| Nilphamari | |
| Native Name: | নীলফামারী |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Official Name: | Nilphamari |
| Settlement Type: | District of Bangladesh |
| Image Alt: | 229 |
| Nickname: | Country of NIL (Blue) |
| Map Caption1: | Expandable map of Nilphamari District |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Nilphamari in Bangladesh |
| Coordinates: | 25.95°N 88.95°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Name1: | Rangpur Division |
| Seat: | Nilphamari |
| Seat1 Type: | Largest City |
| Seat1: | Saidpur |
| Established Date: | 1984 |
| Leader Title1: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name1: | Pankoj Ghosh |
| Leader Title2: | District Council Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | Momotajul Islam[1] |
| Leader Title3: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Leader Name3: | Pankoj Ghosh |
| Area Total Km2: | 1580.85 |
| Population Total: | 2092567 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | BST |
| Utc Offset1: | +06:00 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 5300 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2018) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.614[2] · 7th of 21 |
| Headquarter: | Nilphamari |
Nilphamari district (Bengali: নীলফামারী জেলা, Nilphamari Jela also Nilphamari Zila) is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division. It is about 400 kilometers to the northwest of the capital Dhaka. It has an area of . Nilphamari is bounded by Rangpur and Lalmonirhat in east, Rangpur and Dinajpur in south, Dinajpur and Panchagarh in west, Cooch Behar of India in north.[3] The many rivers in Nilphamari district include the Tista, Buritista, Isamoti, Jamuneshwari, Dhum, Kumlai, Charalkata, Sorbomongola, Salki, Chikli, Chara and Deonai. There are four Municipal Corporation in Nilphamari district. Area of these Municipalities are Nilphamari 42.70 SqKm(27.50 SqKm Present, 15.20 SqKm Ongoing), Saidpur-34.42 SqKm, Jaldhaka-28.22 SqKm and Domar-9.421 SqKm. There are 60(sixty) Unions, 370 Moujas and 378 Village in Nilphamari district.[4]
About 200 years ago, the British established farms for cultivating indigo (nil). The soil of this area was very fertile for indigo cultivation. As a result, a lot of and (farm) were built here compared to the other districts. It is widely believed that the term "" was derived from "" by the local farmers. And then the word "Nilphamari" was derived from "Nil khamari".[5]
Nilphamari was previously under the Rajshahi division. The Nilphamari subdivision was established in 1875.[6] It was a subdivision of the Rangpur District. It was turned into a district in 1984. The district consists of 6 upazilas, 4 municipalities, 60 union, 370 and 378 villages.
The historical Tebhaga movement spread over Domar and Dimla of this district in the 1940s. Indigo used to be cultivated extensively in this district. Saidpur is best known for its railway workshop. In 1870, the Assam-Bengal railway set up its largest workshop in Saidpur and many Biharis or Urdu-speakers came to work there. During the British rule the telephone exchange for the whole Assam-Bengal District was also situated in Saidpur, and it was the third-largest city of Bangladesh after Dhaka and Chittagong. Saidpur had the first airport in North Bengal. There was also a cantonment during the British period.[7]
| Upazila (subdistrict) | Area (Km2) | Population | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nilphamari Sadar (Bengali: নীলফামারী সদর) | 373.09 | 435,165 | 219,080 | 216,082 | |
| Saidpur Upazila (Bengali: সৈয়দপুর alt. spelling: Syedpur) | 121.68 | 265,461 | 134,737 | 131,724 | |
| Jaldhaka (Bengali: জলঢাকা) | 303.52 | 341,672 | 171,466 | 169,206 | |
| Kishoreganj (Bengali: কিশোরগঞ্জ) | 204.91 | 261,069 | 130,931 | 130,138 | |
| Domar (Bengali: ডোমার) | 250.86 | 249,429 | 125,338 | 124,091 | |
| Dimla (Bengali: ডিমলা) | 326.80 | 283,438 | 142,412 | 141,026 | |
| Total | 1580.85 | 1,834,231 | 922,964 | 911,267 |
Deputy Commissioner (DC): Pankaj Ghosh (6 December 2022 - Present)[9]
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Nilphamari District had 505,604 households and a population of 2,092,567, 25.3% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 1,353 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 69.1%, compared to the national average of 74.7%.[10]
| 365,355 | 61.07% | 1,538,916 | 83.90% | ||
| 232,443 | 38.85% | 293,385 | 15.99% | ||
| Others | 465 | 0.08% | 1,930 | 0.11% | |
| Total Population | 598,263 | 100% | 1,834,231 | 100% |
Muslims make up 83.90% while Hindus are 15.99% of the population. The local dialect is Rangpuri.
Nilphamari is the main industrial centre of Rangpur Division. Apart from Uttara EPZ, Many Government and private industry situated here. Electricity has reached to almost every households. As of 2021, 100% people of this district get electricity. There are two(Jaldhaka and Saidpur) 132/33 KV Power Grid (National Power Grid-PGCB) Substation situated in Nilphamari. There is also a power plant in Saidpur of Nilphamari supplying 20 MW to National Power Grid-PGCB. Nilphamari Palli Bidyut Samity, a subsidiary of the people of Nilphamari supplies power to rural areas of the district. NESCO, a subsidiary company of BPDB, supplies power in urban areas and Bazars. Nilphamari has an agriculture-based economy. Nilphamari produces rice, wheat, potato, tobacco, and many seasonal crops. The major occupation of the people is farming. Among the working population 45.28% are farmers, 27.81% are farm laborer's, 3.42% are daily workers, 8.65% are businessmen, 6.07% are government and non-government employers, 8.77% have other occupations.[12]
Nilsagar a famous historical dighi (big pond) that stands at Dhobadanga mauza of Gorgram union about 14 km southwest of Nilphamari district headquarters. During the reign of Raja Birat there were many cow farms at Gorgram. Raja Birat dug a large dighi named as Birat Dighi or Birna Dighi or Binna Dighi for the cows. After the independence of Bangladesh, the dighi was renamed as Nilsagar. A Hindu mandir stands on the east bank and an abode of a Muslim darvesh on the west bank of the dighi. The area of the dighi is 21.449 ha and depth ranges from 7m to 12m. The entire dighi is surrounded by brick walls. The main decorated ghat of the dighi was made by Raja Birat. Every year the banks of the dighi are used as a village fair site especially during the occasion of Baruni Snan festival in the full moon of the month of Baisakh. Usually, in the fair the Harikirtan singers play music with many kinds of kirtan songs. Every year many tourists and various kinds of migratory birds come here. It is well known as a recreation zone and a picnic spot.
The literacy rate of Nilphamari is 49.69% according to the 2011 Bangladesh census. There are 940 primary schools, 295 high schools, 95 colleges, 1 medical college, 2 government and 17 non-government technical institutes, 1 Primary Teachers Training Institute, 115 Dakhil Madrasas, 24 Alim Madrasas, 14 Fazil Madrasas and one Kamil Madrasa in Nilphamari.
The noted educational institutions in the district are:
Nilphamari district is connected with Dhaka by Bus, Train and Air. Trains available in Nilphamari are Nilsagar Express & Chilahati Express (Dhaka), Barendro Express & Titumir Express (Rajshahi), Rupsha Express, Simanto Express & Rocket Mail (Khulna). Major Bus services are Greenline, Nabil, Shyamoli, Hanif, SA Travels, and BRTC. There is an Airport at Saidpur near to Syedpur Cantonment Area about 20km from Nilphamari district town. UsBangla, Novoair,AirAstra,Biman Bangladesh Airirlines Respectively Giving Their Services To This Local Airport. Government Has Also Taken Initiatives For Reconstruction Works To Make It An International Airport.[15]