Geography
Bangladesh occupies the eastern part of the ancient Bengal region. In the west, north and east it borders on India, in the southeast – on Myanmar, in the south it is washed by the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. According to itypemba.com, Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh.
In the southeast of Bangladesh, the deeply dissected western ranges of the Lushai Mountains and the Chittagong Mountains stretch, the highest point in the Chittagong Mountains is Reng Tlang Mountain – 957 m.
The climate is humid, tropical. Two seasons – winter (October-February) and spring-summer (March-September). The spring-summer season is a period of heavy tropical rains that occur almost daily. Average temperature in summer: during the day up to 40 °С, at night up to 30 °С. Average temperature in winter: during the day up to 30 °С, at night up to 15 °С.
Bangladesh is a unitary state with a parliamentary form of government. The head of state is the president, who is elected by parliament for a five-year term. Parliament is a unicameral National Assembly, consisting of 300 deputies. The term of office of Parliament is 5 years. There are more than 100 political parties in the country, from fundamentalist to ultra-left.
Language
Official language: Bengali. English is spoken in the service sector and government agencies.
Religion
The state religion is Islam, professed by 88.3% of believers; Hinduism – 10.5%, 0.6% – Buddhism, 0.3% – Christianity, 0.3% – other religions and traditional tribal cults.
Cuisine of Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cuisine consists of meat, poultry, sea and river fish, eggs and vegetables cooked with rice or lentils in a hot spicy sauce. Rice is a staple of Bangladeshi cuisine. It is prepared in the same way as in India and Thailand, but the use of a huge amount of spices allows you to cook several hundred different dishes from rice. The most common and commonly used spice is curry. Sweets occupy a special place in Bangladeshi cuisine. They are made mainly from sweetened cottage cheese. The most commonly consumed beverage is water. But tea, juices, milk and coconut milk are also popular. Alcoholic drinks are almost never consumed.
Tips
In most restaurants in the country, tipping is not customary, but waiters in places frequented by foreigners are supposed to leave 5% of the bill.
Purchases
Most purchases require bargaining, which is seen as an integral part of the selling process, with proper bargaining, you can reduce the price by 2-3 times. Bargaining is not accepted in large state-owned stores in large cities.
Security
To visit the country, it is highly recommended to take increased precautions against diphtheria, hepatitis B and E, malaria, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, tetanus and typhoid in advance. The once mandatory cholera vaccination is no longer required, but cholera itself is still a serious risk for a foreigner.
The risk of malaria, mainly severe (P. falciparum), is very high all year round throughout the country (with the exception of Dhaka). Therefore, when planning a trip, prevention is recommended at least one month before entering the country, followed by taking medications for the entire stay and a week after departure.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all people (including infants) arriving by air or sea within six days of leaving areas affected by the disease. Passengers not in possession of the required certificate will be detained and quarantined for up to six days.
10 reasons to come to Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It is worth going here to enjoy exotic fruits, plunge into the world of cheap shopping, wallow in the mud, meet the kindest people in the world, find out what spicy food is and feel like a star.
1. Love people
Bangladesh is a tiny state in South Asia, the territory of which is 4 times smaller than Ukraine, and the population is exactly 1 million more. Prosperous countries of the Middle East, such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, transport labor in droves from Bangladesh to the construction of ultra-modern stadiums, the highest towers in the world and elite skyscrapers. Most of them do not have iPhones and branded clothes, but they have something else – the ability to enjoy the little. Give homeless children on the street an apple and you will see the happiest and most grateful smiles.
2. Ride a rickshaw
This type of public transport is one of the most popular in Bangladesh. Such a bicycle, decorated with bright colors and ribbons, is able to carry a maximum of two passengers. Today, you can also find a modernized version of the cycle rickshaw in the form of a covered three-wheeled motorcycle, the so-called tuk-tuk. This type of transport is more spacious and may especially appeal to environmentalists, because the fuel consumption of such a “car” is only 3 liters per 100 kilometers.
3. Eat mini bananas
Bangladesh is rich in exotic fruits – juicy mango, lychee, rambutan, dragon’s eye, longan, jackfruit, papaya and mini bananas, which have special medicinal properties. Dwarf bananas are the most affordable, and therefore probably the most favorite food in Bangladesh.
4. Visit the bazaar in Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. Oddly enough, but the main attractions of this city are huge clothing bazaars, such as Dhaka College and Banga Bazaar. It is there that for a penny you can buy brands such as H&M, Terranova, Mango, Zara, La Senza, US Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, which produce their clothes in Bangladesh. Shopping in Dhaka is a real adventure. You always need to bargain, be careful with dozens of children and teenagers who are trying to help you, but they themselves do not take their eyes off their wallets. Also, in pursuit of new clothes in Dhaka, it is very easy to get lost, because usually such bazaars are three-story. The first floor is for women and children, the second floor is for men,
5. Admire nature
Despite the fact that Bangladesh is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, hardly anyone will dispute the beauty of its nature. Real tropical jungle with bamboo thickets, water lilies and orchids, tigers and leopards, elephants and crocodiles, pythons and mongooses. This small country is home to the world’s largest evergreen mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
6. Meet the golden time of day
The famous picturesque Pateng Beach is located in the second largest city of Bangladesh – Chittagong. This beach is a real find for photographers. After all, despite the fact that the water in the Bay of Bengal is very dirty and it is forbidden to swim there, sunset and sunrise are especially beautiful on this beach. Patenga is a great place for a family picnic or get-togethers with friends, they sell delicious seafood delicacies literally for a penny.
7. Try spicy cuisine
Fragrant spices, boiled white rice, seafood, a variety of milk sweets – Bengali cuisine recipes are also popular in Europe. True, there such dishes are adapted to the preferences of local residents, but not everyone can taste true Bengali cuisine – it is too spicy.
8. Visit the mosque
In Bangladesh, about 88% of the population is Muslim. Therefore, the main architectural sights of the country are precisely the beautiful old mosques. One of the largest mosques in the world, the Holy House, is located in the capital. The capacity of this temple, together with modern outbuildings, is up to 40,000 people.
9. Feel like a black sheep
Tourism in Bangladesh is not particularly developed, so meeting a person with white skin and light eyes is a real event for the locals. It is here that you can feel like a star – you will be transferred across the road, treated to fruits and sweets, photographed and complimented.
10. Get caught in the rain and get smeared with mud
Sounds weird, but it’s worth it. The tropical climate is known for its frequent and, most importantly, unexpected rains. So, in Bangladesh, no one hides from the rain, as if they don’t notice it, and even more so if you decide to visit the South East in winter, then heavy rain will turn out to be a real holiday for you. Since cleanliness standards do not bother anyone in Bangladesh, be prepared to remember your childhood – get wet and smeared with mud from head to toe.
