Rangpuriya

Rangpuriya is a term used to refer to people from Rangpur, a historical and cultural region in northern Bangladesh, as well as to the linguistic varieties associated with that region. The designation derives from Rangpur combined with a regional demonym suffix, and it is encountered in both ethnolinguistic and geographic contexts. In some sources, Rangpuriya also denotes the Rangpuri language or dialect spoken by speakers in this area.

Linguistically, Rangpuri is commonly described as a distinctive variety of Bengali spoken primarily in the Rangpur Division. Some scholars classify it as a dialect within the Bengali language continuum, while others regard it as a separate language within the Bengali‑Assamese sub-branch of the Indo-Aryan family. Differences from Standard Bengali can appear in phonology, vocabulary, and certain grammatical forms, with levels of mutual intelligibility varying among speakers.

Geographically, Rangpuriya speakers are concentrated in Rangpur Division, which comprises several districts in northern Bangladesh. Diaspora communities from the region are found in other parts of Bangladesh, neighboring India (notably West Bengal and adjacent areas), and in other countries through migration.

Culture and identity associated with Rangpuriya reflect regional northern Bengali traditions, including locally rooted folklore, music, cuisine, and oral storytelling. The language and demographic label are used in academic discussions, linguistic surveys, and regional cultural discourse to describe the speech varieties and communities linked to Rangpur.

See also: Rangpur, Bengali language, Rangpuri language.