BANGLADESH
COUNTRY PROFILE
Bangladesh as a vacation land has many facets. Her tourist attractions include archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forest and wildlife. Bangladesh offers opportunities for angling, water-skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, surfing, yachting and sea bathing as well as bringing one in close touch with Mother Nature. She is also rich in wildlife and game birds.
LOCATION AND
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Bangladesh is situated in the north-eastern part of south Asia. It lies between 20' 34' and 2e 36' north latitude and 88' I' and 92' 41' east longitude. The heary and great Himalayas stand as the northen ramparts, while the southern frontier is guarded by the Bay of Bengal. On the west lies the expansive gangetic plains (West Bengal) of India and on the eastern frontier lies the almost impassable forest of Myanmar (Arakan Province) and India (Tripura and Assam hills). These picturesque geographical boundaries delineate out a low lying plain of about 144,000 sq.km. (55,598 sq. miles) criss -crossed by innumerable brooks, rivers, rivulets and streams. Mighty rivers the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, Karnaphuli and others flow through Bangladesh. The unscalable blue is stretched high above, and the green and silvery landscape below runs far and beyond. This is Bangladesh, a fertile land where nature is bounteous.
Bangladesh is a deltaic region. Much of the country's land area has been built up from alluvial deposits brought down by the major rivers. The land is mostly flat except for a range of hills in the south-east. Wooded marshylands and jungles mainly characterize it with forest regions in Sylhet, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban Hill Tracts, Sundarbans, Mymensingh and Tangail.
HISTORY
The history of Bangladesh has been one of extremes, of turmoil and peace, prosperity and destitution. It has thrived under the glow of cultural spiendour and suffered under the ravages of war. The earliest mention of Bangladesh is found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata (the story of Great Battle-9th century B.C). Evidence also suggests that there was a strong Mongoloid presence as well. Soon after, in the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. came the Aryans from Central Asia and the Dravidians from Western India. Then came the Guptas, Palas, Senas, who were Buddhist and Hindus.
From the 13th century A.D. the flood of Muslim invaders and the tide of Islam swamped the Buddhist and Hindus untold 8th century. Sometimes there were independent rulers like the Hussain Shahi and Ilyas Shahi dynasties while at other times they ruled on behalf of the imperial seat of Delhi. From 15th century the Europeans, namely; Portuguese, Dutch, French and British traders exerted an economic influence over the region. British political rule over the region began in 1757 A.D. when the last Muslim ruler of Ben. gal was defeated at Palassey. In 1947 the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Present Bangladesh becomes the Eastern Wing of the then Pakistan. But the movement for autonomy for East
Pakistan started within a couple of years because of language and cultural difference and economic disparity between the two wings. The seeds of independence were sown through the Language Movement of 1952 to recognize Bangla as a state language. Ultimately the then East Pakistan emerged as a sovereign and independent state of Bangladesh in 1971 after nine month - long war of Liberation (starting on 26 March 1971) in which 3 million people courted martyrdom.
Economy
The total cultivable area of Bangladesh is around 24 million acres and there are over 17.5 million cultivators. The principal crops are Jute (0.947 million ton), rice (178.5 million tons), wheat (1.00 million tons), tea (101.15 million pound), sugarcane (7.68 million tons) and tobacco (0.34 million tons), etc. GNP at constant factor cost is 810835.00 million taka, Per capita Income (GNP) at factor cost is 7220.00 taka.
Transportation
Air: Bangladesh can be reached by air from any part of the world. Biman, Bangladesh airlines connects Dhaka with 27 major cities of the world.
Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Athens, Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kualalumpur, London, Muscat, Dhahran, Baghdad, Kuwait, Yangoon, Rome, Tripoli, Tokyo, Singapore, Baharin, Frankfurt, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Sarjah, Seoul, Riyadh and Delhi.
Besides Biman, several other (international) carriers also fly to and from Dhaka.
Biman, Bangladesh Airlines also connects Dhaka with Chittagong, Jessore, Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi Saidpur and Sylhet in its 7 domestic routes. (Biman, Bangladesh Airlines, Ph: 9560151-9; Enquiry & Reservations).
Foreign Airlines:
Aeroflot, Ph: 880-2-506636, 503056, 8613391 Trans World Airlines Inc. Ph:880-2-9552491, 9552208
Air France, Ph: 880-2-9568277, 9563050, and 9551338, Japan Airlines Ph: 880-2-9129322, 9129710
Indian Airlines, Ph: 880-2-9555915, 9557813, 8912205(Airport) Kuwait Airways, Ph: 880-2-9110238, 9118829(City) 8914215(Airport)
British Airways, Ph: 880-2-9564869-72, 8914410, 8912467(Airport) Lufthansa, Ph: 880-2-8618995, 8611191
Railway
The Bangladesh Railway provides an efficient service to places of interest such as Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Mymensingh, Bogra, Rajshahi, Dinajpur starting from Dhaka. The inter-city Express Service is available to and from important cities at cheap fares.
River
Country-Made boats are the most widely used carrier one can see in the river and rivulets. These carry passengers and merchandise on a large scale. The landscape of Bangladesh is dominated by about 250 rivers which flow essentially north-sourth. The alluvial flood plain formed by these rivers covers most of the country. Wherever there is a river and a village, a launch or steamer will ply for trade. A journey by Rocket Steamer service from Dhaka (Sadarghat) to Khulna, the gateway to Sundarbans is a rewarding experience.
Bus/Coach Services
Road transport in Bangladesh is predominantly a private sector affair. Rates are among the cheapest in the world. Express and non-stop services are available to principal towns from Gabtali, Saidabad and Mohakhali bus terminals in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) also maintains a country-wide network of bus services.
Physical geography
It lies roughly between 20°-24¢ North Latitude and 88°-1¢ East Longitude. It has an area of 1,44,000 sq km. Bangladesh is situated on the north eastern side of the South Asian Subcontinent. Her long southern coastline along the Bay of Bengal shares the Indian Ocean with India and Burma. It is bordered on the West by the two Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar and on the East by Assam and Burma. On the North of Bangladesh lies Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan and to their North sprawls the vast territories of Tibet in the People's Republic of China. In the South eastern corner, she has a common border with Burma. The plains of Bangladesh are watered by one of the most remarkable network of rivers in the world the important rivers being Padma, Meghna, Brahmaputra and Jamuna. The Hills, which are located in Sylhet and the Hill Tracts Districts, are mostly low hills covered with green forests.
Shopping
Bangladeshis reputed for her handicrafts. Exquisite hands made articles with a large variety are readily available and prices are cheap. Cottage industry products like fabrics, printed sarees, pink pearls, wood products, coconut masks, folk dolls, horn products, shital pati (mattress having cooling effect), terracotta toys and jute products for decorative purposes are very typical of Bangladesh. Brasswares, delicate silver trinkets, beautiful objects of ivory, embroidered silk sarees, scarves, purses, bamboo decoration pieces, cane and conch shell products, gold and silver ornament, jute carpets and a host of other attractive handicrafts can be bought in the shops, at the handicraft sale centres and galleries in the cities and also at tourist spots. But what really steal the heart of a lady and enchants menfolk are the rich brocades, the silk and cotton sarees and stoles embroidered with silver and golden thread. And, who has not heard of the famous 'Muslin' of Dhaka which used to be the favourite of the Royalties. These are still available.
Shopping Centres:
Duty free Shop:
Duty free Shops at Zia International Airport and City Sales Centre at mahakhali Run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (NCT) and known to be one of world's cheapest offer shopping facilities of wide range of internationally known products.
These shops enjoy the reputation of being well established with a side range of goods at unbeatable prices. Goods available include wines and spirits, perfumes, cigarettes, Hi-Fi stereo and audio visual equipment like T.V. Radio. Recorder VCR, VCP, Cameras, Watches and a range of household appliances. Al purchase must be paid for in foreign currency. DHAKA Founded in 1608, as the seat of the imperial Mughal Viceroys of Bengal, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh has grown from quiet little town to a bustling busy city of 700 mosques.Dhaka is now throbbing with industrial and commercial activities.
Accommodation
Tourist Hotel: Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation the National tourism Organization Operates Number of Modern hotels, motels and cottages throughout the country. Besides there are private hotels and different Government, semi-Government and departmental rest-houses/guest-houses which may be hired. International standard hotels are available in Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. For booking of Parjatan accommodation one may contact Central Reservation, Parjatan Head Office, 233 Airport Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Fax: 880-2-8117235, Phone: 880-2-8119192, 8117855-9 or any Tourist Information Centre.
Restaurant:Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation's Tourist Hotel and Restaurant at Mahakhali is ideal for budget tourists.
BPC Head Office Complex: The Head Office Complex of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation at Airport Road also houses Tourist Information Centre,
Bangladesh is hot and humid in summer and cool in winter. During the monsoon, it rains heavily-average rainfall being 136.42". The climate is characterized by moderately high temperature for about eight months in the year, maximum temperature in summer ranges between 30°C and 38°C, while the minimum during the winter is 9°C.
Food & drinks
Western food is available in all major hotels and most of the big restaurants in import cities. But local dishes are normally far better and more exotic. Curries of many kinds around, cooked with proper spices and hot curry powders, including Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, Chicken, mutton, beef, fish and prawns, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, boti kabab, shutli kabab and a variety of fish curries should be tried. Rice in the form of pulao,
biriani-with rice and mutton or chicken and khichuri are available in any reasonable restaurant. Those who do not care for rice dishes can try mughlai parata, plain parata or naan, which go very well with curries. Seafood and sweet-water fish are available in most of the towns. Fish-lovers should not miss smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki and chingri (lobster/king prawns) malaikari, Prawn dopyaza.
Drinks
Cha: The milky sweet tea available almost everywhere, Lassi: the refreshing yogurt drink. Green coconut water is a fine, safe and refreshing drink. International soft drinks, such as Pepsi, Coca Cola, Fanta, 7-up, Mirinda and Sprite are readily available. Hard drinks are available in big hotels. On Fridays drinking in public areas is not recommended for foreigners.
Desserts Misti Dhohi: Sweetened yougurt, Halua: a common dessert ranging from egg halua to carrot, sooji or wheat cream, almond, pistachio, nuts and so on. Sandesh: a milk based dessert, one of the best available. Zorda: Sweetened rice with nuts. Firni: rice flour cooked in milk, sugar and flavourant. Rasgolla & Kalojam: two popular milk-based desserts and made with sugar, flour and ghee. Ros Malai: round sweets floating in thick milk. Pitha: a blanket term for cakes or pastries including specific varieties such as chitoi, dhupi, takti, andsoha, puli, bhapa and pua
Fruits Mango, Lichee, Banana, Papayas, Jackfruit, Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut and Orange.
Population
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated areas of the world. The present population is about 120 million which makes it the eighth populous country of the world. The average density of population is about 1978 persons per square mile. The lowest density areas are the Hill Tracts Districts, a range of hills and thick forests and the Sundarbans with 76 persons per square mile. About 86.6 per cent of the total population is Muslims. The other segments of the population are the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Christians. In the Indo-Pakistan-Bangladesh Subcontinent, Bangladesh has the largest Buddhist population. DRESS Light woolen in winter and cotton clothes in summer. During monsoon one should be prepared for heavy rains and it is better to carry umbrella/rain-coat.
