Capital of Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. Dhaka is a Mega city and one of the major cities of the South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, has a population of around 15 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh. With its colorful history, Dhaka is known as the 'City of Mosques' and for its famous fine Muslin and Jamdani cloth, which has a great ethnic value. The old name of Dhaka was Jahangirnagar.

Most exciting visiting place of Dhaka are the National Memorial (Savar), Lalbagh Fort, Bahadur Shah park, Liberation war museum, Ahsan Monjil, National Parliament Building, Curzon Hall, Dhaka Zoo, Botanical Garden, National Park, Central Shahid Minar, Suhrawardy Uddyan (garden), Sonargaon museum etc.

Nazrul Islam (National Poet)

Nazrul was born on 24 May 1899 in the village of Churulia in Burdwman, West Bengal. His father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed, was the Imam of a mosque and the caretaker of a mausoleum. After his father's death in 1908, Nazrul took up his father's job as caretaker and also served as muazzin of the mosque to support his family. He passed the lower primary examination from his village Maktab.

National poet of Bangladesh, called the 'rebel poet' for his fierce resistance to all forms of repression. His poetry, with its vibrant rhythms and iconoclastic themes, forms a striking contrast to Tagore's poetry. Though he respected and admired the older poet, he wrote outside the sphere of Rabindranath's influence and paved the way for the modern Bangla poems of the post-thirties. Please visit http://banglapedia.org/HT/I_0109.HTM for more information about Nazrul.

Comilla Mainamati

The most attractive tourist spot in Comilla is Mainamati. Mainamati (Physical setup) an isolated low, 18 km long and 2 km wide spur of a dimpled range of hills, dotted with more than 50 ancient Buddhist settlements of the 8th to 12th century AD, and known as the Mainamati-Lalmai range extended through the centre of the district of comilla. It lies between latitudes 23°20´N and 23°30´N and longitudes 91°05´E and 91°10´E. It is 8 km west of Comilla town. The Dhaka-Chittagong and the Comilla-Sylhet highways run along the northern part, while the southern portion of the hills can be reached by the Comilla-Chandpur road which runs parallel to its eastern side.

It is famous as an important centre of Buddhist culture; the buildings excavated here were made completely of baked bricks. There are more than 50 scattered Buddhist sites, but the three most important are Salban Vihara, Kotila Mura and Charpatra Mura. Salban Vihara was a well-planned, 170 sq metre monastery facing a temple in the centre of the courtyard. There is a museum which includes terracotta Plaques, bronze statues, a bronze casket, coins, jewellery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscriptions. Kotila Mura comprises three large stupas representing Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the `Three Jewels of Buddhism'. The most important discovery at Charpatra Mura were the four royal copper-plate decrees, three belonging to Chandra rulers, the other to Sri Viradhara Deva, a later Hindu king. Note that some of the major ruins are within a military cantonment and cannot be visited without permission from military officers. Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) also situated there which is also a nice place.

Visit Rangamati

Rangamati is the another wonderful tourist place in Bangladesh. Rangamati has plenty of resource for tourists who are interested to spend their free times. Rangamati is located in the Chittagong Division. The total area of the district is 6116.13 sq km. It is bounded by the Tripura state of India on the north, Bandarban District on the south, Mizoram State of India and Chin State of Myanmar on the east, and Khagrachari and Chittagong Districts on the west.
Rangamati is a favorite holiday choice because of its beautiful landscape, scenic beauty, lake, tribal museum, hanging bridge, homespun textile products, ivory jewellery etc. For tourists the attractions of Rangamati are numerous, tribal life, fishing, speed boat cruising, water skiing, hiking, bathing or merely enjoying nature as it is.

The only Tribal Cultural Museum in the Hill Tracts region was established at Rangamati town in 1978 and run by the Tribal Cultural Institute. It preserves valuable objects and articles of different tribes depicting their socio-economic, cultural and historical tradition. These include typical tribal dresses, ornaments, arms and ammunitions, coins, statues made of wood, bronze and other metals, musical instruments, ivory products, handicrafts, paintings on tribal life etc. Open: Saturday- Thursday, 10.00 a.m.- 4.00 p.m. Closed: Friday & Public Holidays. Entry is free.

The Kaptai Lake is a wonderful spot for boating and cruising. Parjatan and private operators offer a number of cruises by mechanical boats. One can go to various scenic spots in Shuvalong, Barkal, Longadu, Mainimukh and other areas by boat from Rangamati.The communication is very good and lots of facilities for tourists are established there.

So, don't miss the opportunity to go there to enjoy the original natural beauties.

Sundarban (Largest mangrove forest)

Sundarban is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world, located in the southern part of Bangladesh. It lies on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta at the point where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. The forest lies a little south to the Tropic of Cancer between the latitudes 21º30´N and 22º30´N, and longitudes 89º00´E and 89º55´E. With its array of trees and Wildlife the forest is a showpiece of natural history. The forest consists of about 200 islands, separated by about 400 interconnected tidal rivers, creeks and canals.

The Bangla word ban means forest, and the name Sundarban was coined either from the forests of Sundari tree ie Sundari-ban, or from the forests of the samudra (sea) ie, Samudra-ban, or from its association with the primitive tribe Chandra-bandhe which was corrupted into Sundarban. The generally accepted explanation, however, is its derivation from the Sundari tree, the most common tree in these forests.

Climate Since the forest is located on the south of the Tropic of Cancer and bounded by the northern limits of the Bay of Bengal, it is classified as tropical moist forest. The temperatures in the Sundarbans are fairly equable than those of the adjacent land areas. The average annual maximum and minimum temperatures vary between 30º and 21ºC. High temperatures occur from mid-March to mid-June and low in December and January. Most rainfall occurs during the monsoon from May to October. Frequent and heavy showers occur from mid-June to mid-September. Often storm accompanied by tidal waves result widespread inundation and cause damage to vegetation and animal life.

In the Sundarbans the saltwater forest is situated in the south-western part where Gewa (E. agallocha), Goran (Ceriops decandra), Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Ora (S. caseolaris), Passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), Dhundul (X. granatum), Bain (Avicennia alba, A. marina, A. officinales), and other rhizophores, and Hantal (Phoenix pelludosa) dominate. The typical mangrove species dominate the central part of the forest. The moderate saltwater forest covers most of the southern parts of Khulna and Bagerhat districts where Sundari is the dominant species.

The spectacular Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer (Cervus axis), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), Jungle cat (Felis chaus), Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), the Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), Otter (Lutra perspicillata), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are notable mammalian in the forest.

Most frequently visited sites in the Sundarbans include Katka, Hiron Point (known commonly as Nilkamal), Dublar Char and Tiger Point (Kachi Khali). Katka attracts tourists for its landscape and wildlife. There is a forest rest house here and an observation tower. Hiron Point also has a rest house and an observation tower. Dublar Char is an island with a beautiful beach. The other attraction of the island is the fishing activities that take place every year between mid-October and mid-February.

Its really a beautiful place to visit. I think the natural beauty of Sundarban is excellent. So, if you have enough time please visit Sundarban at least once.

Cox's Bazar (worlds largest sea beach)

Cox’s Bazar is the largest sea beach in the world. It is the most attractive tourist resort of Bangladesh. The town was named after Lieutenant Cox, who had rehabilitated here a group of MAGHs seeking shelter in British territory after the conquest of Arakan by the Burmese. It’s a wonderful place. The attractions of Cox's Bazar include a drive along the beach, the view of the sun setting on the rolling sea-waves, the moonlit night, and the exciting interior of the bazar and its people. Interesting places around Cox's Bazar include Himchhari, Ramu, Sonadia Island, Maheshkhali, Teknaf and Saint Martin’s Island.

Ekushey February(International Mother Language day)

Ekushey February now also called just Ekushey, 21 February, Shaheed Dibas (Martyrs' Day) and, since 2000, International Mother Language day. On 21 February 1952, corresponding to 8 Falgun 1359 in the Bangla calendar, a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan were killed when police fired upon them. In the firing abul barkat, a university student, rafiq uddin ahmed, a student of Debendra College, manikganj, and abdul jabbar, a young farmer from gaffargaon, were killed. abdus salam, a bank employee, was injured in the firing and died in hospital later. At least two others are also believed to have been killed in the firing that day. On the night of 23 February, the students constructed a shaheed minar (martyrs' memorial) on the spot where the students had been killed. Three days later, the police demolished the memorial.

Nevertheless, the movement for the recognition of Bangla as a state language gained momentum. After the resounding victory of the united front in 1954, Bangla was recognised as one of the state languages of Pakistan at a session of the National Assembly on 9 May 1954.

Ekushey February played an important role in making Bengalis aware of their cultural and national heritage and ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Since 2000, 21 February is also being observed as International Mother Language Day in tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue.

Barsha Baran (Celebrating Bengali New Year)

Whole Nation welcomed Pahela Baishak, the first day of Bangla Year 1415. All people dressed in traditional costumes and gathered at Ramna Batamul (its the main venue of the celebration and Baishaki fair), TSC of the Dhaka University, Charu Kola Institute of Dhaka University. The day was public holiday. Nowadays, its become an integral part of Bangalee culture and tradition. Women in soothing white sarees with red border and men in panjabi and welcomed the new year. The celebration began with Rabindranath Tagore's song "Esho hey Baishak esho esho". Whole country celebrated the new year 1415.

Pohela Baishak (Bengali New Year)

Tomorrow is the Bengali New year (Pohela Baishakh). Pohela Baisakh is freedom of mind, heart and soul. It is the most important festival in Bengali culture. Everybody not only young people but also old people enjoy this festival very much. To the young boys and girls it is as like as velentines day, when all couples and friends alike take a stroll down the park. Sometimes it is called as Panta-Illish festival. People enjoy Panta and Illish on that day. The city becomes a day full of color, actually not only city whole country.

It is the first day of the first month of Bengali year. Naba Barsha a new opening, a new anticipation, filled with delight, happiness and wealth. The system of celebrating Nababarsha or Pahela Baishakh (1st of Baishak) was introduced by Akbar the Great.

Bangladesh is called a land of rivers as it has about 700 rivers including tributaries. Usually the rivers flow south and serve as the main source of water for irrigation and as the principal arteries of commercial transportation. The rivers also provide sweet water fish, an important source of protein. A large segment of population is thus engaged in the fishing sector. On the other hand, widespread riverbank erosion and regular flooding of the major rivers cause enormous hardship and destruction of resources hindering development. But it is also true to say that the river system brings a huge volume of new silt to replenish the natural fertility of the agricultural land. Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Surma, Brahmaputra, Shtolokkha, Buriganga, Kusiara, Gomti are worth mentionable river in Bangladesh.

Villages of Bangladesh

Its a village of Bangladesh. Most of the villages in Bangladesh like this. Maximum houses made by mud in the village. Peoples are very friendly in villages. You will enjoy lots of thing in Bangladeshi village.

History of Bangladesh

Bangladesh, officially known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south.
The borders of the region that constitutes present-day Bangladesh were established in the 1947 Partition of India when the region became the eastern wing of newly formed Pakistan. Bangladesh was formerly known as East Pakistan. Subjected to political and linguistic discrimination as well as economic neglect at the hands of West Pakistan, the Bengalis of East Pakistan declared independence in 1971. After a liberation war Bangladesh was born.
Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world and has a high poverty level. Geographically the country straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta and is subject to annual monsoon floods and cyclones. The government is a parliamentary democracy which has been suspended under emergency law since 11 January 2007. Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, SAARC, BIMSTEC, the OIC, and the D-8.

To be continued…

About Me

I am Md. Mashiur Rahman. My nick name is TIPU. I am working as an Information Technology Officer in Policy and Planning Support Unit -Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (PPSU-MOFL). Its a Danida funded project. My home district is Comilla and my village name is Jammura. Its situated beside the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Its very beautiful village. Actually Bangladesh is a nice country, in my word Bangladesh is the darling child of nature.

Anyway, if any question regarding Bangladesh please ask me.

Thanking You

Md. Mashiur Rahman

Information Technology Officer

Policy and Planning Support Unit
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
Room#1512, Block#6
Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000.
Phone:880-2-9562151, 880-1819-259357 Fax:880-2-9562474
Email: ito-ppsu@accesstel.net, mashiur79@yahoo.com, tipu007@gmail.com