Rangamati

Hanging bridge of Rangamati

Bangladesh is a small beautiful country of 8 divisions and 64 districts. Rangamati is one of the important districts of Chittagong division. It is a hilly district, located in the eastern corner of Chittagong city and consists of 10 upazilla. It is the only one district of Bangladesh that connects the two neighbors’ country India and Myanmar. It is bounded by the Tripura state of India on the north, Bandarban district on the south, Mizoram state of India and Chin Pradesh of Myanmar on the east, Khagrachhari and Chittagong districts on the west.

The city of Rangamati is unique because, like other 63 district, city here there is no Riksha. It is the biggest district of the country in the area. Total area of Rangamati is 6996.13 square km. It is so charming place with its beautiful natural scenery, green surroundings, rocks and hilly environment. It is the dwelling place for all tourists, indigenous and alien.

Everywhere in Rangamati is attractive, but some places are special for their unbelievable beauty and popularity. Sajek valley, Turism motel and hanging bridge, Tea Garden, Rangamati Lake, Historical Chakma Rajbari, Buddhist Vihara at Rajban, Shuvolong Water Fall are the most popular place. The other important tourist point is no-Kaba Chara fall, Furaman Hill, Kaptai national forest, Tribal Cultural Institute and Museum, Memorial Sculpture of the War of Liberation, Tomb of Liberation hero Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rab, Satellite Ground Station at Betbunia, Police Special Training School, Kaptai Lake is in here.

Including Bengali all over 14 Indigenous communities like Chakma, Marma, Santal, Manipuri, tanchangya, Tripura, Bome, Chak, Khumi, Kheyang, lease, Mro, Marian, ponchos is living here for a long time. Total Population of the district is 508182 and most of them are Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Buddhist and other people also exist there. They have made this area different with their ethnic culture and colorful lifestyle from ancient age. Tourists also visit their home and enjoy their social and religious festival. Bijou Sangria Baisabi festivals, Hal Palani festival, Water Festival and Race punnaho are the famous festival of the ethnic groups. Palau Gan, Pahari Lokageeti, Geeti dance, drama, Garaiya dance, Jhum dance, Bamboo dance, Bottle dance are the prevalent folk culture of the district.

Rangamati district was under Sector 1 during the war of liberation. On 27 March 1971, a temporary training camp was established in the playground of the Station Club to locally train the freedom fighters. On 2 April, then Deputy Commissioner Hossain Towfiq Imam distributed a huge amount of money and arms and ammunitions of the freedom fighters from the treasury. On 20 April Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf of 8 East Bengal Regiment destroyed 2 gunboats and one speed boat of the Pak army and drowned to death about one platoon Pak soldiers. Rouf died on 18 April 1971 at Burighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts after causing extensive damage to the Pakistani Army with his machine gun and forcing them to retreat. He was buried at Naniarchor Upazilla in Rangamati District. 

Rangamati is a rich source of beauty and joy, tourist comes here to reduce their anxious of city life and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Every year two million people come to different place of Rangamati. Communication system, transport and infrastructure of these tourist points are developing day by day. The government has taken initiatives to enhance the facilities and gradually it will be the darling destination of tourist all over the world.

The SAARC Cultural Capital Bogra

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia. In terms of population, its sphere of influence is the largest of any regional organization. The combined population of its member states is almost 1.5 billion.  It is the most important association of this region that connects the member countries with a strong multilateral relation. It has many important organizations that operate various activities to achieve its ultimate goal, cooperation between South Asian Countries. The SAARC Cultural center is one of them. It is a regional center that promotes cultural cooperation in order to bring the people of South Asia closer and to project the distinct identity of South Asia.

The SAARC Cultural Centre launched a programme for designating a city amongst the SAARC Member countries as the SAARC Cultural Capital for a year during which a series of year-long cultural events with a national but with an overall South Asian dimension will be organized.

Every year, an archeologically and culturally rich city in the one of the 8 SAARC countries is declared as the cultural capital for that year. It was an outcome of Delhi Resolution which was adopted at the conference while preparing a road map on cultural ties till 2017. This development seeks at strengthening cultural ties among the people of SAARC nations. Bamiyan, a historic city of Afghanistan, is the current SAARC cultural capital for 2015-16.

Mahasthangarh, an iconic archaeological site in Bogra, Bangladesh has been pronounced the cultural capital of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation for the period of 2016-17.

A SAARC Cultural Centre team, led by its director Wasantha Kotuwella of Sri Lanka, made the announcement & the announcement will come into effect from 21 January next year. Honorable Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate Mahasthangarh as the cultural capital of the SAARC on 21 January 2017. The event will be jointly organized by the SAARC Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in Bangladesh. Several cultural programmers, both locally as well as those with participation from the SAARC countries will take place during this period. As a SARRC cultural capital, the historic place will host festivals on literature, films, foods and dances from October 2016 to September 2017. Besides this, the year 2016-17 has also been declared the SAARC Year of Cultural Heritage.

Mahashangarh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. It dates back 3rd century BC and is located 11 km north of Bogra in Bangladesh. It was the ancient capital of Pundravardhana i.e. home of the Pundra, a group of people not speaking languages of the Indo-European family Background. Bairagir Bhita, Khodar Pathar Bhita, Mankalir Kunda Mound, Parasuram’s Palace Mound and Jiat Kunda are some sites in the city which have yielded archaeological objects of interest.

The SAARC cultural Capital can provide an opportunity for the city to generate considerable cultural, social and economic benefits and it can help in fostering urban regeneration, boosting the city’s image and raising its visibility and profile on a regional and international scale. The decision of picking Mahasthangarh up for the SAARC cultural capital was correct and significant. The only declaration of the site as SARRC cultural capital would not make any difference. The authorities should come forward to utilize the cultural capital to promote our cultural tradition.

Nilachal

Nilachal

Bangladesh is a small evergreen beautiful country located in south Asia. From ancient age, many internationally famous tourist visit here and enjoy the natural beauty of Bangladesh. There are huge natural, beautiful place in Bangladesh. Of all Bandarban is the dearest daughter of nature. It is blessed with Nilgiri, jibon nagor, chumbuk, golden temple, kawkaradong, Sangu River and many other interesting places. Nilachal is also a fantastic tourist destination situated on the top of the mountain that created & maintained by the Bandarban district administration. The view of Nilachal is so spectacular for snapping. Nilachal gives the name of the tourist complex. People consider it as the Darjeeling of Bangladesh. Tourist also calls it the daughter of the nature, daughter of the hill.

After walking about three kilometers towards the city of Chittagong from Bandarban city at the left hand side of the road meandering in a small Nilachal gone. The path is about three kilometers to reach the hill climb.  Places on the descending slope of the mountain slopes. It is very easy to reach the top of the mountain where a fantastic place is waiting for the visitor named Nilachal complex.

Nilachal is the nearest tourist spot from Bandarban city. It is situated in Tigerpara area and about six kilometers from Bandarban town. It is near about 16 hundred feet above of the sea level and perhaps it is the high tourist place in Bandarban district. Surrounded by the imposing peaks of the mountains Nilachal style structures have been constructed in the center. A far cry from another the mountain landscapes differ from each side Monsoon and monsoon clouds later in the game here. A few minutes away from the mountain after a raft of clouds that floated on top of Nilachal. Around cool, soft cover Stroke on stroke. White, soft and smog like cloud comes with a gentle breeze and touch the tourist softly.

From here visitors can see the total glance of Bandarban town and a vast landscape. Sangu River that flows by the side of the Bandarban town also can be seen from far away standing here. In the rainy season, visitors can be thrilled walking through the clouds. They can touch it like as dreamed a sweet dream . Visitors can watch a golden twilight in the evening and also enjoy an evergreen moonlight in the moonlit night. During the winter season, it is awesome in the foggy morning.

On the way to Nilachal, visitors can see some tribal villages with their raw natural expression and unique culture. Bandarban district administration initiative to build a pleasant tourist resort in recent years, a new one has been added. Recently, a few new places have been created at Nilachal for tourists. The house next to the ticket, Amethyst hangs from the bottom of the few in the waiting room has been created gradually. The resort at Nilachal Named Nilachal Scape Resort is an additional attraction. General tourists are allowed to sunset. However, the space is open around the clock for resort guests.

Notable among these is the Nebula and Valentine points. So from now on as well as sightseeing tourists will have the chance to live the night. However, the beauty of the original Nilachal is much more than imagination. From here, one can better enjoy the beauty of the mountains.

The Marma Tribe

For centuries, Bangladesh has been the dwelling place of different ethnic groups. The ethnic groups of Bangladesh and their colorful lifestyles have significantly enriched the entire culture of Bangladesh. Their historical background, economic activities, social structure, religious beliefs and festivals make them distinctive. The beauty of the hilly zones as well as the plain areas has been enhanced by the colorful culture and traditional practices of different ethnic groups.

The Marma is one of the famous ethnic groups in Bangladesh. They live in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. Some of them, however, live in the coastal area of cox’s bazar and patuakhali. At present the total number of Marmas in Bangladesh is about 350,000 and constituted the second largest tribe in the country. They are divided into several clans. Each clan is named after the place from where it migrated.

The word Marma comes from the Burmese word Myanma, which means Burmese nationals and is pronounced as Marma by the people of the Chittagong hill tracts. The ancestors of the Marma people used to live in the Pegu city of Burma long before it was invaded in 1599 by Mahappinnagi, the commander of the Army of the king of Arakan. The people of Pegu were living in southern and central China as early as 2200 BC.

Marma belongs to the Mongoloid race. They are relatively short and have prominent cheekbones. They have yellow complexion, black hairs, small eyes, and snub noses. The language of Marma tribe is an Arakanese which is written in Burmese characters. It belongs to the Burma-Arakan group within the broad classifications of Tibet-Burma languages. In recent times, Marmas in urban areas and nearby settlements speak the corrupt local language of Chittagong.

The main profession of the Marmas is Agriculture and jhum cultivation. They also supplement their food requirement by gathering tree leaves, roots, and tubers from hill forests. Recently they become involved in trade and commerce, operate small retail stores, etc. Rice and boiled vegetables are major food items of the Marma people. Nappi a paste of dried fish is a favourite. They enjoy rice bear and smoke indigenous cigars. Marma men drink wine and play card games in leisure time.

Marma men and women typically wear sarong and blouse, but usually they do not wear shoes. Marmas make their own dresses using traditional weaving technology, although many now purchase common Bengali dresses from the market. The houses of Marma people are made of bamboo, wild grass and straw. These are built on elevated bamboo or wooden platforms. Every room of the house is a bedroom cum store. The space under the platform is used for various purposes such as keeping livestock, storing fuel wood etc. Some houses are made of mud without platform.

Marma community is predominantly led nuclear family. The husband is the head of the household, but the wife also has a significant role in the family. Their property inheritance, in general, follows the old Burmese line of inheritance. Both sons and daughters inherit parental properties follows the ratio of 2:1. The most favorite child gets the ownership of the house and has to take care of the parents.

Marriage is a very important part of the social life of Marmas. Cross cousin marriages and monogamy are predominant features of this society. Child marriage is practically forbidden. Pre-marriage love is common. Both men and women have equal rights to divorce, although the final settlement is to be made in the court of village leaders.

Marmas are Buddhists in faith. They believe that their birth, death and all activities in life take place under the influence of a supernatural power, which they try to satisfy through their rites and rituals. Animism is also in practice among them. They perform all the important Buddhist religious festivals and also various rituals and worships to satisfy different gods. Dreams have a very strong influence in decision making in their everyday life.

They follow the traditional political, administrative system in their community where village level, mouza level and the circle level is headed by a karbari, a headman and the circle chief or Raja accordingly.