Ranisankail () is an
upazila
An ''upazila'' ( pronounced: ), formerly called ''thana'', is an administrative division in Bangladesh, functioning as a sub-unit of a district. It can be seen as an analogous to a county or a borough of Western countries. Rural upazilas ...
of
Thakurgaon district
Thakurgaon District () is a district in northwestern Bangladesh. It is part of Rangpur Division and borders India to the west. It was established as a mahakuma in 1860 consisting of 7 thanas named Thakurgaon sadar, Baliadangi, Pirganj, Ranishanka ...
in
Rangpur Division
Rangpur Division (; ;
) is a first-level Divisions of Bangladesh, administrative division of Bangladesh. It covers the northernmost part of the country with a population of about 18 million inhabitants within an area of . Rangpur Division shar ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
.
Geography
Ranisankail is one of the ancient areas of
Bengal
Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...
. It lies in the north-east corner of Bangladesh and has a total area of 287.59 km
2. It lies about 420 km from
Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...
, the capital City of Bangladesh. The main rivers flowing through Ranisankail are the Kulic, Nagar, and Timai rivers. Land use total: cultivable land, 22405.09 hectares; fallow land, 6115.74; single crop, 30%, double crop, 55%; and treble crop 15%; cultivable land under irrigation, 69%.
Ranisankail upazila is bounded by
Baliadangi and
Thakurgaon Sadar upazilas in the north, Thakurgaon Sadar upazila in the east,
Hemtabad CD block in Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India, in the south and
Haripur Upazila in the west.
Demographics
According to the
2011 Census of Bangladesh
In 2011, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics conducted a national census in Bangladesh, which provided a provisional estimate of the total population of the country as 142,319,000. The previous decennial census was the 2001 census. Data were r ...
, Ranisankail Upazila had 51,051 households and a population of 222,284. 54,027 (24.31%) were under 10 years of age. Ranisankail had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 46.58%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 981 females per 1000 males. 17,762 (7.99%) lived in urban areas.
Ethnic population was 2,737 (1.23%), of which
Santal
The Santal (or Santhal) are an Austroasiatic languages, Austroasiatic-speaking Munda peoples, Munda ethnic group of the Indian subcontinent. Santals are the largest tribe in the Jharkhand and West Bengal in terms of population and are also found ...
were 1,241.
According to the
2001 Bangladesh census, the upazila had a population of 196,134, including males 101404, females 94730; Muslim 151890, Hindu 42647, Buddhist 805, Christian 14 and others 778.
As of the
1991 Bangladesh census
In 1991, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, conducted a national census in Bangladesh. They recorded data from all of the districts and upazilas and main cities in Bangladesh including statistical data on population size, households, sex and a ...
, Ranisankail had a population of 156,107 inhabitants. Males constituted 51.67% of the population and females 48.33%. The number of adults was 76,136. Ranisankail had an average literacy rate of 25.7% (7+ years), below the national average of 32.4%.
Ranisankail (Town) consists of five mouzas. The area of the town is 13.94 km
2. The town has a population of 25500; male 52.09%, female 47.91%; population density per km
2 970. Literacy rate among the town people is 42.9%.
Population 156107; male 51.67%, female 48.33%. Muslim 76.23%, Hindu 22.79%, Christian 0.30% and others 0.98%; ethnic nationals: Santal 537 families.
Main occupations Agriculture 53.7%, agricultural laborer 28.52%, wage laborer 2.59%, commerce 6.41%, service 2.41% and others 6.37%.
Economy
Land control - Among the peasants, 3.43% are landless, 14.01% marginal, 12.78% small, 64.59% intermediate and 5.19% rich; cultivable land per head 0.13 hectare.
Places of interest
Ranisankail is not only known for its natural environment, but also for its historical places. They include the Khunia Dighi Memorial, Palace of King Tonko Nath, Ramrai Dighi (a pond covering 50 acres), Nekmord Oras mela (Fair of Nekmardon), Nekamard Shah Nasiruddin Mazar. Nekmarad Hat. Katihar Hat in Razore village (known for Hindu shib mondir, Rash mela, Extinct Maghi Mela), Kulic river, Gorkoi Nath mondir (900 years old), Dharmagar, Banglagar, Shidassory Pond (sida Digi, Bhandagram), Ranisonkail Pilot High School, Ancient Primary School (100 years old) and Rautnagar hat.
Administration
UNO: Md. Rockybul Hassan.
Ranisankail Thana, now an upazila, was formed in 1837.
The upazila is divided into Ranisankail Municipality and eight
union parishads: Bachor, Dharmagarh, Hossaingaon, Kashipur, Lehemba, Nonduar, Nekmarad, and Rator. The union parishads are subdivided into 124 mauzas and 124 villages.
Transport
There are some highway bus services from Dhaka,
Chittagoang, Rajshahi to Ranisankail run by companies such as BRTC, Hanif, Nabil Poribahan, Asad Enterprise, Ahad Enterprise, Islam, Rozina, Shymoli, Rahbar, ALam Enterprise, Taj Poribahan and others. Most of them go from Shamoly, Asadgate, Gabtoli of Dhaka. A bus trip from Dhaka to Ranisankail takes about 9–10 hours. These buses go through Bangabandhu Jamuna bridge by N5 highway road.
Ranisankail to Chittagong takes 15 to 16 hours via Dhaka, Cumilla.
And Rajshahi to Ranisankail takes about 8–9 hours. Some BRTC buses go Rajshahi Via Gobindaganj.
Gallery
Image:Shibdhighi Tematha.JPG, Shibdhighi Three point at Ranisankail
Image:Kulik River.JPG, Kulik River at westside of Ranisankail Upazila
References
{{Authority control
Upazilas of Thakurgaon District