Shahjadpur Upazila facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shahzadpur শাহজাদপুর
Upazila
Shahjadpur
Shahzadpur Location in Bangladesh
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Rajshahi Division
District	Sirajganj District
Area
• Total	324.47 km2 (125.28 sq mi)
Population  (1991)
• Total	420,452
• Density	1,295.812/km2 (3,356.14/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Shahzadpuri
Time zone	UTC+6 (BST)
Website	Official Website of Shahjadpur: http://shahjadpur.sirajganj.gov.bd/

Shahjadpur (Bengali: শাহজাদপুর) is a special area in Sirajganj District of Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh. It is known as an upazila, which is like a sub-district.

History of Shahzadpur

The mazar (mausoleum) of Makhdum Shah Daulah

Around the year 1250, a Sufi prince named Makhdum Shah Daulah came to this area from Yemen. He settled here with his family and followers. He helped spread the religion of Islam in the region.

At that time, a local Hindu ruler, Vikrama Keshari, was not happy about this. There was a conflict, and the prince was killed. Many of his followers also died. Later, the ruler felt bad and buried them with respect. The area was then named Shahzadpur, meaning "city of the prince," to honor him.

Later, Shahzadpur became part of a larger area called Yusufshahi. During the Mughal period, a local ruler named Raja Ray governed Shahzadpur. He was part of a group of powerful leaders. The Mughals also had their own official, Tuqmaq Khan, in the area. Raja Ray first welcomed Tuqmaq Khan, but then he rebelled against the Mughal government. He was defeated and later joined the Mughals. His son, Raghu Ray, became a Muslim and continued to serve Tuqmaq Khan. A famous Mughal governor, Islam Khan I, even celebrated a big holiday called Eid al-Fitr in Shahzadpur.

In 1845, the British rulers, known as the Company Raj, set up a police station (called a thana) in Shahzadpur. The area was also part of the Pabna Peasant Uprisings from 1873 to 1876, where farmers protested for their rights. Under British rule, a court and a jail were built here. In 1983, Shahzadpur Thana became an upazila (sub-district) as part of a plan to give more power to local areas.

People of Shahzadpur

In 1991, Shahzadpur had a population of 420,452 people. There were 70,998 households, which means 70,998 families lived there. The total area of Shahzadpur is about 324.47 square kilometers.

More than half of the population (52.05%) were males, and 47.95% were females. About 197,052 people were 18 years old or older. The average literacy rate (people who can read and write) in Shahzadpur was 24.8% for people aged 7 and above. This was a bit lower than the national average for Bangladesh, which was 32.4% at that time.

Most people in Shahzadpur are Muslims (85%). Hindus make up 12% of the population, Christians are 2%, and other religions make up 1%.

Places to Visit in Shahzadpur

The Shahzadpur Dargah Mosque

The mazar (mausoleum) of Hazrat Shah Shamsuddin Tabrezi

Shahzadpur is special because of its connection to the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore. He won the Nobel Prize for his writings. Tagore used to live here to manage his father's land. He wrote many poems and stories while staying in Shahzadpur. His old office building, called Kachharibari, is still there. It is similar to another one he used in Kushtia district.

Another interesting place is the Shahzadpur Dargah Mosque, which is a beautiful religious building. You can also find the tomb (mazar) of Hazrat Shah Shamsuddin Tabrezi here.

How Shahzadpur is Governed

Shahjadpur Upazila Parishad

Shahzadpur started as a police station (thana) in 1845. It became an upazila (sub-district) in 1982. Shahzadpur is represented in the national parliament of Bangladesh by a member from the Sirajganj-6 area.

Shahzadpur Upazila has a main town area called Shahzadpur Municipality. This municipality is divided into 9 smaller areas called wards and 31 neighborhoods called mahallas. The whole upazila also has 13 larger areas called union parishads. These union parishads are further divided into 155 mauzas and 291 villages.

The town area of Shahzadpur is about 19.52 square kilometers. It has a population of 65,897 people. The density of people is very high, with about 3,376 people living in each square kilometer. The literacy rate in the town is 34.5%. The town also has a rest house called a dak bungalow.

The local government of Shahzadpur is called the Upazila Parishad. It follows rules from a law passed in 1998. The Upazila Parishad has one Chairman, two Vice Chairmen (one of whom is a woman), and the chairmen from the 13 Union Parishads.

There is also an Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) who helps manage the daily activities. The upazila administration has different departments for things like records, money, and official papers. They offer various services to the people, which are explained in their citizen charter.

Chairmen of Shahzadpur

Education in Shahzadpur

Rabindra University, Bangladesh

Shahzadpur Government College

Rangdhanu Model High School

Universities

Rabindra University, Bangladesh is a public university, meaning it is run by the government. It is the 40th public university in Bangladesh. The university started teaching students in 2017 and is located in Shahzadpur upazila. Its main campus will be built about 7 kilometers west of Shahzadpur town. For now, classes are held in temporary buildings at three colleges in Shahzadpur.

Colleges

Shahzadpur has several colleges, including:

• Shahzadpur Government College
• Shahzadpur Ibrahim Pilot Girls' High School & College
• Shahzadpur Ghorshal Sahitik Barkatullah Degree College
• Shahzadpur Woman Degree College
• Bangabandhu Mohila College

Schools

There are many schools in Shahzadpur for younger students. Some of them are:

• Shahzadpur Govt. Model Pilot High School
• Charangaru Government Primary School
• Muktijoddha Ideal High School Pukurpar
• Kironbala Government Primary School
• Rangdhunu Model High School
• Narina High School
• Sonatani High School
• Dugli High School

Besides these, many schools are run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help educate children in the area.

Famous People from Shahzadpur

Many notable people have come from Shahzadpur, including:

• Makhdum Shah Daulah, a Sufi saint from the 13th century.
• Mohammed Abdul Matin, a former deputy prime minister of Bangladesh.
• Mohammad Najibar Rahman, an author.
• Mazharul Islam, a poet and former head of the University of Rajshahi. He was also the first director general of Bangla Academy.
• Merina Jahan Kabita, a politician.
• Hashibur Rahman Swapon, a politician.
• Arifur Rahman, a political cartoonist.
• Uzzal, a film actor.
• Afiea Nusrat Barsha, a film actress.
• Akhi Khatun, a footballer.

See also

In Spanish: Shahjadpur para niños

• Shahzadpur tehsil
• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh