Bangladesh - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Bangladesh is a young country with an ancient history. Situated on the lush, green, and fertile land of the Ganges delta, the country gained its independence from Pakistan in 1971. It is a land of writers, saints, scholars, and artists, famous for its music, dance, and drama; folklore; festivals and celebrations; and its distinctive culinary tradition.
 

When you first arrive in Bangladesh, you may be overwhelmed by the crowds, the traffic jams, the humidity, and the lack of familiar facilities. However, your perspective will quickly change as you come to know its people. Generosity, honesty, integrity, and good humour are all traits common to this land. Today, 80 percent of the population live in rural areas, and Bangladesh remains for the most part a very traditional society, adhering to customs and norms that go back hundreds of years. As such, an understanding of Bangladeshi culture is critical.
 

Culture Smart! Bangladesh will introduce you to the culture and the people beyond the stereotypes and headlines. It offers clear advice on what to expect and how to behave in different social situations. Whether you are a tourist or you are traveling on business, it will equip you with the tools you need to make the most of your trip.
 

Welcome to Bangladesh! Bangladeshe swagato!

Urmi Rahman is a Bangladeshi journalist and author with a Master’s degree from Chittagong University. After working for several years on various newspapers and magazines in Bangladesh, she was awarded a UNESCO Fellowship to Michigan State University and to the Press Foundation of Asia in Manila, Philippines. In 1985 she joined the Bengali Section of BBC World Service in London as a producer-broadcaster and remained with them for eight years, before leaving to work in local government in London. Urmi has published a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction, and has translated several books from English to Bengali. She now lives in Kolkata with her Indian husband, and regularly contributes to newspapers and journals in both Kolkata and Dhaka.