| Sirajganj District | |
| Native Name: | সিরাজগঞ্জ জেলা |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Type: | District of Bangladesh |
| Nickname: | The Gateway to North Bengal |
| Map Caption1: | Expandable map of Sirajganj District |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Sirajganj in Bangladesh |
| Coordinates: | 24.33°N 89.62°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Name1: | Rajshahi Division |
| Established Date: | 1984 |
| Seat Type: | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Leader Title: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Dr. Farook Ahmed |
| Area Total Km2: | 2498 |
| Area Note: | Flood plain and Marsh land |
| Elevation M: | 7 |
| Population Total: | 3357708 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Sirajganji, Shirazgonji |
| Timezone1: | BST |
| Utc Offset1: | +06:00 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 6700-6760 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2018) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.606[1] · 10th of 21 |
Sirajganj District (Bengali: সিরাজগঞ্জ জেলা) is a district in the North Bengal region of Bangladesh, located in the Rajshahi Division.[2] It 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.[3] It was upgraded to become a subdivision of Pabna in 1885. In 1984, it was upgraded to a district.
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. Gradually this area got its recognition as Sirajganj after his name.
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.[4] 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.
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 .
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%.[5]
| 816,539 | 79.52% | 2,948,505 | 95.19% | ||
| 204,842 | 19.95% | 147,514 | 4.57% | ||
| Others | 5497 | 0.54% | 1,470 | 0.24% | |
| Total Population | 1,026,878 | 100% | 3,097,489 | 100% |
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.
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.
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.
Sirajganj is home to Sirajganj Economic Zone, the largest private economic zone in Bangladesh as of March 2024 spanning 1,041 acres of land . The government is building a flyover to link the zone with the Dhaka-Bogura Highway. The zone supplies water from Jamuna river after treatment.[7]
As of June 2024, Sirajganj has a growing dairy market worth over BDT 100 core and receiving export orders. There are around 33,000 dairy farms in Sirajganj.[8]
Sirajganj Sub-division was established in 1885 under Pabna district and it was turned into a district in 1984. Of the nine upazilas of the district Ullahpara is the largest and Kamarkhanda is the smallest .Moreover, the district has six municipals, six Parliament seats, 82 unions and 2016 villages.
There are nine (9) Upazilas, namely :
Sirajganj District's transportation system is very good. It has the most important highway and railway of Bangladesh which connects the entire North Bengal and a part of South Bengal with the rest of the country. It is very easy to travel through the district because of its great transport system. It has the 2nd largest bridge Jamuna Bridge and the largest railway bridge of Bangladesh. Sirajganj District is also famous for its River-ports.
Like many other districts in Bangladesh, Sirajganj is also a district with many rivers. The main bridges are Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge over the River Jamuna, Nalka Bridge Over the River Foljodre, Eliot Bridge etc.
There are 3 medical colleges in the district, the public Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, established in 2014, the private North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, established in 2000, and the private Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College & Hospital, established in 2005. They are respectively allowed to admit 65, 85, and 95 students annually.[9]
There are 2 universities in the district, the public Rabindra University, established in 2017 and the private Khwaja Yunus Ali University, established in 2012.
There are 6 government colleges under National University in the district. They are Islamia Government College, Government Akbar Ali College, Sirajganj Government College, Government Kazipur Mansur Ali College, Government Rashidazzoha Womens College, Government Shahjadpur College.[10]
There are 3 government high schools in the district. They are B.L. Government Boys High School, Saleha Ishaque Government Girls High School and Kazipur A.M.U. Government Girls High School.