- Quick look Bangladesh
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E.
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 144,000 sq km.
land: 133,910 sq km.
water: 10,090 sq km.
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Iowa.
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km.
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm.
Continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin.
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm.
Territorial sea: 12 nm.
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast.
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m.
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m.
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, and timber.
Land use:
arable land: 61%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 36% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season.
Environment-current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation.
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Only a small portion of the boundary with India remains undelimited; discussions to demarcate the boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, and allocate divided villages remain stalled; skirmishes, illegal border trafficking, and violence along the border continue; Bangladesh has protested India's attempts to fence off high traffic sections of the porous boundary; Burmese attempts to construct a dam on the border stream in 2001 prompted an armed response halting construction; Burmese Muslim refugees migrate into Bangladesh straining meager resources.
- Art of Bangladesh
- Music in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh mission abroad
35, Endeavour Street,
Canberra A.C.T 2603,
Tel: (06) 62953328
Fax: 0061-6-62953351, 62950032
SULTANATE OF OMAN
Building No - 5903, Street No - 664, Opposite Qurum
PO Box No. 3959 Ruwi, Muscat
Tel: 567379, 567501, 567503
Fax: 0098-567502
BAHRAIN
House No. 2280, Road No. 2757
Adliya, Manama,
Bahrain
Tel: (0973) 714714, 714867, 713156
Fax:(0973)710031
THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
HIGH COMMISSION
House No.1, Street No-5, F-6/3,
Islamabad
Tel 279267
Fax 279266
BRUNEI
Aarvilla, Simpag 308
House No - 5, Galan Lambak Kanan Berakas,
Bandar Seri Begawan - 3685
Bruni Darussalam
Tel: 673-2-394716
Fax: 673-2-394715
PAKISTAN
DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION
9 Choudhury Khaliaquzzaman Road,
Karachi 0401, Pakistan
Tel: 5683984, 5683537
Fax: 92-21-6682303
CANADA
275 Bank Street, Suite- 302
Ottawa, Ontario
K2 P2L6
Tel : (613) 236--0138 & 236-0139
Fax:(613)567-321
Maldive
G. Oakum, Kalhuhuraa Magu, MALE
Tel : (960) -315541
Fax : (960) - 315543
KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
29-31 Rue Jacques Jordaens
1050 Brussels
Tel : (02) 6405500, 6405606
Fax: 32-2--6465998
REPUBLIC OF PHILIPPINES
106, Paseo de resas,
Unversal Re Building (2nd floor)
Makati
Metro Manila
Tel : 817-5001, 817-5010
Fax: 00632-816-4941
THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN
Plot No. H IG G-3, Upper Chubachu
Thimphu, Bhutan
Tel : 22539,
Fax: 975-22629
REPUBLIC OF POLAND
Ul Rejtna 15, M-20/21
02516 Warsaw
Tel : 480637,483200,480540
Fax : 48-22-484974
FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL
Shis QL-10, Conj, 01, Casa-16
Brasila-DF,
Barzil CEP: 71635-350
Tel : 248-4830,248-4905
Fax: 55-61-2484 609
STATE OF QATAR
Villa. No. 13, St No. 810
42 lbn Bajah,
Opp: Doha Cinema
P.0 Box No. 2080, Doha
Tel : 673471, 671927
Fax: (0974) 671190
REPUBLIC OF FRANCE
39, Rue Erlanger
75016 Paris, France
Tel: 46519033, 4651930
Fax:(33-1)46519035
RUSSAIN FEDERATION
Zemiedelski Peroulok-6
Moscow-1 1 9121
Tel: 246-79-00
Fax: 248-3185
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Dove Strasse 1
10587 Berlin
Tel: 030-3989750, 030-39897521
Fax : 030-39897510
Fax : 0228-354142
KINGDOM OF SAUDIARABIA, RIYADH
Sulaimaniya, Al-waroud Quarter
North of Aruba Street,
House No 50
Sulamaniya,Riyadh
Tel: 4195300. 4192594, 4196665
Fax:4193555
HONG KONG
Room 3807, Chian Resources Building
26, Harbour Road, Wanchai,
Hong Kong
- Art and Culture of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a melting pot of races. She, therefore, has a mixed culture. Her deep-rooted heritage is amply reflected in her architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and painting. Three great religions- Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam influence Bangladeshi culture in successive order, with Islam having the most pervading and lasting impact. Like a colorful montage, the cultural tradition of the country is a happy blending of many variants, unique in diversity but in essence greatly symmetrical. Bangladesh has a rich tradition of Art. Speciniens of ancient terracotta and pottery show remarkable artistry. Modern painting was pioneered by artists like Zainul Ahedin, Qamrul Hasan. Anwarul Haque, Shafiuddin Ahnied, Shafiqul Amin, Rashid Chowdhury and S.M. Sultan. Zainul Ahedin earned worldwide fame by his stunning sketches of the Bengal Famine in 1943.Other famous artists of Bangladesh are Abdur Razzak, Qayyum Chowdhury, Murtaza Baseer, Aminul Islam, Debdas Chakraborty, Kazi Abdul Baset, Syed Jahangir, and Mohammad Kibria. The earliest available specimen of Bengali literature is about a thousand years old. During the mediaeval period. Bengali Literature developed considerably with the patronage of Muslim rulers. Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi and Alaol are some of the famous poets of the period. The era of modern Bengali Literature began in the late nineteenth century Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate is a vital part of Bangalee culture. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Datta. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya, Mir Mosharraf Hossain and Kazi Ahdul Wadud are the pioneers of modern Bengali Literature.
- Wear of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is primarily a Muslim and conservative country and so there are certain things one should not wear. Female visitors should maintain a conservative dress standard and avoid showing much flesh beyond head, hands, and feet. Long lightweight skirts (or trousers) with a cotton blouse tend to work best for business situations. Immodest dress may attract unsolicited attention.
A cotton lungi and a jersey called kurta are the common attire for men in rural areas. A lungi is a loop of cloth, somewhat like a very, very loose skirt or a sarong. It hangs from the waist to the ankles and is gathered in front at the waist and twisted into a sort of half knot, with the ends tucked in so they won't unravel. If a Bengali boy wants to run, swim, fish, or play, he can pull the bottom of the lungi up and tuck it into his waist, ready for action. On special occasions, they may wear a pajama-panjabi. In the urban areas men have, however, largely adapted to western costume.
Sari is women's universal dress, both in the cities and countryside. A sari a long piece of cloth that they wrap around their waist, tucking it in at the waist, then wrapping it around their shoulders. Usually they also wear a blouse. The top part of the sari can rest around the back of the neck or be pulled over the top of the head, leaving the face uncovered. Some girls and some women wear a Salwar Kameez
- Economy of Bangladesh
For higher GDP growth, investments in both public and private sectors will need to be accelerated. The prevailing political and economic stability has greatly encouraged investment in the private sector. The trend of foreign direct investment is very encouraging. Source: www.travelbd.com
The government is committed to market economy and has been pursuing policies for supporting and encouraging private investment and eliminating unproductive expenditures in the public sector. A number of measures have been taken to strengthen the planning system and intensify reforms in the financial sector. The present government believes that wastage of resources is a far greater obstacle to development than inadequacy of resources. Source: www.travelbd.com
It is common knowledge that many development efforts in the past years turned into exercises in futility because of inefficiency and corruption in high places. Terrorism was allowed to paralyse law and order. Administration was over centralized at the cost of local government institutions. The government has, therefore, decided to decentralize administration in the quickest possible time.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $230 billion (2001 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.6% (2001 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,750 (2001 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
Agriculture: 30%.
Industry: 18%.
Services: 52% (2000).
Population below poverty line: 35.6% (1995-96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Lowest 10%: 3.9%.
Highest 10%: 28.6% (1996).
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (2000)
Labor force: 64.1 million (1998).
Note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99.
Labor force-by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 25%, industry and mining 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996).
Budget:
Revenues: $4.9 billion
Expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000).
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical, light engineering, sugar, food processing, steel, fertilizer.
Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (2001)
Electricity-production: 13.493 billion kWh (2000).
Electricity-production by source:
Fossil fuel: 92.45%
Hydro: 7.55%
Nuclear: 0%.
Other: 0% (2000).
Electricity-consumption: 12.548 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity-exports: 0 kWh (2000).
Electricity-imports: 0 kWh (2000).
Agriculture-products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry.
Exports: $6.6 billion (2001)
Exports-commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood.
Exports-partners: US 31.8%, Germany 10.9%, UK 7.9%, France 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%,
Italy 4.42% (2000).
Imports: $8.7 billion (2001)
Imports-commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement.
Imports-partners: India 10.5%, EU 9.5%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 8.5%, China 7.4% (2000)
Economic aid-recipient: $1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha.
Exchange rates: Taka per US dollar - 57.756 (January 2002), 55.807 (2001), 52.142 (2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June.
- Culinary art in Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cooking is a culinary art- form. A taste tantalizing blend of wonderful and fragrant spices that will keep you coming back for more. Many non-Bangladeshis have probably eaten Bangladeshi food without knowing them. For example, over 80 percent of the "Indian" restaurants in the U.K. serve Bangladeshi food. If you loved it, it was probably Bangladeshi.Bengali cooking is also known for it's wide array of sweets made from milk. Rasho-gollah, kalo- jam, shandesh,mishtidoi,shemai,chamcham ... the names go on and on.
- Baggage rule of Government of Bangladesh
List of Taxable Baggage Items
(a) Imported goods, other than personal and household items are taxable.
(b) Each person is allowed two suitcases not exceeding 65 kg total as personal and household luggage. However, if the 3rd suitcase is of Magazines which are used for education purpose are not taxable.
(c) Imported items which are used for commercial purposes are taxable
(d) Bangladesh citizens are not allowed to import Alcohol/Alcoholic beverages.
The following items, which may be imported as personal/Household items, are taxable as per the tax mentioned in brackets.
1. Television:
(a) Up to 21" Tk. 5000/-
(b) Up to 25" Tk. 7500/-
(c) Up to 29" Tk. 10,000/-
2. VCR/VCP/ Satellite receivers Tk. 3000/-
3. VCD/DVD/LD/MD Player Tk. 4000/-
4. Music center:
(a) with general CD and detached Speaker Tk. 2000/-
(b) Component system (CD/VCD/DVD/LD/MD set) Tk.8000/-
(c) Detachable ` (CD/VCD/DVD/LD/MD Set) Tk.15, 000/0-
5. Refrigerator /Deep Freezer Tk. 5000/-
6. Dish Washer/Washing /Knitting Machine Tk.3000/-
7. Electric Sewing Machine/Knitting Machine Tk.1000/-
8. General Photocopier/ Photo Enlarger Tk. 10,000/-
9. Aircooler/AirConditioner:
(a) Window type Tk. 10,000/-
(b) Split type Tk. 25,000/-
10. Fax Machine Tk. 5000/-
11. Oven:
(a) Microwave oven Tk. 2000/-
(b) Gas oven with burner Tk. 5000/-
12. Dish Antena Tk. 7000/-
13. Gold bars or bullion (Maximum 5 kg) Tk. 300 (per 11.664 gm)
14. Silver bar or bullion (Maximum 20 kg) Tk. 6/ (per 11.664gm)
15. Mobile/Cellular Telephone tk. 5000/-
16. Air gun/Air rifle Tk. 2000/-
17. Candelabrum Tk. 300/- per point
18. Carpet up to 15 square meters Tk. 500sq. meter.
Schedule-2
Duty & Tax free goods
1. Cassette Player/Two-in-one
2. Disk man/Walkman (Audio)
3. Portable Audio CD player
4. Desktop / Laptop Computer (with Printer & UPS)
5. Video Camera
6. Still Camera
7. General/Push button/Cordless telephone Set
8. General/Electric Oven
9. Rice Cooker /Pressure Cooker
10. Blender/Juicer/Coffee Maker
11. General and Electric Type writer
12. Sewing Machine (manual)
13. Table/Pedestal Fan
14. Sports materials (for personal use)
15. 200gms gold/silver ornaments (Not more than 12 pcs of each item)
16. One Cartoon Cigarette (200 stick).
- Bangla Calendar
Pahela Baishakh is indeed a momentous occasion in the life of each and every Bengalee. It is the first day of Bangla calendar year. To every Bengalee, young and old, rich and poor, wise and ignorant, it is a time of gaiety to be celebrated with great merry-making, to be enjoyed in every possible manner, an occasion which enables us, in the words of Tennyson, to drink life to the lees.' It is a cruel irony of fate that a few orthodox Muslims in our country, shrouded by sheer ignorance, look down upon this Nababarsha festival, simply because they inadvertently consider it to be a festival of non-Muslim origin. But there is no shadow of doubt that the Bangla calendar that we follow today was introduced by the Muslims in this sub-continent.
The Pahela Baishakh so warmly celebrated all over the country today originated not from Bangladesh, but from an entirely different part of this sub-continent more than thousand miles away. What is more, the Bangla Saal was introduced not by any Bangladeshi but by a non- Bengalee in whose grandfather's vein flowed the blood of both Gengis Khan and Tamerlane.
Yes, what is popularly known as Bangla Saal today saw the light of day through an ordinance promulgated by Akbar the Great, the renowned grandson of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babar whose mother and father were descendants of Gengis Khan and Tamerlane respectively. It was to immortalise a momentous occasion, a crucial juncture of history that the great Moghul introduced this new system of calendar 415 years ago.
The calendar so introduced was originally known as Tarikh-e-Elahi and it was introduced on the 10th or the 11th March in the 29th year of Akbar's reign i.e. in 1585 A. D. It, however, dates from the day of Akbar's ascension to the throne of Delhi and commemorates his coronation as the Emperor of India in 1556. The Second Battle of Panipath and the Coronation of Akbar as the Emperor of India are indeed great events in the annals of history. The Moguls had nearly lost the throne of Delhi for good. Akbar was not even an adult when the life of Humayun was suddenly cut short on the stairs of his own library.
What is more, the mighty and competent Hindu general Himu, the Commander-in-Chief of Islam Shah, had conquered both Delhi and Agra and declared himself Raj Chakravarty. It seemed that the days of the Great Moghuls were numbered and they would be driven out from the sub-continent forever. But the brave and indomitable Akbar rose to the occasion and faced the music with courage and conviction. With the able guidance and help of Bairam Khan, Akbar created history by defeating the invincible' army of Himu at the Second Battle of Panipat on the 5th of November 1556. This was indeed a momentous occasion in the annals of history. It not only re- established the Moghul dynasty on the Indian soil but also ensured its continuation for many a year to come. As a result, the Moghuls ruled over this sub-continent with glory and greatness for three hundred years more. It was the greatest achievement in Akbar's chequered life and undoubtedly one of the greatest events in the Moghul history. It was to glorify and immortalise the historic event and also to facilitate the collection of revenue during harvest in a more systematic way that Akbar the Great introduced Tarikh-e-Elahi form the 10th of Rabiul Awal in 963 A.H.
It may be mentioned in this connection that from the very beginning of his reign, Akbar felt the need of introducing a uniform scientific, workable and acceptable system of calculating days and months through a reformed calendar. With this end in view, he commissioned Amir Fathullah Shirazi, a distinguished scientist and the most famous astronomer of the day, to make a recommendation for the reformed calendar. Abul Fazal, the renowned scholar and a minister of Akbar the Great, in his scholarly work Akbar Namah, gives details of the events leading to the new era under the Royal Forman of Akbar. Abul Fazal explains that the use of the Hijrah (Hegira) Era was unfair to the peasantry, because 31 lunar years were equal to 30 solar years and the revenue was collected on the basis of lunar years whereas the harvest depended on the solar ones. Abul Fazal was right because the lunar year consists of 354 days and the solar years has 365 or 366 days. Thus there is difference of II or 12 days between the lunar and the solar years.
The Forman (Royal Proclamation) ran as follows: "In this dominion adorning time and auspicious epoch, when a Qarn (cycle) of the victorious session on throne of sovereignty has elapsed, and good day of fortune has begun to smile, a world- obeyed' Forman was issued to the effect that the governors of the Imperial dominions, and the other offices of state and finance, who in accordance with their degrees and positions, are recipients of the royal favours, should know as follows:
'Whereas the great officers of the court have represented to us as follows:" It is not hidden from the Inspired Kind that the object of establishing an era is that the seasons of affairs and events may be known with ease, and no one has any occasion for alteration.
Suppose, for example, someone makes a contract, or takes a favor or a loan, and the period of execution be 4 years, 4 months: unless the exact date of the beginning be known, it will be difficult, or rather impossible, to determine the date of completion. It is event too that whenever an era has prevailed for a long time, the establishment of a new one opens the gates of ease and prosperity for all mankind.
The repeated representation of this body of men, and regard for their positions, prevailed and were accepted, and an order was issued that the new year, which followed close on the year of ascension, should be made the foundation of the Divine Era, and that the gates of joy and comfort should be opened.
Also that in the almanacs of India they (the almanac writers) should enter this new era instead of their discordant eras... and that they do away with their various eras. And whereas in the almanacs current in India the years were solar, and the months lunar, we ordered that the months of the new era should be solar.'
Abul Fazal eulogises the Forman of 992 A.H. (1584 A.D.) in the following way: The pillar of the founders of the Sacred Era was the learned of the age, the Plato of cycles (Alwani) Amir Fathullah Shirazi whose title was Azad-ud-Daula. It was he who in a happy hour laid the foundation of this heavenward soaring edifice. Although the foundation (i.e. the Forman) took place in 992 A.H. yet the position of events dates from the beginning of the sacred accession of Akbar.
He further adds: The Forman ordered that the new year which followed close on the year of accession should be made the foundation of the Divine Era and accordingly the first of Muharram (the first month of the Hegira calendar) of 963 A.H. being close to the historic occasion was also made the starting point of the Tarikh-e-Elahi." Since the month of Muharram coincided with the Bengali month of Baishakh in 963 A.H., the month of Baishakh in Bengal was made the first month of the Bengali Era instead of the month of Chaitra which was the first month of the Shaka Era being practiced in the then Bengal.
The months of the new Bengali Era (or Tarikh-e-Elahi) were initially known as Karwadin, Ardi, 'Vihisu, Khordad, Teer, Amardad, Shahriar, Aban, Azur, Dai, Baham and Iskander Miz. Nobody knows for sure how and when we started naming the months as Baishakh, Jaishtha, etc. It is presumed that these months, based on the names of the stars, were derived from the Shakabda which was introduced in 78 A.D. to commemorate the reign of the Shaka dynasty in this subcontinent.
The star-based names of the months were derived as follows:
Baishakh from the star known as Bishakha
Jiashthya from Jaishtha
Ashara from Shar
Sraban from Srabani
Bhadra from Bhadrapada
Ashwin from Aswaini
Kartik from Kartika
Agrahayon from Agraihon
Poush from Poushya
Magh from Magha
Falgun from Falguni, and
Chaitra from Chitra stars.
Some claim inadvertently that the Bangla calendar was introduced by Shashanka, king of Bengal, to commemorate his conquest of Assam. But records testify to the fact the Shashanka, son of Maha Sengupta, conquered Benaras and moved towards Chilka lake and never towards Assam.
The system of celebrating Nababarsha or Pahela Baishakh (Ist of Baishak) was also introduced by Akbar the Great. After introducing Tarikh-e-Elahi, he abolished the hitherto practised Muslim festivals and replaced them by 14 new festivals, one of which was Nawroze or the celebration of the New Year's Day. It was the celebration of Nawroze which enabled Prince Selim (later emperor Jehangir) to meet and fall in love with Meherunnisa (known as Nurjahan in history). It was again in one such Nawroze festival that the Prince Khurram (known as the Emperor Shahjahan in history) first came across Mumtaz Mahal, whom he immortalised through the great "poetry in marble" known the world over as Taj Mahal. Had there been no Nababarsha (or Nawroze) festival, there perhaps would be no Nurjahan, and no Taj Mahal.
- Dance of Bangladesh
- Drama of Bangladesh
Famous Drama personalities include Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Ramendu Majumder, Mamunur Rashid, Nasiruddin Yussuf, Humayun Faridi, Fardousi Majumder, Suborna Mustafa and others.
- Literature of Bangladesh
- National Anthem of Bangladesh
Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal)
My Bengal of gold, I love you
Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune
as if it were a flute,
In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from
your mango-groves makes me wild with joy-
Ah, what a thrill!
In Autumn, Oh mother mine,
in the full-blossomes paddy fields,
I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!
Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection
and what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of
banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!
Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like
Nectar to my ears!
Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
my eyes are filled with tears!
- About Bangladesh
It's a land of enormous beauty, hundreds of serpentine rivers, crystal clear water lakes surrounded by ever green hills, luxuriant tropical rain forests, beautiful cascades of green tea gardens, world's largest mangrove forest preserved as World Heritage, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the wild lives, warbling of birds in green trees, wind in the paddy fields, abundance of sunshine, world's longest natural sea beach, rich cultural heritage, relics of ancient Buddhist civilizations and colorful tribal lives, - Bangladesh creates an unforgettable impression of a land of peace.
You'll appreciate our culture and the environment. These are not simply sightseeing excursions, but real-time learning experiences. Enjoy an ideal blend of adventure and exploration with comfort and relaxation. Here you find that you are not alone. With us, any place in Bangladesh is a home away from home.
HISTORY: Bangladesh lies on the eastern fringe of the Indian Sub-Continent, and its people have always been great lovers of freedom. As a result, the area has nearly always enjoyed a fair degree of sovereignty during its entire history, sometimes as one state and sometimes as several, with only perfunctory allegiance to the central ruling powers. It became a part of the British Empire in the 18th century. In 1947, when the subcontinent was divided into Pakistan and India, it became a part of Pakistan. When the Bengali nation separated from Pakistan through armed struggle in 1971, Bangladesh became an independent and sovereign country.
LOCATION: Bangladesh lies in the North Eastern part of South Asia and is surrounded by India on the West, North & East. To the South it has the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar to the South East. It sits between 20’34” and 26’36” North Latitude and 88’01” and 92’41” East Longitude.
AREA: 1,44,036 sq. km.
POPULATION: approx. 120 million (Dhaka 10 million)
ETHNIC HERITAGE: The population of Bangladesh is a mixture of Dravidians, Aryans and Mongolians, belonging to the black-haired, dark skinned and short featured Austro/Mongoloid group. Hill tribes have their own distinctive racial features.
CULTURE: Our culture is rich and intermingling; Aryans, Hindu, Mughals, Iranians and colonial Europeans have left their marks in the cultural identity of the people.
CLIMATE: The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical with temperatures ranging from an average daytime low of 15*C in the cold season to a top of 35*C in the hot season. Annual rainfall varies from 1000 mm in the west to 2500 mm in the south-east and up to 5000 mm in the north-east where tea is grown.
Three-quarters of the annual rainfall occurs between June and September. The 90% to 95% humidity during this season is almost unbearable for some travelers. The humidity remains high all year round producing thick fogs in winter and making chilly nights in the north feel much colder than they are.
Bangladesh has three main seasons: the monsoon or wet season from late May to early October, the cold season from mid October to the end of February and the hot season from mid-March to mid-May. There are two cyclone seasons - May to June and October to November.
BEST SEASON: October to March, when the sun is mild and pleasant, is the best season for a visit. The "Monsoon" season (June to August) also has its own charms.
CURRENCY: The unit is Taka, made up of 100 Paisa. 1 U.S. $ is equivalent to about Tk.51.50 at present.
VISA: Anybody visiting Bangladesh must obtain a visa.
DHAKA: The capital Dhaka, intersected by the river Buriganga, is a sprawling and bustling metropolitan city, has an exciting history and rich cultural heritage. Founded in 1608, the city enjoyed the glory of being the capital of the region when it was successively under the Mughals and the British rule. Dhaka became the country’s capital when Bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign country in 1971. Once known as ‘city of 52 bazaars and 53 lanes’ and ‘city of mosques and Muslin’, Dhaka has an amazing blend of Mughal, Victorian and modern architecture as well as many historic relics. The recent spurt in high rise buildings is changing Dhaka’s skyline very fast.
- District & City of Bangladesh
Dhaka is located in one of the world's leading rice- and jute- growing regions. Its industries include textiles (jute, muslin, cotton) and food processing, especially rice milling. A variety of other consumer goods are also manufactured here. The Muslim influence is reflected in the more than 700 mosques and historic buildings found throughout the city. Dhaka is divided into an old city and the new city, and many residential and industrial communities.
Dhaka was founded during the 10th century. It served as the Mogul capital of Bengal from 1608 to 1704 and was a trading center for British, French, and Dutch interests before coming under British rule in 1765. In 1905 it was again named the capital of Bengal, and in 1956 it became the capital of East Pakistan. The city suffered heavy damage during the Bangladesh war of independence (1971). The romanized spelling of the Bengali name was changed from Dacca to Dhaka in 1982.
Chittagong
Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh and a busy international seaport, is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century A.D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and given the title of "Porto Grande" by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers. Chittagong combines remains true to both the descriptions even today. It combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the shooting quiet of a charming hill town.
The Shahi Jama-e-Masjid and Qadam Mubarak Mosque are two of the most impressive buildings in the city. It's also worth visiting the Ethnological Museum in the Modern City, which has interesting displays on Bangladesh's tribal peoples. There are good views and cooling breezes from Fairy Hill in the British City in the north-western sector of the city.
Chittagong is the country's chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery are also located in Chittagong.
Language: Bangla, English is spoken and understood.
Wearing Apparel: Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.
Communication & Transport: Chittagong is connected by road and rail with rest of the country. Air link is available with Dhaka and Calcutta.
Car Rental: Rent-A-Car facilities are available for city sightseeing and trips to Rangamati, Cox's Bazaar, Sitakunda and other touristically important places.
Hill Districts: The Hill Tracts is divided into three districts, namely Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
From Chittagong a 77 km. road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you to Rangamati, the headquarters of the Rangamati Hill District which is a wonderful repository of scenic splendours with flora and fauna of varied descriptions. It is also connected by water way from Kaptai.
N.B For visit of foreign tourists to the Hill Districts prior permission from the Government is required which can be arranged through Travel Bangladesh (TRAVELBD).
The Hills: The Hill Tract is divided into four valleys surrounded by the Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and Matamuhuri rivers and their tributaries. The ranges or hills of the Hill Tracts rise steeply thus looking far more impressive than what their height would imply and extend in long narrow ridges. The highest peaks on the northern side are Thangnang, Langliang and Khantiang while those on the southern side are Ramu, Taung, Keekradang, Tahjindong (4632 ft, highest in Bangladesh), Mowdok Mual, Rang Tlang and Mowdok Tlang.
The forests: The valleys of the Hill Tracts are covered with thick-planted forests. The vegetation in semi- evergreen to tropical evergreen dominated by tall teak trees. The natural vegetation can be seen best in the Rain-khyong valleys of the Bandarban district. This district provides the country with valuable wood used for various purposes, besides supplying wood and bamboo for the Karnaphuli Paper Mills and the Rayon Mills situated at Chandraghona. Here a tourist may be lucky to see how huge logs of wood are being carried to the plain by the tamed elephants.
Climate: There are there main seasons, the dry season (November to March), which is relatively cool, sunny and dry, the premonsoon season (April and May), which is very hot and sunny with occasional shower, and the rainy season (June to October), which is warm, cloudy and wet.
Tribal life: The inhabitants of the Hill Tracts are mostly tribal. Life of the tribal people is extremely fascinating. Majority of them are Buddhists and the rest are Hindus, Christians and Animists. Despite the bondage of religion, elements of primitiveness are strongly displayed in their rites, rituals and everyday life. The tribal families are matriarchal. The women-folk are more hardworking than the males and they are the main productive force.
The tribal people are extremely self-reliant, they grow their own food, their girls weave their own clothes and generally speaking, they live a simple life. Each tribe has its own dialect, distinctive dress and rites and rituals. The common feature is their way of life, which still speak of their main occupation. Some of them take pride in hunting with bows and arrows. Tribal women are very skilful in making beautiful handicrafts. Tribal people are generally peace loving, honest and hospitable. They usually greet a tourist with a smile.
Other Tourist Attractions
Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami: Situated on a hillock at Nasirabad, about 6 km. to the north-west of Chittagong town, this shrine attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises. Tradition has it that these animals are the descendants of the evil spirits (genii) who were cast into this shape because they incurred the wrath of the great saint who visited the place about 1100 years age.
World War II Cemetery: In a well-preserved cemetery at a quiet and picturesque place within the city lie buried in eternal peace over 700 soldiers from British, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Myanmar, East and West Africa, The Netherlands and Japan who laid down their lives on the Myanmar front during the World War II.
Shrine of Shah Amana: The Shrine of Shah Amanat is another place of religious attraction, located in the heart of the town; the shrine is visited by hundreds of people everyday who pay homage to the memory of the saint.
Court Building Museum: Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a panoramic bird's eye view of Chittagong. This had been the scene of intense activity during the independence War in 1971. A museum has been established here
Foy's Lake (Pahartali Lake): Set amidst picturesque surroundings in the railway township of Pahartali 8 km. from Chittagong this is an ideal spot of outing and picnic thronged by thousands of visitors every week.
Mercantile Marine Academy at Juldia: The only training institute of its kind in Bangladesh, situated on the month of the river Karnaphuli.
Patenga and Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches: Patenga beach is about 22 km. from Chittagong and is approachable by a motor able road. On the way to the beach one passes the Patenga Airport. Another ideal picnic spot is the Fouzdarhat sea-beach about 16 km. from Chittagong.
Port Area: Located near the river mouth of the river Karnaphuli, the Chittagong port has a recorded history from 9th century. Today, this is the principal seaport of the country
Ethnological Museum: This museum located in Agrabad is a treasure-house of a variety of tribal culture and heritage of Bangladesh
Zia Museum: The government Circuit House where former president Ziaur Rahman was assasinated has been turned into a museum.
Sitakunda: About 37 km. from Chittagong lies an interesting place known as Sitakunda, served by a railway station of the same name. Famous among the many temples in this place are the Chandranath Temple and the Buddhist Temple has a footprint of Lord Buddha. These places particularly the hilltops are regarded as very sacred by the Buddhists and the Hindus. Siva-chaturdashi festival is held every year in February when thousands of pilgrims assemble for the celebrations, which last about ten days. There is a salt-water spring 5 km. to the north of Sitakunda, known as Labanakhya.
Chandraghona: Forty-eight kilometer from Chittagong, on the Kaptai Road is Chandraghona where one of the biggest paper mills in Asia is located. Close to the paper mill there is a rayon factory, which produces synthetic fibers from bamboo.
Sylhet
Sylhet has a population of almost 0.7 milliom people and has one medical college, one University, and one cadet college. It is at present a divisional headquarter and the city of the Mausaleumm of Hazrat Shahajalal( Rahm ) and the birth place of Bangobir General Mohammed Ataul Gani Osmani, the commander in chief of the Bangladesh Forces during our liberation war. It has an Army Cantonment (but not full division), and the country's 3rd largest airport.
Jessore
Jessore has a population of nearly 0.6 million. It has an education Board, a cantonment with a full division, the Bangladesh Air Force Academy with 4th largest Airport in our country, some jute and textile industries and 8 Daily news papers in both Bangla and English. At present, there are 8 degree colleges in the city proper.
Comilla
Comilla has almost 0.5 million people. It has a cantonment with full division, the Bangladesh Rural Academy, a Cadet college, a Medical college and an Education Board.
Bogra
Bogra with nearly 0.5 million population and some pharmaceutical industries, textile, medical college and cantonment with a full division.
Rajshahi
Rajshahi with nearly 0.4 million people and divisional headquarter, university, BIT, medical college, education board, cadet college and a cantonment (not full division ) and an airport Although, there are so many educational institutions and government offices in Rajshahi, it's population is still less than those of the above mentioned cities of Bangladesh. Rajshahi is called a student city. And it is one of our four metropolitan cities.
Barisal
Barisal is a city with nearly 0.38 million people and a divisional headquarter, medical college, cadet college, some pharmaceutical industries, textile industries and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's head office. Barisal is fast growing city of our country stands on the Kirtan Khola River. Recently, country's first short landing and take off airport has been completed over there in Barisal and a private Airlines named Air Bengal has begun its regular air flight between Dhaka's Tejgaon Airport and Barisal.
Khulna
It is a divisional headquarter in southwestern Bangladesh. An important river port and produce collection and trade center, it is connected by river steamer, road, and rail to the major cities of the southern Gangetic delta. Shipyards are located 3 miles (5 km) south, on the Kazibacha River. Forest products from the Sundarbans supply Khulna's industries, which include jute, oilseed, cotton-textile, paper, and board mills and match and newsprint factories.
Khulna is one of our four metropolitan cities and has a university, a Medical college, a BIT, a Cantonment (Zahanabad Sena Nibash not with a full division), a Naval Base (BNS Titumir), the country's only Telephone Cable and Newsprint industry. Bangladesh' largest Ship building industry is also there.
- Essential Safety Information for Travellers
Always take good care of your passport. Don't give or handover your passport to anyone. You need that to go and come in every country of the world. Without a passport you will not be able to get in the plane.
Keep your passport with you at all times. If you are visiting friends or family, make sure that your passport is in a safe place. If you are in a hotel or shopping around the town, always check on it.
Do you have a duplicate copy of your passport? If not, make at least 3 photo copies of your passport. Leave one behind at your permanent address, 2nd copy with you when you traveling but not with the original passport (or keep it with your traveling companion). Incase you lose your passport; you would need the photocopy for your identification. While making photocopy, make sure to copy all the relevant pages of your passport (mainly the page with your photo and profile)
If you have a scanner - scan you passport and send it to your own e-mail address. It could be very helpful incase if you lose your passport and photocopy can't be located.
If incase, you lost your passport, notify the local police authority and contact your embassy immediately. Do not delay on reporting the lost of your passport. Your travel arrangement might.
When it comes to traveling abroad, first piece of document you need is a passport. It is the most important document. Following are some of the very you should keep in mind: be delayed due to lost of your passport.
Where else do you need a passport? Source: www.travelbd.com
If you pulled over or stopped by the law enforcement officers in a foreign country, passport is you first identity along with your international drivers license.
If you like to use your credit card for your shopping need, passport can be used as your identification.
- Festivals and Holidays of Bangladesh
Muslim Holidays:
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country with about 85% of its people professing Islam as their faith. The Muslims of Bangladesh celebrate their Islamic holidays with much enthusiasm. Some of the important days are:
Eid-ul-Fitr: This marks the celebration at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Bangladeshis mark this day by first taking part in a morning prayer with other Muslims. Eid-ul-Azha: Festival of sacrifice. The day marks the supreme devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) by his willingness to sacrifice his son. Those who can afford to sacrifice cattle in the name of God, and the meat is then shared with friends, family, and the poor. This is also the culmination of the Hajj or holy pilgrimage. Other significant days include Shab-e-Barat, Jamaat-ul-Wida, Shab-e-Qudr, and Muharram (Ashura).
Hindu Holidays:
Janmastami: Celebration of the birth of Rama. Durgapuja (Dashomi) : The 10 day festival associated with vanquishing demons, in particular Rama's victory over Ravana in the Ramayana, and Durga's victory over the buffalo-headed Mahishasura. People wash their vehicles clean on this day and decorate it with flowers and leaves of mango tree. Sweets are made. The young people distribute leaves of a particular tree, which are of symbolic gold. One can watch the Ram Lila, which is a dramatic performance of the life of Rama.
Buddhist Holidays:
Buddha Purnima: Buddhists commemorate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. This occurs on the first full moon of the Bengali month of Baishakh.
Christian Holidays:
Christmas: Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Flora & Fauna in Bangladesh
Each season produces its special variety of flowers in Bangladesh; among them, the prolific Water Hyacinth flourishes. Its carpet of thick green leaves and blue flowers gives the impression that solid ground lies underneath. Other decorative plants, which are widely spread are Jasmine, Water Lily, Rose, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Magnolia, and an incredible diversity of wild orchids in the forested areas.
Bangladesh is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and others of the cat family, such as leopards and the smaller fishing and jungle cats. Tigers are almost exclusively confined to the Sundarbans, but their smaller relatives prey on domestic animals all over the country. There are three varieties of civet, including the Large Indian Civet which is now listed as an endangered species. Other large animals include Asiatic elephants (mostly migratory herds from India), a few black bears in Chittagong division, wild pigs and deer. Monkeys, languor, gibbons (the only ape in the subcontinent), otters and mangooses are some of the smaller animals. Wild buffalo and rhinoceros were recorded in Bangladesh, but all became extinct in the last century.
Reptiles include the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, crocodile, python, king cobra and a variety of other poisonous snakes. The voluble gecko lizard is appropriately known here as tik-tiki. Marine life includes a wide variety of both river and sea fish.
Bangladesh can boast of being the habitat to more than 650 species of birds, almost half of those found on the entire subcontinent. Tucked in between the Indian subcontinent and the Malayan peninsulas, Bangladesh attracts both Indian species in the west and north of the country, and the Malayan species in the east and south-east. It is also conveniently located for the migratory birds heading south towards Malaysia and Indonesia and those moving south west to India and Sri Lanka. In addition, there are a number of Himalayan and Burmese hill species, which move into the lowlands during winter. Despite the fact that many of these species are rare or localized and that the overall number of birds has rapidly declined in the past two decades, bird watching in Bangladesh is very rewarding.
Not far from Dhaka, in the Modhupur Forest, is an extremely important habitat under national protection. This area is great for a variety of owls, including the popular and rare Brown Wood Owl, wintering thrushes and a number of raptors. The Jamuna River floods the area regularly and provides winter habitats for water fowl, waders, and occasionally the Black Stork from December to February.
Lying close to the Himalayas, the Sylhet area has extensive natural depressed lands locally called ‘haors’ (pronounced ‘howers’, wetlands). During the winter season they are home to huge flocks of wild fowl. Outstanding species include the rare Baer’s pochard and Pallas’ fishing eagle, along with a great number of ducks and skulkers. Other important habitats are the remaining fragments of evergreen and teak forests, especially along the Indian border near the Srimongal area. The blue-bearded bee-eater, red breasted trogan and a wide variety of forest birds, including rare visitors, are regularly seen in these forests. One of two important coastal zones is the Noakhali region, with emphasis on the islands near Hatiya, where migratory species and a variety of wintering waders find suitable refuge. These include large numbers of the rare spoonbilled sandpiper, Nordman’s greenshank and flocks of Indian skimmers.
The Sundarbans, the second and most important coastal zone, is the richest area for all kinds of wildlife and the most difficult to penetrate. With its miles of marshy shorelines and brackish creeks, it supports a great number of wetland and forest species, along with large populations of gulls and terns along the south coast. Nine varieties of kingfishers have been recorded here including the brown-winged, white-collard, black-capped and the rare ruddy kingfisher.
Abundance of Bangladesh's bird life makes it an ornithologist's paradise. Of the 525-recorded species, 350 are resident. Among them are bulbul, magpie, robin, common game birds, cuckoos, hawks, owls, crows, kingfishers, woodpeckers, parrots and myna. A wide variety of warblers are also found. Some of them are migrants and appear only in winter. The migratory and seasonal birds are pre-dominantly ducks.
Of the 200 species of mammals, the pride of place goes to the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderbans, the largest block of littoral forests spreading over an area of 6,000 sq. km. Next comes the elephants found mainly in the forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts districts. South Himalayan black bear and the Malayan bear are also seen here. Six types of deer are found in the hill tracts and the Sunderbans. Of them the spotted deer, barking deer and sambar is the most familiar. Clouded leopard, leopard cat, mongoose, jackal and rhesus monkey are also found. Among the bovine animals, three species- buffalo, ox and gayal- are found. There are about 150 species of reptiles of which the sea turtle, river tortoise, mud turtle, crocodiles, gavial, python, krait and cobra and common. About 200 species of marine and freshwater fish are also found. Prawns and lobsters are available in plenty for local consumption and export. In the shallow water of the floodplains, ponds and swamps of the country various hydrophytes and floating ferns grow in abundance. Tall grasses present a picturesque site near the banks of the rivers and the marshes. Around 60% of the Gangetic plain is under rice paddy and jute cultivation. The village homes are usually concealed by the lush green foliage of a wide variety of trees, thickets of bamboo and banana plants. A characteristic feature of the landscape is the presence of a variety of palm and fruit trees.
Each season produces its special variety of flowers in Bangladesh; among them, the prolific Water Hyacinth flourishes. Its carpet of thick green leaves and blue flowers gives the impression that solid ground lies underneath. Other decorative plants, which are widely spread are Jasmine, Water Lily, Rose, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Magnolia, and an incredible diversity of wild orchids in the forested areas. Lying close to the Himalayas, the Sylhet area has extensive natural depressed lands locally called 'haors' (pronounced 'howers', wetlands). During the winter season they are home to huge flocks of wild fowl. Outstanding species include the rare Baer's pochard and Pallas' Fish Eagle, along with a great number of ducks. Other important habitats are the remaining fragments of evergreen and teak forests, especially along the Indian border near the Srimongal area. The Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Redheaded Trogon and a wide variety of forest birds, including rare visitors are seen in these forests. One of two important coastal zones is the Noakhali region, with emphasis on the islands near Hatiya, where migratory species and a variety of wintering waders find suitable refuge. These include rare viitors like Spoon billed Sandpiper, Nordman's Greenshank and flocks of Indian Skimmers.
The forest cover of Bangladesh is only about 9 percent. The thickest forests are in the coastal Sunderbans and the hill tracts in the northeast. Extensive areas of Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Kushtia are under mango, litchi, sugarcane and tobacco cultivation.
- Money and Currency of Bangladesh
Travellers cheques: Can be exchanged on arrival at Dhaka Airport. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.Exchange rate indicators against Sterling and the US Dollar: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Taka against Sterling and the US Dollar:
Currency restrictions: The import of foreign currency is unlimited (subject to declaration at time of arrival for sums in excess of US$5000). The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. The import and export of local currency is limited to Tk100.Banking hours: 0900-1500 Sunday to Thursday
Duty Free and CustomsThe following goods may be imported into Bangladesh without incurring customs duty.
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims only); a reasonable amount of perfume; gifts up to the value of Tk500.Note: Duty-free items may be bought at the duty-free shop at Dhaka Airport on arrival.
Prohibited items: Firearms and some animals.Customs Regulations: There are restrictions on importing currency and weapons. Contact the Embassy of Bangladesh for specific information.
- Natural Resources in Bangladesh
Land
Total area: 144,000 square kilometers;
Land area: 133,910 square kilometers
Land boundaries: 4,246 km total; 193 km with Myanmar, 4,053 km with India,
Coastline: 580 km.
Land distribution:
· Arable land 67%
· Forest and woodland 16%
· Permanent crops 2%
· Meadows and pastures 4%
· Others 11%.
- Visas for Bangladesh
Restricted entry: The government of Bangladesh refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel. - PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 3 months after departure required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of Bahamas, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Malawi, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Vatican City and Zambia for stays of up to 90 days; (b) transit passengers continuing their journey the same for first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport;(c) tourist and business travellers arriving at Zia, Dhaka and Patenga international airports, provided holding return air tickets, who may be granted 'landing permission' by the by the Chief Immigration Officer for stays of up to 15 days.
Visas for Bangladesh
Restricted entry: The government of Bangladesh refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel.
Passports: Passport valid for 3 months after departure required by all.
Visas: Required by all except the following:
(a) Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bhutan, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Montserrat, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Uruguay, Vatican City and Zambia for stays of up to 90 days.
(b) Transit passengers continuing their journey the same for first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
(c) Tourist and business travellers arriving at Zia international airport, Dhaka and Patenga international airport, provided holding return air tickets, who may be granted 'landing permission' by the Chief Immigration Officer for stays of up to 15 days.
Note: Visas are not required by Bangladesh nationals nor by former Bangladesh nationals holding British passports provided they have the statement' no visa required for travel to Bangladesh' stamped in their passport by the Bangladesh High Commission. Please also note any foreign visitor overstaying the allotted period may be charged a fine for each day of overstay.
Types of visa: Entry, Visit, Tourist and. Entry visas may be issued for short conference or journalistic trips (although not for business trips).
Validity: Single- and Double entry: 6 months from date of issue. Multiple-entry: 6-12 months from date of issue. Stays are for a maximum of 90 days each.
Application to: Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission.
Application requirements:
(a) Valid passport.
(b) 2 completed application forms.
(c) 2 passport-size photos.
(d) Fee.
(e) Letter from employer or other relevant letters for business and conference trips.
Working days required: 24 hours for a single-entry visa; 48 hours for other types of visa. 7-10 days for postal applications.
- Peoples of Bangladesh
A member of the Indo-European family of languages, Bangla (sometimes called Bengali) is the official language of Bangladesh. Bangladeshis closely identify themselves with their national language. Bangla has a rich cultural heritage in literature, music, and poetry, and at least two Bengali poets are well known in the West: Rabindranath Tagore, a Hindu and a Nobel laureate; and Kazi Nazrul Islam, a Muslim known as the "voice of Bengali nationalism and independence." Bangla has been enriched by several regional dialects. The dialects of Sylhet, Chittagong, and Noakhali have been strongly marked by Arab-Persian influences. English, whose cultural influence seemed to have crested by the late 1980s, remained nonetheless an important language in Bangladesh.
Biharis, a group that included Urdu-speaking non-Bengali Muslim refugees from Bihar and other parts of northern India, numbered about 1 million in 1971 but had decreased to around 600,000 by the late 1980s. They once dominated the upper levels of Bengali society. Many also held jobs on the railroads and in heavy industry. As such they stood to lose from Bangladesh independence and sided with Pakistan during the 1971 war. Hundreds of thousands of Biharis were repatriated to Pakistan after the war.
Bangladesh's tribal population consists of about 1 million people, just fewer than 1 percent of the total population. They live primarily in the Chittagong Hills and in the regions of Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Rajshahi. The majority of the tribal population (778,425) live in rural settings, where many practice shifting cultivation. Most tribal people are of SinoTibetan descent and have distinctive Mongoloid features. They differ in their social organization, marriage customs, birth and death rites, food, and other social customs from the people of the rest of the country. They speak Tibeto-Burman languages. In the mid-1980s, the percentage distribution of tribal population by religion was Hindu 24, Buddhist 44, Christian 13, and others 19.
The four largest tribes are the Chakmas, Marmas (or Maghs), Tipperas (or Tipras), and Mros (or Moorangs). The tribes tend to intermingle and could be distinguished from one another more by differences in their dialect, dress, and customs than by tribal cohesion. Only the Chakmas and Marmas display formal tribal organization, although all groups containe distinct clans. By far the largest tribe, the Chakmas are of mixed origin but reflect more Bengali influence than any other tribe. Unlike the other tribes, the Chakmas and Marmas generally live in the highland valleys. Most Chakmas are Buddhists, but some practiced Hinduism or animism.
The country's population is almost evenly distributed throughout its 64 districts except for the three Hill Tracts districts, which are rather sparsely inhabited. Regionally, the eastern districts have a slightly higher density than the western ones. On average, a district has a population of about 1.8 million, a thana 230,000, a union 25,000 and a village 2,000. There are 490 thanas, 4,451 unions and 59,990 villages. The number of households is about 20 million. On average, a household consists of 5.6 persons. The tribal people, who lead a simple life, are generally self-reliant, producing their own food and drinks and weaving their own clothes.
There are 4 metropolitan cities and 119 municipalities in the country. The level of urbanization is low at 20%. This leaves 80% of the country's total population of about 120 million to live in the rural areas, which primarily depend on a poorly developed agriculture for livelihood. The capital city of Dhaka has an estimated population of 8.58 million. The annual growth rate of the population has come down to 1.75% with the acceptance of family planning practices rising to 48.7%. The crude birth rate per 1000 is 25.6 and the death rate is 8.1. Life expectancy at birth is 59.5 years. The rate of child mortality per 1000 has come down to 76.8 and that of maternal mortality to 4.5. About 96.3% families in the country have now access to safe drinking water. The sex ratio is 106 males for every 100 females. The density of population per square kilometer is 800.
Some 44.3% of the people are literate with about 5 million having passed secondary school level and another 1.27 million being graduates. The primary school enrollment rate has risen to 86% and the rate for secondary school enrollment to 33%. To intensify promotion of compulsory primary education, the food-for education programme has been extended to over 16,000 schools. More and more primary schools will be brought under this programme.
- Religion in Bangladesh
Hinduism is professed by about 13 percent of the population. There are also significant numbers of Buddhists in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh also has a very small Christian community.
Islam in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Most Bangladeshi Muslims.
- Religious Festivals and Holidays in Bangladesh
Muslim Holidays:
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country with about 85% of its people professing Islam as their faith. The Muslims of Bangladesh celebrate their Islamic holidays with much enthusiasm. Some of the important days are:
Eid-ul-Fitr: This marks the celebration at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Bangladeshis mark this day by first taking part in a morning prayer with other Muslims. Eid-ul-Azha: Festival of sacrifice. The day marks the supreme devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) by his willingness to sacrifice his son. Those who can afford to sacrifice cattle in the name of God, and the meat is then shared with friends, family, and the poor. This is also the culmination of the Hajj or holy pilgrimage. Other significant days include Shab-e-Barat, Jamaat-ul-Wida, Shab-e-Qudr, and Muharram (Ashura).
Hindu Holidays:
Janmastami: Celebration of the birth of Rama. Durgapuja (Dashomi) : The 10 day festival associated with vanquishing demons, in particular Rama's victory over Ravana in the Ramayana, and Durga's victory over the buffalo-headed Mahishasura. People wash their vehicles clean on this day and decorate it with flowers and leaves of mango tree. Sweets are made. The young people distribute leaves of a particular tree, which are of symbolic gold. One can watch the Ram Lila, which is a dramatic performance of the life of Rama.
Buddhist Holidays:
Buddha Purnima: Buddhists commemorate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. This occurs on the first full moon of the Bengali month of Baishakh.
Christian Holidays:
Christmas: Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus.
- Traditional Festivals and Holidays in Bangladesh
The Bengali Calendar is based on ancient sub-continental calendars which was codified and standardized by the Mughal Emperor Akbar about 6 centuries ago. The start date of the Begali calendar was made to coincide with the start date of the Islamic calendar (i.e. the date of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Hejira). The calendar is a solar one, which is composed of six seasons that revolve around the region's agricultural cycle.
More on the Bangla Calendar (roots and origins).
Another traditional day (though not a national holiday) is Pawhela Falgoon, the first day of spring, which is observed across the country through traditional festivities and colourful programmes. Spring fairs, cultural programmes and exchanges of greetings and gifts among friends and beloved ones mark the day. People from all walks of life throng the venues of different programmes wearing colorful dresses including traditional 'spring sarees' and 'Panjabi'. Other programmes of the day include exchange of flowers, gifts and 'Rakhi-Bandhan', and poetry recitations.
- SAFETY AND SECURITY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY
All of Tours Initiatives programs are handled exclusively by the professional logistical team of Travel Bangladesh (TRAVELBD) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The team is on call 24 hours a day and is in daily contact with each of the groups touring, anywhere they may be, to handle any issues connected with the group, including medical problems, issues of discipline, mail, laundry, and exchanging money and even how to deal with a child who is homesick. Taking care of your child is our paramount concern and we have made a conscious decision to cut no corners and spare no expense in making sure that our participants get the best possible care while on our trips
Travel Bangladesh (TRAVELBD) offers the most comprehensive logistical service package in the teen travel market:
