Chilmari

About Chilmari

Chilmari (Bengali: চিলমারী) is an upazila of Kurigram District in the Division of Rangpur, Bangladesh.

History

Chilmari was river port during the Pakistani and British Rule. During the war of Independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the Chilmari Riverborne Amphibious Landing Assault was conducted by then BDF Sector 11, Mankarchar Sub-Sector, led by Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan with participation of the 3rd East Bengal Regiment.

=== Etymology ===

The region known as Chilmari Thana came into existence in 1850. There is a vast narrative surrounding the naming of Chilmari, filled with various folklore and legends. Among the many popular stories and beliefs, it is difficult to say with certainty which one is accurate.

According to Folklore 1, several hundred years ago, most of the land in Chilmari was covered with sand. It is said that a significant amount of Chinese grass (Chin) used to be cultivated in this sandy region. As a result, the area was supposedly named Chinmari, where "Mari" means place or land. Over time, this name is believed to have evolved into the present-day Chilmari.

Folklore 2 suggests that once, there was a great disturbance caused by chila (kite) birds in this area. Flocks of kites would invade the paddy and cultivated lands, destroying thousands of acres of crops. Their nuisance was so intense that people could hardly live peacefully in markets and villages. The terror of these birds disrupted public life. These kites used to roam in flocks along the banks of the Brahmaputra River and nested in bamboo groves, mango orchards, or on the branches of banyan trees. It is said that if anyone accidentally killed a kite, a massive number of birds would immediately arrive and attack that person’s home for six or seven days. To resolve this issue, people appealed to the British government, which eventually ordered the extermination of the birds. When this news reached various parts of Kurigram, people took up bows and arrows and followed the armed British soldiers to help the residents of Chilmari get rid of the kite menace. Crowds of people descended upon the fields and marketplaces of Chilmari. When curious onlookers asked where they were going, they would chant in unison: "Cholo Cholo Chilmari" (Let’s go, let’s go to Chilmari). It is believed that the name Chilmari originated from this slogan.

Folklore 3 tells that at one time, a river port was established along the banks of the Brahmaputra River. Large boats and ships would anchor there, unload goods, and reload for journeys to other ports. The British administration established a customs office at the port for tax collection. The customs officer would stamp the goods once the duties were paid. Illiterate locals began referring to the customs office as Sil-Mari (meaning stamp place). Over time, this Sil-Mari is believed to have transformed into Chilmari.

During the early British rule, the East India Company initiated an agricultural industrial revolution in the Baharband Pargana area by cultivating indigo. Some of the indigo factories were located in what was then Raniganj. Indigo products were stamped and stored in warehouses before being shipped overseas. Author Mostafa Tofael Hossain has suggested that the name Chilmari originated from this stamping (sil) process.

Geography

Chilmari is located at 25.5667°N 89.6917°E / 25.5667; 89.6917. It has 30,966 households and total area 224.96 km2. Situated in the northern part of Bangladesh, it is located near the Indo-Bangladesh frontier. Chilmari Upazila is intersected by the mighty Brahmaputra River.

The upazila is bounded by Ulipur Upazila on the north, Char Rajibpur Upazila and Sundarganj Upazila of Gaibandha District on the south, Raomari Upazila and Char Rajibpur Upazila on the east, Sundarganj and Ulipur upazilas on the west.

Demographics

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, Chilmari Upazila had 34,576 households and a population of 131,715. 9.79% of the po

Source: Wikipedia →