Rajshahi

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".^[23][24]

Topography

Geographically Rajshahi is situated within Barind Tract, 23 m (75 ft) above sea level, and lies at 24°22′26″N 88°36′04″E. The city is located on the alluvial plains of the Padma River, which runs through the southern side of the city. It is bounded on the east, north, and west by Paba Upazila (a subdivision of a district) of the district.^[25]

Rajshahi District is bounded by Naogaon District to the north, Natore District to the east, and Chapai Nawabganj District and the river Padma & Kushtia District to the south.^[25]

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Rajshahi has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa), with its coldest month being below 18 °C (64 °F). The climate of Rajshahi is generally marked with monsoons, high temperature, considerable humidity and moderate rainfall. The hot season commences early in March and continues till the middle of July. The maximum mean temperature observed is about 32 to 36 °C (90 to 97 °F) during April, May, June, and July and the minimum temperature recorded in January is about 7 to 16 °C (45 to 61 °F). The highest rainfall is observed during the months of monsoon. The annual rainfall in the district is about 1,448 millimetres (57.0 in).^[26]

Although once noted for its air pollution, since 2014 the levels of particulates have been dramatically reduced by various efforts to switch to cleaner fuels and to battery-powered vehicles, to pave earth streets, to encourage walking and bicycle transport, and to plant vegetation.^[10] The levels of PM10 dropped by 67% and PM2.5 which are particularly harmful to human health, dropped from 70 to 37 micrograms per cubic meter between 2014 and 2016.^[10] Lowest recorded temperature in Rajshahi was 3.4 °C on 9 January 2003 and highest recorded temperature was 45.1 °C on 18 May 1972.

Parks and greenery

Shaheed A.H.M Qamaruzzaman Central Park and Zoo is one of the popular public places in Rajshahi city. A wide area with green trees and grass houses different animal species. It is located by the bank of the Padma River. Other parks in the city are Bhubon Mohon Park and Captain Monsur Ali Park. Shahid Zia's children's park is specially designed for children's amusement. The bank of the Padma River along the city is also a destination for recreation. The bank is a planned zone in many parts of the city to accommodate city dwellers for recreation purposes. In 2015, Munsguard Park near the old Dutch Boro Kuthi building and Lalonshah Park near Shahmukhdum Eidgah was built bordering the bank^[30] to provide residents a place to enjoy the views of the Padma river. The points of interest of the city includes: Banks of the Padma River, Varendra Research Museum, Shrine of Shah Makhdum Rupos, Shaheed A.H.M Qamaruzzaman Central Park and Zoo, University of Rajshahi, Boro Kuthi, Shahid Zia Park, and Bangabandhu Novo Theatre.^[31]

Arts and festivals

Rajshahi is also the location of Barendra Museum, which is known for its collection of local sculptures and other artifacts dating from medieval times.^[50]

Pohela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, and Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring of the Bengali month Falgun, in the Bengali calendar, is festively celebrated in the city. There are widespread celebrations of Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, and Muharram;^[51] Hindu festivals of Durga Puja,^[52] the Buddhist festival of Buddha Purnima; and the Christian festival of Christmas across the city.^[53]

Media

There are many Bengali daily newspapers published in the city, including Sonali Sangbad, Uttorbongo Protidin,^[54] Shadhin Janapad,^[55] Sunshine, Dainik Barta, Sonar Desh, Natun Provat, and Amader Rajshahi.^[56] There are also many online news portal such as Uttarkal, Padmatimes24, AjkerRajshahi, rajshahinews24.com, silkcitynews.com, Priyojon TV and others.^{[citation needed]}

State-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar have transmission centers in Rajshahi. The BTV relay station in Rajshahi is headquartered in the Kazihata neighborhood and has been operating since 2001.^[57]

A local FM radio station, Radio Padma, transmits at 99.2 MHz frequency and Radio Foorti transmits at 88.0 MHz.

There are also five press clubs in Rajshahi City. Known as Rajshahi City Press Club, Rajshahi Press Club, Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club, Rajshahi Varendra Press Club, and Rajshahi Padma Press Club.

Sports

There are three 15,000+ capacity stadiums in the city. One is at the center of the city which is normally called the Rajshahi District Stadium, another is inside the Rajshahi University and the last one used for cricket is located at Terokhadia called Shaheed Qamaruzzaman Stadium. This is the home ground of Rajshahi Division cricket team. There is also an international standard tennis complex and a few sports training academies in the city.^[58][59]

Many national-level footballers groomed in the city such as former Bangladesh national team captain Mohammed Mohsin and recent midfielder Manik Hossain Molla. The city is the home of several national-level club teams like Diganta Proshari Sangha^[60] and Sonali Otit Club. There are also a few football training academies including one in Rajshahi's central eidgah (large open ground used on special occasions for Muslim prayers) and in the Zilla stadium.

The city is an important place for cricket in Bangladesh. As a regular supplier of cricketers in the national team, it is also the home of Bangladesh Premier League team Rajshahi Warriors, which won the BPL title once. The city has two cricket academies, Banglatrack and Clemon, to grow and train upcoming cricketers.^[61]

Rajshahi is also known for hockey. Many local hockey practice clubs allow playing at national, inter-university, college, and school levels. There are National Team hockey players from Rajshahi. Late Mintu was one of them and by his name, there is "Mintu Chottor" at Lokkhipur Mor, Rajshahi.

It also has multiple Tennis complexes, which regularly host national and international competitions.^[62]

Achievements

Rajshahi has received the National Environment Award in 2013 and 2021,^[12][63] and the Environment Friendly City of the Year title in 2020.^[11] The city also earned the Prime Minister's National Award for Tree Plantation in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.^[64]

Road

Rajshahi is connected to most other parts of the country via the N6 national highway. There are two intercity bus terminals in the city. It takes about 5 to 6 hours by road to reach the capital city Dhaka. Several bus services, including air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned and sleeper buses, are available to and from Dhaka. Bus services to other major cities and the district's headquarters are also available from Rajshahi.^[65]

Railway

Rajshahi has a central railway station with a total of five platforms. This station is the home of five intercity trains.^[66]

Four inter-city train services are operated by Bangladesh Railway, named Silk City Express, Padma Express and Dhumketu Express, and Bonolota Express between Dhaka and Rajshahi railway station regularly.^[67] There are other inter-city trains operated from Rajshahi to Khulna and other regions of the country. There are also mail/express trains.^[68]

There are two other railway stations in the city, Rajshahi Court and Rajshahi University.

Air

The city is served by Shah Makhdum Airport, named after the Islamic preacher Shah Makhdum Rupos, situated at Nowhata, a commuter town of the city. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair, and US-Bangla Airlines operate domestic flights to and from Dhaka.^[69]

Public transport

Electric auto rickshaws and electric rickshaws are the primary modes of transport within the city and metro area.^[70] Once there were plenty of Tomtoms (horse-driven cart) in the city, which have since faded in use. Some parts of the city are also serviced by CNG auto rickshaws.

Notable educational institutions