Bangladesh is a country in South Asia and one of the most densely-populated countries in the world with a population of over 170 million people spread out across almost 150,000 square kilometres.
It shares land borders with India to the north, west and east, and Myanmar to the southeast. To the south, it has an extensive coastline stretching along the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh is a country rich in culture, heritage and natural beauty, yet not explored to the same extent as its bigger South Asian neighbours.
Mohibul Islam is Deputy Director of Marketing and Branding at the Bangladesh Tourism Board. He tells me all about the jewels of his country and Bangladesh’s cultural richness.
“Bangladesh is a lovely land. It is a country of cultural harmony. People of different religions live side by side. In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, there are so many local festivals.
“We have 46 ethnic groups and they live mostly in the hilly areas. They have their own lifestyles, food, costumes and culture. During the month of November, an ethic group celebrate a Hindu festival and pay their tribute to Lord Krishna. It us pure love and affection. This is held in the east of Bangladesh and the Sundarbans.”
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim nation. Mohibul tells me that 93% of Bangladeshis are from the Muslim faith however there are also smaller Hindu, Christian and Buddhist groups. These live rather harmoniously in the country.
Lots of tourists visit Bangladesh during Ramadan, a fundamental period in the Muslim faith. Although there is a myriad of festivals tourists can enjoy on a trip to Bangladesh.
“There are so many festivals throughout the country. Almost 70-80% of Bangladesh’s land produces rice and there is a New Rice festival that is celebrated throughout the country.
“On the 14th April, you have the opportunity to taste Bengali food and biriyani. Bangladesh is a hospitable nation and people from across the world love the Bengali cuisine.
Most of Bangladesh is dominated by the fertile Ganges Delta, the largest river delta in the world. It is formed by the confluence of three huge rivers: the Ganges (known locally as Padma), the Brahmaputra and Meghan rivers, along with their tributaries.
The Ganges joins with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is home to over 57 cross-boundary rivers, the most of any nation in the world.
Lots of Bangladesh’s numerous rivers flow through into the Sundarbans region. The Sundarbans, located in Bangladesh’s southwest coastal region, is divided into the three protected sanctuaries.
It is formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. It extends into the Sundarbans National Park in the West Bengal region of India.
Three protected areas in the Bangladesh Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mohibul emphassies how the ecosystem is very important for Bangladesh’s economy but also how it is a gateway to Bangladeshi culture for tourists. It is also a crucial biodiversity hotspot and a vital sea defence for the low-lying nation.
The Sundarbans is a haven for biodiversity in Bangladesh (Bangladesh Tourism Board)
“Lots of people earn their living depending on the Sundarbans from fishing and from honey. There are lots of stories in the Sundarbans. It is a wonderful place and a blessing not only for economics but also from climate change.
“People can see animal diversity in the Sundarbans, barking deer (also known as Muntjacs), monkeys, alligators and snakes. There are so many species and people have the opportunity to observe this diversity. There are huge species of plants in the area.”
The Sundarbans most likely got its name from Sundari or Sundri, the local name of the mangrove species Heritiera fomes which is abundant in the area.
“Tourists can enjoy the fishing, move between the different canals and enjoy the plant diversity” according to Mohibul.
“They can enjoy the collection of honey. An excellent quality of honey is available in the Sundarbans and tourists have the opportunity to interact with honey collectors.
Lots of honey is produced is the Sundarbans area of Bangladesh (Bangladesh Tourism Board)
“The Sundarbans is a place of huge plant diversity which attract bees to the area. There is a huge opportunity for producing honey in the area and lots of honey is produced.”
To preserve the vital Sundarbans ecosystem, Mohibul tells me that that Bangladesh Forest Department has made a restriction that from 1st May to October, tourists are not allowed into the area.
This is because from April to November it is the breeding season for lots of different animals. Lots of flora and fauna regenerate and grow during this period. Therefore, this allows the ecosystem to recover from the impact of tourism to the region.
The Sundarbans is also home to the West Bengali tiger. The potential of seeing this big cat continues to draw determined tourists to Bangladesh’s coastal waters.
“The West Bengali tiger is the largest animal from the cat family. Very few tourists have the opportunity to see the West Bengali tiger. It is a dream to see the tiger from a distance.
“The Sundarbans is very close to my homeland. It is a complete package for international tourists. The winter is the best time to travel. It is a destination for ecotourism. It does not showcase just the forest but also the culture and the heritage.”
This region is awash with natural riches and brimming with biodiversity. Navigating up its channels is crucial in beginning to uncover Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.
