Introduction of People and Country

Introduction
Bangladesh is Located in the north-eastern part of South Asia. The majestic Himalayas stand
some distance to the north, while in the south lays the Bay of Bengal. West Bengal borders on
the west and in the east there lies the hilly and forested regions of Tripura, Mizoram (India) and
Myanmar. These picturesque geographical boundaries frame a low lying plain of about 1,47,570
square kilometer, crisscrossed by innumerable rivers and streams. Mighty rivers are Padma
(Ganges), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), Meghna and Karnafuli. Bangladesh offers many tourist
attractions, including archaeological sites, historical mosques and monuments, longest natural
beach in the world, picturesque landscape, hill forests and wildlife, rolling tea gardens and
tribes. The rich flora and fauna and colorful tribal life is very enchanting. Each part of the
country offers distinctly different topography, flavors and delicacies. It is home to the Royal
Bengal Tiger, freshwater pink dolphins, historical temples made of red earth.

Geographical Features of Bangladesh

 Geographical location of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country of South Asia and its location is in the Indian subcontinent. The
geographical location of Bangladesh is in 20034’ North latitude to 26038’ North latitude and 880
01’ East longitude to 92041’ East longitude.

North - India (Meghalaya)

West - India (West Bengal)

East - India (Tripura and Assam) and Myanmar

South- Bay of Bengal.

 Boundaries of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has land borders with two countries; those are India and Myanmar. In the north of
Bangladesh there is Meghalaya and Assam provenance of India. In the east, there is Assam,
Tripura, Mizoram provenance of India and the country Myanmar. In the west, there is West
Bengal and Bihar provenance and in the south, there is the Bay of Bengal.
 The total length of the borderline of Bangladesh is 4711 kilometers. The total borderline with
India is 3715 kilometers and 280 kilometers with Myanmar and 716 kilometers is coastline on
the Bay of Bengal.

 Size and Population of Bangladesh

The total area of Bangladesh is 1,47,570 square kilometers. According to the report of World
Bank 2023 total population of Bangladesh is 173 million. It is the eighth most populous country
in the world.

 The coastline of Bangladesh

In the southern part of Bangladesh, there is the Bay of Bengal. Its length is about 716
kilometers. This coastline is between the southern part of Coxes Bazar to the estuary of the
river Roy Mongol. The coastline is threatened by climate change, which causes natural disasters
like sea level rise, cyclones, storm surges, and land erosion. The coastal communities are also
exposed to man-made hazards.

 Weather and Climate

(Please follow the suggested book for this part)

Physical features of Bangladesh

 According to the configuration of the land, this country is divided into three parts. Those
are described below-

1. The plain lands of the low valley:

Most of the area of BD is under this region. This area is covered with the rivers Padma,
Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, etc. Those rivers bring alluvium which is the main feature of
the soil of this area. Those rivers, their tributary and distributary river are covered almost all the
areas of this country like a web. Those rivers make transportation easier; goods and peoples
can transport within low cost using the water transportation system. The lands of those areas
are fertile for agriculture. Rice, jute, sugarcane and other agricultural products grown here.
Those areas are overpopulated because of high yield. The forest, Sundarban is under this area
which is not favorable to agriculture. Collection of wood and honey from this forest and Royal
Bengal Tiger is the main attraction of this forest.

2. The eastern hilly area:

This area belongs to Chattogram hill tracts, north of Cumilla, the eastern part of Sylhet and the
northern part of Mymensing. Small and medium hills are everywhere in this area. Those hills
are parts of Lushai of Assam and Arakan of Myanmar. The average height of those hills is about
2000 feet. The hills of Cumilla, Sylhet and Mymensing have a lower height than those of
Chattogram. Except for winter, heavy rainfall occurs in this area in all seasons. So this area
belongs to some rivers. This region is not suitable for agriculture. Some farmers cultivate here
on hills and on their valley they called it “Jhum”. Plenty of tea harvested from this area. This
area has minerals like natural gas, limestone etc.

3. The northwest high lands:

This area is divided into two parts, one is Barind tract and the other is Madhupur and Bhawal
gara. Barind tract belongs to Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Bogura. The color soil of this area
is red and those are not suitable for agriculture. The total size of this area is 9320 square
kilometers. The total area of Madhupur and Bhawal gara is 4103 square kilometers.

 Rivers of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a country of rivers. Many rivers, their tributary and distributary rivers are flowing
here like the web. Most of the important rivers of this country are Padma, Meghna, Jamuna,
Karnafuli, Teesta, Sangu etc.

One of the major rivers of Bangladesh is Padma. The Ganges in Bangladesh is known as the
Padma. Its waters appear muddy owing to the volume of silt carried by the river. This river plays
a vital role in transportation, irrigation, fishing and so on. The Meghna is formed by the union of
the Sylhet-Surma and Kusiyara while jamuna is a branch of Brahmaputra. Kannafuli is the most
water carrier river of Bangladesh. These rivers are crucial for water transportation, agriculture
and livelihood etc.

 Hills of Bangladesh
Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Sajek Valley, and the hills of Sylhet consist of the major hills of
Bangladesh.

Some noticeable mountains are-

Tajingdong, Keokradong, Chimbuk Hill, Nilgiri, Saka Haphong etc.

 More about Bangladesh

Tribes of Bangladesh
Chakma

The Chakmas are the largest ethnic minority group of Bangladesh. They mainly populate the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, a hilly area in the Southeast region of the country. They share a unique
culture and customs. Buddhism is the most common religion within the tribe.

Marmas

Marmas, people of the Chittagong Hills region of Bangladesh, are the second largest ethnic
group in Bangladesh and they are of Burmese (Myanmar) ancestry. Most of the Marmas came
under Bengali influence, but in the south of the Chittagong Hills region, where their culture
remains comparatively pure, the script and dress are Burmese and the language an Arakanese
dialect.

Tripura

The Tripuris are one of the major ethnic communities living both in the plains and the
Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. The peoples of Tripura, both in Bangladesh and the Indian
State of Tripura, shared common culture, history, tradition, and way of life. Tripuri language is
called Kokborok.

Some other tribes include -

Tanchangya

Santals

Khasi People

Garos

Manipuri

Hajong
Religion of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a country of Muslim majority people. According to the census of 2022, Islam
consists of 91.04% of the total population. People following Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity
and others religion also live here in harmony.

Regional language
Bengal language a long history-it belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. Its roots
are the Sanskrit and it emerged through Prakit and Pali. The national language and official
language of Bangladesh is Bangla according to the third article of the Constitution of
Bangladesh. Almost 99% of Bangladeshis speak Bengali as their first language. Besides, English
is spoken in urban centres and among educated groups.

The indigenous people of northern and southeastern Bangladesh speak a variety of native
languages (Dialect). Standard Bengali is spoken all over the country. General Eastern Bengali
dialect spoken (beside Standard Bengali) in most of the parts Bangladesh (Comilla, Noakhali and
Barisal regions). Varendri is spoken by the people of the Western region (Rajshahi Division);
part of the North Bengali dialects. And Rangpuri is spoken by people of the northern region
(Rangpur Division); closely related to Varendri dialect.

 Tribal languages:

Chakma: Spoken by the chakma in the Chittagong Hill Tract Region.

Bishnupriya Manipuri: An Indo-Aryan language by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people who live in
Bangladesh. Bishnupriya Manipuri is distinct from the Bengali languages and contains many
features and elements of the Tibeto-Burman languages.

Hajong: Originally a Tibeto-Burman language that has shifted over time to an Indic language.

Rohingya: Originally spoken in Rakhine State, Myanmar and by refugees from that region,
mainly living in Bangladesh's Chittagong Division.

Tangchangya: Spoken by the Tanchangya people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It is closely
related to Chakma.

Kokborok: Spoken by Tripuri people.