BASIRHAT

city, southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India. Basirhat lies just south of the Ichamati (Upper Jamuna) River near the border with Bangladesh. Connected by road and rail with Barasat, it 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. It was constituted a municipality in 1869. Pop. (1981) 81,040; (1991) 101,409.