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Kushtia

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Kushtia is a significant city in Bangladesh. It serves as the headquarters for the Kushtia District. Many people call it the "cultural capital" of the country. This title reflects its importance to art and tradition. The city sits on the banks of the Gorai River.

Gorai River besid Kushtia
Gorai River besid Kushtia

It is located west of the capital, Dhaka. It also sits north of Khulna and southeast of Rajshahi. The city is a vital part of the national economy. This is because it hosts many medium and heavy industries.

The geography of the area is defined by its rivers. The Gorai River flows to the north of the city. The Kaliganga River lies to the east. The Gorai is a distributary of the Padma River. The Kaliganga is actually a branch of the Gorai.

Kushtia (N704)
Kushtia (N704)

To help people move between areas, the Haripur Bridge was built. This road bridge connects Thanapara to Haripur. It was constructed between 2013 and 2017. In 1949, workers excavated the Gorai Canal. This helped reduce waterlogging in agricultural lands. Later, the Chourhas Canal was excavated during 1954 and 1955.

Transport in Kushtia involves roads, buses, and trains. The city is connected by two national highways. These are the N704 and the N713 bypass road. The N713 was built between 2016 and 2018. There are also three regional highways serving the area. For bus travel, the Chourhas Bus Terminal was built in 1991.

কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped)
কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped)

Trains are also very important to the region. The first railway station in Bangladesh was Jagati station. It opened on November 15, 1862. This was a 53.11 km broad-gauge line from Kolkata. Later, the line was extended to Goalundo Ghat in 1871.

The history of Kushtia shows how it grew over time. In 1864, the Kushtia Union Committee was formed. This group managed 10 different villages. The town grew within the mouzas of Mojompur and Bahadurkhali. The Kushtia Municipality was established in 1869. The arrival of the railway in 1871 helped industries emerge. Notable examples include the Mohini Mill. Renwick Jajneswar & Co Limited is another important company. Historians debate the origin of the name Kushtia. Some say it comes from "Koshta," a local word for jute. Others suggest it comes from the Persian word "Kushtah."

Kushtia is a major center for commerce and industry. The Big Bazar is the main commercial hub. It developed on the Gorai River at the end of NS Road. This market features many old buildings. The famous Rajar hat is on the southern side.

কুষ্টিয়া মেডিকেল কলেজের প্রধান ফটক
কুষ্টিয়া মেডিকেল কলেজের প্রধান ফটক

Industry also supports the national food supply. For example, Khajanagar is a very important area. In 2019, Khajanagar produced 30 percent of the rice needed in Bangladesh. This makes the local economy very significant for the whole nation.

Education is a major part of life in the city. Many schools were founded during British rule. Kushtia High School opened in 1861. Kushtia College was established in 1947. It later became Kushtia Government College in 1965. There are also several colleges affiliated with the National University.

কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped)
কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped)

Medical training is also available here. The Kushtia Medical College began activities in 2011. It was officially inaugurated in 2023. These institutions help provide skills to the local population.

Demographics show that Kushtia is a growing urban center. According to the 2022 census, the population is 221,806. This is spread across 58,214 households. The city has a high literacy rate of 84.04 percent. This is much higher than the national average of 51.8 percent. The male literacy rate is 86.37 percent. The female literacy rate is 81.67 percent. These numbers show a highly educated community. The city remains a key cultural and economic pillar for Bangladesh.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped).jpg
কুষ্টিয়া সরকারি কলেজ, মে ২০২৪ (cropped).jpg
File:Gorai River besid Kushtia.jpg
Gorai River besid Kushtia.jpg
File:Kushtia (N704).jpg
Kushtia (N704).jpg
File:কুষ্টিয়া মেডিকেল কলেজের প্রধান ফটক.jpg
কুষ্টিয়া মেডিকেল কলেজের প্রধান ফটক.jpg
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