Sirajganj District () is a district in the North Bengal region of Bangladesh, located in the Rajshahi Division. It is an economically important district of Bangladesh. Sirajganj district is the 25th largest district by area and 9th largest district by population in Bangladesh. It is known as the gateway to North Bengal.
Its administrative headquarter is Sirajganj. It is famous for its hand-loom cottage industries. In 1885, Sirajganj emerged as a thana. Formally under Mymensingh District in Dacca Division, it was transferred to Pabna District on 15 February 1866. It was upgraded to become a subdivision of Pabna in 1885. In 1984, it was upgraded to a district.
History
In 1762, a severe earthquake changed the flow of the Jamuna river and created a new river named Baral. On the west bank of this Baral river, new land emerged and most of the land of surrounding it belonged to Zamindar Siraj Ali Chowdhury. So, after his name gradually this area got its recognition as Sirajganj.
The historic Salanga Movement in 1922 led to 1200 deaths, most notably in a massacre of independence activists on 27 January 1922, referred to as the Salanga massacre in Bengali history and memorialized with "Salanga Day" annually. In 1924, a conference of All India Congress Party there. The convention of Brahmo Samaj in Sirajganj took place in 1928. In 1932, Kazi Nazrul Islam, currently known as the National Poet of Bangladesh visited Sirajganj. In 1940, the then Prime Minister of Bengal, A. K. Fazlul Huq laid the foundation stone of Sirajganj Government College. In 1942, a conference of All-India Muslim League there was attended by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Geography
Sirajganj District is the gateway to the North Bengal. It is bordered on the north by Bogra District and Natore District; on the west by Natore District and Pabna District; on the south by Pabna District and Manikganj District; on the east Manikganj District, Tangail District and Jamalpur District.
Sirajganj District of Rajshahi division has an area of about . The main rivers are Jamuna, Baral, Ichamati, Karatoya, Phuljor and Hurasagor. The annual average temperature reaches a maximum of 34.6 °C, and a minimum of 11.9 °C. The annual rainfall is .
Demographics
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Sirajganj District had 842,314 households and a population of 3,357,708, 20.2% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,398 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 69.4%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.
Religion
Muslims make up 95.19% of the population, while Hindus are 4.57% of the population. The Hindu population has remained relatively constant while the Muslim population has constantly increased. The remaining 0.24% people follow other religions, mainly Christianity and Sarnaism.
Language
Most of the people of this district are Bengalis, nearly 99.16%. They speak a local dialect of Bengali called Sirajganji dialect. The remaining 0.84% people are tribals, mainly Oraon and Mahato. The tribal population is 19,772.
Economy
Sirajganj District is economically one of the most important district of Bangladesh. It is known for its unique economic structure. Sirajganj District has its own identity of clothes. Half of entire Bangladesh's weaving industries are in only Sirajganj District. Sirajganj District's great communication system helps to grow the entire North Bengal and Bangladesh's economy. Almost all kinds of crops are cultivated in this district.