The history of Kishoreganj is thousands of years old. According to historians, Krishnadas Pramanik's son Nandakishore, a resident of Batrish, established a Ganj (Market Palace) on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in the sixteenth century. From there gradually 'Kishoreganj' originated over time.
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Pala, Varman and Sen Rulers ruled the region. Following them small independent tribes, Hajong, Garo and dynasties lived here. Although most of Mymensingh was under Feroz Shah's rule in 1491, Kishoreganj remained outside that Muslim rule.
Later, during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, most of the territories were under Mughal rule, but Jangalbari and Egarasindu remained under Koch and Ahom rulers. In 1538, the Ahom ruler of Egarasindu was defeated by the Mughals and in 1580 by Isa Khan, the ruler of Jangalbari.
In 1580, Isa Khan, the chief of the Bar Bhuiyans, defeated Akbar’s general Man Singh at Egarasindu. After the death of Isa Khan, Jangalbari and Egarasindu came under his son Musa Khan’s reign but in 1599 he was defeated by the Mughals. Kishoreganj was also known as ‘Katkhali’ in the late eighteenth century. Kishoreganj was declared a district on 1 February 1984.
In the 16th century, Kishoreganj district of Bangladesh was known as the cultural capital. Carrying a lot of history and tradition in its bosom, the country has kept its backbone straight even on the map of the world. Kishoreganj district, which is lagging behind other districts in terms of state and social development, economic development, tourism, sports, culture and others, has given birth to innumerable children of the country. Among them there are heroic freedom fighters, intellectuals, politicians, painters, vocalists, actors, rhymers, poets, writers, historians, struggling personalities, industrialists, academics and judges.
Among the presidents of Bangladesh so far, three have been from Kishoreganj. Which is rare from all other districts of Bangladesh. The first interim president of independent Bangladesh was Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam. Former President of the country and a prominent politician late Zillur Rahman, the current President of Bangladesh Md. Abdul Hamid both are from Kishorganj.
Masnade Ala Bir Isa Khan, ruler of Bhati kingdom, Chandrabati, a famous medieval female poet, famous filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Ekushey Medal winning journalist Ataus Samad, translator of Shahnama Ekushey Medal winning late poet Monir Uddin Yusuf, historian Dr. Nihar Ranjan Roy, agricultural scientist M Osman Gani, Anand Mohan Bose of Ranglar, prominent politician Ivy Rahman, former Chief Justice Md. Mozammel Hossain, former army chief Mobin Khan, famous heroic freedom fighter Captain Dr Setara Begum, martyr Khairul Jahan Bir Protik, famous painter of Bangladesh FM Abdul Alim Chowdhury, Writer-Painter Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury, Prominent Historian Kedarnath Majumder, Diplomat and Politician Abul Fateh, Prominent Industrialist Zahurul Islam and First Rich Man of Bangladesh, Eminent Bangladeshi Essayist and State Thinker Abul Qasim Fazlul Haque, Bengali Politician and Social Worker Anand Basu, language soldier and freedom fighter organizer Kazi Abdul Bar and many more are from the same districts.
Historical places
The history of Kishoreganj is thousands of years old. There are many ancient monuments in the district. Kishoreganj, rich in heritage, is surrounded by innumerable historical traditions. There are many examples of ancient and modern famous architecture. Kishoreganj district has many antiquities. Aminul Haque Saadi, president of Kishoreganj Archaeological Society, said there are 52 antiquities in the district. Of these, nine have been preserved by the Department of Archeology. Preserved archeological sites are Qutub Mosque of Ashtagram Upazila Sadar, Harshi Mosque. And Shah Mahmud Mosque, Saheb Bari (Sekandarnagar) Mosque of Tarail Upazila, Gurui Mosque of Nikli Upazila.
The folklore and culture of Kishoreganj district is rich in traditions. The folk music, palagan, baulgan, kirtan, kichha kahini, jarigan, sarigan, drama, jatrapala, wedding proverbs, punthi, tappa, boat rides, humorous sholak, etc. of this district are still preserving our ancient tradition. Indigenous folk culture is hidden in Kishoreganj district. Thirty out of the forty-four lyricists of Dr Dinesh Chandra Sen, who rescued the lost lyric treasure and translated it into English and made us proud to the world, were from Kishoreganj subdivision of East Mymensingh.
