Bijeljina

City and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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City

Bijeljina

Бијељина (Serbian)

City

Grad Bijeljina
Град Бијељина
City of Bijeljina

From top, left to right: The assembly building of Bijeljina, Pavlović bank, the inside of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George, the outside of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George, Residential buildings, the Atik mosque, Semberija Museum and the Five Lakes Monastery.

Flag

Location of Bijeljina within Republika Srpska

Bijeljina

Coordinates: 44°45′24″N 19°12′56″E﻿ / ﻿44.75667°N 19.21556°E﻿ / 44.75667; 19.21556
Country|  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity|  Republika Srpska
Geographical region| Semberija
City status| July 2012
Government

• Mayor| Ljubiša Petrović (SDS)
Area

• City

| 733.85 km2 (283.34 sq mi)
Elevation

| 90 m (300 ft)
Population

(2013 census)[1]

• City

| 107,715
• Density| 150/km2 (380/sq mi)
• Urban

| 45,291
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
ZIP Code|

76300

Area code| +387 55
Website| www.gradbijeljina.org

Bijeljina (Serbian Cyrillic: Бијељина) is a city and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the provincial center of Semberija, a geographic region in the country's northeast. As of 2013, it has a population of 107,715 inhabitants.[2]

## Geography

[edit]

Bijeljina is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina's northeast, bound by the Sava and Drina rivers, extending over the Majevica mountains and covering a land mass of 734 km2.[3] It is a part of the entity of Republika Srpska and is the center of the Semberija region. Semberija is a flat region with a fertile land ideal for agriculture.[4] Due to this, Bijeljina is a major place for food production and trade, particularly wheat and vegetables.[3]

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Bijeljina (1991–2020)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 20.3
(68.5)  | 24.0
(75.2)  | 27.7
(81.9)  | 32.5
(90.5)  | 35.0
(95.0)  | 37.6
(99.7)  | 43.0
(109.4)  | 40.7
(105.3)  | 38.8
(101.8)  | 31.0
(87.8)  | 26.4
(79.5)  | 22.1
(71.8)  | 43.0
(109.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 5.4
(41.7)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 13.6
(56.5)  | 19.0
(66.2)  | 23.7
(74.7)  | 27.5
(81.5)  | 29.5
(85.1)  | 30.0
(86.0)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 19.0
(66.2)  | 12.2
(54.0)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 18.2
(64.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 1.2
(34.2)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | 7.5
(45.5)  | 12.5
(54.5)  | 17.3
(63.1)  | 21.3
(70.3)  | 23.0
(73.4)  | 22.6
(72.7)  | 17.3
(63.1)  | 12.2
(54.0)  | 7.1
(44.8)  | 2.2
(36.0)  | 12.3
(54.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −2.4
(27.7)  | −1.4
(29.5)  | 2.1
(35.8)  | 6.4
(43.5)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 14.9
(58.8)  | 16.3
(61.3)  | 16.0
(60.8)  | 11.6
(52.9)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | −1.1
(30.0)  | 7.0
(44.6)
Record low °C (°F)  | −23.4
(−10.1)  | −26.6
(−15.9)  | −19.3
(−2.7)  | −6.8
(19.8)  | 0.6
(33.1)  | 0.0
(32.0)  | 8.0
(46.4)  | 4.5
(40.1)  | 1.0
(33.8)  | −7.5
(18.5)  | −8.2
(17.2)  | −18.7
(−1.7)  | −26.6
(−15.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 54.8
(2.16)  | 46.0
(1.81)  | 55.3
(2.18)  | 59.6
(2.35)  | 83.2
(3.28)  | 87.1
(3.43)  | 69.1
(2.72)  | 56.9
(2.24)  | 62.9
(2.48)  | 65.0
(2.56)  | 60.2
(2.37)  | 58.8
(2.31)  | 758.8
(29.87)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.2  | 8.1  | 8.3  | 9.2  | 11.0  | 10.0  | 8.1  | 6.6  | 7.7  | 7.5  | 8.6  | 9.2  | 103.5
Source: NOAA[5]

## History

[edit]

### Prehistory and Antiquity

[edit]

The earliest established evidence of human life in the area of today's Bijeljina date from the New Stone Age (5000–3000BC). Characteristics of pottery, tools and weapons confirm cultural connections of indigenous inhabitants of Semberija with the eneolithic and Bronze Age cultures – Vučedol, Kostolac and Baden culture.[3][6][7]

### Old Slavs and Middle Ages

[edit]

Petar Karađorđević I monument

The oldest archeological site of this period is located on both sides of the Bistrik channel, between the villages of Batković and Ostojićevo and it consists of four smaller sites which date from the period of the 7th to the 12th century. At Jazbina and Oraščić, remains were found of a settlement with half-buried huts, but the most significant discovery was a complex of metallurgical workshop at the site Čelopek where iron was melted in the 8th century and iron tools were manufactured. The oldest religious building, the Tavna Monastery was built in the Middle Ages. The region was incorporated into the Bosnian banate during the reign of Stephen Kotromanić. At this time the village Bistrik was called Bistrica and it was the center of the parish, which covered the entire territory of present-day city of Bijeljina.[8]

The first documented mention of the name Bijeljina occurred in 1446. The city fully fell to the Ottomans in 1530. Following the Great Turkish War, it was incorporated into Austrian possession before being retaken by the Ottomans in 1739. Many of the settlements were decimated as a result of unsuccessful Serb rebellions against the occupation.[8]

Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina rule lasted from 1878 until 1918.[8] The name Bijeljina was only used after 1918 and World War I. During Austro-Hungarian rule, the town had the name Bjelina and, before that, Belina or Bilina.

### Modern history

[edit]

In 1838, the first confessional elementary school was opened. A modern school building was built in 1902. In this school Jovan Dučić, famous Herzegovinian Serb poet, writer and diplomat, worked between 1893 and 1895.[9]

In front of City Hall is a statue of King Peter I of Serbia, who ruled the Kingdom of Serbia between 1903 and 1918. During the Second World War, the Ustaša removed it. After World War II, the communist government refused to return the monument. The first non-communist local government returned the monument in the early 1990s.[citation needed]

#### Bosnian War

[edit]

Main article: Bijeljina massacre

In September 1991, Bosnian Serbs proclaimed a Serbian Autonomous Oblast with Bijeljina as its capital. In March 1992, the Bosnian referendum on independence was passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats. Local Bosniak Patriotic League had been established in response to the Bosnian Serb proclamation and started the clashes. On 1–2 April, the SDG and the JNA overtook Bijeljina with little resistance; A massacre was carried out and involved the killing of between 48 and 78 civilians by Serb paramilitary groups. The majority of those killed were Bosniaks (or Bosnian Muslims). The dead included members of other ethnicities, such as Serbs deemed unloyal by the local authorities. The killing was committed by a local paramilitary group known as Mirko's Chetniks and by the Serb Volunteer Guard (SDG, also known as Arkan's Tigers), a Serbia-based paramilitary group under the command of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).

The village of Batković in the municipality of Bijeljina was the site of the Batković camp, believed to be the first concentration camp in operation during the Bosnian War. It was run by Serbs from 1 April 1992 until late January 1996.[10] The prisoners were predominantly ethnic Bosniaks, who were tortured, sexually assaulted, and killed.[11][12] A "State Commission for the Free transfer of the Civilian Population" or "Commission for the Exchange of Population" was created and headed by Vojkan Đurković, a Major in the SDG.

#### Post-war period

[edit]

Bijeljina municipality by population proportional to the settlement with the highest and lowest population

Post-war development of Bijeljina is experienced in the late 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century. After a population boom due to war events and population saturation and insufficient capacity of the city that was built in less need, today there is re-building of Bijeljina with new settlements, roads, schools, universities, and cultural institutions.

The Serb Democratic Party (SDS) governed Bijeljina for 28 years since 1992. Following the 2018 Bosnian general election, in March 2020 mayor Mićo Mićić (governing the city since 2004) left the party to found the Party of Democratic Srpska of Semberija (SDSS) and signed a coalition agreement with Milorad Dodik's SNSD. In June 2020, SDSS and SNSD put SDS in minority in the local council. At the 2020 Bosnian municipal elections, SDS's Ljubiša Petrović became the new mayor, succeeding Mićić.

## Demographics

[edit]

### Population

[edit]

Population of settlements – Bijeljina municipality  | Settlement  | 1875  | 1885  | 1895  | 1910  | 1921  | 1931  | 1948  | 1953  | 1961  | 1971  | 1981  | 1991  | 2013

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Total  | 34,479  | 38,455  | 47,468  | 58,002  | 58,142  | 78,602  | 63,877  | 86,826  | 78,890  | 86,826  | 92,808  | 96,988  | 107,715
1  | Amajlije  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,110  | 1,112
2  | Balatun  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,305  | 1,245
3  | Banjica  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 406  | 265
4  | Batar  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 382  | 225
5  | Batković  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,483  | 2,515
6  | Bijeljina |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,660  | 14,303  | 17,340  | 24,761  | 31,124  | 36,414  | 42,278
7  | Bjeloševac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 639  | 442
8  | Brodac Donji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 735  | 668
9  | Brodac Gornji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 866  | 767
10  | Bukovica Donja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 794  | 568
11  | Bukovica Gornja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 574  | 324
12  | Čađavica Donja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,524  | 577
13  | Čađavica Gornja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 973  | 676
14  | Čađavica Srednja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 693  | 533
15  | Čardačine  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 370  | 471
16  | Čengić  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,284  | 859
17  | Ćipirovine  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 274  | 622
18  | Crnjelovo Donje  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,963  | 2,011
19  | Crnjelovo Gornje  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,840  | 1,279
20  | Dazdarevo  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 435  | 522
21  | Dijelovi  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 669
22  | Donji Zagoni  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 305
23  | Dragaljevac Donji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 463  | 339
24  | Dragaljevac Gornji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 603  | 418
25  | Dragaljevac Srednji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,041  | 741
26  | Dvorovi  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,814  | 4,716
27  | Glavičice  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,293  | 1,070
28  | Glogovac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 436  | 402
29  | Gojsovac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 475  | 683
30  | Golo Brdo  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 198  | 377
31  | Gradac - Stupanj  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 509
32  | Hase  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 341  | 938
33  | Janja  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,458  | 10,542
34  | Johovac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 338  | 284
35  | Kacevac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 351  | 268
36  | Kojčinovac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 794
37  | Kovačići  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 383
38  | Kovanluk  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 158  | 508
39  | Kriva Bara  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 255  | 345
40  | Ljeljenča  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 967  | 913
41  | Ljeskovac  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 483  | 969
42  | Magnojević Donji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 613  | 419
43  | Magnojević Gornji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 665  | 333
44  | Magnojević Srednji  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 332  | 318
45  | Mala Obarska  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 305
46  | Međaši  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 896  | 858
47  | Modran  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,411  | 963
48  | Novo Naselje  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,290  | 832
49  | Novo Selo  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 122  | 1,153
50  | Ostojićevo  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 595  | 440
51  | Patkovača  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 646  | 2,569
52  | Popovi  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,134  | 1,238
53  | Pučile  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 769  | 2,090
54  | Ruhotina  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 446  | 276
55  | Suho Polje  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,503  | 1,154
56  | Triješnica  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 290  | 496
57  | Trnjaci  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 639  | 1,074
58  | Velika Obarska  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,549  | 3,902
59  | Velino Selo  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 451  | 342
60  | Vršani  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,249  | 614
61  | Zagoni  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,766  | 619

### Ethnic composition

[edit]

Ethnic composition – Bijeljina city  | 2013  | 1991  | 1981  | 1971

|
|
|
|

Total  | 42,278 (100,0%)  | 36,414 (100,0%)  | 31,124 (100,0%)  | 24,761 (100,0%)
Serbs  | 35,798 (84.67%)  | 10,450 (28.70%)  | 7,866 (25.27%)  | 7,630 (30.81%)
Bosniaks  | 4,469 (10.57%)  | 19,024 (52.24%)  | 15,015 (48.24%)  | 14,929 (60.29%)
Others  | 632 (1.495%)  | 3,122 (8.574%)  | 521 (1.674%)  | 349 (1.409%)
Unaffiliated  | 502 (1.187%)  |  |  |
Roma  | 338 (0.799%)  |  | 976 (3.136%)  | 104 (0.420%)
Croats  | 315 (0.745%)  | 366 (1.005%)  | 409 (1.314%)  | 677 (2.734%)
Yugoslavs  | 127 (0.300%)  | 3,452 (9.480%)  | 6,028 (19.37%)  | 637 (2.573%)
Unknown  | 35 (0.083%)  |  |  |
Montenegrins  | 29 (0.069%)  |  | 60 (0.193%)  | 71 (0.287%)
Macedonians  | 14 (0.033%)  |  | 64 (0.206%)  | 63 (0.254%)
Slovenes  | 11 (0.026%)  |  | 17 (0.055%)  | 20 (0.081%)
Albanians  | 8 (0.019%)  |  | 144 (0.463%)  | 237 (0.957%)
Hungarians  |  |  | 24 (0.077%)  | 44 (0.178%)

Ethnic composition – Bijeljina municipality  | 2013  | 1991  | 1981  | 1971

|
|
|
|

Total  | 107,715 (100.0%)  | 96,988 (100.0%)  | 92,808 (100.0%)  | 86,826 (100.0%)
Serbs  | 91,784 (85.21%)  | 57,389 (59.17%)  | 56,029 (60.37%)  | 60,595 (69.79%)
Bosniaks  | 13,090 (12.15%)  | 30,229 (31.17%)  | 24,282 (26.16%)  | 23,343 (26.88%)
Others  | 793 (0.736%)  | 4,452 (4.590%)  | 1,155 (1.245%)  | 649 (0.747%)
Unaffiliated  | 674 (0.626%)  |  |  |
Croats  | 515 (0.478%)  | 492 (0.507%)  | 500 (0.539%)  | 806 (0.928%)
Roma  | 496 (0.460%)  |  | 1,359 (1.464%)  | 168 (0.193%)
Yugoslavs  | 151 (0.140%)  | 4 426 (4.563%)  | 9,090 (9.794%)  | 747 (0.860%)
Unknown  | 102 (0.095%)  |  |  |
Montenegrins  | 36 (0.033%)  |  | 80 (0.086%)  | 90 (0.104%)
Macedonians  | 33 (0.031%)  |  | 89 (0.096%)  | 81 (0.093%)
Slovenes  | 22 (0.020%)  |  | 25 (0.027%)  | 24 (0.028%)
Albanians  | 17 (0.016%)  |  | 164 (0.177%)  | 258 (0.297%)
Turks  | 1 (0.001%)  |  |  |
Ukrainians  | 1 (0,001%)  |  |  |
Hungarians  |  |  | 35 (0,038%)  | 65 (0,075%)

## Architecture

[edit]

The assembly building of Bijeljina The Atik mosque (demolished during the war and reconstructed since) by the town square

Atik Mosque was built between 1520 and 1566, during the period of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It was used as a defensive bastion in the Austro-Turkish War and converted to a catholic church by Austrians during 1718-1739. After the Treaty of Belgrade, it reverted back to the mosque, and went through several renovations in the 19th and early 20th century.[13] The mosque was completely destroyed on 13 March 1993 and rebuilt where it stood before.

Serbian Orthodox Church (Svetog Đorđa) Saint George is located at the site of an older church, which was first mentioned in 1735. The current building dates back from the early 1870s and represents a mix of Russian and Byzantine style, with a dome and a tall tower.[14][15]

Semberija Museum is located in a historic building and has four exhibition halls. The exhibitions span a vast historical period, ranging from the Neolithic, through the Roman era and the Middle Ages, all the way to the 20th century.[16]

Basil of Ostrog Monastery in the center of Bijeljina is a newly built monastery (2001) dedicated to St Basil of Ostrog.[17] The bell tower with a clock of over 30 meters dominates the surroundings and is a symbol of the monastery. The monastery includes a museum, dining room, library, hermitages for monks. Inside, the temple is painted with magnificent frescoes. Particularly valuable is a copy of Trojeručica miraculous icon, the gift from Hilandar monastery. In Bijeljina are also located: the Holy Temple, the Church of St. Petka, and the old Catholic church.

Church in Bijeljina

Filip Višnjić Library is the oldest cultural institution in Bijeljina - founded in 1932 thanks to prominent people including Dr Vojislav Kecmanović, Dr Joakim Perendija, and Professor Nikola Mačkić among others. It played a major role in raising the cultural level in Semberija and has over 120,000 books.[18][19]

The Tavna Monastery is located in the southern part of the Bijeljina municipality. The date of foundation is hidden somewhere in the shadows of the far past. The chronicles of monasteries Tronoša and Peć say it was built by Stefan Dragutin's sons Vladislav and Uroš II Milutin. Stefan Dragutin was the King of Serbia from 1276 to 1282 and king of Srem from 1282 to 1316. The present church of monastery Tavna is built in the same place as the original one. The Tavna Monastery is older than the other monasteries in the region such as Ozrena, Liplja, Vozuce and Gostovica. Tavna was damaged in the first years of Turkish rule, but was restored by the people. This was not the only time the monastery was damaged. It was damaged many times during the Turkish period and also during World War Two. Between 1941 and 1945, Tavna was bombed by the Ustase. One of the gravestones says "Zdravko Jovanovic Killed 1943 by the Ustasa Blue Division protecting and defending the monastery". After WWII Tavna was rebuilt.[20]

## Education

[edit]

Library in Bijeljina

The first primary school in Bijeljina was opened in 1938. After World War II, changes were made to the school system, and in 1951 the first elementary school was opened. In 1956, a second elementary school was opened. The third and fourth elementary schools opened in 1959 and 1966, respectively.[9]

Since 1953, a basic music school has been operating in the city.[9]

Primary schools in Bijeljina include the following: OŠ Sveti Sava, OŠ Knez Ivo od Semberije, OŠ Vuk Karadžić, OŠ Jovan Dučić. There are several high schools operating in the city, such as Filip Višnjić Gymnasium, Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac Music School, an agricultural high school, a medicine highschool, an economic and a technical school. The University of Bijeljina has several faculties: Law, Economics, Business Economics and Education. The main private universities in the city are Slobomir P University and University Sinergija.

## Economy

[edit]

Emporium Shopping Center in Bijeljina Pavlović bank

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):[21]

Activity  | Total

|

Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 336
Mining and quarrying | 25
Manufacturing | 3,706
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 454
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 450
Construction | 1,129
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 5,813
Transportation and storage | 935
Accommodation and food services | 1,096
Information and communication | 551
Financial and insurance activities | 514
Real estate activities | 22
Professional, scientific and technical activities | 809
Administrative and support service activities | 312
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security | 1,836
Education | 1,774
Human health and social work activities | 1,461
Arts, entertainment and recreation | 330
Other service activities | 482
Total | 22,035

## Transportation

[edit]

Bypass in Bijeljina

The road network is dependent on the main routes: the M-14.1 Brcko-Zvornik and the M-18 Raca-Ugljevik. The complete road network in contact with the city and the urban traffic network is extremely radial orientation. She had eleven major transportation routes, which link directly to the city. Around the city is located bypass, but isn't completed. The main bus station in Bijeljina is located in the central zone of the city. The main bus station in Bijeljina is owned by Semberija Transport. From Bijeljina passengers can travel to other cities in the region as well as some cities in Europe such as Ljubljana, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Zürich, Stockholm. There is only one railway line in Bijeljina. That railway line stretches from Bijeljina to Šid in Serbia. From Šid it joins another line going east towards Belgrade or going west to Croatia.

## Tourism

[edit]

Etno village Stanišići

Bijeljina holds an international folklore festival known as Semberija folk fest.

The Dvorovi Spa is one of the most famous spas in Republika Srpska. Dvorovi Spa was formed after the discovery of thermal water, while drilling for oil in 1956, near Dvorovi village in Semberija. The depth of the source is at 1350 meters, the water is oligomineral, and the water temperature is 75°C.[22]

## Sports

[edit]

SKUD Semberija at the Semberija folk fest in Bijeljina 2006

Bijeljina has one major stadium known as Bijeljina City Stadium. The Stadium is home to FK Radnik Bijeljina, which competes in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Radnik won the Bosnian Cup in 2016. Their president is Predrag Perković and their manager is Vlado Jagodić.

OFK Zenit Bijeljina is a young club from Bijeljina but their youth teams had earned a lot of medals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania, Austria, Germany. Their stadium is ‘Zenit Arena’ in Novo Selo, 5 min from the city center. OFK Zenit competes in the leagues of Football Association of Republika Srpska (FSRS). They have the contract with Zvijezda 09 (team in Premier League BiH) to Zenit's youth teams play like Zvijezda 09's players.

Bijeljina was designated European city of sport in 2020.[23]

Basketball clubs include:

* KK Budućnost Bijeljina;
* KK Radnik Bijeljina;
* KK Fenix Basket Bijeljina.

Volleyball clubs include:

* OK Radnik Bijeljina;
* OK Libero Bijeljina.

Handball clubs include:

* RK Bijeljina;
* ZRK Bijeljina.

## Twin towns – sister cities

[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bijeljina is twinned with:[24]

* Azov, Russia
* Brașov, Romania
* Budva, Montenegro
* Goraždevac, Kosovo[a]
* Kosjerić, Serbia
* Kruševac, Serbia
* Kumanovo, North Macedonia
* Langenhagen, Germany
* Leskovac, Serbia
* Ruse, Bulgaria
* Zrenjanin, Serbia

## Notable people

[edit]

* Admir Smajić, footballer, Olympic bronze medalist
* Ana Mirjana Račanović, Miss Bosnia and Herzegovina 2001
* Bego Ćatić, footballer
* Cvijetin Mijatović, Chairman of the Collective Presidency of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav People's Hero
* Darko Todorović, Bosnian footballer
* Duško Kondor, human rights activist, professor of sociology and philosophy
* Filip Višnjić, epic poet
* Frenkie, rapper
* Luka Jović, Serbian footballer
* Ljubiša Savić, Bosnian Serb paramilitary commander, politician, and former police chief of Bijeljina
* Mirko Ilić, Serbian graphic designer and comics artist
* Mirza Begić, Slovenian basketball player
* Nevenka Tadić, neuropsychiatrist and mother of former president of Serbia Boris Tadić
* Nihad Hrustanbegovic, composer, accordionist and pianist
* Miloš Bojanić, folk singer
* Rodoljub Čolaković, politician and writer
* Rodoljub Roki Vulović, Bosnian Serb singer, author, performer, former professor, and former school director
* Srđan Vuletić, filmmaker
* Cican Stankovic, Austrian footballer
* Savo Milošević, Serbian footballer, UEFA Euro 2000 Top scorer
* Svetozar Marković (footballer), Serbian footballer

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As Serbia since Bosnia and Herzegovina does not recognize Kosovo.

## See also

[edit]

* Janja
* Semberija
* Slobomir

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Prostorni plan Republike Srpske do 2015. Banja Luka, April 2008. p. 67 & 69
2. ^ "PRELIMINARY RESULTS of the 2013 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Bosnia and Herzegovina" (PDF). Bhas.ba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
3. ^ a b c "Bijeljina" (PDF). osbih.ba. Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
4. ^ Lommen, André (2000). Bosnia and Hercegovina: Unfinished Business : Return of Displaced Persons and Other Human Rights Issues in Bijeljina, Volume 12, Issue 7. Human Rights Watch. p. 11\. "The municipality of Bijeljina, consisting of the town of Bijeljina, the village of Janja, and around forty smaller settlements, is located in the northeast corner of Bosnia and Hercegovina, in the Republika Srpska.. Moreover, the Semberija region, of which Bijeljina is the center, is a flat, fertile area which is very suitable for agriculture."
5. ^ "Bijeljina Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
6. ^ Udruženje književnika BiH (1985). Information Bulletin of the Association of Writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Yugoslav Author's Agency for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Issues 7-9.
7. ^ Nikolova, Lolita; Manzura, I. V.; Schuster, Cristian, eds. (1999). The Balkans in Later Prehistory: Periodization, Chronology and Cultural Development in the Final Copper and Early Bronze Age (fourth and Third Millennia BC). J. and E. Hedges. p. 34\. ISBN 9781841711089.
8. ^ a b c "History of the City of Bijeljina". City of Bijeljina. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
9. ^ a b c Bijeljina na Internetu - skolstvo Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Oaza.rs; accessed 9 July 2015.(in Serbian)
10. ^ "Preživjeli logoraš iz Batkovića: I danas sanjam da mi neko ulazi u kuću i stavlja pušku na čelo". Oslobođenje. 1 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
11. ^ "FRIENDSHIPS FLOURISHED IN BATKOVIC PRISON CAMP". Sense Agency. 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
12. ^ James Gow (2003). The Serbian Project and Its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 135\. ISBN 978-0-7735-2385-2.
13. ^ "Atik Džamija | Turistička organizacija grada Bijeljine". www.bijeljinaturizam.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
14. ^ "Info Bijeljina - Jedna od najstarijih bijeljinskih građevina: Hram Svetog Đorđa više od 130 godina bio jedina pravoslavna bogomolja u gradu". infobijeljina.com. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
15. ^ "Crkva Svetog Georgija | Turistička organizacija grada Bijeljine". www.bijeljinaturizam.com. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
16. ^ "The semberija Museum". www.bijeljinaturizam.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
17. ^ iqcentar.com. "МАНАСТИР СВЕТОГ ВАСИЛИЈА ОСТРОШКОГ". www.eparhijazt.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
18. ^ "Историјат библиотеке". www.bibliotekabijeljina.rs.ba. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
19. ^ "Info Bijeljina - Narodna biblioteka "Filip Višnjić": Knjižni fond sve bogatiji". www.infobijeljina.com. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
20. ^ Tavna monastery infosite Archived 12 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Bijeljina.net; accessed 9 July 2015.
21. ^ "Cities and Municipalities of Republika Srpska" (PDF). rzs.rs.ba. Republika Srspka Institute of Statistics. 25 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
22. ^ "Историјат". www.banja-dvorovi.com. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
23. ^ "European Cities of Sport". Aces Europe. September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
24. ^ "Градови побратими". gradbijeljina.org (in Serbian). Bijeljina. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

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