Mithapukur Upazila

Mithapukur is the largest upazila in Rangpur zila in respect of both area and population. It came into existence in 1885 as a thana and was upgraded to upazila in 1983. Nothing is definitely known about the origin of the upazila name. It is said that Mir Jumla II, the Subahdar of Bengal, came there by the order of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in order to invade Koch Bihar.[2] He set up a camp near the current Mithapukur Degree College during the period of his military expedition in Bengal. His forces faced an acute problem of water for which a pond was dug near the camp. The water of the pond was so sweet that Mir Jumla named the place "Mithapukur" (Mitha means Sweet and Pukur means Pond). Some believe that Shah Ismail Ghazi ordered to dig the pond. It is believed that the pond consisted of five separate ponds. But in course of time, they mixed into a single pond.

Mithapukur (then, Mettypukre) in the Dury Wall Map of Bihar and Bengal, India in 1776

The name Mithapukur also appears in the James Rennell's Dury Wall Map of Bihar and Bengal, India (as Mettypukre) and N. Hindostan Map (as Mettypokra) and John Bartholomew's Map of Provinces of the Lower Ganges (as Mitapokhar).

Mithapukur is located at 25.5417°N 89.2833°E / 25.5417; 89.2833. It has total area 515.62 km². Mithapukur possesses a vast fertile land. The Jamuneshwari, Akhira, and Ghaghot are the major river flow through Mithapukur. The river, Akhira has divided Mithapukur landscape into two parts. The western part of Mithapukur is locally known as "Khiyari" (probably derived from the word "khoyeri" meaning reddish brown) due to its reddish-brown soil and the eastern part is known as "Poly" (= sediment) area. The eastern part is the largest. Mithapukur is inside the Varendra area. Many "Shalbon" (a forest whose main tree is the Shala tree) can be found in the western part of the Upazila which are thought to be the parts of a huge Varendra forest. Most of them are now reserved by the government. The Gopalpur Forest is the main landmark of Terrace soil area.

As of the 2011 Bangladesh census,[3] Mithapukur has a population of 5,08,133 where males constitute 2,52,325 and females constitute 2,55,807 of the population with annual population growth rate of 1.21%. The total number of household of Mithapukur is 1,35,073. Mithapukur has an average literacy rate of 46% (7+ years) compared to the national average of 51.8% literate and 2nd highest literacy rate among the upazila Rangpur district followed by Rangpur Sadar.[3]

Mithapukur Upazila has a very diverse population with minority groups including Buddhists, Christians and tribes such as Santhal who have lived in the district from the beginning of settlement in this area.[4]

Unripe mangoes on a mango tree, Harivanga Mango

Agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of Mithapukur. Mithapukur is the largest producer of mangoes, vegetables and potatoes in the district. Mithapukur is the birthplace of the sweet mango Harivanga, famous for its different taste.

Mithapukur Upazila has many historical and attractive places. Begum Rokeya Memorial in Pairaband is the birthplace of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932), an eminent educationist and a pioneer of women's liberation. Mithapukur's most popular tourist attractions are the Mithapukur Pond (excavated during the Mughal period), Benubon Buddhist Vihara-Mithapukur, the Mughal era three domed Mithapukur Mosque, Tanka jami Mosque at Latibpur, and Gopalpur forest and Eco park.[5]

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  Mithapukur Mughal Era Mosque
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  Statue of Begum Rokeya near Begum Rokeya Memorial

Mithapukur Upazila is divided into Badarganj Municipality and 17 union parishads: Balarhat, Balua Masimpur, Barabala, Bara Hazratpur, Bhangni, Chengmari, Durgapur, Emadpur, Gopalpur, Kafrikhal, Khoragachh, Latibpur, Milanpur, Mirzapur, Moyenpur, Pairaband, and Ranipukur. The union parishads are subdivided into 310 mauzas and 315 villages.[6]

Mithapukur is well connected to Dhaka, Rangpur, Bogra by National highway. Mithapukur can be reached by the 304 km long National highway(N5) from Dhaka. The highway also provides a link to the neighbouring divisional town Rangpur by 18 km from Upazila Sadar. Highway buses run from kallanpur, Dhaka to Rangpur and it takes about six to seven hours.

• Rashid Askari, Bengali-English writer, fictionist, columnist, translator, professor of English and the 12th vice-chancellor of Kushtia Islamic University-Bangladesh[7]
• Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, writer, educationist, and social activist, was born in Pairaband in 1880.[8]

• Upazilas of Bangladesh
• Districts of Bangladesh
• Divisions of Bangladesh