A%20JOURNEY%20THROUGH%20BANGLADESH

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A JOURNEY THROUGH BANGLADESH

• Dr. Kauser Jahan, P.E.
• Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental
  Engineering
• Rowan University

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DESTINATION BANGLADESH http//www.lonelyplanet.co
m/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.
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Overview

• History
• Land
• Nature
• People
• Seasons
• Faith
• Festivals

• Science and Technology
• Language

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BANGLADESH
Location Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and India
Area Land area133,910 sq km
Comparative area slightly smaller than
Wisconsin Population
128,094,948 (July 1995 est.) Religions Muslim
83, Hindu 16, Buddhist, Christian,
Other Literacy age 15 and over can read and
write (1990) 35 of total population females
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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

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• Sylhet- hills and hillocks 100-200 feet high
• Chittagong Hill Tracts - highest peak 4034 feet

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History

• Under British rule Eastern Bengal
• 1947-1971 East Pakistan
• 1971 Independent Country
• Can be traced as far as the upper Paleolithic
  period

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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.

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Mainamati
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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)

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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

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RIVERS

• River currents are significant. Padma, Meghna
  and Jamuna
• Largest delta in the world. Ganges-Brahmaputra

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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)

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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

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FESTIVALS

• Religious Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-uz-Zoha
• State Holidays Independence day, Victory Day,
  Shaheed Day
• Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh)

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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

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STAR MOSQUE
AHSAN MANZIL
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Saderghat (Riverfront on the Buriganga)
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The following website have been used for this
presentation. http//www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/in
d/ban.htmattr http//www.virtualbangladesh.com/