Rajshahi City is a city located in the northwestern part of Bangladesh. It is one of the seven metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. It is the divisional city of the Rajshahi Division. It is located on the northern banks of the river Padma (a major trans-boundary river, known in India as the Gangas River). Several capital cities of ancient Bengal are located near Rajshahi. Its total area is 96.69 km2 (37.33 sq mi) with a population of 853,000 inhabitants.
Rajshahi City is known for its finest quality of silk. The city is also referred to as the Silk City of Bangladesh. Rajshahi is also known as Education city because it’s quite and calms nature. The number of famous education institution also situated in Rajshahi. Rajshahi Collegiate School established in 1828) are the first modern school of Bengal and one of the oldest schools of the Indian Subcontinent. Rajshahi Collage (Established in 1873), one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Bangladesh is situated in Rajshahi. Rajshahi University (Also Known as The University of Rajshahi), the second largest and second oldest public universities in Bangladesh are also situated in the Rajshahi City.
The Rajshahi District was formed in 1772, and Rajshahi City became the main city to the district. The Rajshahi municipality was established in 1876. The Municipality was again turned into Municipal Corporation on 13 August 1987. Rajshahi Municipal Corporation was declared Rajshahi City Corporation in 1991. Besides the City Corporation, a governing body named RajshahiUnnayanKortripokhkho (Rajshahi Development Authority-RDA) is there to plan the development of the city and to coordinate all the development-related work.
The Rajshahi City was a part of the Pundra region of ancient Bengal. The capital of the King Vijay Sen, a famous king of the Sen Dynasty, was situated 9 mile (14 km) to the west of the Rajshahi City. In middle age, the Rajshahi City was known as Rampur Boalia. Rajshahi District still has a sub-district named Boalia. During the British, Raj (the British rule in the Indian subcontinent), it was also known as Beuleah.
Rajshahi suffered great atrocities by the Pakistan army during the liberation war in 1971. The city also witnessed heroic struggles by the Bangladeshi freedom fighters. Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir, who died after a battle near Rajshahi City, was awarded the highest honor (BirShrestho) by the Bangladesh government after the war.
The Rajshahi City has various tourist attractions. Varendra Research Museum, one of the oldest museums in this subcontinent, is situated at the heart of Rajshahi city. Another famous tourist place is Barakuthi. There is a small cemetery with groves situated in Barakuthi, which are dating back to the years of the nineteenth century.
