Saidpur, Bangladesh
| Saidpur | |
|---|---|
| City | |
  Saidpur Location of Saidpur, Bangladesh | |
| Coordinates: 25°46′41″N 88°53′51″E / 25.77806°N 88.89750°E | |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Division | Rangpur Division |
| District | Nilphamari |
| Upazila | Saidpur |
| Incorporated | 1958 |
| Population | 232,209(16th) |
| Time zone | UTC+06:00 (BST) |
Saidpur (Syedpur) (bn:সৈয়দপুর Saiyadpur) is a city of Nilphamari district in Rangpur Division of Bangladesh. The city becomes a very important communication hub for adjoining major district headquarters. Saidpur Airport is one of the domestic airports in Bangladesh. The Saidpur Railway Workshop, established in 1870, is the largest railway workshop in Bangladesh and was the major railway workshop for Assam-Bengal railway.[1] The city has historically been an Urdu-speaking community with close ties to Bihar, from which many residents originate, particularly the town of Munger. Since Bangladeshi independence, Urdu has declined as the Bihari community either integrated into Bangladeshi society, adopting Bengali, or migrated to India or Pakistan.
History
The city of Saidpur was established around the Saidpur Railway Workshop, established in 1870 by the British Colonial regime. Nothing is definitely known about the origin of the upazila's name. It is learnt that in the long past there came a Sayed family from Koch Bihar of India and settled in this area and started preaching Islam. It is generally believed that the upazila might have derived its name, Saidpur, from the name of that Sayed family. Saidpur became Thana in 1915.
Civil administration
The municipality of Saidpur was incorporated in 1958.The city is divided into 15 wards and 43 mahallas. A municipality mayor is elected every 5 years.
Economy
The city is the commercial hub for the surrounding districts. The biggest railway workshop of Bangladesh is here. The city never sleeps, it is also known as city of night. Business always runs here night and day. The city centre has a number of government and private banks, insurance companies, residential hotels, Chinese and Indian restaurants, fast food, sweet shops, gift shop and many more. It is an important economic zone in Bangladesh. Recently local businessmen have invested in the ready-made garments sector, and they have succeeded in capturing a good market position in India, Nepal, Bhutan. By the help and initiative taken by SME foundation these garments are now exporting there goods in Europe, United States etc. There are some medium and heavy industries growing here, specially agricultural industry, crockery, organic fertilizer, oil from recycled tires, light metal industry, etc. There are also some good markets and shopping malls here. Communication is so good here to run a business.The pottery is also very beautiful and unique. It has captured a good market nationally and internationally. There are 24 private and government banks in Saidpur - most of them have online banking facilities. There are huge number of ATM booths in the city and near it to facilitate online transaction 24/7.
Culture
The city has officers' club and two other clubs and institutes where city's various dramas and musicals take place. There is also a 150(appx.)-year-old cultural club called Silpo Sahitto Shongshod. Every year people celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, Bengali New Year (Pohela Baishakh), English New Year etc. with enthusiasm and festiveness. Night life in this city is very festive; the city markets hardly sleep at night.
Education
The city is famous for its educational institutions. Saidpur Government College, Saidpur High School, Saidpur Government Technical School and College, Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College, Lions school and college, Saidpur, Saidpur Adarsha Girls School and College, Sunflower School and College, Cantonment Board High School, Al-Faruque Academy, International School are the nine renowned schools and colleges in northern Bangladesh. Besides them there are 9 more colleges and more than 50 secondary and primary schools in the city. The city has three colleges which offer various bachelor and honors degree courses under Bangladesh National University. In recent, four or five schools as well as colleges become top on the merit in the Dinajpur Board Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dinajpur.[1] It has one of the major university co-ordinated by Bangladesh Army named Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology (BAUST). It offers major engineering courses in EEE, CSE, ME, IPE and BBA. Source University website www.baust.edu.bd
Transport
The city is well connected to the major cities of the country by railway, bus highways and airways. Saidpur Airport is the only airport in Rangpur Division. The services of Biman Bangladesh, Regent Airways, US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair is available on Saidpur Airport. There are many intercity train services from Saidpur to capital city Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and other divisions every day. The Nilshagor Express enhanced the train transportation. There are more than 650 buses for Saidpur to Dhaka or Chittagong or other big cities. It is a very important commercial city of Bangladesh.[1]
Sports
There are four big sports stadium and play grounds are available to meet the city's sports-loving people. Many divisional and district level cricket, football, festival sports take place during the year.
References
- 1 2 3 Sattar, Abdus (2012). "Saidpur Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
External links
