Natore

Natore is a district of Rajshahi Division located in northern Bangladesh. It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi, and used to be part of Rajshahi district.

Geography
Most part of Natore district is plain land. Chalan Beel, the largest beel in Bangladesh is in part of Natore district.

Natore District (Rajshahi division) with an area of 1896.05 km², is bounded by Naogaon and Bogra districts on the north, Pabna and Kushtia districts on the south, Pabna and Sirajganj districts on the east, Rajshahi district on the west. Average annual temperature: maximum 37.8°C, minimum 11.2°C; annual rainfall 1862 mm. Rivers: 10 most noted of which are Atrai, Baral, Narod, Nandakunja; Chalan Beel is notable.The road distance from Natore to Dhaka is 220 Kilometres. Lalpur is the lowest Average annual rainfall area of Bangladesh.


Demography & Education
Population: 1521359; male 50.86%, female 49.14%; Muslim 90.47%, Hindu 8.47%, Christian 0.61% and others 0.45%; ethnic national: Santal.

Religious institutions: Mosque 2589, temple 216, church 12.

Literacy Rate: Average literacy 59%; male 65% and female 53%. Educational institutions: government college 5, non-government college 89, government high school 3, non-government high school 241, government primary school 407, non-government primary school 281, madrasa 133, teacher's training college 1, nursing institution 1. Nawab Siraj-Ud Dowla(N.S)Govt. College(1956)is the largest and oldest college of Natore.


Other information

Communication facilities: Roads: pucca 236.04 km, semi pucca 35 km and mud road 1703.85; railways 64 km.
Cultural organisations Club 285, public library 10, cinema hall 18.
Newspapers: Locally published newspapers and periodicals Dainik Uttar Bangabarta, Dainik Uttarpath,Dainik Janadesh weekly Natore Barta.
Traditional transport: Palanquin, horse carriage, bullock cart, buffalo cart. These means of transport are either extinct or nearly extinct.
NGO activities Operationally important NGOs are BRAC, CARE, Grameen bank, ITCL, Thengamara Mahila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) etc.
Health centres- District hospital 1, upazila health complex 5, TB hospital 1, diabetic hospital 1, mission hospital 1, maternity and child care centre 12, family planning centre 27.
Administrative Structure

Upa-Zillas
Natore was the District HQ of Rajshahi since 1769-1825. At the eve of that replacement,Natore was decleared as a Subdivision; thats why Natore is the first Subdivision of Bangladesh. Natore has been established as a district in 1984. At present,It consists of 6 Upa-Zillas : 1. Natore Sadar, 2. Bagatipara, 3. Lalpur, 4. Baraigram, 5. Singra and 6. Gurudaspur
Bagatipara is one of the most important Upa-Zillas of Natore. It is a model thana (Police Station) of Natore.Quadirabad Cantonment of Bangladesh Army(Engineering Core)is situated at Dayarampur of Bagatipara Upazilla.
Natore town
Natore (Town) consists of 9 wards and 33 mahallas. Natore municipality was established in 1869 but it was transformed into Town Committee in 1959; municipality was again established in 1993. The area of the town is 15.05 km². The town has a population of 72615; male 51.57%, female 48.43%; density of population is 4825.Alaipur,kanaikhali,Nichabazar,Lalbazar are the most populated areas of Natore Town.

Economy
Population 1521359. Sectoral share of occupations are Agriculture 41.75%, agricultural labourer 28.84%, wage labourer 3.01%, commerce 10%, service 5.02%, fishing 1.32% and others 10.06%. Economy of Natore is based on agriculture. Land use: Total cultivable land 142880 hectares; fallow land 1772 hectares; single crop 72%, double crop 25% and treble crop land 3%. Cultivable land under irrigation 64%.
Land control: Among the peasants 29% are landless, 37% small, 25% intermediate and 9% rich.
Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is approximately Tk. 6000 per 0.01 hectare.
Main crops Paddy, wheat, sugarcane, betel leaf. Extinct or nearly extinct crops Indigo, Aus and aman paddy. Main fruits Mango, jackfruit, banana, coconut and litchi.
Not too many industries. Manufactories Sugar mill, rice mill, oil mill, flour mill, printing, biscuit factory, ice factory, etc. Cottage industries Potteries, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, mat making, etc.There are two sugar mills in Natore.One is Natore Sugar Mills Limited,Natore Sadar,Natore(1985),Natore Sugar Mills Limited is 2.5 Km away from Natore Town.Another is North Bengal Sugar Mills Limited,Lalpur,Natore(1933),this two sugar mills are the enterprises of the Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corporation(BSFIC).Pran Agro Ltd.,Ekdala,Natore Sadar(2005)is a private food manufacturing plant of Pran-RFL Group.Jamuna Distillery Limited(1995)is another private industry of Jamuna Group,the Distillery produces industrial alcohol ,the Distillery is situated near Natore Sugar Mills Limited. More industries will be set up if gas is supplied through pipeline in Natore.For a long time,the people of Natore are demanding gas supply through pipeline as soon as possible. Hats, bazars and fairs Total number of hats and bazars are 152, fair 13. Tebaria Hat,which is situated 3 km from Natore Town is a traditional hat which sits every sunday,Tebaria is the biggest Hat of Natore.
Exports: Main exports Sugar, paddy and vegetables.