Rajshahi District () is a district in mid-western Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rajshahi Division. The metropolitan city of Rajshahi is in Rajshahi District. Geography Rajshahi district is bounded by Naogaon District to the north, Natore District to the east, Chapai Nababganj District to west and little part of Kushtia District & the river Padma to the south. The district consists of alluvial plain. Rivers There are ten rivers in this district, totaling 146 km in length. The main river is the Padma River (Ganges). Some others are Mahananda, Baral and Barnai river. History Rajshahi region was ruled by the Puṭhia Raj family based in the Puṭhia Rajbari. The Mughal Emperor Akbar had given the Rajshahi region to the Puṭhia Raj family to govern, the governor was Pitambar. The Puṭhia family was given the title of Raja by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Rajshahi District was established in 1772. Parts of the districts eventually became Bogura district, Malda district, Natore district, Naogaon district, Nawabganj district, and Pabna district. On 1 April 1876 Rajshahi town was made into municipal town. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the town was the site of battles between the Mukti Bahini and the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army fought a battle against the Mukti Bahini on 30 March 1971 which resulted in the death of an East Pakistan Rifles member. Between 26 and 30 March, 31 individuals in Godagaɽi upazila were killed by the Pakistan Army. On 13 April the Pakistan Army killed Rajshahi Cadet College Professor AB Siddiqi. The Pakistan Army attacked Tahirpur Haṭ in Bagmara upazila on 24 May and killed 25 people. Mukti Bahini commander Havilder Shafiq led an attack on Pakistan Army boat on 8 August killing 18 Pakistan Army personal. Pakistan Army killed two members of Bangladesh Ansar in a war of attrition. Pakistan Army established a camp in the Zoha Hall of Rajshahi University where they massacred hundreds of civilians. Pakistan Army had also established camps inside Rajshahi Cadet College, Roy Saheb brickfield, Sardaha Pilot School, and Sardah Police Academy. The Pakistan Army tortured members of Mukti Bahini and civilians in the camps. The Pakistan Army also killed hundreds of refugees on the banks of Padma river who were fleeing to India. In a fight between Mukti Bahini and Pakistan Army near Kabasmul, a Pakistan Army major was killed. Pakistan Army retaliated by killing 44 civilians in