(People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh)

General Information:

Location: South Asia
Capital: Dhaka
Language(s): Bengali
Population: 169,007,658
Total Area: 147,570 sq km
Currency: Taka
Curious Alcohol Fact: Alcohol is available but not popular among the mainly Muslim Bengalis.
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: 0.19 liter
Most Popular Drink(s): Tea (chai), yogurt – best enjoyed with our Bangladesh shot glass souvenirs

Bangladesh Travel Video

Credits: Dihan Chowdury

The Country

Known to geographers as the land ‘cornered’ by India, Bangladesh is one of the most remarkable nations on earth. The country can be regarded as the junction of two of the world’s greatest rivers –the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The name of the country is translated to mean ‘Land of the Bengals’ and that is a very appropriate description. Bangladesh is a nation of rivers and is riddled in all parts with rivers of various lengths.

During the stormy monsoons, these rivers swell and cause some of the most spectacular floods on the planet. Interestingly, these floods have an annual timetable. However, a proactive measure to the floods is hampered by a number of factors. One is the low-lying nature of the country and another is the incredibly high population density, which makes evacuation almost impossible. Formerly known as East Pakistan, Bangladesh became an independent nation in 1971.

The People

Although most of the people are referred to as Bengalis, the country is actually far from being a homogenous country. There are about 15 different ethnic groups in the country. These include the Magh, Chakma, Mro and the Tripura. These are the largest groups in the country. Others are the Santal, Khasis and the Garo. However, it is quite interesting to know that these ethnic groups actually have a lot in common. For example, almost all of them speak and understand Bengali while they also follow the Islamic faith. Apart from Islam, other faiths are Hinduism and Buddhism, and that is not too surprising considering the proximity of India, Nepal and Myanmar. Bangladeshis are hardworking and warm people and you will always feel at home among them. Muhammed Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank is from this wonderful land.

Places To Visit And Fun Activities

Interesting places to visit in the country are the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern portion of the country. Here, you will be able to see first hand what a typical Bangladeshi settlement looks like and how the people eke out a living from farming and fishing. In the capital city of Dhaka, you can take part in a popular game called adodo in which you are expected to make contact with as many opponents as possible while shouting at the top of your voice. Football is also popular and you can take part in one of the local matches.

Food

Asia is one continent that will never disappoint you when it comes to food. In Bangladesh, you will see the validity of this statement. Traditional dishes in the country contain fish and this can be related to the presence of rivers all over the country. In a Bengali hamlet, a bowl of fried catfish left me asking for more. In many restaurants in Dhaka, getting European dishes was without any hassle.

Drinking

The country is predominantly Muslim and alcohol is not that popular. Instead, tea (chai) is the real deal for most of the people. There is also lasi, a type of yogurt.
Sports in Bangladesh
Unlike what I expected, football is not the most popular sport in Bangladesh. Like in neighboring India, millions of Bangladeshis are passionate followers of the game of cricket. Football is also popular but it lags behind cricket.
Interesting Things About Bangladesh

Interesting Facts About Bangladesh

As you might have guessed, the name of the country means ‘the land of the Bengals’.
Bangladesh was once part of Pakistan.
Also, Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim nations in the world to have been ruled by a woman!
Bangladesh one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
The country is known for its dramatic (and often tragic) annual floods.

Bangladesh souvenirs

Moreover, Bangladesh, with its several iconic symbols and landmarks, has always been and remains one of the most popular places to purchase souvenirs. However, among the many options of Bangladesh-themed souvenirs, shot glasses are considered particularly and intriguing items for collecting or gifting.

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Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).