City Asia
Rajshahi
Rajshahi is a big city in Bangladesh. It is near a giant river!
Rajshahi is a city in western Bangladesh. The encyclopedia Larousse places it on the Ganges and calls it a commercial and farming center, known for wood and silk. Bangladesh's 2022 census counted 553,288 people in the city.
Rajshahi, the main town of a division of Bangladesh on the Ganges (Larousse), had 553,288 inhabitants in its city corporation at the census of 14 June 2022 (City Population, from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics), eighth in the country's list of major cities; it had 294,056 at the 1991 census.
Photo: RockyMasum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover Rajshahi
Rajshahi is a city in Bangladesh, a country in South Asia.
A very big river flows past it.
Rajshahi is a city in the west of Bangladesh. The French encyclopedia Larousse places it on the Ganges and calls it the main town of a division, one of the regions Bangladesh is split into.
Bangladesh's census of 14 June 2022 counted 553,288 people in Rajshahi city. In City Population's list of Bangladesh's major cities, it came eighth.
Larousse ('Rajshahi'): a town of Bangladesh, chef-lieu (main town) of a division, on the Ganges; a commercial and agricultural center; wood; silk. City Population (from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics), 'Rajshahi', status City: 294,056 (census 13 March 1991), 388,811 (22 January 2001), 449,756 (15 March 2011) and 553,288 (14 June 2022); in its 2022 major-cities table Rajshahi is eighth, after Dhaka, Chittagong, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Khulna, Rangpur and Mymensingh. City Population notes that the tabulated census results are not adjusted for undercounting (for 2022 the official correction factor for urban areas is 3.19%).
- Country
- Bangladesh, on the Ganges (Larousse)
- People in the city (census, 14 June 2022)
- 553,288 (Rajshahi city corporation)
- Rank
- eighth in Bangladesh's list of major cities (City Population, 2022 census)
- Role
- the main town of a division (Larousse)
A city of rooftops and palm trees
Look at all the rooftops and palm trees!
The city goes on and on, far into the haze.
Masum-al-Hasan Rocky took this photo of Rajshahi from high above on 24 February 2019. It shows buildings in white, cream, blue, green and orange, with palm trees between them, a long straight street in the middle and the rest of the city fading into haze under a blue sky.
On Wikidata, Rajshahi College, a public college, is about 0.5 kilometers west-southwest of the city's point, and the Varendra Research Museum about 0.8 kilometers west.
Commons: 'Aerial view of rajshahi', own work by Masum-al-Hasan Rocky (author line 'RockyMasum', uploaded by the account ROCKY; CC BY-SA 4.0), taken 24 February 2019 at 17:10; a Commons Valued Image (August 2019); camera point 24.3626° N, 88.6053° E, 0.70 km SE of the city's Wikidata point. The photo shows low and mid-rise buildings in many colors among palm trees, a straight street with poles running away from the camera, and the city stretching to a hazy horizon. A 2019 photo: it shows the city as it was then. Wikidata, from the city point (Q322155): Rajshahi College (Q7286424), a public college, inception 4 January 1873, 0.49 km WSW; Varendra Research Museum (Q7915600), a museum, 0.77 km W.
- In the photo
- Rajshahi from high above, 24 February 2019 (Masum-al-Hasan Rocky)
- Rajshahi College
- a public college, about 0.5 km west-southwest of the city's point; Wikidata dates it to 1873
- Varendra Research Museum
- a museum about 0.8 km west of the city's point (Wikidata)
From a town council to a city
Long ago, Rajshahi got its own town council.
In 2022, the count found more than half a million people!
Banglapedia, Bangladesh's national encyclopedia, says Rajshahi Municipality, a town council, was formed in 1876, became a municipal corporation in 1987 and was turned into a city corporation in 1991.
The censuses show the city growing: 294,056 people in 1991, 388,811 in 2001, 449,756 in 2011 and 553,288 in 2022. That is almost twice as many people in 2022 as in 1991.
Banglapedia ('Rajshahi City Corporation', Tapan Palit): Rajshahi Municipality was formed in 1876, upgraded to a municipal corporation in 1987 and turned into a city corporation in 1991; the city corporation covers 95.56 km² and had 388,811 people at the 2001 census. City Population: 294,056 (1991), 388,811 (2001), 449,756 (2011), 553,288 (2022); 553,288 ÷ 294,056 ≈ 1.88.
- 1876
- Rajshahi Municipality formed (Banglapedia)
- 1991
- turned into a city corporation (Banglapedia)
- 1991 and 2022 censuses
- 294,056 and 553,288 people (City Population)
Rail, river and campus
Trains come to Rajshahi's station.
The city also has a university!
On Wikidata, Rajshahi Railway Station is about 1.3 kilometers northeast of the city's point, and the University of Rajshahi, a public university, about 3.4 kilometers east.
Banglapedia names the Padma as the city's main river, and Larousse places Rajshahi on the Ganges. Banglapedia gives the city corporation an area of 95.56 square kilometers: about the size of a square almost 10 kilometers on each side.
Wikidata from the city point (Q322155): Rajshahi Railway Station (Q25588125) 1.26 km NE; University of Rajshahi (Q3350920), a public university, 3.37 km E. Banglapedia ('Rajshahi City Corporation'): main river, the Padma. Larousse ('Rajshahi'): on the Ganges.
- Railway station
- Rajshahi Railway Station, about 1.3 km northeast of the city's point (Wikidata)
- Main river
- the Padma (Banglapedia)
- University of Rajshahi
- a public university, about 3.4 km east of the city's point (Wikidata)
Hot spring, rainy monsoon
Rajshahi is hottest in April.
June to September bring lots of rain, and July is the wettest month.
The World Meteorological Organization's averages for Rajshahi, for 1971 to 2000, show the hottest days in April, with an average high of 36.3 °C, and the coolest in January, with an average high of 24.5 °C and an average low of 11.0 °C.
About 1,543 millimeters of rain fall in a year. June to September bring 1,149 millimeters of it, about three-quarters, and July is the wettest month at 327 millimeters. From November to February, each month gets less than 20 millimeters.
WMO World Weather Information Service, Rajshahi (Bangladesh Meteorological Department; period 1971-2000 as given in the data; rain days at least 0.1 mm; the WMO point is 2.5 km E of the city point): mean daily maximum 24.5 °C (Jan) to 36.3 °C (Apr); mean daily minimum 11.0 °C (Jan) to 26.0 °C (Jul, Aug). Rainfall 11, 17, 24, 63, 137, 257, 327, 268, 297, 113, 17, 12 mm (Jan-Dec); sum 1,543 mm on 92 rain days; June-September 1,149 mm (74%). Banglapedia ('Climate') gives annual rainfall of about 150 cm in the west-central part of the country, and notes that in some places in Rajshahi and Kushtia districts the summer maximum rises to 40 °C or more.
- April, average daily high and low (WMO, Rajshahi, 1971–2000)
- 36.3 °C and 22.8 °C
- Wettest and driest months (same table)
- July, 327 mm; January, 11 mm
- Rain in a year (twelve months added up)
- about 1,543 mm, on about 92 days
Trade, farms and silk
People in Rajshahi buy and sell many things.
The city is known for silk, a soft, shiny cloth.
Larousse describes Rajshahi as a commercial and agricultural center, a place for trade and for farm goods, and names wood and silk among its products.
Banglapedia gives the city corporation an area of 95.56 square kilometers. The city is also a place of learning: Wikidata lists Rajshahi College, dated to 1873, and the University of Rajshahi.
Larousse: centre commercial et agricole; bois; soie. Banglapedia ('Rajshahi City Corporation'): area 95.56 km², between 24°20' and 24°24' N and 88°32' and 88°40' E; the city corporation is split into four thanas (police districts). Wikidata: Rajshahi College (Q7286424), inception 4 January 1873; University of Rajshahi (Q3350920), a public university.
- Trade and farming
- a commercial and agricultural center (Larousse)
- Products
- wood and silk (Larousse)
- City corporation area
- 95.56 km² (Banglapedia)
Rajshahi on the map
Find Bangladesh on the globe, then look to its west. Rajshahi is there, beside a big river.
Rajshahi lies at about 24.37° north and 88.60° east, in the west of Bangladesh. Larousse places it on the Ganges, and Banglapedia names the Padma as its main river.
On Wikidata, the railway station is about 1.3 kilometers northeast of the city's point, and the University of Rajshahi about 3.4 kilometers east.
Rajshahi lies at about 24.37° N, 88.60° E (Wikidata point of Rajshahi, Q322155; the sheet point is 1.18 km NNE of it). Banglapedia places the city corporation between 24°20' and 24°24' N and 88°32' and 88°40' E. Wikidata from the city point: Rajshahi College 0.49 km WSW; Varendra Research Museum 0.77 km W; Rajshahi Railway Station 1.26 km NE; University of Rajshahi 3.37 km E.
- Latitude
- about 24.37° north
- Longitude
- about 88.60° east
- River
- the Ganges (Larousse); the Padma (Banglapedia)
Amazing facts
-
Rajshahi is known for silk, a soft and shiny cloth!
The encyclopedia Larousse names wood and silk among Rajshahi's products.
Larousse ('Rajshahi'): centre commercial et agricole; bois; soie.
-
In Rajshahi, about three-quarters of the year's rain falls from June to September!
In the WMO averages for 1971 to 2000, June to September bring 1,149 of Rajshahi's 1,543 millimeters of rain a year, about three-quarters.
WMO 1971–2000: June-September 257 + 327 + 268 + 297 = 1,149 mm of 1,543 mm (74%).
-
Rajshahi College dates from 1873!
On Wikidata, Rajshahi College dates from 1873, three years before the town council was formed in 1876 (Banglapedia).
Wikidata: Rajshahi College (Q7286424), inception 4 January 1873; Banglapedia: Rajshahi Municipality formed 1876.
Words to know
- census
- an official count of all the people living in a place
- city corporation
- the local government of a large city in Bangladesh
- division
- one of the large regions Bangladesh is split into
- monsoon
- a season of strong, wet winds that bring heavy rain
- silk
- a soft, shiny cloth made from threads spun by silkworms
- agricultural
- to do with farming
Discovery challenge
-
Rajshahi is in which country?
In which country is the city of Rajshahi?
Rajshahi is the main town of a division of which country (Larousse)?
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Norway
Show the answer
Bangladesh
Bangladesh!
Bangladesh.
Bangladesh.
-
Which shiny cloth is Rajshahi known for?
Which cloth does Larousse name among Rajshahi's products?
Besides wood, which product does Larousse list for Rajshahi?
- Silk
- Wool
- Denim
Show the answer
Silk
Silk!
Silk.
Silk (soie).
-
Which month brings the most rain to Rajshahi?
In the 1971–2000 averages, which is Rajshahi's wettest month?
Which month has the highest mean rainfall in the WMO 1971–2000 normals for Rajshahi?
- July
- January
- April
Show the answer
July
July!
July, with 327 millimeters.
July, 327 mm.
-
Which big river does Larousse say Rajshahi is on?
On which river does the encyclopedia Larousse place Rajshahi?
According to Larousse, Rajshahi lies on which river?
- The Ganges
- The Thames
- The Mississippi
Show the answer
The Ganges
The Ganges!
The Ganges.
The Ganges (le Gange).
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For parents & teachers
What children will learn
- Locate Rajshahi in western Bangladesh, on the Ganges.
- Read census numbers to see how a city grew between 1991 and 2022.
- Read a monsoon climate table with a hot spring and a rainy summer.
- Describe what a commercial and agricultural center does.
Recommended ages: 3 to 17 · About 15 minutes
Talk about it
- Why might a city on a big river become a center for trade and farm goods?
- What would change in your town if three-quarters of the year's rain fell in four months?
- Why do cities set up a town council, and what might it look after?
Try at home or in class
- Rain bars: draw twelve bars for Rajshahi's monthly rain and color the four wettest months, June to September.
- Growth chart: plot Rajshahi's four census counts from 1991 to 2022.
- Silk hunt: find something made of silk or a silk-like cloth at home and compare how it feels with cotton.
Key vocabulary: census, city corporation, division, monsoon, silk, agricultural
Where these facts come from
- Wikidata , Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
- Natural Earth vector data , Natural Earth (NACIS) (Public domain)
- Rajshahi , Larousse encyclopédie
- Bangladesh: Districts and Urban Places , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
- Rajshahi City Corporation , Banglapedia, National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Asiatic Society of Bangladesh)
- Climate , Banglapedia, National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Asiatic Society of Bangladesh)
- Rajshahi: climatological information (1971–2000) , World Meteorological Organization, World Weather Information Service
- Aerial view of rajshahi , Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia Foundation (Per file (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); see each media record)
Checked, not yet human-reviewed. Last updated November 1, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.