Santahar

During the British colonial era, the British East India Company created Santahar as an intermediary stop on their rail line from Kolkata to Siliguri. The town evolved into a transportation hub and an agricultural centre, particularly for rice cultivation.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-17 |title=Haunting images revisit the railways that united Bengal—until India's Partition divided it |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/images-revisit-the-railways-that-united-bengal-before-partition |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=History |language=en}}

The town's location facilitated the efficient movement of goods and personnel, thereby enhancing regional trade and connectivity. Over time, Santahar became integral to the economic and social fabric of northern Bangladesh, supporting agricultural activities and fostering local commerce.{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Agriculture |url=https://moa.gov.bd/}}

Under Pakistan's rule, Santahar was also settled by many Urdu speakers.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-04 |title=Bangladesh: Urdu-Speaking "Biharis" Seek Recognition, Respect and Rights |url=https://www.iri.org/resources/new-bangladesh-report-reveals-priorities-of-the-bihari-minority/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=International Republican Institute |language=en-US}}{{Citation |last=Haider |first=Zaglul |title=Biharis in Bangladesh: Transition from Statelessness to Citizenship |chapter=The Biharis in Bangladesh: Transition from Statelessness to Citizenship |date=2024 |pages=91–143 |editor-last=Haider |editor-first=Zaglul |chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46129-3_3 |access-date=2024-07-17 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer Nature Switzerland |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-46129-3_3 |isbn=978-3-031-46129-3}} There were the usual clashes between the Bengali and Urdu speakers in the town and it is estimated that 20,000 – 50,000 Urdu speakers had lived in Santahar at its peak. Santahar also witnessed the Santahar Massacre, a massacre of non-Bengali speaking residents in the area by Mukti Bahini, during Bangladesh's liberation war.{{Cite web |last=Kamrani |first=Farrukh |date=2017-12-15 |title=Fall of Dhaka: How Mukti Bahini 'cleansed' Santahar town of non-Bengalis |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1585095/mukti-bahini-cleansed-santahar-non-bengalis |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2011-06-16 |title=Controversial book accuses Bengalis of 1971 war crimes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-13417170 |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Following Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Santahar continued to expand its railway infrastructure, adapting to technological advancements and evolving transportation needs. Today, the town remains an important junction on the Bangladesh Railway{{Cite web |title=Santahar Railway Station Map/Atlas BR/Bangladesh Zone - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/station/map/santahar-junction-stu/11023 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=indiarailinfo.com}} network, contributing significantly to the country's transport sector and serving as a key link between major cities and regions, as well as an agricultural centre.

The Dhaka-Santahar Highway provides a vital connection between Santahar and the capital city Dhaka, providing better access for trade and commerce.

The Bogra-Santahar road connects the town to Bogra, a regional centre, as well as other smaller towns and cities.{{Cite web |title=Detailed Clear Large Road Map of Bangladesh - Ezilon Maps |url=https://www.ezilon.com/maps/asia/bangladesh-road-maps.html |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=www.ezilon.com}}

More about the Santahar Junction Railway Station

Many rail services in Bangladesh have a stoppage in Santahar, at the junction station, a vital connection for both freight and passenger rail services. Some passenger services include: the Banglabandha Express, Drujatan Express, and Lalmoni Express. The Mitali Express, which is a co-owned rail service between India Railways and Bangladesh Railway,{{Cite web |last=কন্ট্রিবিউটর |date=2022-03-21 |title=মিতালী এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেন - সময়সূচী, টিকেট ভাড়া ও প্রয়োজনীয় তথ্য |url=https://vromonguide.com/mitali-express-train |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=ভ্রমণ গাইড |language=en-US}} also stops at Santahar, on its way to Siliguri from Dhaka and back.{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh Railway E-ticketing Service |url=https://railapp.railway.gov.bd/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=railapp.railway.gov.bd}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=Santahar Station Train Schedule With Ticket Price 2023 {{!}} Updated |url=https://bd-info.com/santahar-station-train-schedule/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |language=en-US}}

Rickshaws are the main modes of transport within the city. Inter-city bus services also stop at Santahar.{{Cite web |last=Shohoz.com |title=Bus Tickets from Santahar to Dhaka{{!}}Buy Bus Tickets Online |url=https://www.shohoz.com/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Shohoz |language=en}}

• Santahar Stadium{{Cite web |title=Santahar Stadium - Opening Hours, Reviews & Photos [2024] |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/adamdighi-upazila/santahar-stadium-136870234?curr=USD&locale=en-US&_gl=1*1acd04g*_gcl_au*MTg4MjkwMTM2OS4xNzIxNDY0MzQ1 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-US}}
• Farista Park{{Cite web |title=Explore Farista park, Bogra |url=https://www.touristplaces.com.bd/bogra/farista-park/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=www.touristplaces.com.bd |language=en-us}}
• Railway Wahed Box Auditorium{{Cite web |title=Railway Wahed Box Auditorium · RX2Q+F2Q, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Railway+Wahed+Box+Auditorium/@24.8013411,88.9876846,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x39fc647996fe670f:0xed11691b89ef3684!8m2!3d24.801208!4d88.9876083!16s/g/1hc7cyngn?entry=ttu |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Railway Wahed Box Auditorium · RX2Q+F2Q, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |language=en}}
• Palki Community Party Center{{Cite web |title=Palki Community Party Center · RX8F+4PQ, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Palki+Community+Party+Center/@24.8166896,88.9728778,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x39fc637a2feb969b:0xdf6bbb50d456a742!8m2!3d24.815342!4d88.9743571!16s/g/11hbllbv37?entry=ttu |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Palki Community Party Center · RX8F+4PQ, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |language=en}}
• Jora Pukur{{Cite web |title=𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒌𝒖𝒓 · RX4P+VQ6, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/%F0%9D%91%BA%F0%9D%92%89%F0%9D%92%82%F0%9D%92%8F%F0%9D%92%95%F0%9D%92%82%F0%9D%92%89%F0%9D%92%82%F0%9D%92%93+%F0%9D%92%8B%F0%9D%92%90%F0%9D%92%93%F0%9D%92%82+%F0%9D%92%91%F0%9D%92%96%F0%9D%92%8C%F0%9D%92%96%F0%9D%92%93/@24.806233,88.9864584,18.12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x39fc632bdecd0633:0xa38ea3e053326888!8m2!3d24.8071719!4d88.9869012!16s/g/11rmt_xlbr?entry=ttu |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒌𝒖𝒓 · RX4P+VQ6, Santahar Pouroshova, Bangladesh |language=en}}

Bengali is the main language for the people of the town. Many distinctive Bengali dialects and regional languages are also spoken, such as the North Central Dialect, which is spoken throughout Rajshahi{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Kelsey Ray |date=2023-04-08 |title=Exploring the Bengali Dialects: Beyond Diglossia |url=https://linguistmag.com/exploring-the-bengali-dialects-beyond-diglossia/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=The Linguist Magazine |language=en-us}}

• In 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a brand new solar-powered silo in Santahar. The silo has a capacity of 25,000 tons of food grains. The warehouse was constructed by the Department of Food, at a cost of 232 crore in taka and 27.4 million in U.S. dollars.{{Cite web |last=Bss |first=Unb |date=2017-02-27 |title=PM opens first solar-powered silo in Santahar |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/pm-opens-first-solar-powered-silo-santahar-1367773 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}

{{Portal|Bangladesh}}

• List of cities and towns in Bangladesh
• Rajshahi Division
• Adamdighi Upazila
• Bogra

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{{Bangladesh cities}}

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Category:Populated places in Rajshahi Division

Category:Towns in Bangladesh