Pairaband Rangpur

Pairaband is a village in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur district. Begum Rokeya (Rokeya Khatun), the pioneer of Bengali women's awakening, was born in this Payaraband village on 9 December 1880. Begum Rokeya's father Zahiruddin Mohammad Abu Ali Haider Saber was a noble landowner. His mother's name is Rahatunnessa Sabera Choudhurani. Begum Rokeya was taught Arabic and Urdu at home in accordance with the social system of that time. Begum Rokeya started learning Bengali and English secretly from her elder brother Ibrahim Saber. In 1896, Begum Rokey was married to Syed Sakhawat Hossain, Deputy Magistrate of Bhagalpur. Syed Sakhawat Hussain was free-spirited and encouraged Begum Rokeya to write. This noble woman entered the literary world in 1902 through a story called Pipasa.

Begum Rokeya Memorial Center has been established on 3.15 acres of land under government management next to Begum Rokeya's house. There are beautiful gardens, office building, 4-storey dormitory building, research room, library, modern guest house and brass sculpture of Begum Rokaire. Besides, various trainings are given here to help the youth in employment in the training center called BKME. However, nothing remains of Begum Rokeira's ancestral house except the brick walls.

From Mohammadpur, Mohakhali, Gabtali and Kalyanpur of the capital Dhaka, Nabil, Haque Enterprise, SR Travels, Aghani Express, Ena, Hanif, Greenline, Alhamra Travels, MIM, SR Travels, Kurigram Paribahan buses ply to Rangpur. The fare of these AC, non-AC buses is Tk 750-1500.

You can also go to Rangpur by Rangpur Express and Kurigram Express trains from Dhaka's Kamalapur or Airport Railway Station. In this case, the ticket price per person is Tk 585-635 for decorative chair, Tk 1122-1214 for Snigdha, Tk 1455 for AC seat and Tk 2013 for AC berth.

Payaraband village is 13 km away from Rangpur city by rickshaw, easy bike or bus.

Among the residential hotels located in Rangpur, Hotel Northview, Tourism Motel, The Park Hotel, Hotel Golden Tower, Hotel Tilottama, Hotel Kashpia etc. are notable.

Rangpur city has various quality food hotels and restaurants. But if you go to Rangpur during the mango season, you must try the famous Haribhanga mango.