Bangladesh is a land of lush hills, gushing rivers, delectable cuisine, and lively stories. The country has some fascinating information, but what makes it stick out?
I’ll give you 15 exciting facts about Bangladesh for avid explorers that want to go beyond the tourist brochures and truly experience this soulful country.
1. Bangladesh’s Primary Language Is Bengali
Bangladesh is the world’s only formally bilingual country. Bengali is the national and official language, while English is also widely spoken. The government has promoted bilingualism by launching campaigns to educate kids in both English and Bengali.
Even so, the two languages aren’t always comprehended equally. Bengali is a dialectal vocabulary with over 60 distinct dialects.
2. Before 1971, There Wasn’t Any Bangladesh
Throughout history, the region, now Bangladesh, has been ruled by Turkic, Indian, and Mughal dynasties.
Despite being detached from West Pakistan, the region was designated East Pakistan in 1947.
The bloodshed of the Bangladesh War of Independence contributed to independence in 1971. However, the country experienced famine, natural catastrophes, and widespread poverty following the war.
Democracy was regained in 1991 and has remained relatively stable despite rapid population increase and economic advancement.
3. The Bangladeshi Flag Represents Islamic Faith
The country has a dark green flag, comparable to Pakistan’s, but it has a red circle mildly off-center to portray the country’s bloodshed during its fight for independence.
The dark green color represents the country’s lush greenery and the Islamic faith.
4. The Country’s Capital, Dhaka, Is The 7th Most Populous City
Dhaka is the state capital of Bangladesh. It’s the 7th most populous city with a population of over 20 million (edging Mumbai, India). However, with that density comes congestion.
According to statistics, the average motor vehicle speed in the city of Dhaka has dropped to 4.5 km/hr, making it slower than most people walk.
5. Life-Size Taj Mahal Replica Is In Bangladesh
Britain managed to conquer this state’s region in 1757 (previously, it was under the control of the Mongols). Asadullah Moni, a local oligarch, built a life-size replica of the Taj Mahal near Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.
This structure is situated on his property’s territory.
6. The Sundarbans Are The World’s Biggest Mangrove Forest
The Sundarbans are one of the world’s largest mangrove forests and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For your information, the Sundarbans is a massive delta created by the Ganges river’s major tributaries.
A massive number of royal Bengal tigers, crocodiles, elephants, and other wildlife can be found here. There are resorts and guest houses along the delta’s waterways, making it a famous tourist place.
7. Bangladesh Has More Than 4 Seasons
Bangladesh is sometimes called “the playground of seasons” due to its 6 seasons.
Summer, monsoon, autumn, late autumn, winter, and spring are the seasons of the nation. Each season brings crops, fruits, ways of life, and festivals. A different festival marks each period.
8. Tea Is Life In Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a well-known tea-producing country, ranking among the top ten largest tea producers worldwide. The country’s tea sector can be traced back to British rule when the East India Company traded tea in the Sylhet region.
Bangladesh produces around 3% of the world’s tea. The top 5 tea varieties are black tea, green tea, instant tea, white tea, and Oolong tea.
9. Skilled Freelancers Are In Abundance In Bangladesh
This country has a large number of skilled freelancers as many Bangladeshis speak fluent English. This figure has increased in recent years, particularly in the IT industry, which includes programmers and web developers.
Many now provide freelancing assistance to western countries where comparable experts can cost up to 5x the price and quiet quitting has become the norm.
10. Bangladesh Is Home To The 3rd largest Beach In The World
Cox’s Bazar beach is the world’s third biggest. It’s a 75-mile stretch of sand and water. Captain Hiram Cox came up with the name. Names for beach segments include Inani Beach, Humchari Beach, and Laboni Beach.
As Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, tourists who visit any beach should dress appropriately.
11. Bangladesh Is Primarily A Vegetarian Country
Bangladesh is undoubtedly the world’s most vegetarian nation, and as a vegetarian myself, this is one place I’d love to live in!
In Bangladesh, the average annual consumption of meat is 4 kilograms per person. By 2025, the annual per capita beef consumption in the Asian country is expected to drop to about 0.83 kilograms per person.
As a result, obesity hasn’t become an issue and Bangladesh is the third least obese country after India and Vietnam.
12. It Was Initially Under East Pakistan
Bangladesh used to be a part of the Mughal Empire. Pakistan was later split into two parts based on religion and present-day Bangladesh was incorporated into East Pakistan.
Bangladeshis were mistreated, and the Pakistanis suppressed their culture. This triggered the War of Liberation, which aided Bangladesh’s independence after the war was won in 1971.
13. Dhaka Is Known As The “City Of Mosques.”
Islam is the most widely practiced religion in Bangladesh. This country has the fourth-largest Muslim population in the world.
It comes as no surprise then that the capital is known as the “City of Mosques.”
The mosque’s designs are splendid and enchanting, with my best recommendations being Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Saat Masjid and Chawk Mosque.
14. Bangladeshi’s Economy Is Based Heavily On Agriculture
The majority of Bangladeshis work in agriculture. Close to 50% of the population is employed in agriculture. Many individuals in this country would perish if farming did not exist.
Clothing and fabrics (mainly derived from cotton) account for approximately 96% of the country’s exports. Many popular brands manufacture clothing in Bangladesh due to lower labor-intensive production costs when compared to many other countries.
15. Bangladesh People Have Unique Mannerisms
So which hand should you be using while you’re here? Answer: The right hand. Always.
Bengalis presume that the left hand is impure, so they do not employ it for passing items, shaking hands, or snacking.
Additionally, the locals rarely smile and foreigners often feel a sense of being unwelcomed. However, this is not because they are unwelcoming in general, but because smiling signifies a sign of childishness.