Ranhat

Ranhat রণহাট গড়ের হাট (পূর্বে)
Village
Land of Ponds
Clockwise from top: Maps of Harian Union, A Sunset in Ranhat Bado Beel, Transportation through Ranhat Bypass, Irritations from Deep Water Pump, Green Paddy Fields and Ranhat Ashraaf-er Mohr'
Nickname(s): Land of Ponds
Ranhat Location of Ranhat in Rajshahi
Coordinates: 24.39°N 88.69°E / 24.39; 88.69
Country	Bangladesh
Division	Rajshahi Division
District	Rajshahi District
Upazila	Paba Upazila
Thana	Motihar
Union	8 No. Harian Union Parishod
Ward No.	01
Established	1953 (Approximately)
Battle of Ranhat	1960
Government
• Type	Union Parishod
• U.P. Member	Nurul Islam
Area
• Total	1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Population
• Total	3,215
• Density	3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi)
• Literacy Rate	43.62%
• Economic Solvency	Fishery and poultry farming
Time zone	BST (UTC+6)
Postal code	6211
Road	N603
Language	Bengali
Religion	Muslim: 97.49% Others: 2.51%
According to the total area of ponds and lakes, Ranhat is one of the largest village in 8 No. Harian Union. Most viewed landscapes are- ✡ Ranhat Bado Beel ✡ Ranhat Bado Dighi ✡ Ranhat Rano Dighi ✡ Ranhat Khulu Beel ✡ Ranhat Padma Beel

Ranhat (Bengali: রণহাট) is a village of 8 No. Harian Union of Paba Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

History

Ranhat was established approximately in 1953 according to the way of traditional and cultural mutuality among the villagers of Ranhat. It is said that Ranhat was first founded as a Bazaar. In 1960, a conflict between two groups was suffused by the reason of fishing. Almost 3 or 4 people had died and many were serious injured. In earlier years, the major changes in Ranhat are the blessings of unity, corresponding services and social development. Before it is named Ranhat, people called "Gorer Haat" since its inception. Before, there was a trade marketing association adjacent to Ranhat Bypass. Now a temporary bamboo ware has settled up there.

The village is included in 8 No. Harian Union Parishod which is now combined with nine wards and 12 mouzas.

Geography

A beautiful sunset in Ranhat

Ranhat is located at 24.3946413°N 88.6853844°E / 24.3946413; 88.6853844. It has a total area of 1 km² (0.39 sq mi) and is situated in the north-east of Rajshahi city and north from Harian Union. Ranhat is divided into eleven territory localities with two main areas which are called Ranhat east and Ranhat west. The major part of Ranhat exists in East side. Two thirds of the population live in east side of Ranhat. Also there exists two localities-one is called Namu Para which is situated in the very west side of Rano Dighi and another is Sheikh Para which is situated by the east side. Padma Beel, Rano Dighi, Bado Dighi, Hamur Dighi etc. are laid in east side. Khulu Beel is the only lake situated in west side. Rajshahi Bypass has overcome Ranhat with one quarter of the total distance. One quarter of the total paving and semi paving roads are outstretched over the boundary. Most of the lands are arable for cultivating paddy, wheats, pulses and other necessary crops during all seasons. There is a fertiliser plant alongside Ranhat.

Demographics

At the 2011 Bangladesh census, Ranhat had a population of 3,216 of which males constituted 48.15% and females 51.85%. 1374 were over the age of 18, and the average literacy rate was 43.62% (7+ years), compared to the national average of 36.32%. Ranhat has recently been developed in educational perspectives. Children go to school in all ages here in Ranhat. Almost every resident in Ranhat are Bengali people, as is the case in most of Bangladesh. People generally speak in Bengali, the national language. Many distinctive Bengali dialects and regional languages are also spoken. English is understood by a few numbers of total population, especially for study purposes. Islam is the major religion, approximately 97.49% people are Muslim, and the rest of them are Hindus and others.

Points of interest

There are small and large sized ponds such as Ranhat Bado Beel, Bado Dighi, Rano Dighi, Khulu Beel, Moji Pukur, Hamur Dighi, Padma Beel and much more small canals.

Ranhat Bado Dighi (also known as Ghoda Dighi)

Ranhat Bado Dighi

Ranhat Bado Dighi (রণহাট বড় দিঘী) is one of the most popular public place in Ranhat. It is located by the left side of Rajshahi Bypass road at N603. The whole area is almost 6.2 acres of land. There is a myth about Bado Dighi that an ancient ruler in Ranhat once propounded a model to dig a pond through a mysterious horse racing. He announced an idea of a horse race as far as the horse would run over the meadow will be appointed to dig from that longitude. Unfortunately the horse had failed to run the overshoot and that running area was dig by a large number of labour. There are four main verges; the broader verges are at the north-south which have a long distance and the narrower verges are at the east-west side. Now the south and north verges of Bado Dighi is disrupting gradually. The fringes of the whole pond are covered with bamboo forest and densest trees. Bado Dighi fills with water almost in all season. To pass the leisure time, most often people gather here. Various kinds of fishes are cultivated to this pond. There are some sitting pillars setting at the south verge of Bado Dighi.

Ranhat Bado Beel

Landscape view of Ranhat Bado Beel

Ranhat Bado Beel is the largest lake in Ranhat. The whole area of Bado Beel enlarges to the border of three villages-Nalkhola, Parila and Mahindra. Two thirds of the total area of Ranhat are distributed in Bado Dighi. Bado Beel covers with so many ponds and cultivated lands. Farmers grow different types of crops in all seasons. In rainy season, Bado Beel brims with water and lots of fishes are caught by the fishermen. There are several water deeps laid to irrigate fields during summer.

Ranhat Rano Dighi

Ranhat Rano Dighi

Rano Dighi is established approximately in 1960 after the battle of Ranhat. Before it, it was a lake included in Bado Beel. Rano Dighi is the entrance of Bado Beel and another attraction for its imposing beauty.

Ranhat Ashraaf-er Mohr

Ranhat Ashraaf-er Mohr, Paba Upazila, Rajshahi.

Ranhat is famous for various ponds in whole Harian Union and Upazila, so their main economic growth depends on their agricultural resources. Ranhat Ashraaf-er Mohr is the only place where all the daily activities happen. Groceries, green stuff, greengrocer, fruiterer, raw materials etc. are the main vaults of economical movement. Most of the villagers are dependent on fishing, agriculture and farming. All daily needing equipments are traded here in Ashraaf-er Mohr. There are quite a few storehouses, tea stalls, dispensaries, farmhouses and etc. Young peoples are self-reliant and self-assured to their symmetry.

Ranhat Padma Beel

Ranhat Padma Beel is the largest lake in Harian Union. Its west side has spread Mollikpur over the main area. All verges of this dry lake are covered with houses and huts. The lake only submerges into water during rainy season but in other seasons, the lake remains dry and fertile. Farmers grow different crops during the summer on Padma Beel.

Ranhat Khulu Beel

Khulu Beel, Ranhat

Another largest lake Khulu Beel is situated at the west side of Ranhat with a 11.2 acres of whole surrounding area. Khulu Beel consists of two parts-one is a lake and another is agricultural land. The lake is suitable for cultivation of fishes. There is a small boat in Khulu Beel to look after the whole area. As a whole, it is very enjoyable to see the sunset by its opposite side. All verges of this lake are covered with green trees and shade of localities. This lake has been using as an additional attraction for tourists.

The agricultural lands situated by the bank of the lake are also known as Khulu Beel. A large number of crops are harvested from this land. There are some alternative systems for irrigation during summer and dry season.

Archaeological ruins

Archaeological remains in Ranhat

There is an archaeological site situated in Ranhat East Side near Padma Beel. A small bricked structure is placed in the entire wall. There is an entrance towards the west side. The height is of 6 feet taller from its top to bottom. Also there is a pond near its back. It is uttered that the dome was once used for a cake baking room in ancient times. Trace of this little bricked archive gives a clear understanding about the age.

Education

Masjid Vittik Shishu O Gano Shikhsha Karyakram

All children in Ranhat have a strong eagerness to go to school although there are no educational institutions in this village. A Madrasa is the only place for learning Arabic. Annual growth of total population is 1.80% and the literacy rate is 43.62% of which males constituted 51.8% and females 48.8%. There is a central mosque situated in Ashraaf-er Mohr and four insignificant mosques scattered around the village. Furthermore, there is a government educational organisation named Masjid Vittik Shishu O Gano Shikhsha Karyakram for pre-primary education and training in Ranhat.

There is a high school named MRK High School at the west end of Ranhat in the collectivism with three villages-Mallikpur, Ranhat and Kukhandi. All the activities, administrations of this school are conducted by three chairpersons of these three villages. Junior school certificate and secondary school certificate are given to each student from this school every year if they pass on respectively JSC and SSC examination. There are 19 academic staffs and almost 1000 students from class VI to class X. There is also a college which is conducted by three villages too. Recently the college has started achieving some responsibilities with necessary education training for both students enrolled or not.

Development

A lot of developing sources such as fishing, poultry farming, agriculture, business, enterprises, labour etc. play an important role for early development in recent years. Peoples' main economic resources depend on agriculture and fisheries. According to the statistics from last couple of years, poultry farming has increased with an aggressive rate in Ranhat. Graph shows statically a very early increasing development in both agriculture and farming sector. Huge amount of profit, less marginal cost and less travail drive people to cultivate poultries thoroughly. Family planning, ecology, mutuality of social activities, proper guidance are the stair of economic development.

Pupil

Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladeshi first-class cricketer was born in Ranhat and has grown up from his childhood in this village. In December 2015, he was named in Bangladesh's squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Shanto made his Twenty20 (T20) debut on 8 November 2016 playing for Comilla Victorians in the 2016–17 Bangladesh Premier League.