Media and Communication

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by in 2. Practical Information

Bangladeshis absolutely love to talk, something referred to as adda, or gossip. So, despite some historical causes for concern (eg: successive military governments), the country normally enjoys a vibrant and vocal media, much in line with the debating nature of its people.

Business

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by in 2. Practical Information

Patience is your best tool in setting up a business in Bangladesh, as the young country has still to set up standardised procedures for many business transactions, or it operates according to laws that have scarcely changed since the time of partition. Furthermore, reliable business information and advice is hard to come by.

Cultural Etiquette

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by in 2. Practical Information

Western visitors will quickly find that while in Bangladesh, they are in fact the tourist attraction – for the local people, that is. For a country that still has so few foreign visitors and so many people, any traveller will quickly become that camera-toting, oddly dressed Westerner who does stand out in a crowd of millions. This wouldn’t be such an issue were it not for the fact that the concept of privacy is very different in Bangladesh (ie: there is none), and so the presence of visitors also turns heads, including those that should be looking at the road! Don’t be surprised if you cause an accident, and do realise that it’s not your fault. If you stay still for too long you will no doubt have a crowd on your hands, as it only takes two curious onlookers to generate a dozen more.

Travelling Positively (Free!)

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by in 2. Practical Information, Free Travel Tips

While traditional tourist thinking keeps people away from supposed disaster zones such as Bangladesh, there’s another way of looking at such disheartening situations. Visits to the country are in fact a real opportunity to do something positive for communities in need, like building houses for cyclone or flood victims, or helping a slum education project to operate more efficiently and save costs.

Living in Bangladesh

Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by in 2. Practical Information

Setting up as an expatriate in Bangladesh can be a laborious process, taking a lot of time and money. Try to allow several days over the first month for this process. Below are a few hints and tips for those relocating to the country.

Spend a Friday on the Sundown River Cruise, hosted by Big Blue

Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by in Events, Free Travel Tips

Join us on Friday 18 December for the Sundown River Cruise. We will leave from the BAGHA Club on road 44 in Gulshan at 11:00 in private transport and enjoy an hour’s drive through Dhaka to Demra. There, we will board the boat and begin a relaxing journey down the Shitalakhaya River. After that: food, drink, sunset and the company of good people

Get out of Dhaka on "The Gazipur Retreat", hosted by Big Blue

Posted on 18. Nov, 2009 by in Events, Free Travel Tips

Are you one of those poor souls who has yet to see and breathe the clean air of the countryside just outside of Dhaka??? Then this Friday daytrip is for you. Hosted by Big Blue Entertainment, this is one of those rare opportunities to get you out of the city and relaxing with some road [...]

New photography book on Sundarbans on sale now

Posted on 13. Nov, 2009 by in Best of Bangladesh, Responsible Travel, Sundarbans

Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur & Rubaiyat Mansur are normally a modest pair. But if you ask them anything about the Sundarbans, that quickly changes. When it comes to promoting cetacean conservation, under the banner of the Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project, you’ll quickly find they are staunch advocates of the whales and dolphins of Bangladesh.

Introduction – The First Page

Posted on 15. Sep, 2009 by in 0. Preliminaries, Podcast

If Bangladesh were a person, she would be a youthful teenager, full of life and energy but with a decidedly emotional temperament to which wisdom or logic could not be easily applied.

Sailing and Trekking – two of Bangladesh's best bets

Posted on 14. Sep, 2009 by in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Events

Fancy a relaxing day out of Dhaka on a restored Bangladeshi sailing boat? Then join us for an unforgettable day cruise on the B613, a luxurious sailing boat created and maintained by Contic Tours.

Geography

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

If you ever wanted to experience the living reality of the idiom ‘when it rains, it pours’, Bangladesh is the place to be. During the yearly south Asian monsoon, almost all the water collected by the Himalayas in Nepal, north/northeast India and Bhutan transits through Bangladesh on its journey to the Bay of Bengal, depositing life-giving minerals to the soil all along the Ganges Delta, the largest river delta in the world.

Climate

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

If you come from a temperate climate you might be surprised to discover that despite the fact peak temperature varies between 20°C and 40°C, Bangladeshis recognise no fewer than six seasons over their landscape. Mostly these can be grouped into three smaller seasons.

History: Ancient Bengal to the Mughal Empire

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

To see the Bangladesh of today against its glorious history, it is both enlightening and depressing to imagine that Bengal used to occupy such a place of glory and power in the subcontinent. During the 16th century, its wealth supported the Mughal Empire, and at its zenith in the mid-18th century, Bengal’s cotton and silk textiles were in demand worldwide with Dutch, Portuguese, British and French traders landing on its shores. However, the late colonial period marked a substantial change as the British proved themselves successful at draining Bengal of its wealth and destroying its cotton industry.

History: British Rule to East Pakistan (1757-1970)

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

By the 17th century, the British East India Company had gained the upper hand in this conflict and had established a growing trading port in Calcutta. Despite the disintegration of the Mughal Empire through the early part of the 18th century, strong leadership in Bengal kept it economically powerful, further strengthened by its European trading connections.

History: Liberation War to Caretaker Government (1971-present)

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

After the Liberation War broke out, a new government was formed in exile on the Indian border, and the freedom fighters, taking the title Mukti Bahini, began a guerrilla war. Although the fighters were never a cohesive force that could actually stop the Pakistani rampage, they instead served to harass them at every turn.

Government and Politics

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

After so much blood was shed in the creation of Bangladesh, it is now promising to see that after almost four decades, the young political system has advanced and evolved, as its latest leaders have at least managed to finish their political terms without being assassinated. Indeed, the governance system of the country still has a long way to go.

Economy

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

Since the inception of Bangladesh, the country has received approximately US$40 billion in foreign aid. Today it’s pleasing to acknowledge that economic progress is being made and things are heading in a good direction, despite some unfathomable hindrances and political mismanagement.

Development

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

Development and the evolution of its concepts have long been tied to the fate and history of modern Bangladesh. Any discussion of its effects will be laced with opinions on whether the aid enterprise – and the billions of dollars associated with it – have been effective in improving the conditions of Bangladesh’s millions.

People

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

Today, estimates range between 151 million and 155 million people, resulting in a population density of over 1,050 souls per km². This makes Bangladesh the most densely populated nation in the world (excluding several city-states like Hong Kong, Singapore or Monaco), and it feels like that when dozens of people crowd to have a gander at the strange foreigner visiting their village. Current projections estimate that by 2080, the population of Bangladesh could be 250 million.

Language

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

With almost 200 million speakers, Bangla is the sixth most widely spoken language worldwide. Although it is a derivative of Sanskrit and therefore has its closest ties to Hindi, today’s modern Bangla also incorporates a mishmash of influences that represent the region’s history. The script is written from left to right and top to bottom, and thus reads the same as English. Linguists note three major periods in the evolution of the language, with the majority of its modern forms being derived during the 15th–18th centuries. Until the 18th century, there were simply no attempts to document the grammar of Bangla.

Religion

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

While the constitution of Bangladesh mandates religious freedom, you may discover yourself bound to a religion you don’t necessarily follow in practice, as a common question that Bangladeshis have is about your religion.

Education

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

Viewed through the lens of the education Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Bangladesh is doing very well compared with some other countries. As government literature is quick to point out, Bangladesh is on track in promoting gender equality and empowering women, the third MDG. As it stands there are now equal ratios of girls to boys in primary and secondary education, and this will hopefully produce a newer generation of better-educated women.

Culture

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

What Bangladeshis admittedly lack in terms of material wealth, they certainly make up for in artistic tradition. There are plenty of opportunities for the visitor to engage with both the historic art of Bangladesh and its more modern practitioners.

Natural History and Conservation

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by in 1. General Information, Podcast

For a country this size, Bangladesh has been endowed with an extraordinary amount of natural wealth and abundance. While its floods do cause serious calamities to its people, the waters are also the source of rich Himalayan mineral deposits and without the yearly flooding, soil that already bears a heavy agricultural load would never replenish itself.

Dhaka Book Launch & Photography Exhibition, 1 Oct, Aussie club

Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by in Events, Website News

After many months of research, photography, writing and editing, Bangladesh: The Bradt Travel Guide is finally ready to be released!

FAQ Series: Heading to Darjeeling from Dhaka? Here's the cheapest way..

Posted on 26. Jul, 2009 by in FAQ

Heading to Darjeeling from Dhaka? Here’s some advice: The bus ride is REALLY long. If you can afford it, fly via Kolkata. But if you want to really see the countryside and are travelling on a budget, we recommend breaking the trip at Rangpur on the way up, otherwise your only choice is an overnight [...]

FAQ series: Dhaka's Membership Clubs for Expatriates — the definitive list

Posted on 21. Jul, 2009 by in FAQ

Stuck wondering where/what all the expatriate clubs are in Dhaka? here’s a quick list with phone numbers to get you going. Each of the foreign clubs requires club membership, which can be something of a nuisance to pick up depending on your nationality or your connections. Otherwise, knowing a few other friendly foreigners will help [...]

Want to enjoy a FREE weekend getaway at Nazimgarh in Sylhet?

Posted on 07. May, 2009 by in Events

Nazimgarh Resort and Joybangla.info are happy to present a very special opportunity for two (or maybe three) lucky couples or a small group of friends — a free weekend stay from May 14-16th at what is currently Bangladesh’s best luxury resort. We are looking for two bideshi couples (or a group of four friends) whose [...]

Celebrate Earth Day 2009 cleaning up the beaches with SAFE

Posted on 07. Apr, 2009 by in Events, Responsible Travel

Volunteers from different organization will be participating in this year’s beach and underwater Cleanup as part of an earth day activity.

The FAQ Series: Best Activities in Srimongol

Posted on 07. Apr, 2009 by in FAQ, Free Travel Tips

More FAQs! We’re giving away some free tips here at Joybangla.info, especially for our most frequently asked questions.

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