city, southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India. Basirhat lies just south of the Ichamati (Upper Yamuna) 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 (Calcutta, University of). It was constituted a municipality in 1869. Pop. (2001) 113,159.