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Natore District () is a district in Rajshahi Division located in northern Bangladesh. It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi and used to be a part of Rajshahi District.
History
Natore followed the same history as that of Rajshahi district. Formerly part of the Pundravardhana region, Natore became part of the various Pundravardhana-based kingdoms, most prominently the Palas. After the Senas succeeded the Palas, Natore became part of their kingdom before Muslim invasions in the 13th century. In the early 15th century, Raja Ganesha, a Hindu nobleman ruling over Bhaturia in the erstwhile Rajshahi district, managed to take over the Bengal Sultanate. His son, Jalauddin Muhammad Shah, converted to Islam and strengthened the sultanate's authority. During the time of the Bengal Sultanate, authority over local rulers varied. As Natore was relatively close to the old Bengal capitals, it fell under Mughal rule quickly in the late 16th century, although the local notables maintained considerable autonomy.
During Mughal rule, the district was split between Sarkars Barbakabad and Bazuha of the Bengal Subah, and much of it was under the control of local notables. The Natore Raj family controlled the region around Natore, and was given more land to the north and south of the Padma by Murshid Quli Khan after two rebellions by previous zamindars failed. During the Maratha raids into Bengal, a Maratha force penetrated to Pakuria near Singra, originally to restore property to the Bhawanipur Shaktipeeth in Bogra, but then to loot the Thakurs of Pakuria. The Pakuria Thakurs offered no resistance but entertained the Maratha general so much he gave them a sword. Administrative Natore subdivision was established in 1825 under Rajshahi district, on the eve of the shifting of the headquarters. This was followed up by the Gopalpur massacre on 5th May 1971, in which the Pakistan Army killed employees of North Bengal Sugar Mills, including its general manager M Anwarul Azim, who was identified as an accomplice of the Mukti Bahini.
Geography
Most parts of the district are plain land. The northern part of the district (parts of Singra Upazila) is part of the Barind Tract, an area of red clay that is relatively elevated from the rest of the district. A small part of the district adjoining the Padma River consists of very recent alluvial deposits. The most part of the district is a low-lying, swampy area consisting of many beels and small streams. Chalan Beel, the largest beel in Bangladesh, covers part of the eastern part of this district.