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Culture of the District

 

It is beyond any doubt that Rajbari was named after a king. But there is no definite historical information about when and which king Rajbari was named after. From the information contained in the book about railway travel named East Bengal Railway published by L.N.Mishra in 1935 on page 109, we came to know that Nabab Shayesta khan came to Dhaka after being appointed its Subadar in 1666. He sent Sangram Shah as chief of Nawara to subdue portugeese pirates of that time in this area. He lived in Banibaha permanently and built a fort in a place named Lalgola. This is Lalgola fort which is known as Lalgola village now, several kilometers north to Rajbari. Sangram Shah and his family later came to be known as Nawara Chowdhry of  Banibaha. L.N.Mishra mentioned in his book that, the monarch and chief controlling officer of Sangram Shah used to write present Rajbari are in black and white. On the last page of that book Rajbari was mentioned as a railway station (oral tradition, as it goes). Mentionable here that Rajbari station was built in 1890 Historian Anandanath Roy wrote in his book “Faridpur lithas” that the Nawara Chowdhrys came from pachthupi 300 years ago and started to live there. Banibaha was crowded place that time. Banibaha consisted of Bidaybagish para, Acharya para, Vattacharya para, Shenhati para, Basu para, Bene para, Nune para. The places of Nawara Chowdhrys were known as Rajbari to the nationalists.

Some favor that Rajbari was named after Raja Surjokumar. Pravuram, the grandfather of  Raja Surjokumar  absconded to lokkhikol having been fallen into disfavor for some reasons by English while he was serving Nabab Siraj-Ud-Doula. Later his son Digendra Prasad established his Estate in this area. His son Surjokumar was attributed the title of Raja in 1885 for his work for public welfare. Rajbari Rail Station was named in1890. It was known from various sources that the landlords of Banibaha remonstrated when the Rajbari Rail Station was about to be named after Raja Surjokumar. It is to be noted that landlords of Banibaha were the owner of the land of Rajbari Rail Station. The name of that remained as Rajbari Station due to the strong protest of the Banibaha landlords. From these analysis it is perceived that the name Rajbari had existed from many years back. Local Nawara chiefs, landlords and influential persons were attributed “Raja”. But the Place of Raja Surjokumar and his ancestors was well known as Rajbari among the people. That is how today’s Rajbari came to be known.

Background of the district administration

The present Rajbari district was included in different districts at different times. In 1765, after the British gained power in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the north-west Faridpur (part of present Rajbari district) region was included in the Rajshahi Estate. There is Snanmanch, Dolmanch in Belgachi under present Rajbari district as the symbol of manor of Natore.

Later it was once part of Jashore district. Rajbari was included in Faridpur district in the time of formation in 1811. In addition, the Present upazilas of Rajbari district were included to different districts in the past. Pangsha Thana was once part of Pabna district. In 1859, Pangsha and Baliakandi were brought under newly formed Kumarkhali subdivision. After the formation of goalanda subdivision in 1871, Pangsha and Rajbari were associated with this new subdivision and the subdivision head office was established in Rajbari.

In 1807, the head quarter of Dhaka Jalalpur was sifted to Faridpur and the Pangsha police station was included in faridpur. In 1850 when the district of Faridpur was formed by the collapse of Dhaka Jalalpur during Lord Dalhousie, Goalonda then went under Faridpur. Then Pangsha and Balikandi were under Pabna District.

In 1983, when the government transformed each Thana into a standard upgraded police station, after the administrative decentralization, Rajbari was declared a upgradable police station. Since 18th July 1983, the government issued the ordinance to convert all the upgraded Thana to the Upazila, resulting in the Rajbari Upazila. Finally, on 1 March 1984, all subdivisions were declared as district. Then it was transformed into Rajbari district.

The Battle of Kamarkhali

India recognized Bangladesh on 6th December. At this time, Jessore, Maheshpur, Jhenaidah fell. All the Pak soldiers of Jashore cantonment and the southern region crossed the Gorai river and came towards the Faridpur passing through the bushes beside the road. A large portion of the army was preparing for war in Kamarkhali. It is to be noted that the freedom fighters and Indian soldiers took part in this fight against the Pakistanis. During that time there was a freedom fighter camp in the region, Baliakandi Dholajani. Being armed with heavy weapons, they were preparing for the war. The freedom fighters were also ready for this war. The Indian bombers bombed at Kamarkhali Ghat to help the freedom fighters. Kamarkhali war lasted to 4/5 days.