Bangladesh

The Bengal region was absorbed into the Mughul Empire in the 16th century, and Dhaka, the seat of a nawab (the representative of the emperor), gained importance as a provincial center. But it remained remote and difficult to govern — especially the section east of the Brahmaputra River — outside the mainstream of Mughul politics.

In 1859, the British Crown replaced the East India Company, extending British dominion from Bengal, which became a region of India, in the east to the Indus River in the west.

When British India was partitioned and the independent dominions of India and Pakistan were created in 1947, the region of Bengal was divided along religious lines. The predominantly Muslim eastern half was designated East Pakistan — and made part of the newly independent Pakistan — while the predominantly Hindu western part became the Indian state of West Bengal.

In 1971, East and West Pakistan fought a civil war. Indian sympathies lay with East Pakistan, and in November, India intervened on the side of the Bangladeshis. On Dec. 16, 1971, Pakistani forces surrendered and Bangladesh — meaning “Bengal nation” — was born. The new country became a parliamentary democracy under a 1972 constitution.

Art

Bangladesh has a folk heritage influenced by animist, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim traditions. Art includes woven goods, pottery and terra cotta sculpture. Folk theater is common in villages and usually occurs during harvest time or at village fairs.

Music

The rich tradition of music of Bangladesh can be divided into three distinct categories: classical, folk and modern.

Folk music, nurtured through the ages by village bards, is the most popular and timeless form of music in Bangladesh. Folk music is rich in devotional mysticism and lovelores. Modern Bengali music originated from two distinct schools. The first is a blend of East and West. The second experimented with the synthesis of classical, folk and Middle Eastern musical strains, and was spearheaded by the rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Language

Bangla (also known as Bengali): ShAgatom (Welcome), AmAr nAM (My name is...), Kemon Achho? (How are you?), DhonnobAd (Thank you)

Sports & Games

Bangladeshis enjoy playing cricket, soccer and badminton.

Typical Foods

A typical Bangladeshi meal is spicy and consists of beef and sometimes mutton, chicken, fish or egg. Vegetables are served with lentils and plain rice. A common and popular snack is jhal muri (hot puffed rice).

Bangladesh has relatively few schools and cultural institutions, even though facilities were increased substantially in the 1970s. Primary school education is free, but at least one-third of all children are not enrolled in school. Of children enrolled in school, around 70% reach the fifth grade.

Education is highly respected in Bangladesh. The first question people ask is, "What year of education did you obtain?" Almost all office jobs require a university degree. People who lack education have a hard time finding employment. Most people without a primary education are day laborers or rickshaw pullers. Parents will work very hard to get their children the best education they can afford. Tutoring is necessary at all levels in Bangladesh to pass general testing. However, tutoring is expensive and many people cannot afford it.

Bangladesh is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Islam is the state religion, while the state also provides for the right to practice the religion of one's choice. The Muslim influence is evident in politics, and the government respects the Muslim consciousness of the majority of its citizens.

Religion is taught in government schools, and parents may choose to have their children taught in their own religion; however, many government-employed religious teachers are not members of the religions they teach.

When parents choose for their children to attend religion classes away from school, transportation arrangements are often worked out with local churches or temples, which then direct religious studies outside of school hours.

Besides the national holidays of New Year’s Day, Independence Day and Christmas, Bangladesh celebrates numerous Muslim and Hindu holidays and festivals. The Muslim festival of Shab-e-Barat is celebrated by giving alms and sweets to the poor. Hindu festivals include Durga Puja, when Hindus worship the goddess Durga Puja.