Kurigram at a glance

History of the War of Liberation In 1971, the freedom fighters attacked a military convoy at a place near the Chaumohani Bazar of Ulipur upazila. On 20 May the Pak army brutally killed 30 persons of Chilmari upazila at a place on the bank of the Brahmaputra. On 11 November, 69 members of the allied forceds including Major Ram Singh and 5 freedom fighters were killed in a battle with the Pak army in Bhurungamari upazila of the district. On 13 November the Pak army brutally killed nearly 700 innocent people at Hatia in Ulipur upazila. Besides, an encounter was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on 19 November near the Roiganj bridge of Nageshwari upazila in which three freedom fighters including Lt. Col. Samad were killed. Another battle was held between the freedom fighters and the Pak army on 20 November in Bhurungamari upazila in which more than 100 Pak soldiers were killed and so were a number of freedom fighters including Lt. Abu Saiyed Mohammad Ashfaqus Samad (Bir Uttam). The Pak army killed 62 persons of Nilur Khamar mouza under Santoshpur union of Nageshwari upazila. Besides, they also burned to death 35 persons at a place on the north west side of the Nageshwari Health Complex.

Marks of the War of Liberation Mass grave 11 (Nageshwari, Bhurungamari, Ulipur and Kurigram Sadar upazila); Mass killing site 2 (Bhurungamari and Chilmari upazila); Memorial monument 4; martyr memorial plate (Ghosh Para); victory pillar (turning point near the College).

Literacy rate and educational institutions Average literacy 33.45%; male 39.42%, female 27.55%. Noted educational institutions: Ulipur Maharani Sarnamoye High School and College (1868), Kurigram Government College (1961), Ulipur Government Degree College (1964), Bhurungamari Degree College (1967), Mir Ismail Hossian Degree College (1973), Phulbari Degree College (1973), Raumari Degree College (1979), Chilmari Degree College (1985), Rajibpur Degree College (1987), Kurigram Government High School (1895), Ulipur Government Girls' High School (1909), Durgapur High School (1914), Kurigram River View High School (1915), Naodanga High School (1919), Bhurungamari Pilot High School (1925), Kurigram Girls' High School (1928), Chilmari High School (1933), Pangarani Lakshmipriya High School (1939), Raumari Government Primary School (1898), Payardanga Government Primary School (1907), Nageshwari Alia Madrasa (1960), Kurigram Alia Madrasa (1967).

Main sources of income Agriculture 70.41%, non-agricultural labourer 4.74%, industry 0.51%, commerce 9.45%, transport and communication 2.02%, service 4.98%, construction 0.77%, religious service 0.15%, rent and remittance 0.21% and others 6.76%.

Newspapers and periodicals Daily: Chaoa Paoa, Jago bahe, Kurigram Khabor, Banglar Manush; weekly: Ganakatha, baher desh, Dudhkumar, Ganapran, Gramantar,' Julfikar; fortnightly: Dwip Desh, 'Bartabaha, Utshoo, Ayena; irregular: Uttar Chaiti,' Agradut.

Folk culture The distinctive folk culture of the district include Bhawaiya song, Palli geeti, Murshidi, Marfati, Baul song, marriage song, Chatka song, song of Bhanna Kushan, Goralir Panchali, Jari gan, rhymes, proverbs, folk tale, riddle, etc.

Tourists spots Dharla Bridge (Kurigram), Behular Char (Char Rajibpur), Ramna Ghat (Chilmari), Phulsagar' (Phulbari), Naodanga Zamindar Bari (Phulbari), Bhitarbandh Zamindar Bari (Nageshwari),' Chakir Poshar Beel (Rajarhat), Sindurmati Dighi (Rajarhat). [Md Kamal Hossain]

See also The upazilas under this district.

References Bangladesh Population Census 2001, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics; Cultural survey report of Kurigram District 2007; Cultural survey report of Upazilas of Kurigram District 2007.