I was on a beautiful sight seeing trip in a remote area of my country, Bangladesh. It's Captai Lake in Rangamati. God, it's so beautiful over there!

Wherever you go to in Bangladesh

Wherever you go to in Bangladesh

The country is alienated into five administrative areas: Dhaka (North Central); Rajshahi (Northwest); Khulna (Southwest); Barisal (South); and Chittagong (Southeast). Formerly, ‘Dhaka’ was spelt ‘Dacca’.

Dhaka (North)
Dhaka, the momentous city and capital of Bangladesh, lies on the Buriganga River. The river connects the city with all major inland ports in the country, contributing to its trade and commerce, as it has done for centuries.
The older part of the city, to the south of the center and on the banks of the river, is dominated both by the commercial bustle of the waterfront and several old buildings. These include the uncompleted 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, the stately Ahsan Manzil palace and museum (sometimes referred to as the pink palace), the Chotta Katra and a large number of mosques. To the north of this region is the European quarter (also known as British City), which contains the Banga Bhavan, the presidential palace, several parks, the Dhakeswari Temple and the National Museum. It is worth noting the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery near Central Railway Station at Kamalapur (established in 1962), which enshrines the thousand-year-old black stone Buddha. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens are a bus or taxi ride into the suburbs. The waterfront has two main water transport terminals at Sadarghat and Badam Tali, located on the Buckland Road Bund. The famous ‘Rocket’ ferries dock here and boats can also be hired. There are many buildings of interest along the river and in the old part of the city. The Khan Mohammed Mirdha Mosque and the Mausoleum of Pari Bibi are worth a visit, as are the Baldha Gardens with their compilation of rare plants. There are dozens of mosques and bazaars to visit – the Kashaitully Mosque is especially beautiful.
The modern part of the city comprises the diplomatic and commercial regions and is to be found further north in areas such as Motijheel and Gulshan.

City tours of Dhaka and its environs are available: contact the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation for further information.

Excursions
Sonargaon, about 30km (20 miles) east of Dhaka, was the capital of the region between the 13th and early 17th centuries and retains a number of historical relics of interest, although many of these are now in ruins.
The Rajendrapur National Park, about 50km (30 miles) north of the capital, is noted for its varied birdlife. Northwest of Dhaka is Dhamrai which contains several Hindu temples. Further north still is Mymensingh, at the center of a region famous for its supply of high-quality jute. The Madhupur National Park and Game Sanctuary is situated about 160km (99 miles) from Dhaka. North of Dhaka is Sylhet, known as ‘the land of two leaves and a bud’ because of its long renown as a tea-growing area. Srimongol is the main center of the Sylhet tea gardens. Nearby Madhabkunda is noted for panoramic scenery and enchanting waterfalls. Around 43km (27 miles) from Sylhet are the ruins of Jaintiapur, once the capital of an ancient kingdom. Tamabil is a border outpost on Sylhet–Shilong Road. There are excellent views of the surrounding area, including some spectacular waterfalls across the Indian border. Zaflong is a scenic spot nearby, set amidst tea gardens and beautiful hills.

Chittagong (Southeast)

Chittagong, the second-largest city in the country, is the principal city of the southeastern administrative division of Bangladesh. It is a blooming port set amid beautiful natural surroundings studded with green-clad knolls, coconut palms, mosques and minarets, against the background of the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal.

The Old City retains many echoes of past European settlements, mainly by the Portuguese, as well as many mosques. These include the 17th-century Shahi Jama-e-Masjid – which closely resembles a fort – set astride a hilltop, and the earlier Qadam Mubarek Mosque. The Chilla of Bada Shah stands to the west of Bakshirhat in the old city. The higher ground to the northwest was, in due course, settled by the British, and this is now where most of the city’s commercial activity is conducted. The Dargah of Sah Amanat is a holy shrine located in the heart of the town.

Excursions
Approximately 8km (5 miles) from Chittagong is the picturesque Foy’s Lake in the railway township of Pahartali. The Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami, a holy shrine situated on a hillock in Nasirabad, is situated 6km (4 miles) to the northwest of the town. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises, supposedly the descendants of evil spirits.

Northeast of Chittagong is Rangamati, a place of scenic beauty and unspoiled tribal life. It is perched on the bank of the humanmade Kaptai Lake. Sitakund, 37km from Chittagong, facial appearance famous temples, including Chandranath and Buddhist temples, a hot spring and the supposed footprint of Lord Buddha. In February, there is often an annual pilgrimage to this spot and lasts about 10 days. In the extreme south of Bangladesh is Cox’s Bazar, a thriving regional tourist center and beach resort, with a mixed population of Bengali and Burmese origin. The town has many thriving cottage industries for weaving and cigar making. This is also where the world’s longest and broadest beach, Inani Beach, can be found; it is 120km (75 miles) long and 55m (180ft) to 90m (300ft) broad (depending on the tide). It has not, however, been fully developed for tourism. The main tourist beach is Patenga, which is also broad and long. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation offers excellent accommodation and catering facilities

Rajshahi (Northwest)
Rajshahi Division, in the northwest of the country, is often ignored by tourists, but it contains a large number of archaeological sites. The most important of these are at Paharpur, where the vast Buddhist monastery of Somapuri Vihara and the Satyapir Vita temple are located; there is also a museum. Other places of interest in the region include the ancient Hindu settlement of Sherpur, near Bogra; Mahastanagar, also near Bogra, which dates back to the third century BC; Vasu Vihara, 14km (9 miles) to the northwest, the site of an ancient but now ruined monastery; Rajshahi, on the Ganges, which has a museum displaying many of the archaeological relics of the area; and Gaur, very close to the border with the Indian state of West Bengal, which contains a number of old mosques. Bogra is a useful base for visiting the archaeological sites of Paharpur, Mahastanagar and Sherpur, although not intrinsically interesting itself. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (NTO) offers package tours to these sites.

Khulna (Southwest)

Khulna Division is principally marshland and jungle. The city of the same name is the administrative capital of the division and is mainly a commercial center, particularly for river traffic. The principal place of interest in this area of the country is the Sundarbans National Park, a supreme example of lush coastal vegetation and the variety of wildlife which it can support. The most famous inhabitants of this region are the Royal Bengal tigers, but spotted deer, monkeys and a great variety of birds are also to be found here. Not surprising, considering this area boasts the largest mangrove forest in the world. Tours (usually for 10 people or more) are organized by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation during the winter; otherwise, boats can be hired from Khulna or Mongla, which is the main port for the Khulna region. Accommodation is available at Heron Point. Other places of interest include the mosque of Sat Gumbad, and the town of Bagerhat (home of Khan Jahan Ali, a well-known Sufi mystic). Kuakata is a newly developed tourist resort for those in pursuit of beaches. Here, visitors can also observe the traditions and exclusive lifestyle of the Rakhane tribes. In this region also stands a 70ft-Buddhist statue.

Barisal (South)
Barisal is the administrative center of the division of the same name. Situated in an area dissected by rivers, it is the most important river port in the south of the country. Just 10km (6 miles) outside Barisal, at Madubashah, is a lake and bird sanctuary. Kuakata is the most outstanding tourist attraction. It is a scenic beauty spot on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh in the district of Patuakhali and has a wide sandy beach which is an ideal vantage point to watch the sun rise and set.
Other attractions include two pre-Moghul mosques: one, which boasts nine domes, is situated at the village of Qasba Guarnadi, and the other, built in 1464, is near Patuakhali.

Wildlife
Bangladesh has several national parks with plentiful wildlife (including the rare Royal Bengal tiger) and many species of exotic birds. Tours (usually for groups of 10 or more people) are organized by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (see General Info section). For further details, see the Where to Go section.

Watersports
Located in the Rangamati Hill District, Kapati Lake offers good opportunities for sailing, swimming and fishing. A range of watersports is also available on the coast, particularly at Cox’s Bazar). Boating enthusiasts may head to Sunderbands National Park, large parts of which are only accessible by rowing boat.

Onlooker Sports
Cricket, hockey and football are among the most popular national sports. The Dhaka Metropolitan Soccer League season begins in April. Games are held in the city stadium and playgrounds. Floodlit badminton courts can be found almost everywhere and visitors are welcome to join the locals at one of their favorite games.

Bangladesh at a glance

Bangladesh at a glance

Official Name	:	The People's Republic of Bangladesh
Geographical Location	:	Latitude between 20o34' and 26o38' North Longitude between 88o01' and 92o41' East
Area	:	147,570 sq. km.
Boundaries	:	North - India (West Bengal and Meghalaya), West - India (West Bengal) East - India (Tripura and Assam) and Myanmar, South-Bay of Bengal.
Capital City	:	Dhaka
Other Major Cities	:	Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal
Standard Time	:	GMT +6 Hours
Climate Variation	:	Winter 11o C - 20o C (October - February) Summer 21o C - 38o C (March - September)
Rainfall	:	1100 mm to 3400mm (June - August)
Humidity	:	Highest 99% (July) Lowest 36% (December & January)
Population	:	145 million
Literacy Rate	:	60%
Language	:	Bangla (national language). Spoken by 95%, other dialects 5%, English is widely understood and spoken.
Principal Crops	:	Rice, Jute, Tea, Wheat, Sugarcane, Pulses, Mustard, Potato, Vegetables.
Principal Rivers	:	Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Surma, Brahmaputra, Karnaphuli, Teesta, Sitalakhya, Rupsha, Madhumati, Gorai, Mahananda etc.
Principal Industries	:	Garments, Tea, Ceramics, Cement, Leather, Jute, Textiles, Electric and Electronics, Medicine, Fishing.
Principal Exports	:	Garments, Knitwear, Frozen Shrimps, Tea, Leather and Leather products, Jute and Jute products, Ceramics etc.
Principal Imports	:	Wheat, Fertilizer, Petroleum goods, Cotton, Edible Oil etc.
Electricity	:	220 Volts AC in all cities and towns
Currency	:	Taka, having 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 in notes and 5,2,1 in coins. Exchange Rate : US$ 1 = Taka 68.00
Religion	:	Muslims - 86.6%, Hindus - 12.1%, Buddhists - 0.6%, Christians 0.4% and others 0.3%.
Government	:	Parliamentary form of Government President is the head of the state while the government elected by the people is headed by the Prime Minster.
Business Hours	:	Government Office Hours: 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Saturday-Thursday, Friday closed. Some Private business houses work on Fridays.
Best Tourist Season	:	October to March.

Bangladesh - You're beautiful...

Country Sketch : Bangladesh

Country Sketch : Bangladesh

If you ever wanted to experience the living reality of the idiom 'when it rains, it pours', Bangladesh is the place to be. During the yearly south Asian monsoon, almost all the water collected by the Himalayas in Nepal, north/northeast India and Bhutan transits through Bangladesh on its trip to the Bay of Bengal, depositing life-giving minerals to the soil all along the Ganges Delta, the biggest river delta in the world. It is here that the mountains literally crumble to the sea. This has resulted in Bangladesh's flatland alluvial topography, which is the defining characteristic of the country except in the hilly regions of the southeast and northeast. The mighty Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers are called the Padma and the Jamuna in Bangladesh, and both of these massive rivers join several other smaller tributaries to eventually become the Lower Meghna, forming the great Gangetic Delta. At its widest point near Bhola Island, the river stretches to a yawning 12km-vide breadth on its final leg towards the sca. Se-2n _cm a boat, the distinctions between land, river, ocean and sky become decidedly uncertain.

As the rivers have steadily shaped and reshaped this land, they have shaped the destinies of its people. It would be a mistake to picture the amazing locations of Bangladesh's rivers according to current maps. For instance, the Brahmaputra used to flow east of Dhaka's present location before a major flood caused it to change course over a 30-year span during the mid-18th century. Simultaneously, the Ganges has also undergone similar changes, as it used to flow through West Bengal via the Hooghly River (nowadays much smaller than it used to be).
Nowhere is this fortune more uncertain than in the country's two disaster-prone areas. Firstly, the coast bordering the Bay of Bengal is vulnerable to tidal surges from cyclones. Secondly, the country's char areas, or river islands, are also extremely prone to seasonal flooding. These islands lie mostly in the northern reaches of the Jamuna River of Rajshahi Division; many inhabited islands are destroyed and reformed each year by flooding. Despite the fact most of the islands are little more than infertile sandbars, poverty forces millions of people to live on them under the risk that their houses could be swept away each year.
In the Lower Meghna region, another area of revelation lies directly adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. Here, two processes of land loss and land accretion happen simultaneously. While the Meghna tears away strips of land beneath the villages each year, its decreasing speed causes it to deposit massive amounts of Himalayan silt into the bay, forming new land that becomes populated almost instantly despite the fact that the precious land doesn't become fully fertile for years. Some geologists even claim that Bangladesh is 'gaining landmass', putting the supposed doomsday scenario of climate change into question.
Wherever the land ends, the Bay of Bengal begins. Most of the sea adjacent to Bangladesh is quite shallow, a result of sedimentation from the region's mighty rivers. About 50km of the coast from the Sundarbans Forest is a deep undersea canyon known as the 'Swatch-of-No-Ground', where the sea floor drops to a depth of over 1,200m at some points. The swatch transports nutrient-rich sediments from the continental shelf to the deep-sea alluvial fan making up the bay. The abundance of these nutrients results in a relatively abundant population of cetaceans at the swatch.
In terms of forest cover, Bangladesh's natural places are sadly few and far between. While the world's largest mangrove forest at Sundarban remains protected, many of Bangladesh's other national parks have not fared so well. Thankfully, with increasing stability and financial progress, conservation programmes are finally starting to get off the ground.

As you start travelling eastward, Bangladesh's geographic portrait takes on a new perspective. While most of the country lies at or just above sea level, the flat landscape gives way to low undulating hills in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the hilly regions of Sylhet, some of which climb to 1,000m above sea level. This landscape is the result of the Indian tectonic plate pushing up against the Asian landmass, the same phenomenon that has resulted in the creation of the Himalayas. Visits to this area offer an experience of the true diversity that Bangladesh possesses, both geographically and culturally.
As a final point, the region's last major significant geographical feature is a massive 120krn-long strip of beach lining tile internal eastern coastline of Bangladesh, said to be the longest natural beach in the world (at 254km, Brazil's Cassino Beach is longer, but according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is partly manmade). Starting at Cox's Bazaar, the white sand stretches all the way down to the Teknaf Peninsula, poking up again briefly at the coral reef island of St Martin's. Most of this beach lies undeveloped except at Cox's Bazaar, where native mangrove forests have long been replaced by jungles of hotels.

The past of Bangladesh

The past of Bangladesh
 

The 13th and 15th Century

From the 13th century A.D. the Buddhists and Hindus were snowed under by the overflow of Muslim conquerors and the tide of Islam up to 18th century. from time to time 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 the 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 Bengal was defeated at Palassey. In 1947 the subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Present Bangladesh became the Eastern Wing of the then Pakistan. But the movement for autonomy of East Pakistan started within a couple of years because of language and cultural differences and economic disparity between the two wings.

The verbal communication Movement
The Language Movement of 1952 to recognize Bangla as a state language may be termed as the first step towards independence.

Political and economic deprivation of the Bengalees prompted Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, to put forward in 1966 his historic six points, the "Magna Carta" which in effect structured the foundation for East Pakistan's future independence.

The War of freedom

In the 1970 elections, even though the Awami League emerged as the largest party in Pakistan Parliament, it was not allowed to form the government by the ruling military junta. In the backdrop of a non-cooperation movement launched against the military regime by Awami League.

Bangabandhu declared at a historic public meeting held at Ramna Race Course (renamed Suhrawardy Uddyan) on 7 March, 1971, attended by around 2 million people, "The struggle this tune is the struggle for freedom, the struggle this tune is the struggle for independence." It was a defacto declaration of independence.

Thus in a preplanned manner on 25th March 1971. The Pakistan army embarked on what may be termed as history's worst genocide. A military crackdown was ordered, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was arrested and taken away to West Pakistan. But just before he was arrested he sent out a call for the liberation war to begin. Known as the Declaration of (lie War of Independence, this hurriedly written historic document read as follows:

"Pak Army suddenly attacked EPR Base at Pilkhana, Rajarbagh Police Line and killing citizens. Street battles are going on in every street of Dacca. Chittagong. I appeal to the nations of the world for help. Our freedom fighters are gallantly fighting with the enemies to free the motherland. I appeal and order you all in the name of Almighty Allah to fight to the last drop of blood to liberate the country. Ask Police, EPR, Bengal Regiment and Ansar to stand by you and to fight. No compromise. Victory is ours. Drive out the enemies from the holy soil of motherland. Convey this message to all Awami League leaders, workers and other patriots and lovers of freedom. May Allah bless you. Joy Bangla".

Autonomy

After nine months of war, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered in Dhaka on 16th December. 1971 after killing an estimated three million people. Due to the heroic resistance and supreme sacrifices of the valiant freedom fighters Bangladesh finally became an independent sovereign state.

Father of the Nation Bangahandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder- president of Bangladesh. He was subsequently assassinated on 15th August, 1975 by a group of conspirators.