cultures around the world

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country of green surrounded by India, Mayanmar and the Bay of Bengal. It is divided into 7 administrative districts which are again devided which are again divided into sub districts.  Bangladesh is one of the most densely-populated countries on Earth. It gained its independence from Pakistan in 1971. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the Bengali people formed a rich heritage.

The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. It is manifested in various forms, including music, dance, and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktale; languages and literature; philosophy and religion; festivals and celebrations; as well as in a distinct cuisine and culinary tradition.

HISTORY:

 Bangladesh achieved independence after 9 month long Independence war, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered d in Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh 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. The war was fought for the language.

CULTURE:

 Bangladesh has a mixed culture which is reflected in its architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and painting. Bangladeshi culture is influenced by three great religions- Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Some of the Muslim festivals are Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Muharram etc. Hin dus observe Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja and many other pujas.  Christmas is observed by Christians. Also there are some common festivities like Pahela Baishakh which is the first day of Bangla year. Music in Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories -classical, folk and modern. Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Sangeet are Bangalees’ precious heritage. Pop song and band groups are also coming up mainly in Dhaka City.

ECONOMY:

 The economy of Bangladesh is a rapidly developing market-based economy. More than half of the GDP is generated by the service sector; while nearly half of Bangladeshis  are employed in the agriculture sector. Other goods produced are textiles, jute, fish, vegetables, fruit, leather and leather goods, ceramics, ready-made goods.Exports of textiles and garments are the largest source of foreign exchange earnings. Shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods manufacturing are important emerging industries, while the jute sector is re-emerging with increasing global demand for green fibres. Remittances from Bangladeshis working overseas, mainly in the Middle East, are another major source of foreign exchange earnings. Other important export sectors include fish and seafood, ceramics, cement, fertilizer, construction materials, cane and leather products.

PEOPLE:

 Bangladeshi people contain a population of 148 millions. The country's population is almost evenly distributed throughout its 64 districts except for the three Hill Tracts. On average, a household consists of 5.6 persons. The tribal people, who lead a simple life, are generally self-reliant, producing their own food and drinks and weaving their own clothes. Some of the way of greeting people is by shaking hands or giving a hug.

ENVIRONMENT:

 Environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources are often observed in Bangladesh due to poverty, over-population and lack of awareness on the subject. It is manifested by deforestation, destruction of wetlands, depletion of soil nutrients, etc. Natural calamities like floods, cyclones and tidal-bores also result in severe socio-economic and environmental damage as it is located just beside the sea. Bangladesh has 7 seasons which gives it a different beauty.

FOOD:

Bangladesh has a large and different varsities of food. One can find a wide diverse range of culinary dishes in Bangladesh. These can range from very sweet to very spicy with everything in between. Traditionally Bangladeshi people have really favored seafood dishes, as it is a costal country.

By

Fatema tuzzohra (maliha)