Saturday, January 30, 2010

Travel in nijum dip




The name 'Nijhum Dwip' itself contains a romantic connotation about the place; it gives one a sense of silence and natural splendour unsullied by human exploration. Which it really is? The island is situated between Noakhali and Bhola under Hatiya upazila Upazila in Noakhali District. It covers a total area of 16,352 hectares. With proper facilities this Island could be prime tourist spot after St. Martins Island.



At one time it was called Char Osman. It is the southern most island of Bangladesh that confluence of the Meghna estuary on the Bay of Bengal.

A surreal vision grows on traveler eyes when they enjoy sprinkling moment with uncovered nature. It’s really rural reflection of Bangladesh but Natural refreshment. No standard restaurants, road even electricity there. The population in Nijhum Dwip in 2001 was 10,670. At high tide a significant potion of the island becomes covered in water, apart from the cultivated, inhabited areas. Their main occupations are cultivation, fishing and livestock farming. The island produces vegetables in large quantities. People live here together amidst natural calamities. Life in the island is hard and risky but very plain in mind.


There are different species of animal surround of you. Spotted deer, Migratory birds, Monkeys, Estuary reported to harbor the Ganges River Dolphin include Clawless Otter, Fishing Cat, Snakes, Tortoises and Turtles. During winter, thousands of migratory birds visit the islands and around a dozen of which are considered to be globally critically endangered, enhancing its splendour even further.



The forest department of the government of Bangladesh created mangrove forests in Nijhum Dwip and the main attraction in these forests is the herd of about 5000 spotted dear. You must be capture picture of deer. That perhaps makes Nijhum Dwip one of the unique tourist spot in Bangladesh.



The most important type of tree planted in the island is Keora, also known as Kerfa, which has fast growing roots holding the sandy land. The plant also supplies pillars for houses, materials for making boats and agricultural implements, and fuel for domestic use. In 2001, the government of Bangladesh declared Nijhum Dwip forests as National Park. Part of what is now Nijhum Dweep National Park was originally proposed as a Sanctuary for the conservation of a wide variety of waterfowl, including the migratory shorebirds, and a large number of mammals. The area includes a cluster of islands, mainly Ballar Char, Kamlar Char, Char Osman and Char Muri.



Visitor takes remarkable experience of boat journey in the canal which covered the island like net. Visitor invented themselves in silence, their eyes and ears intent on hearing every rustle of the nature. It's a surreal situation, tour boats had to go under thickets hunched over the canal, known and unknown birds chirping all over the island. On both sides of the canal are forests of kewra. The sky seen through the bush looked too blue to be true.



Getting There ...
From Dhaka take a launch from Shadar ghat toTamaruddin of Hatiya Dweep. From there youcan get to Nijhum Dweep by local motor boat. Or you can take a bus or train to Chittagong, from there youneed to go to Hatiya island by motor boat or Sea Truck. From there you can go to Nijhum Dweep by local motorboat. In Hatiya, you will have to go to Jahazmara Bazar by tempo or jeep. From there you can go to Amtali Ghat or Katakhali Ghat by rickshaw. Engine boats are available there to take you to Nijhum dweep. These boats run depending on the wave and tide of sea.


Places to Stay and Eat
Accommodation is very limited for the tourists in this Island. You can take foods from local restaurants but be careful about the quality of foods. If you stay overnight at Hatiya, there are some boarding hotels. Among them, the best is Monir Chairman's boarding. Accommodations are not good at Nijhum Dweep and are few in number. Forest Department and District Parishod have Guest Houses in the island, which need prior permission. Both these places provide food.

Information and Photo courtesy: Banglapedia, The daily Star, google, Flickr and others.






Muharram and husaini Dalan.


Muharram or the 'sacred month' is the first month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar. The 10th day of Muharram is called Ashura. Imam Husain (R) the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SM) was killed on this day at the hands of the troops of Yazid. As Sunni doctrine there is another significant of this day but most prominently remember about Karbala tragedy. In Shiite tradition it is the greatest tragedy of world.



During the Mughal rule that were originally from Persia the Shia ideology spread its influence on the cultural sphere of some regions of the Indian subcontinent especially in Hooghly, Murshidabad and Dhaka. Muharram processions have been common in this country since the 18th century AD. Horses and elephants were used in the processions.

Today the Muharram celebration is limited only within Old Dhaka. In the morning of the celebration day the main procession starts from the Husaini Dalan. It marches through the roads of Bakhshibazar, Azimpur, Purana Paltan and ends at Dhanmondi Lake in the afternoon. The Tazia is later immersed in the lake.
Now a day it turned into a traditional fair where handicrafts, pottery, brass ware, bows and arrows, swords made of CI sheet were the main exhibits. The merry-go-round and Ferris wheel are added attractions for children. The fair starts from the 7th of Muharram and ends on the llth.
The centre of observances of Muharram in Dhaka is the Husaini Dalan Imambara. Husaini Dalan is important heritage of Bangladesh. It is an Imambara, the mourning place for the two grand children of the Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) who were savagely murdered at the battle-field of Karbala by their unscrupulous, opponents.



Traditional Persian wall decorations in blue and white; Iranian paintings on the tragic events of Karbala; a large pond at the entrance; children holding candles before the stairs; epitaphs erected upon the graves and flower garlands covering the graves--Hosni Dalan still presents a unique view of the Muslim culture. Shias in Bangladesh represent the diversity of our heritage.’ This description is followed by Audity Falguni, a famous writer.





Husaini Dalan a Shiite shrine in the old part of the city of Dhaka attributed to the Mughal Period. It is a common practice among the Shia community to build edifices to commemorate the martyrdom of al-Husain, at the battle of Karbala in Iraq on the tenth day of Muharram 61 AH (10 October 680 AD). The building seems to have been originally erected by one Sayyid Murad during the governorship of Shah Shuja, who, although he a Sunni was eager to preserve and patronise Shiite institutions. Traditions relate that Sayyid Murad, having seen al-Husain in a vision erecting a tazia khana (house of mourning), was inspired to raise the building, which he named Husaini Dalan. The original building may have been a small structure, expanded to its present form in later times. The east India companay repaired it in 1807 and 1810, and a portion of the building was reconstructed after the earthquake of 1897.


information and photo courtesy: the daily star, the daily independent, wikipedia and Husaini Dalan official site.

Travel on Jahagirnagar university.



Jahangirnagar University is one of the prominent and old universities at Bangladesh. It’s also the one and only residential university in the country. Jahangirnagar University began its journey at a time when the country was going through a political upheaval that ultimately led to the birth of our nation - Bangladesh. This university was established as a residential university in 1970 under the Jahangirnagar Muslim University Ordinance, 1970. Later, it was renamed Jahangirnagar University in 1973. Its first Vice-Chancellor took up office on September 24, 1970. The first batch of students, a total of 150, was enrolled in the first year Bachelor (Honors) classes in four departments: Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics. However, classes started on January 4, 1971.In 2008 the university had a total of 7,000 students, 672 teachers, 206 staffs and 1,200 other employees.




The insignia of the University has a Shapla, the national flower, with three petals standing erect on its stem. It is bordered on all four sides by four strips of traditional alpana design of the same size and pattern. The name of the University written in Bangla characters hangs below in semicircle like a wreath of flowers. Designed by Kalam Mahmud, the insignia is rooted deep in our folk culture and is reminiscent of our struggle for independence which gave the Shapla its status as national flower. The three petals in the flower may be taken to symbolize learning, truth and progress and the firm stem, which holds the petals fast and erect, may by taken to symbolize the determination with which these goals are pursued.






The university stands on the Asian Highway, popularly known as the Dhaka-Aricha Road, and is only 32 kilometers away from the capital city. Spread over a land area of 697.56 acres the campus lies between the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) and the Savar Cantonment, on the north of which is the National Monument. The topography of the land, with its gentle rise and plains, is soothing to the eye. The bodies of water sprawling around the campus make an excellent habitat for the winter birds that flock there every year by the thousands, making bird-watching a favorite pastime for many visitors, students and staff.




The beauty of this university campus attracts people. It has two kinds of beauty. This landmark is well decorated by human creature like others institution. Some important and famous monuments are situated here[shangsaptak, amar ekushe, shahid minar]. Its remarkable natural beauty attracts everyone. This campus is dazzling with different species tree and birds. Travelers enjoy this same campus in different flavor in every individual season.



There are number of Lakes all around the campus. Every year guest birds arrive at the JU lakes from comparatively cooler regions of the world including Siberia, Kashmir, Himachal province of India and locally from Sylhet. More than two and a half thousand birds including Sarali, Khanjna, porchard, Jalpipi, Chamot thuti, and ducks were found in the lakes, most of which came in November and will stay till the middle of March. Every year held here bird fair, organized by university and other bird watcher organization.



In the winter morning this campus looks like a mysterious fairy land. Traveler finds the scene of traditional Bangladesh.


In summer, campus colored especially by kisnachura. A radish reflection catches you on everything. The university is also famous for national flower shapla. In rainy and autumn seasons all the lake blooming with shapla. It’s charming scenery. Different colored shapla refresh you eyes and heart. And whole the year you breathe in fresh air. So, busy citizen spend your remarkable youthful moment at the campus.




Transports [luxurious counter service] are available from motizil, shahbag, farmgate, shymoli, college gate and gabtali [around 30 to 50 tk].


Travelers full his stomach to take varieties of bangle dish. Especially different kinds of Varta are available here. And price? You must be strange. We don’t say, just take a taste. The popular food shop stays in the place called battola. You can also take taste of variety of local fruit.






Nearer tourist spot: jatiya smriti sodho [the National Monument], military dairy farm, nandan park, fantasy kingdom etc.

Hotel and Motel in Cox's Bazar.

Hotel Sea gull [5 star]
[around tk 3,757 - 9,870]
Contact:
+88 0341 62480-491

Hotel Sea Palace [3 star]
[2 category service
at Crown Plaza around tk 3,000-5,000
and at Western Plaza tk 1,600-2,000]
Contact:
+88 0341 63692
+88 0341 63792

Hotel Media International
[around tk 960-3,700]
Contract:
+88 0341 62881-885
+88 01819519719
+88 01711341164

Hotel Silver Shine
Contact:
+88 0341 64893


Midium level hotel
[around tk 3,00-5,000]

Hotel Saiman
Contact: +88 0341 63900
Hotel Panoa
Contact: +88 0341 63282
Hotel Sea Crown
Contact: +88 0341 64474
Hotel Kollol
Contact: +88 0341 64748
Hotel Mishuk
Contact: +88 0341 64320
Hotel Avisar
Contact: +88 0341 63061
Hotel Prashad Paradise
Contact : +88 01711193196

Guest House:
Diamond Guest House
Contact: +88 0341 63642
Sea-Park Guest House
Contact: +88 0341 51078
Uni Resort
Contact: +88 0341 63181
Niloy Bay Resort
Contact: +88 0341 63677

Chandranath hill, Botanical Garden and Eco-park: Sitakunda, Chittagong.


Sitakunda, Introduce as northern gateways of country’s largest commercial hub Chittagong. It has a strong historical background which highlights the blessings of various saints. Moreover Chittagong is called ‘land of twelve saints’ [baro Awlia’r desh]. It’s also rich with natural scenic beauty and cultural heritage. Sitakunda is predominantly an agricultural area. Now enormous industries settled here. Also has the largest ship breaking industry in the world.


The legends of the area state the sage Bhargava created a pond (Kunda) for Sita Devi to bathe in when her husband Lord Ramchandra visited during his exile in the forests. Sitakunda derived its name from this incident. Sitakunda was almost ruled alternatively by various Buddhist rulers of Myanmar in the east and Muslims rulers of Bengal in the west. Three main religious legacies of subcontinent makes bright and diversify trend but a common element for mankind.


Sitakunda stands on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway [old sheer-shah grand road] and is only 40, km. northwest off Chittagong.

We introduce here two main attraction of Sitakunda, as Chandranath hill and Botanical Garden and Eco-park.



Chandranath hill is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage of the Hindu Community. It draws Hindu devotees from all over the subcontinent particularly during the observance of Shiva Charturdoshi. There are many religious places in Sitakunda and surroundings of it. Among them Chandranath Temple, on the peak of the Chandranath Hill bears the most religious testimony. Chandranath hill has narrow zigzag paths surrounded by numerous green trees. Many visitors come here everyday from every part of the country. There is a small waterfall that has enriched the natural beauty of the hill. At rainy season and autumn this peak overflows by clouds. Its take looks a like fantasy land.



A big fair named 'Siva Chaturdoshi' is held in the month of Falgun every Bengali calendar year at Sitakunda. A big fair is also held on 'Amabashya rat' (newmoon night) of that month. Tens of thousands of Hindu pligrims of all ages from all over the country come to Sitakunda during the fair every year. Those are main seasonal attraction of this temple.



The first eco-park in Bangladesh, along with a botanical garden, was established in 2001 on 808 hectares (1,997 acres) of the Chandranath Hills in Sitakunda. The eco-park was established to facilitate biodiversity conservation, natural regeneration, new plantations and infrastructure development, as well as to promote nature-based tourism to generate income. The park, 405 hectares (1,001 acres), and the garden, 403 hectares (996 acres), under the Bariadhala Range of Chittagong Forest Division, are rich with natural Gymnosperm tree species including Podocarpus neriifolius and species of Gnetum and Cycas.The Park is reported to be able to receive 25,000 visitors in a single weekend. with the botanical garden included, the number of visitors can reach up to 50,000.
Entry fee is only tk. 5.00.


This is a reserved forest block with unique natural beauty. This is a promising site for developing habitat of wild flora and fauna, flourishing eco-tourism and developing research and education for scientists of home and abroad. Many serpentine paths have passed through the hill and we went to the hilltop climbing the path. A natural spring was also there and luckily some of us were able to take bath under the heavy dropping of the cataract



There are long sea beaches in this area; this position of Bay of Bengal is called sandwip channel. From the top of hill you can obverse the beauty of this beach. Surrounded by green tamarisk trees, the beauty of the beach is indescribable. The heavy waves of the sea were hitting the beach as if there is an intense friendship between the beach and the vast sea. Visitor spends a remarkable moment at this beach.



Transports are available form Chittagong town to Sitakunda. Or visitor can takes a break to the way of Dhaka-Chittagong journey.

Other attractive Tourist Spot: Bhatiary Golf Club, Coastal Embankment, Bhatiary Bipass and Artificial Lake, Shahashradhara and Ushna Prashraban.


Information and Photo courtesy: Wikipedia, The daily star, Flickr, Bangladesh forest department, sitakundabd.com and others.

History of Bangladesh

History of Bangladesh
Remnants of civilisation in the greater Bengal region date back four thousand years, when the region was settled by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, and Austro-Asiatic peoples. The exact origin of the word "Bangla" or "Bengal" is unknown, though it is believed to be derived from Bang, the Dravidian-speaking tribe that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.
After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdom of Gangaridai was formed from at least the seventh century BC, which later united with Bihar under the Magadha and Maurya Empires. Bengal was later part of the Gupta Empire from the third to the sixth centuries CE. Following its collapse, a dynamic Bengali named Shashanka founded an impressive yet short-lived kingdom. Shashanka is considered the first independent king in the history of Bangladesh. After a period of anarchy, the Buddhist Pala dynasty ruled the region for four hundred years, followed by a shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty. Islam was introduced to Bengal in the twelfth century by Sufi missionaries, and subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region. Bakhtiar Khilji, a Turkish general, defeated Lakshman Sen of the Sena dynasty and conquered large parts of Bengal. The region was ruled by dynasties of Sultans and feudal lords for the next few hundred years. By the 16th century, the Mughal Empire controlled Bengal, and Dhaka became an important provincial centre of Mughal administration.

European traders arrived late in the 15th century, and their influence grew until the British East India Company gained control of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.The bloody rebellion of 1857, known as the Sepoy Mutiny, resulted in transfer of authority to the crown, with a British viceroy running the administration. During colonial rule, famine racked the Indian subcontinent many times, including the Great Bengal famine of 1943 that claimed 3 million lives.

Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones, with Dhaka being the capital of the eastern zone. When India was partitioned in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines, with the western part going to India and the eastern part joining Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), with its capital at Dhaka.

In 1950, land reform was accomplished in East Bengal with the abolishment of the feudal zamindari system. However, despite the economic and demographic weight of the east, Pakistan's government and military were largely dominated by the upper classes from the west. The Bengali Language Movement of 1952 was the first sign of friction between the two wings of Pakistan. Dissatisfaction with the central government over economic and cultural issues continued to rise through the next decade, during which the Awami League emerged as the political voice of the Bengali-speaking population. It agitated for autonomy in the 1960s, and in 1966, its president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was jailed; he was released in 1969 after an unprecedented popular uprising.



In 1970, a massive cyclone devastated the coast of East Pakistan, and the central government responded poorly. The Bengali population's anger was compounded when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose Awami League won a majority in Parliament in the 1970 elections, was blocked from taking office. After staging compromise talks with Mujib, President Yahya Khan arrested him on the early hours of March 26, 1971, and launched Operation Searchlight, a sustained military assault on East Pakistan. Yahya's methods were extremely bloody, and the violence of the war resulted in many civilian deaths .[17] Chief targets included intellectuals and Hindus, and about ten million refugees fled to neighbouring India (LaPorte,[18] p. 103). Estimates of those massacred throughout the war range from three hundred thousand to 3 million.[19]

After its independence, Bangladesh became a parliamentary democracy, with Mujib as the Prime Minister. In the 1973 parliamentary elections, the Awami League gained an absolute majority. A nationwide famine occurred during 1973 and 1974, and in early 1975, Mujib initiated a one-party socialist rule with his newly formed BAKSAL. On August 15, 1975, Mujib and his family were assassinated by mid-level military officers.



Government and Politics
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy with Islam as the state religion. Direct elections involving all citizens over the age 18 are held every five years for the unicameral parliament known as Jatia Sangsad. The parliament building is known as the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban designed by architect Louis Kahn and currently has 345 members including 45 reserved seats for women, elected from single-member constituencies. The Prime Minister, as the head of government, forms the cabinet and runs the day-to-day affairs of state. While the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President, he or she must be an MP who commands the confidence of the majority of parliament. The President is the head of state, a largely ceremonial post elected by the parliament.[24]

However the President's powers are substantially expanded during the tenure of a caretaker government, which is responsible for the conduct of elections and transfer of power. The officers of the caretaker government must be non-partisan and are given three months to complete their task. This transitional arrangement is an innovation that was pioneered by Bangladesh in its 1991 election and then institutionalised in 1996 through its 13th constitutional amendment.

The Constitution of Bangladesh was drafted in 1972 and has undergone fourteen amendments. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Justices are appointed by the President. The judicial and law enforcement institutions are weak. Separation of powers, judicial from executive was finally implemented on the 1st of November, 2007. It is expected that this separation will make the judiciary stronger and impartial. Laws are loosely based on English common law, but family laws such as marriage and inheritance are based on religious scripts, and therefore differ between religious communities.


Foreign Policy and Military
Bangladesh pursues a moderate foreign policy that places heavy reliance on multinational diplomacy, especially at the United Nations. In 1974 Bangladesh joined both the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations and has since been elected to serve two terms on the Security Council in 1978-1979 and 2000–2001. In the 1980s, Bangladesh played a lead role in founding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in order to expand relations with other South Asian states. Since the founding of SAARC 1985, a Bangladeshi has held the post of Secretary General on two occasions.

Bangladesh's most important and complex foreign relationships are with India and Pakistan. These relationships are informed by historical and cultural ties and form an important part of the domestic political discourse.


Source: Wikipedia

Climate Bangladesh

Bangladesh is located in the low-lying Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta. This delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local name Padma or PĂ´dda), Brahmaputra (Jamuna or Jomuna), and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. The alluvial soil deposited by these rivers has created some of the most fertile plains in the world. Bangladesh has 58 trans-boundary rivers, making water issues politically complicated to resolve - in most cases as the lower riparian state to India. Most parts of Bangladesh are less than 12 metres (39 ft) above the sea level, and it is believed that about 50% of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by a metre (3 ft).


The highest point in Bangladesh is in Mowdok range at 1,052 metres (3,451 ft) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to the southeast of the country. A major part of the coastline comprises a marshy jungle, the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and home to diverse flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger. In 1997, this region was declared endangered.


Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, Bangladeshi climate is tropical with a mild winter from October to March, a hot, humid summer from March to June. A warm and humid monsoon season lasts from June to October and supplies most of the country's rainfall. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores occur almost every year, combined with the effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion. Cox's Bazar, south of the city of Chittagong, has a beach that stretches uninterrupted over 120 kilometres (75 mi).


In September 1998 Bangladesh saw the most severe flooding the modern world has seen. As the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna spilt over and swallowed 300,000 houses, 6,000 miles (9,700 km) of road and 1,600 miles (2,600 km) of embankment 1,000 people were killed and 30 million more were made homeless with 135,000 cattle killed, 50 square kilometres of land destroyed and 11,000 kilometres of roads damaged or destroyed. Two-thirds of the country was underwater. There were several reasons for the severity of the flooding. Firstly, there were unusually high monsoon rains. Secondly, the Himalayas shed off an equally unusually high amount of melt water that year. Trees that usually intercept rain water were cut down for firewood or to make space for animals.