Natore; a District in Bangladesh

Natore Bangladesh

Natore (Urdu and Punjabi: ناطور) is a district of Rajshahi Division located in northern Bangladesh. It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi, and used to be part of Rajshahi district. 

Origin of Name: 

Once upon a time Cholon Bill was being spread over Natore. At that time one day raja ram jibon was traveling by boat for searching suitable place for his capital. While traveling in Cholon bill by boat, he saw that a frog caught a snake.By seeing this his fellow learned personals told him that it will be his desired place. Then he ordered the boatmen- “NAO THARO”. It means stop the boat. From this word “NAO THARO” this place was named “NATOR”. 

At first Natore was a bill whose name was Chaivhanga. At 1706 Raja Ramjibon Rai established his capital here by filling the bill. Up to 1821 Natore was the central office of Rajshahi district. At 1845 Natore Mahukuma was established. Natore Municipally was established at 1869. Natore became district at 1984. “Indigo resistance” movements were held in this district during 1859 to 1860.

Chalan Beel is located in Natore

Geography: 

Most part of Natore district is plain land. Chalan Beel, the largest beel in Bangladesh is in part of Natore district.

Natore District (Rajshahi division) with an area of 1896.05 km², is bordered by Naogaon and Bogra districts to the north, Pabna and Kushtia districts to the south, Pabna and Sirajganj districts to the east, Rajshahi district to the west. The road distance from Natore to Dhaka is 220 Kilometres. Lalpur is the lowest Average annual rainfall area of Bangladesh. 

Administrative Structure:

Upa-Zillas:

Natore was the District HQ of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. At the eve of that replacement,Natore was decleared as a Subdivision; that's why Natore is the first Subdivision of Bangladesh. Natore was established as a district in 1984.

Bagatipara, Natore

Bagatipara is one of the most important Upa-Zillas of Natore. It is a model thana (Police Station) of Natore. Quadirabad Cantonment of Bangladesh Army (Engineering Core) is situated at Dayarampur of Bagatipara Upazilla. 

Pourasavas: 

There are eight (8) Pourasavas (Municipalities) in Natore. They are: 1.Natore, 2.Singra, 3.Boraigram, 4.Gurudaspur, 5.Bagatipara, 6.Gopalpur (Lalpur Upazilla), 7.Naldanga (Natore Sadar Upazilla, 8.Bonpara (Baraigram Upazilla).

Natore Town: 

The town has a population of 72615; male 51.57%, female 48.43%; density of population is 4825. Alaipur, Kanaikhali, Nichabazar, Lalbazar are the most populated areas of Natore Town. 

Natural Beauties from Natore

Notable Personalities: 

• Maharanee Bhabanee (1715–1802) was an Independent Jamindar of Natore during British India. 
• Jadunath Sarkar (1870–1958) 
• Banalata Sen of Natore (fictional character) 
• Kumar Sharatkumar Roy (1876–1946) 
• Banalata Sen 
• Sarafat-ullah Talukder (1900–1996) 

History: 

Natore was the District Head Quarters of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. Administrative Natore subdivision was established in 1825 under Rajshahi district, on the eve of the shifting of the HQ. 

Beautiful Green  Field in Natore, Bangladesh

During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 a direct battle was fought between the Pakistani army and the rebels on 29 March in which about 40 members of the Pakistani army including Major Aslam and Captain Ishaq were killed. On 5 May 1971 Pakistani Army killed 42 employees of North Bengal Sugar Mills (Lalpur) including the then General Manager of the mill, Lieutenant Anwarul Azim; they were killed near a pond in the mill campus. The pond is now known as "Shaheed Sagar" and there is a memorial beside the pond.  

Economy: 

Population 1521359. Sectoral share of occupations are Agriculture 41.75%, agricultural labourer 28.84%, wage labourer 3.01%, commerce 10%, service 5.02%, fishing 1.32% and others 10.06%. Economy of Natore is based on agriculture. 

Natore Sugar Mill Bangladesh

Not too many industries. There are two sugar mills in Natore. One is Natore Sugar Mills Limited, Natore Sadar, Natore(1985), Natore Sugar Mills Limited is 2.5 km away from Natore Town. Another is North Bengal Sugar Mills Limited, Lalpur, Natore(1933), these two sugar mills are the enterprises of the Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC). Pran Agro Ltd., Ekdala, Natore Sadar(2005)is a private food manufacturing plant of Pran-RFL Group.Jamuna Distillery Limited (1995) is another private industry of Jamuna Group,the Distillery produces industrial alcohol, the Distillery is situated near Natore Sugar Mills Limited. More industries will be set up if gas is supplied through pipeline in Natore.For a long time,the people of Natore are demanding gas supply through pipeline as soon as possible. Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 152, fair 13. Tebaria Hat,which is situated 3 km from Natore Town is a traditional hat which sits every Sunday, Tebaria is the biggest Hat of Natore. 

Main exports are of Sugar, paddy and vegetables.

Kacha Gola of Natore

Natore in Literature: 

Famous romantic poet of Bengal Jivanananda Das has written a poem named Vanalata Sen regarding one "Vanalata Sen from Natore".

Kacha Golla: 

This one kind of sweet. It is famous all over the country for its taste. Kacha Golla is made from milk. You can get it in any sweet shop. But nowadays best quality Kacha Golla is available only at Dwarik Vandar. Which is situated near Joi Kali Bari mondir.Mouchak Mistanna Vandar which is situated at Alaipur of Natore town is another shop which produces good quality Kacha Golla . If you come Natore don't miss to go for that. 

Rajbari of Rani Bhobani in Natore

Places of Interest: 

Tourist attractions in Natore include Rani Bhabanir Rajbari, the palace of Queen Bhabani. Rani Bhabani was a great social worker. She was the pioneer to spread education for the women of Bengal. It is a historical palace, situated in the Bongojol area in the Natore district town. There is a college, a school, and other institutions named after Rani Bhobani. 

Chalan Beel is a large natural wetland. During the monsoon, the area of the Bil increases and touches four upazilas (sub-districts) of the Natore district. The picnic parties come to Cholon Bil every season. They cook, sing, dance, and do everything they wish in their boats. It looks like a sea, especially during the monsoon. 

Dighapatiya Rajbari is the most popular sight with visitors. The kings of Natore lived here. Today, it is called Uttara Gano Bhaban, and is one of the official residences of the president of Bangladesh. It is situated in large grounds, with decorative gates, a large garden, and hundreds of rooms. There is a pond and a sculpture here. It is 5 km from Natore district town.

Natore Rajbari

Other places to visit include: 

• Pagla Raja's Palace (jubo park) 

• Palace of Bagatipara Upazila 

• Modoner Pukur Par 

• Natore Adhunik Stadium 

• Maharaja's Palace 

• Beautiful village of Moshinda 

• Natore Sugar Mills 

• North Bengal Sugar Mills and the "Shaheed Sagar" memorial on the mill campus. 

• Pran-Agro Limited • Chalan Beel