Presidency University

Topic:
Culture of Bangladesh

Assignment-2

Submitted by:
Md. Yasin Rahman
ID: 171 060 025

Submission Date: 30/11/2021

Bangladesh is a combination of the Bengali words, Bangla and Desh, meaning the
country or land where the Bangla language is spoken. The country formerly was
known as East Pakistan.
Bangladesh is the most densely populated nation in the world. With approximately
125 million inhabitants living in an area of 55,813 square miles, there are about 2,240
persons per square mile. The majority of the population (98 percent) is Bengali, with
2 percent belonging to tribal or other non-Bengali groups. Approximately 83 percent
of the population is Muslim, 16 percent is Hindu, and 1 percent is Buddhist,
Christian, or other. Annual population growth rate is at about 2 percent.
The most important symbol of national identity is the Bangla language. The flag is
a dark green rectangle with a red circle just left of center. Green symbolizes the trees
and fields of the countryside; red represents the rising sun and the blood spilled in
the 1971 war for liberation. The national anthem was taken from a poem by Nobel
laureate Rabindranath Tagore and links a love of the natural realm and land with the
national identity.
Since independence in 1971, the national identity has evolved. Islamic religious
identity has become an increasingly important element in the national dialogue.
Many Islamic holy days are nationally celebrated, and Islam pervades public space
and the media.
Religion
Religious Beliefs: The symbols and sounds of Islam, such as the call to prayer,
punctuate daily life. Bangladeshis conceptualize themselves and others
fundamentally through their religious heritage. For example, the nationality of
foreigners is considered secondary to their religious identity.
Islam is a part of everyday life in all parts of the country, and nearly every village
has at least a small mosque and an imam (cleric). Prayer is supposed to be performed
five times daily, but only the committed uphold that standard. Friday afternoon
prayer is often the only time that mosques become crowded.
Throughout the country there is a belief in spirits that inhabit natural spaces such as
trees, hollows, and riverbanks. These beliefs are derided by Islamic religious
authorities.
Hinduism encompasses an array of deities, including Krishna, Ram, Durga, Kali,
and Ganesh. Bangladeshi Hindus pay particular attention to the female goddess
Durga, and rituals devoted to her are among the most widely celebrated.
Religious Practitioners: The imam is associated with a mosque and is an important
person in both rural and urban society, leading a group of followers. The imam’s
power is based on his knowledge of the Koran and memorization of phrases in
Arabic. Relatively few imams understand Arabic in the spoken or written form. An
imam’s power is based on his ability to persuade groups of men to act in conjunction
with Islamic rules. In many villages the imam is believed to have access to the
supernatural, with the ability to write charms that protect individuals from evil
spirits, imbue liquids with holy healing properties, or ward off or reverse of bad luck.
Brahman priests perform rituals for the Hindu community during the major festivals
when offerings are made but also in daily acts of worship. They are respected, but
Hinduism does not have the codified hierarchical structure of Islam. Thus, a
Brahman priest may not have a position of leadership outside his religious duties.
Rituals and Holy Places: The primary Islamic holidays in Bangladesh include:
Eid-ul-Azha (the tenth day of the Muslim month Zilhaj ), in which a goat or cow is
sacrificed in honor of Allah; Shob-i-Barat (the fourteenth or fifteenth day of Shaban
), when Allah records an individual’s future for the rest of the year; Ramadan (the
month Ramzan ), a month-long period of fasting between dawn and dusk; Eid-ul-
Fitr (the first day of the month Shawal, following the end of Ramzan ), characterized
by alms giving to the poor; and Shob-i-Meraz (the twenty-seventh day of Rajab ),
which commemorates the night when Mohammed ascended to heaven. Islamic
holidays are publicly celebrated in afternoon prayers at mosques and outdoor open
areas, where many men assemble and move through their prayers in unison.
Among the most important Hindu celebrations are Saraswati Puja (February),
dedicated to the deity Saraswati, who takes the form of a swan. She is the patron of
learning, and propitiating her is important for students. Durga Puja (October) pays
homage to the female warrior goddess Durga, who has ten arms, carries a sword, and
rides a lion. After a nine-day festival, images of Durga and her associates are placed
in a procession and set into a river. Kali Puja (November) is also called the Festival
of Lights and honors Kali, a female deity who has the power to give and take away
life. Candles are lit in and around homes.
Cultural Festivals
Ekushee (21 February), also called Shaheed Dibash, is the National Day of Martyrs
commemorating those who died defending the Bangla language in 1952. Political
speeches are held, and a memorial service takes place at the Shaheed Minar
(Martyr’s Monument) in Dhaka. Shadheenata Dibash, or Independence Day (26
March), marks the day when Bangladesh declared itself separate from Pakistan. The
event is marked with military parades and political speeches. Poila Boishakh, the
Bengali New Year, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Boishakh (generally
in April). Poetry readings and musical events take place. May Day (1 May)
celebrates labor and workers with speeches and cultural events. Bijoy Dibosh, or
Victory Day (16 December), commemorates the day in 1971 when Pakistani forces
surrendered to a joint Bangladeshi–Indian force. Cultural and political events are
held.
Etiquette
Personal interaction is initiated with the greeting Assalam Waleykum (“peace be
with you”), to which the required response is, Waleykum Assalam (“and with you”).
Among Hindus, the correct greeting is Nomoshkar, as the hands are brought together
under the chin. Men may shake hands if they are of equal status but do not grasp
hands firmly. Respect is expressed after a handshake by placing the right hand over
the heart. Men and women do not shake hands with each other. In same-sex
conversation, touching is common and individuals may stand or sit very close. The
closer individuals are in terms of status, the closer their spatial interaction is. Leave-
taking is sealed with the phrase Khoda Hafez.
Food and Economy
Food in Daily Life: Rice and fish are the foundation of the diet; a day without a
meal with rice is nearly inconceivable. Fish, meats, poultry, and vegetables are
cooked in spicy curry ( torkari ) sauces that incorporate cumin, coriander, cloves,
cinnamon, garlic, and other spices. Muslims do not consume pork and Hindus do not
consume beef. Increasingly common is the preparation of ruti, a whole wheat
circular flatbread, in the morning, which is eaten with curries from the night before.
Also important to the diet is dal, a thin soup based on ground lentils, chickpeas, or
other legumes that is poured over rice. A sweet homemade yogurt commonly
finishes a meal. A typical meal consists of a large bowl of rice to which is added
small portions of fish and vegetable curries. Breakfast is the meal that varies the
most, being rice- or bread-based. A favorite breakfast dish is panthabhat, leftover
cold rice in water or milk mixed with gur (date palm sugar). Food is eaten with the
right hand by mixing the curry into the rice and then gathering portions with the
fingertips. In city restaurants that cater to foreigners, people may use silverware.

Bangladesh has a history. The land, the rivers and the lives of the common people
formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighbouring regions. It has
evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social
groups of Bangladesh. The culture of Bangladesh is best among the best. So we r
really happy to b a Bangladeshi.