Bangladesh

 

EARTH’S GREENEST COUNTRY?

Despite being considered one of the world’s more crowded countries, well over 85% of the people live in small villages surrounded by nature. ‘Daffy’ Dhaka (the overstuffed capital) and Chittagong (the largest seaport) aside, rural Bangladesh feels relaxed, uncrowded and friendly. Bangladesh is nestled in the crook of the Bay of Bengal, sharing borders with India and Myanmar, fronting onto the Bay of Bengal. Except for the hill tract regions, the country is largely flat and dominated by the braided strands of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Jamuna and Karnaphuli rivers. Although almost ignored as a tourist spot in the South Asian region, it offers much more than being just a ‘tourist-free’ destination.

A FEW BASIC STATS:

Area: About 144,000 sq. km. (about the size of Wisconsin)
Population: Over 164 million (till we lost count…It is the world’s 8th most populous country)
Capital City: Dhaka (population: 8.5 million and one of the most densely populated areas in the world) People: 95% Bengali, 2% Bihari, 3% Indigenous
Languages: Bengali, English (Binglish) and several tribal languages
Religion: 85% Islam, 12% Hindu, 2% Buddhist and 1% Christian and Animist
Government: Constitutional Republic
Time: GMT/UTC plus six hours
Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz
Weights and Measures: Metric

WHY BANGLADESH?

Bangladesh enjoys a unique position. It is easily accessible from many popular destinations in South Asia but it is still virtually ignored by commercial tourism. To many, this a real advantage, and is particularly true of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (our specialty), which until recently was a restricted zone. With the signing of an internationally acclaimed Peace Accord, it now provides a truly pristine and exciting destination.

FLORA & FAUNA:

Roughly two-thirds of Bangladesh is fertile arable land. The country is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Asiatic elephants (mostly migratory herds from Bihar), and a few remaining black bears. There are also plenty of monkeys, langurs, gibbons (the only ape on the subcontinent), otters and mongooses. Reptiles include the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, pythons, crocodiles and a variety of snakes. There are more than 600 species of birds: the best known is the mynah but the most spectacular are the kingfishers and fishing eagles.

CLIMATE

The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical with temperatures ranging from an average daytime low of 21 degrees Celsius in the cold season to a top of 35 degrees in the hot season. 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 (known in Bangladesh as the ‘little rainy season’) from mid-March to mid-May. There is also a ‘cyclone season’ – May to June and October to November. The best time to visit Bangladesh is in the winter when the weather is dry and fresh. During April, humidity and heat gang up to make conditions rather sauna-like. The rainy season offers unique opportunities to experience this ‘riverine’ country at its greenest.

CULTURE

The Bengal region has a multifaceted folk heritage, enriched by its ancient animist, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim roots. Weaving, pottery and terracotta sculpture are some of the earliest forms of artistic expression. The best known literature of Bangladesh is the work of the great Bengali poets Rabindranath Tagore and Nasrul Islam. Folk theater is common at the village level and usually takes place during harvest time or at melas (village fairs). The various tribal indigenous cultures have been largely undisturbed by foreign or ‘modern’ influences and provide a unique opportunity to experience.

error: Content is protected !!