at the well. After the religious address, khichuri (a delicious dish of rice and pulse mixed together with spices and cooked) was being distributed to those gathered, and locals feared that the quantity would fall short. The pir sahib then instructed that the utensil be covered with a lid and the khichuri distributed through a small opening at the top. Following this instruction, the khichuri proved to be enough not only for those gathered, but could be shared even with the neighboring villages. Since this episode, locals consider these grounds as well as the banyan tree under which the pir (Pious Person having some followers) sat sacred. After independence, a few people started making religious pledges at the banyan tree and when their wishes would come true, it made the tree famous and popular as a truly sacred site.

Development Potential of the District

A. Agricultural Potential:

1. Char development: The soil of Lalmonirhat district is clayey-loamy. Large quantities of aman and boro paddy, jute, corn, tobacco, potato, sugarcane, wheat, pulses, nuts, and vegetables are cultivated here. Those fields where corn, tobacco, and potato are grown are especially suitable for cultivation of more profitable crops such as strawberries and pumpkins. At present the large river island areas on both banks of the Teesta are tilled for only one season (robi) of paddy. Char development could be included in district plans and profitable crops such as watermelon, pumpkins, and strawberries could be grown in good measure.

2. Fruit orchards: The soil of this district is suitable for the cultivation of China 3 litchis, berries, jackfruit, papaya and other fruits.

3. Poultry farms and sheep farming: There is scope to expand the industries of poultry and sheep farming. The large yields of corn in this district could potentially be used effectively to locally produce good chicken feed. The climate is appropriate for the rearing of sheep and they are likely to survive and adapt to local weather patterns.

B.Industrial Potential:

1. Glass: In Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district, there are large areas in which good quality sand is abundantly available either along the banks of the Dharala river or in the river bed. This important raw material could be utilized in the development of glass manufacturing industry.

2. Electricity Pillar Manufacturing: ‘Noori’ stone is abundantly available in this district. This could be used in the construction of roads, bridges, and electricity pillars all through the district.

3. Poultry and fish feed manufacturing: Corn is cultivated in huge quantities in this district. Poultry and fish feed are made from corn. Thus if industrial development could be undertaken to use locally grown corn for the production of poultry and fish feed it would assist corn cultivation, poultry and fish farming industries as well as spur profits in the manufacturing of feed.

4. Paper industry: Large quantities of bamboo are available in Lalmonirhat district. Bamboo, along with corn stalks and leaves could be used as raw materials for paper manufacturing. The development of bamboo centric handicrafts could also be explored.

5. Tourism: There are several sites of historical interest and natural beauty worth seeing in Lalmonirhat district. If those could be protected, repaired, and developed into tourist spots it could boost tourism in the district. This could be explored through public-private partnership enterprises.

C. Human development potential:

Most unemployed young men and women of Lalmonirhat district are uneducated, poorly educated, or little educated. The established of schools for technical education, vocational and professional training in every upazila could help to uplift youth of the district into employable status in the country or prepare them to work abroad in order to use their human labourpotential and skills most effectively.

Enclaves and the Teen Bigha Corridor at a glance

With the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, the enclaves came to be in India and erstwhile East Pakistan, presently Bangladesh. There are 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in Indian territory – of these 33 enclaves are adjacent to the international border in Lalmonirhat district and 18 enclaves adjacent to the international border in Kurigram district. On the other hand, there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladeshi territory. Of these there are 59 in Lalmonirhat district, 36 in Panchagarh district, 12 in Kurigram, and 4 in Nilphamari. The largest Bangladeshi enclaves, Angarpota-Dahagram, located near the border of Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district, are most well known.

In East Pakistan times a ‘passage door’ arrangement had been established to connect these enclaves with mainland Pakistan. This is known as the Teen Bigha Corridor today. From Pakistan times to the present day, numerous bilateral dialogues have been held at the prime ministerial and senior secretarial levels and agreements signed regarding the transfer of the Teen Bigha Corridor. Since 1985, Angarpota and Dahagram have formed a separate union called Dahagram under Patgram upazila, and it was officially established on 19th August 1989. On 26th June 1992, the Teen Bigha Corridor was leased to Bangladesh for the passage of Bangladeshis for a fixed number of hours during the day. Subsequently, when the demand arose, on 27 th April 2001 it was agreed to keep it open continuously from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm and necessary arrangements were made. Finally, from 6 th September 2011, with the signing of the Hasina-Manmohan agreement in Dhaka, the Teen Bigha Corridor has been kept open 24 hrs for the passage of Bangladeshis.

N.B.: We should be grateful if any error or omission is brought to our notice and suggestion for improvement is communicated to us.

Published byM Habibur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner

Compiled byA.S.M. Kashem, Assistant Commissioner

Edited bySahana Ghosh (SAHANA.GHOSH@YALE.EDU)

Office of the Deputy Commissioner

Railway Station