Patgram Upazila

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Patgram | native_name = পাটগ্রাম | settlement_type = Upazila | image_skyline = Tin Bigha Corridor (তিনবিঘা করিডর) 13.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = Tin Bigha Corridor | image_map = Patgram in Rangpur division (Bangladesh).svg | coordinates = {{coord|26|21|N|89|01|E|type:adm3rd|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Bangladesh}} | subdivision_type1 = Division | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_type3 =  | subdivision_name1 = Rangpur | subdivision_name2 = Lalmonirhat | subdivision_name3 = | leader_title = Upazila Chairman | leader_name = | leader_title1 = MP (Lalmonirhat-1) | leader_name1 = | area_total_km2 = 246.85 | area_metro_km2 = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | population_total = 262576 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2022">{{Cite book |url=https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/2024-01-31-15-51-b53c55dd692233ae401ba013060b9cbb.pdf |title=National Report |date=November 2023 |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |isbn=978-9844752016 |series=Population and Housing Census 2022 |volume=1 |location=Dhaka |pages=403}}</ref> | population_density_km2 = auto | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 5540<ref name="postalcode">{{Cite web |url=https://bdpost.portal.gov.bd/site/page/8aba9cff-d9ee-42eb-a4e0-09e6f676b0a6 |title=Bangladesh Postal Code |date=21 October 2024 |publisher=Bangladesh Postal Department under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh |location=Dhaka}}</ref> | website = {{URL|patgram.lalmonirhat.gov.bd}} | footnotes = | timezone = BST | utc_offset = +6 }} thumb|Patgram Upazila mauza geocode map

'''Patgram''' ({{langx|bn|পাটগ্রাম}}) is an upazila of Lalmonirhat District in Rangpur Division, far northern Bangladesh. It had 27 enclaves, most notably Dahagram–Angarpota which is connected to the Bangladeshi mainland through the Tin Bigha Corridor.<ref name=Banglapedia>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Benu Begum Bijli|article=Patgram Upazila}}</ref>

==History== In the late 17th century, Raja Mahendra Narayan (1682–1693) of Koch Bihar despatched an army led by Yajna Narayan and aided by the Bhutanese to subdue Mughal influence in the region. A battle occurred between the two forces in Patgram in which Narayan was defeated. In 1711, Mughal Bengal reconquered the areas of Patgram, Boda and Purbabhag from Koch rule. Under the command of Raja Rup Narayan (1693–1714), the Koches launched an attack on the Mughal ''faujdar'' of Rangpur. Although they suffered a defeat once again, Patgram, Boda and Purbabhag were retained by the Koches for a short period before being leased to the Mughals.<ref>{{cite book|page=315|title=A History of Mughal North-east Frontier Policy: Being a Study of the Political Relation of the Mughal Empire with Koch Bihar, Kamrup and Assam|year=1994|author=Bhattacharya, Sudhindra Nath|publisher=M/s. R.N. Bhattacharya}}</ref> Montgomery Martin recorded that Patgram was first established by the Mughal general Muajamkhan or Muazzam Khan as a fort on both side of the Dharla river to protect the region from Bhutanese raids.<ref>{{cite book|last=Martin|first=Montgomery|title=The History, Antiquities, Topography, and Statistics of Eastern India|volume=3|publisher=W. H. Allen & Co.|location=London|year=1838|page=477|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.173302/page/n477/mode/2up}}</ref>

A ''thana'' (police outpost headquarters) was established by the British East India Company in Patgram in 1801. The Jalpaiguri district was formed on 1 January 1869 and included the Chakla of Patgram. During the Partition of Bengal, Mirza Ghulam Hafiz advocated strongly for the inclusion of Patgram, Debiganj, Tetulia and Panchagarh to the Dominion of Pakistan. In accordance with the Radcliffe Line, Patgram was subsequently transferred from Jalpaiguri to the Lalmonirhat ''mahakuma'' of Rangpur district, East Bengal.<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Hossain, Abu Muhammad Delwar|article=Hafiz, Mirza Golam}}</ref>

thumb|Panbari BGB check post, Patgram.|left

During Operation Searchlight, Bengali wing companies of the East Pakistan Rifles were posted at Patgram.<ref name="Qureshi, Maj p38">Qureshi, Maj. Gen. Hakeem A, The 1971 Indo Pak War, p. 38</ref><ref name=":7">Major Nasir Uddin, Judhay Judjay Shadhinota, p. 119</ref> Throughout the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Patgram was a liberated area throughout the war and did not suffer any tragedies. Patgram was initially divided between junior commissioned officers of the East Pakistan Rifles and later taken hold by Captain Matiur Rahman. It came under Sector No. 6 led by Khademul Bashar and the Burimari area of Patgram served as the sector headquarters. Due to its peaceful environment, interim president Syed Nazrul Islam and prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad visited Patgram numerous times. Ahmad organised a public meeting in Patgram which was presided by Abid Ali and attended by the likes of Anwarul Islam Nazu.<ref name=pot>{{cite web|url=https://patgram.lalmonirhat.gov.bd/bn/site/page/I5vf-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF|website=Bangladesh National Portal|language=bn|script-title=bn:পাটগ্রাম উপজেলার পটভূমি}}</ref>

On 18 March 1984, Patgram thana was upgraded to an upazila (sub-district) as part of the President of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad's decentralisation programme.<ref name=Banglapedia/>

==Geography== thumb|The village of Angorpota in Dahagram, Patgram Patgram is located at {{coord|26|21|N|89|01|E|}}. It has 47,893 households and total area 246.85 km<sup>2</sup>.

==Demographics==

{{bar box |title=Religions in Patgram Upazila (2022)<ref name="2022census"/> |titlebar=#Fcd116 |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=left |bars= {{bar percent|Islam|green|95.68}} {{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|4.32}} {{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.00}} }}

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Patgram Upazila had 57,832 households and a population of 262,576. 10.33% of the population were under 5 years of age. Patgram had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 73.45%: 75.55% for males and 71.29% for females, and a sex ratio of 102.52 males for every 100 females. 79,597 (30.31%) lived in urban areas.<ref name="2022census">{{Cite book |url=http://203.112.218.101/storage/files/1/Publications/PHC_2021/Rangpur%20Division/District%20Report%20Lalmonirhat.pdf |title=Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Lalmonirhat |date=June 2024 |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |isbn=978-984-475-253-5 |series= District Series |location=Dhaka |pages=}}</ref>

According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Patgram Upazila had 47,893 households and a population of 218,615. 59,270 (27.11%) were under 10 years of age. Patgram had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 46.12%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 975 females per 1000 males. 29,665 (13.57%) lived in urban areas.<ref name="census2011">{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Lalmonirhat |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCenZilz2011/Zila_Lalmonirhat.pdf |website=bbs.gov.bd |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |access-date=2023-12-27 |archive-date=2022-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929200210/http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCenZilz2011/Zila_Lalmonirhat.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="community">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Community Tables: Lalmonirhat district |url=http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCen2011/Lalmonirhat.pdf |website=bbs.gov.bd |publisher=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |access-date=2023-12-27 |archive-date=2019-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427103331/http://203.112.218.65:8008/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/PopCen2011/Lalmonirhat.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Patgram has a population of 155,913 with males constituting 51.52% of the population, and females 48.48%. This Upazila's eighteen up population is 75,134. Patgram has a literacy rate of 25.2%, against the national average literacy rate of 32.4%.<ref name="census">{{cite web | url = http://www.bangladeshgov.org/mop/ndb/arpc91_v1/tables04.htm | title = Population Census Wing, BBS. | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050327072826/http://www.bangladeshgov.org/mop/ndb/arpc91_v1/tables04.htm | archivedate = 2005-03-27 | accessdate = 2006-11-10}}</ref>

==Administration== thumb|Patgram Municipality Council building Patgram Upazila is divided into Patgram Municipality and eight union parishads: Baura, Burimari, Dahagram, Jagatber, Jongra, Kuchilbari, Patgram, and Sreerampur. The union parishads are subdivided into 45 mauzas and 46 villages.<ref name="district-stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/District%20Statistics/Lalmonirhat.pdf |url-status=dead |title=District Statistics 2011: Lalmonirhat |author= |website=Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113190057/http://www.bbs.gov.bd/WebTestApplication/userfiles/Image/District%20Statistics/Lalmonirhat.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2014 |access-date=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |script-title=bn:পাটগ্রাম উপজেলা |trans-title=Unions |url=http://patgram.lalmonirhat.gov.bd/site/page/d9b18e43-d8d2-492c-b562-b24de6846a50/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%A8%20%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B9 |website=Patgram Upazila |language=bn}}</ref>

Patgram Municipality is subdivided into 9 wards and 23 mahallas.<ref name="census2011"/>

===Chairmen=== {| class="wikitable" |+'''List of chairmen'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patgram.lalmonirhat.gov.bd/bn/site/page/3F7D-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A3|website=Bangladesh National Portal|language=bn|script-title=bn:পূর্বতন পরিষদ চেয়ারম্যানগণ}}</ref> !Name !Term |- |Abdul Hakim Ahmad Rauf |5 June 1985 – 30 May 1990 |- |Shahidullah Pradhan |1 June 1990 – 23 November 1991 |- |Ruhul Amin Babul |15 May 2009 – 23 April 2014 |- |Ruhul Amin Babul |24 April 2014 – 5 August 2024 |- |}

==Facilities and transportation== thumb|The ten-bed Dahagram Hospital Patgram is well connected with capital city Dhaka by road, river and train via the N509, Z5903, Z5904, Burimari–Lalmonirhat–Parbatipur line and the Dharla River. The Tin Bigha Corridor also connects the community with the nearby exclave of Dahagram–Angarpota. Patgram has 352 mosques, most notably the mosques of Dhabalsati and Jamgram. The Patgram NP Senior Madrasa was established in 1962.<ref name=Banglapedia/> Patgram is home to the mazar (mausoleum) of the 20th-century mystic Rasul Pir in Fakirpara.

==Notable people== *Kazi Nuruzzaman (1927–2017), former MP *Abid Ali (1935–2001), politician

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Upazilas of Lalmonirhat District