North Bengal

North Bengal (Bengali: উত্তরবঙ্গ/উত্তর বাংলা) is a term used for the north-western part of Bangladesh and northern part of West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division. Generally, it is the area lying west of Jamuna River and north of Padma River and includes the Barind Tract. The West Bengal part denotes Jalpaiguri Division (Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong) and the Malda division (Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, and Malda) together. The Bihar parts include the Kishanganj district. It also includes parts of Darjeeling Hills. Traditionally, the Ganga River divides Bengal into South Bengal and North Bengal, divided again into Terai and Dooars regions. Jalpesh and jatileswar are some of the most popular sacred places.

Dancing Ganesha sculpture from North Bengal, 11th century CE, Museum of Asian Art, Berlin (Dahlem).

In Bangladesh

Rangpur Division Rajshahi Division

Demographics

Religion in North Bengal (Bangladesh)
Muslim
89.60%
Hindu
9.57%
Others
0.83%

The population of the region is 30,201,873 as per the 2011 census.

In West Bengal (India)

Jalpaiguri division Malda division

Demographics

Religion in North Bengal (West Bengal)
Hindu
65.32%
Muslim
30.39%
Others
4.29%

The population of the region is 17,211,010 as per the 2011 census.

Cities and towns (North Bengal)

Maps of the West Bengal in India and Bangladesh, showing North Bengal in green and the South Bengal in red.

In sport

The North Zone cricket team in Bangladesh is a first-class cricket team that represents northern Bangladesh (Rajshahi and Rangpur) in the Bangladesh Cricket League.

References

  • Sujit Ghosh, Colonial Economy in North Bengal: 1833–1933, Kolkata: Paschimbanga Anchalik Itihas O Loksanskriti Charcha Kendra, 2016, ISBN 978-81-926316-6-0.
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