Uttar Dinajpur (also rendered North Dinajpur) is a district in the northern part of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district lies in the narrow corridor of North Bengal and shares an international border with Bangladesh to the east. Its administrative headquarters is at Raiganj.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| Division | Malda division |
| Headquarters | Raiganj |
| Type | District |
| Formed | 1 April 1992 (bifurcation of West Dinajpur) |
The district was created on 1 April 1992 when the erstwhile West Dinajpur district was bifurcated into two new districts, Uttar Dinajpur (North Dinajpur) and Dakshin Dinajpur (South Dinajpur). The historical Dinajpur region itself was divided at the time of the Partition of Bengal in 1947, with the larger eastern portion becoming part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Uttar Dinajpur is bounded by Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to the north, the Indian state of Bihar to the west, Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur districts to the south, and Bangladesh to the east. The terrain is largely an alluvial plain drained by rivers including the Mahananda, Nagar, Kulik and Tangon, all part of the Ganga–Brahmaputra basin. The Kulik river, which flows past Raiganj, is associated with the Kulik Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Asia by population of migratory birds.
The district falls under the Jalpaiguri division for some administrative purposes and forms part of the Malda police range and judicial structures relevant to North Bengal. It is divided into two subdivisions:
Major urban centres include Raiganj, Islampur, Kaliaganj and Dalkhola.
The economy of Uttar Dinajpur is predominantly agricultural. Paddy, jute, wheat, mustard and sugarcane are among the principal crops, and the district is also known for the cultivation of pineapples in its northern blocks bordering the Terai. Trade through small towns along National Highway 27 (the Siliguri–Dalkhola–Raiganj corridor) plays an important role, as the district lies on the strategic land link between the Indian mainland and the North Eastern states known as the Siliguri Corridor.
The district has a diverse population including Bengali Hindus, Bengali Muslims, and significant communities of Rajbanshi, Surjapuri-speaking Muslims, Santals, Oraons and other Adivasi groups. Bengali is the principal language, with Surjapuri, Hindi, Urdu and Santali also spoken in various parts of the district.
Uttar Dinajpur is served by National Highway 27 (part of the East–West Corridor) and National Highway 12, linking it to Siliguri, Malda and Kolkata. The district lies on the Barharwa–Azimganj–Katihar railway route of the Eastern Railway / Northeast Frontier Railway, with important stations at Raiganj, Kaliaganj, Aluabari Road, Dalkhola and Barsoi (the latter just outside the district in Bihar).