Basirhat

Basirhat, city, southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India. It lies on the south bank of the Ichamati (Upper Yamuna) River just west of the border with Bangladesh, about 30 miles (48 km) east-northeast of Kolkata (Calcutta).

Basirhat was constituted a municipality in 1869. It is connected by road and rail with Barasat (west-northwest) and by road to the Kolkata urban area via the Dum Dum suburban complex. The city is a major trade depot for the rice, jute, mustard, legumes, dates, and potatoes produced in the surrounding agricultural area. Sugar milling and metalware manufacture are the chief industries. Basirhat has a college affiliated with the University of Calcutta in Kolkata. Pop. (2001) 113,159; (2011) 125,254.