Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of those countries that everyone seems to have heard of, and that most people know is located somewhere near India, but beyond that...nothing. If India exists in the popular imagination as a touchstone of exoticism, and Pakistan as a somewhat threatening country in which civil unrest and widespread strife are facts of everyday life, Bangladesh, the third member of the trio of countries that were carved out of the British colonial enterprise in that part of the world, has no real reputation to speak of in America.
This is a terrible shame, for Bangladesh offers a richness of culture and a depth of history that can and does rival those of any other county in the world. Indeed, it's about time more people discovered the beauty and richness of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh "is surrounded by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar to the far southeast and the Bay of Bengal to the south...The borders of Bangladesh were set by the Partition of India in 1947, when it became the eastern wing of Pakistan (East Pakistan), separated from the western wing by 1,600 km (1,000 miles). Despite their common religion of Islam, the ethnic and linguistic gulf between the two wings, compounded by an apathetic government based in West Pakistan, resulted in the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 after a bloody war, in which it was supported by India. The years following independence have been marked by political turmoil, with thirteen different heads of government, and at least four military coups" (www.en.wikipedia.org). Today, however, more stability has arrived in Bangladesh, and a system of government is in place that will be familiar to Westerners.
"Bangladesh is governed by a multi-party parliamentary system of government. The executive power of the republic is exercised by or on the advice of the Prime Minister who commands the support of the majority members of Parliament and is appointed by the President. Other ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister" (www.virtualbangladesh.com). This, of course, is not to claim that the system is perfect, or even as stable as the one enjoyed in America, but the fact remains that it is certainly better than it once was, and is evidence of the ever-maturing nature of the democracy of Bangladesh.
But while the state of Bangladesh is fairly young, the culture is anything but: "Remnants of civilization in the greater Bengal region date back four millennia" (www.en.wikipedia.org). So despite the relative youth of this country, its history and traditions go back further than most people can comprehend. The result of this is a richness of history that is simply astounding: "Bangladesh has a rich, diverse culture, [and] its deep rooted heritage is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting, and clothing. [In addition,] the three primary religions of Bangladesh (Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) have a great influence on its culture and history" (www.bangladesh.com). And because of the divergent nature of these three religions, the riches to be found in the culture are simply spectacular.
For students and tourists alike, there are seemingly innumerable wonders to behold, including the 17th century Lalbagh Fort, the remnants of the 13th century capital Sonargaon, and the National Memorial at Savar, which honors those who perished in the 1971 war of independence (www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd.bd).
The natural beauty of Bangladesh should also not be missed. Especially notable is the Sundarbans, "the world's biggest mangrove forest [and] home of the Royal Bengal tiger. These dense mangrove forests are criss-crossed by a network of rivers and creeks. Here, tourists find tides flowing in two directions in the same creek and often tigers swimming across a river or huge crocodiles basking in the sun. Other wildlife of the region include the cheetahs, spotted deer, monkeys, pythons, wild bears, and hyenas...There are rest-houses for visitors to stay and enjoy the unspoiled beauty and splendour of the forest" (www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd).
For those in need of less relaxation, Cox's Bazaar may be a better option. Its "miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare conch shells, colorful Pagodas, Buddhist Temples, and delightful sea-food-all this makes what Cox's Bazaar is today, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. The World's longest unbroken (120 km.) beach slopes here down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal against the picturesque background of a chain of hills covered with deep forests" (www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd).
And for those more inclined to enjoy the urban life, the capital, Dhaka, will provide enough of a variety of cultural, culinary, and historical attraction to keep even the most demanding voyager occupied.
So while Bangladesh may not be the first place people think of when it comes time to consider studying in a foreign country, it nonetheless has a lot going for it. And with a little bit of effort learning the language (Bengali) and an open mind, there is no limit to what you can get out of studying there for four years. The possibilities are as great as the Sundarbans.
