Judiciary
Dinajpur

Brief History of Judicial Department of Dinajpur District

Dinajpur is one of the oldest and traditional large districts of Rangpur Division in the northwestern region of Bangladesh. It is one of the northernmost districts of Bangladesh and one of the 16 districts of North Bengal. Dinajpur district was formed in 1786. The earlier name of this district was Ghoraghat. During 1833-1870, various parts of Dinajpur district were included in Purnia, Rangpur and Rajshahi. Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, two sub-divisions of Dinajpur, became separate districts in 1984. The district is surrounded by India's West Bengal, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh. The area of this district is 3437.98 square kilometers. Location 25° 10' to 26° 04' North latitude and 88° 23' to 89° 18' East longitude. Dinajpur district is bordered by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Jaipurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpur districts in the east, West Bengal in India. According to the census of 2022, the population of Dinajpur district is 33,15,235, male - 16,60,997, female - 16,53,305. Santal, Oraon, Mahli, Malpahari, Kol etc. tribal communities live in this district. Among the 13 upazilas of the district, Birganj upazila is the largest (413 sq km) and covers 12.01% of the total area of the district. The smallest upazila of the district is Hakimpur (99.92 sq km). British administrative control was established in Dinajpur district in 1786 AD. Dinajpur was the largest administrative district of undivided Bengal.

In 1765, when the English (British) obtained Diwani of Bengal, in 1772 an Englishman was appointed as District Collector and Head of Revenue Department. The law and order situation in the region was very bad. In 1786, Mr. Marriott (Mr. Marriott) became the collector of Dinajpur district. Then Mr. Red Fern and Mr. Van Sittart were collectors for a short time. The next Collector H. G. Hatch started exercising judicial powers. The area of the District Magistrate then extended to Dinajpur, Malda and Bogra. In December 1786, the first collector of Dinajpur district, H. G. Hatch, was also appointed as a civil court judge and from that time his judicial powers were limited to Dinajpur district. On 1st February 1786, he took charge of this work. In 1786, the boundaries of the district were redrawn and H. G. Hatch was again appointed as Judge, Magistrate and Collector. Mr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury was the first district and session judge of Dinajpur after the independence of Bangladesh. On November 1, 2007, when the Judicial Magistrate was separated from the Executive Department, the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court was established in Dinajpur, which is located in the premises of Dinajpur District Judge Court. The first Chief Judicial Magistrate of Dinajpur district was Mr. Md. Zahidul Islam.

Establishment of District and Sessions Judge Court, Dinajpur- 1786 AD. First District and Sessions Judge Mr. G. Hatch. Dinajpur present District and Sessions Judge Court Building Kotwali Thanadhin Mauza-Prananathpur, JL No-63, Khas Khatian No-2, S. A. Established on a total land of 8.42 acres at Plot No. 7048. On its western side is Kachari Road, on its eastern side is Zilla Parishad, on its northern side is Dinajpur District School and on its southern side is Dinajpur District Commissioner's office. Dinajpur District Judiciary Head - Learned District and Sessions Judge, Dinajpur. Presently Dinajpur has 1 District and Session Judge Court, 4 Additional District and Session Judge Courts, 3 Joint District and Session Judge Courts, 13 Assistant Judge and Senior Assistant Judge Courts, 1 Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, 1 Additional Chief Judicial Dinajpur Judiciary consists of Magistrate Court, 5 Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, 6 Judicial Magistrate Court, 1 Women and Child Torture Prevention Tribunal, 1 Special Judge Court and 1 Electricity Court and District Legal Aid Office. Dinajpur District Lawyers Association and District Registry Office are also located in the same campus.

 The Judiciary Department of traditional Dinajpur district has been providing speedy justice and appropriate remedy to the disenfranchised, victimized and wronged people seeking justice. Dinajpur Judiciary Department as the last hope and refuge of justice seeking people is playing a strong role in maintaining peace and order in society and establishing rule of law by ensuring justice. In the light of the great liberation war of Bangladesh and the spirit of the great constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the judicial department of Dinajpur district is committed to establishing/ensuring justice.