A JOURNEY THROUGH
BANGLADESH
Dr. Kauser Jahan, P.E.
Associate Professor of Civil
and Environmental Engineering
Rowan University
DESTINATION BANGLADESH
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/ind/ban.htm
Reading the world's press you could be forgiven for
thinking that Bangladesh is a disaster zone rather than
a travel destination. But hiding behind these image of
cyclones and floods is a strikingly lush and beautiful
land with a rich history and a variety of attractions
unusual for a country this size. For a start, you can
visit archaeological sites dating back over 2000 years;
check out the longest beach and the largest littoral
mangrove forest in the world; and see decaying `Gone
with The Wind' mansions of 19th-century maharajas.
Overview
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History
Land
Nature
People
Seasons
Faith
Festivals
• Science and
Technology
• Language
BANGLADESH
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and India
Area:
Land area:133,910 sq km
Comparative area: slightly smaller than
Wisconsin
Population: 128,094,948 (July 1995 est.)
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist,
Christian, Other
Literacy:
(1990)
age 15 and over can read and write
35% of total population
females: 22%
The Land
• Bounded by India on the
north and west, by India
and Burma on the east, and
by the bay of Bengal on the
south.
• Clearly divided into two
distinct regions - the North
Eastern and the South
Eastern mountain ranges
and the vast alluvial
plainlands
•Sylhet- hills
and hillocks
100-200 feet
high
•Chittagong
Hill Tracts highest peak
4034 feet
History
• Under British rule Eastern Bengal
• 1947-1971 East Pakistan
• 1971 Independent Country
• Can be traced as far as the upper
Paleolithic period
History
• Mahasthangarh- 3rd/4th century BC
earliest known epigraphical record (coins,
northern black polished pottery
capital of the Mauryas, Sungas, Guptas,
Palas
• Mainamati- 7th-12th century A.D.
• Paharpur - largest Buddhist monastery of the
subcontinent (177 cells, 70 feet above
ground)
• Muslims arrived in 1205 A.D.
Mainamati
The Delta Plains
Divided into 3 main regions
• WEST (Kushtia, Jessore, Faridpur,
North Bengal and Northern parts of
Khulna
•EAST (Central and Southern Faridpur,
Bakergong)
•Estuary of the delta (Sunderbans,
South West Barisal)
RIVERS
“The history of Bengal is in a sense
the history of her rivers”
“Rivers are the source of life for
Bengal”
“The trade, nation, realm, territory and
culture of Bengal are related to the
ebb and flow of rivers, their course
changing and the rise and fall of the
delta land”
RIVERS
• River currents are significant.
Padma, Meghna and Jamuna
• Largest delta in the world. GangesBrahmaputra
Faith and Religious Festivals
“Worship is as natural as eating”
• Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians,
Tribes
• Atmosphere of tolerance and harmony
• Festivals
– Muslim festivals - Eid (Ramadan and Hajj)
– Hindu - (Durga Puja)
– Buddhists (Maghi Purnima) Christians
(Christmas)
People
• Farming, Fishing, Pottery, Handicrafts
(Embroidery, Rattan, Jute), Textiles (Sarees,
Western Garments) Jewelry, Transportation
(Rickshaws, Autorickshaws, Ferries, Boats),
Dairy
• Industries: Textile, Jute, Silk, Carpet, Textile,
Leather, Chemical (food, pharmaceuticals,
fertilizer), Bone-china, Tea gardens, Tourism?
• Music, Painting
FESTIVALS
• Religious: Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-uz-Zoha
• State Holidays: Independence day,
Victory Day, Shaheed Day
• Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh)
SEASONS
Six seasons
• Summer (Grishma) Scorching heat and
humidity, Mangoes, Lichis, Jackfruit
• Borsha (Monsoon) Heavy torrential rains,
flooding, tidal waves, Homemade goodies
• Sharat (Autumn), Beautiful weather, Blue skies
cirrus clouds, Poetry, Kite-flying
• Hemonto (Early Winter) Harvest, Date Juice,
Molasses, Peetha, Cricket
• Sheet (Winter) Harvest
• Boshonto (Spring) Trees, Flowers, Outdoor
gatherings
STAR MOSQUE
AHSAN MANZIL
Saderghat (Riverfront on the
Buriganga)
The following website have been used for this
presentation.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/ind/ban.htm#attr
http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/