A Brief History of Lalmonirhat District
Lalmonirhat is a district, situated at the north side boarder of Bangladesh. It has emerged as a Zila on the first February in 1984 altogether with the institutions of five Upazilas, two Municipalities, 42 unions and 402 Villages. This Zila is surrounded by Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri Zila of West Bengal in north, Rangpur Zila in south, Kurigram in east and Nilfamari and some parts of Rangpur district are in the west of it. Its Land is constituted with the combination of silt and sandy mud flown from the river of Tista, Dharla, Saniajan, Ratnai, Sharnamati, Shati Tista and Morashati etc. Despite its ancient plain land new plain land constituted with slit, there is a huge bulk of sandy plain land existing in this district, along the existing of stones of huge quantities have been recently discovered in Patgram of this district. However, Lalmonirhat is comparatively an undeveloped district among the northern districts of Bangladesh in terms of socio-economic and other variables. Though 22 years have been eloped since the inception of this district, no remarkable infrastructures relating to industrialization have been done here. As a result, people still heavily remain dependent on agriculture as like past. Besides, people in this district experience inundation almost every year that causes from flowing rivers; which helps put impediments massively against the rising of its economy. However, its adjacent areas of West Bengal in India has started tea cultivation with great magnitudes, gives us such impressions that tea plantation is not impossible here. As this Zila produces huge quantity of bamboos, bamboo based industries such as paper/pulp can be founded; as well as industries like sand and stone as these materials in the finest quantity are available here.
The reason behind naming this district, Lalmonirhat
At the end of 19th century the workers of the Bengal Duras Railway (BDR) while digging the mud for the installation of railline, found a red color stone and since then, the place was recognized as Lalmoni. Whereas some legendry opinions that the railway which acquire the land owned by an lady named Lalmoni for which people kept the place after her name as the recognition of her contribution of land for the railline. Others are of the opinion that in 1783 a woman named Lalmoni along with peasant leader, Nuruldin fought against the English soldiers and land lords for the cause to establish the interest of general peasants and laid down her life against the atrocity of the rulers. The place was named as the Lalmoni as the sign of respect. The word “hat” became adhered to her name in the course of time.
Administrative history of Lalmonirhat District
It is indeed, difficult to discuss about the chronological administrative history of Lalmonirhat district. Because the land constituting this district once were under the supremacy and under the command of numerous kings, and rulers in the scattered state. It can be learned from the historical perspectives that once the gigantic Kamrup kingdom had its existence on the east side of the river Korotoa. Most of the areas of present Lalmonirhat were under Ratnagit of Kamrup Kingdom. It is anticipated that this land, up to 300 BC, was ruled by the dynasty of Bhagadutta and his family of Kamrup state. After a period of fighting and counter fighting, Push Barna and his successors and then the kings of Shalshomva regained over the land from 4th to middle of the 6th and 7th - tenth centuries respectively. The Paul dynasty in Kamrup regained over the land presumably from tenth to the end of the twelve centuries, Then Sen rulers, it is thought, captured the kingdom and ruled until the time the Muslim rulers coming from oversees invaded this Kingdom. It is well to put the note here that though the land was bowed to the grips of Muslim ruler, they couldn’t yield and exercise their supremacy at the very beginning. As the independent Sultani regime (1338-1538) established and sustained the power until Moghal dynasty recaptured it, the Muslim rulers since then started to see their roots deeply grounded in this part of Indian subcontinent by gradually of their kingdom. During the initial stage of Moghal regime, most areas of Lalmonirhat and its adjacent areas lay under kingdom of Cooch Behar, and the submission of the land lords of this regime to the Moghal by the latter’s dominance were earned through wars, sees fires and compromises, the Moghal finally established their strong hold in this region in 1687 afterwards. In fact, Moghal governances were administered in this region through the collection of the taxes by the local land lords. After 1765 overthrowing the Bangali Nawab this land started to be ruled by the tax collectors of East India Company, Lalmonirhat was under the authority of Ghoraghat in 1793, there had been 22 thana in then greater Rangpur district. Among them, the name of Forunbari (handed over to Kaligonj in 1872 AD.) and Barabari (handed over to Kulaghat in 1870 AD.) of Lalmonirhat were found as thana today. It is mentionable that the existing Patgram thana was once belonged to Jalpaiguri district of India. After the partition of Pak-India, Lalmonirhat as a thana was given to Rangpur district. In 1980, it was declared a Mohkuma/or a sub-division with 5 thanas. And on the first February in 1984 it was born as a zilla which has, in course of time, occupied a position in northern side of Bangladesh as a unique and distinguished Zilla through events and achievements.
Some worthy achievements
Among the achievements, the mass literature campaign program in this district has drawn the best appreciation, becoming this Zilla free from mass illiterate, being number the first Zilla in Bangladesh and proudly has been recognized as a model district to all as a illiterate free district. As well it has set an example in its country being a less trouble and offence free district.
It is an advanced district in the field of health and environment. Patgram upazila of this district has achieved 100% sanitation which is an ideal example in this regard; all upazila after being encouraged has already started such activities to bring this dream into reality.
