Travel Bangladesh : Chittagong Division

Chittagong Division
Chittagong Division is located at southern part of the country has an area of 33771 sq. km and a population of 23.99. It has 11 districts and 38 municipalities.  Chittagong is the biggest seaport and second largest town in Bangladesh situated near the Bay of Bengal. It is 264 km away east of Dhaka, famous for hill areas, natural beauty and for the seashore. Chittagong is also known of the town of Aulias (Muslim saints). [Fay's lake at Chittagong] Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century A.D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and given the title of "Porto Grande" by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers. Chittagong combines remains true to both the descriptions even today. It combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the shooting quiet of a charming hill town. The Shahi Jama-e-Masjid and Qadam Mubarak Mosque are two of the most impressive buildings in the city. It is also worth visiting the Ethnological Museum in the Modern City, which has interesting displays on Bangladesh's tribal peoples. There are good views and cooling breezes from Fairy Hill in the British City in the northwestern sector of the city. Chittagong is the country's chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery are also located in Chittagong.  Main Tourist Spots in Chittagong Division : Inside Chittagong City: War Cemetery - Zia memorial Museum - Ethnological Museum - Court Building Museum - Shrine's - Fays Lake - Patenga & Fouzdarhat - Port Area Outside Chittagong City: Sitakundu - Parki Beach - Chandraghona - Cox's Bazar - Himchori & Inani Beach - Moheshkhali Island - Sonadia Island - St. Martins Island - Nijhum Island - Aggameda Khyang - Ramu - Teknaf - Comilla - BARD - Lalmai & Moinamoti - Hill tracks >> Rangamati - Khagrachari - Bandarban

The Bangladesh Travel Guide

Bangladesh is one of the few countries in South Asia, which remains to be explored. Bangladesh has a delicate and distinctive attraction of its own to offer and it is definitely not a tourist haunt like Nepal or India. Bangladesh is like a painter's dream come true with a rich tapestry of colors and texture. The traditional emphasis of the tourist trade has always been on the material facilities offered by a country rather than on its actual charms. This may be a reason why Bangladesh has seldom been highlighted in the World's tourist maps.

It's a land of enormous beauty, hundreds of serpentine rivers, crystal clear water lakes surrounded by ever green hills, luxuriant tropical rain forests, beautiful cascades of green tea gardens, world's largest mangrove forest preserved as World Heritage, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the wild lives, warbling of birds in green trees, wind in the paddy fields, abundance of sunshine, world's longest natural sea beach, rich cultural heritage, relics of ancient Buddhist civilizations and colorful tribal lives, - Bangladesh creates an unforgettable impression of a land of peace.

You'll appreciate our culture and the environment. These are not simply sight-seeing excursions, but real-time learning experiences. Enjoy an ideal blend of adventure and exploration with comfort and relaxation. Here you find that you are not alone. With us, any place in Bangladesh is a home away from home.

Sylhet Division

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Sylhet division occupies the north east part of Bangladesh, has an area of 12596 sq. km and a population of 7.899 million. There are 4 districts and 14 municipalities under Barisal. It is a natural hilly, forest area with ox bow lakes and famous shrines. Sylhet City: Nestled in the picturesque Surma Valley amidst scenic tea plantations and lush green tropical forests, greater Sylhet is a prime attraction for all tourists visiting Bangladesh. Laying between the Khasia and the Jaintia hills on the north, and the Tripura hills on the south, Sylhet breaks the monotony of the flatness of this land by a multitude of terraced tea gardens, rolling countryside and the exotic flora and fauna. Here the thick tropical forests abound with many species of wildlife, spread their aroma around the typical hearth and homes of the Mainpuri Tribal maidens famous for their dance.  The Sylhet valley is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named the Surma and the Kushiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and the south. The valley has good number of haors, which are big natural depressions. During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent seas.  These haors provide a sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to avoid the severe cold there. Sylhet has also a very interesting and rich hilstory, Before the conquest by the Muslims, it was ruled by local chieftains. In 1303, the great Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal came to Sylhet from Delhi with a band of 360 disciples to preach Islam and defeated the then Raja Gour Gobinda.  Sylhet thus became a district of saints, shrines and daring but virile people. Its rich potentialities became easily attractive and the 18th century Englishmen made their fortune in tea plantation. About 80 km. from Sylhet town connected by road and rail, Srimangal, which is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh, is the actual tea center of the area. For miles and miles around, the visitor can see the teagardens spread like a green carpet over the plain land or on the sloping hills. A visit to the tea plantation in Sylhet is a memorable experience. Sylhet, the tea granary of Bangladesh, not only has over 150 tea gardens but also proudly possesses three largest tea gardens in the world in both area and production. [Sylhet - Tea Garden] Sylhet is the land of Shrine’s, natural Hills, forests, beautiful tree plantations and lots of Haors. It is an old city with full of natural beauties. A large number of tourists come every year to visit Sylhet. The main attraction of Sylhet city is the Shrine of Hajrat Shahjalal(R) and Hajrat Shah Poran (R). Shrine of Hajrat Shahjalal (R) is on the top of a hillock (tilla) in Sylhet city. Thousands of visitors are coming everyday in this Shrine. Shrine of Hajrat Shah Paran (R) is eight km far from Sylhet town on the Sylhet-Jaflong road where also thousands of visitors visits this Shrine everyday. Road journey to Sylhet is an wonderful experience through roads running ups and down the hills and green lush tea gardens of nature at its best. Main Tourist Spots in Sylhet Division : The Shrine of Hazrat ShahJalal - Sri Chaitannya Dev Temple - Shahi Eidgah - Gour Gobinda Fort - Jaflong - Tamabil - Sripur - Jointapur's Rajbari - Srimongol - Madhabkunda Waterfall - Lawacherra Rain Forest - Handicrafts of Sylhet - Manipuri Dance. .................................................................................................................................................................

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Bangladesh: Investigate Killing by Anti-Crime Unit

The Bangladeshi government should promptly and thoroughly investigate last week's "crossfire killing" involving Bangladesh's notorious anti-crime force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Human Rights Watch said today.

The RAB announced on April 10, 2009, that it had arrested Nasiruddin Suman, an alleged criminal, on April 9 and claimed that in the middle of the night he was taken to recover hidden arms in Dhaka's Dakkhin Keraniganj district. There, the RAB claimed, he was killed in a shootout between the anti-crime unit and his accomplices.

"RAB's own announcement makes it clear that this case fits the pattern of execution-style killings that the unit has carried out since its inception," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This is a challenge to the government's promise to end these killings, and the government needs to make clear they will not be tolerated."

Since RAB was established in mid-2004, its members have killed more than 550 people in what it usually refers to as "crossfire" or "encounter" killings or "shootouts." Numerous investigations by Human Rights Watch and others have shown that the accounts offered by the unit for the deaths bear no relation to the circumstances and that the killings are almost invariably extrajudicial executions, often preceded by torture. No RAB officer has ever been prosecuted for any of these killings or related torture.

The killing of Suman comes after a reduction in reported RAB violence since the December 2008 national elections. The new Awami League government has made commitments to end these illegal killings and torture. It has declared a "zero-tolerance" policy with regard to killings in government custody, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stated that those responsible for such acts will be punished.

"Now is the time for the government to begin the process of holding RAB accountable," said Adams. "It should immediately investigate this killing and prosecute and bring to justice those responsible. This is a big test for the government. Will it be able to control RAB?"

As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other human rights treaties, Bangladesh is obliged to investigate thoroughly and promptly serious violations of human rights, prosecute the perpetrators in accordance with international fair-trial standards, and appropriately punish them if their guilt is established.

The United Kingdom and the United States have over the past year provided training to RAB in the stated hope that the force will improve its human rights record and eventually become a more effective counterterrorism outfit.

"If the US and UK governments are truly concerned with RAB's human rights record, they should make clear that future assistance to the force is dependent on successful prosecutions when members commit abuses," Adams said. "They should not kid themselves that training alone will have a significant impact on a force so deeply entrenched in violence."

Dhaka - The Capital of Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. With its colorful history and rich cultural traditions, Dhaka is known the world over as the city of mosques and muslin. Its fame attracted travelers from far and near throughout the ages. Today it has grown into a mega city of about 8.5 million people, with an area of about 1353 sq. km. becoming the hub of the nation's industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and political activities.                               Lalbag Kella Dhaka is located in the geographic center of the  country. It is in the great deltaic region of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The city is within the monsoon climate zone, with an annual average temperature of 25 deg C (77 deg F) and monthly means varying between 18 deg C (64 deg F) in January and 29 deg C (84 deg F) in August. Nearly 80% of the annual average rainfall of 1,854 mm (73 in) occurs between May and September. Dhaka is located in one of the world's leading rice- and jute-growing regions. Its industries include textiles (jute, muslin, cotton) and food processing, especially rice milling. A variety of other consumer goods are also manufactured here. The Muslim influence is reflected in the more than 700 mosques and historic buildings found throughout the city. The University of Dhaka (1921) and several technical schools and museums are located here. GENERAL INFORMATION : Area : 815.85 Sq. kilometres (approx.) Population : Seven million (approx.) Climate : Tropical, with heavy rainfall and bright sunshine in the monsoon and warm for the greater part of the year. The winter months, from November to March, are however, most likeable, cool and pleasant. Temperature: Max. Min. summer 36.7°C 21.1°c Winter 31.7°C 10.5°c Rainfall : 2540 mm annually. Humidity : 80 percent (approx.) Attractions of Dhaka  Mosques : Dhaka has several hundred mosques. Prominent are Baitull Mukarram-National Mosque, the seven Domed Mosque (17th century), Star Mosque (18th century) , Chawkbazar Mosque and Huseni Dalan Mosque. Hindu Temples : Dhakeshwari Temple (11th Century), Ramkrishna Mission. Churches: Armenian Church (1781 A.D.) St. Mary's Cathedral at Ramna, Church of Bangladesh or former Holy Rosary Church (1677A.D.) at Tejgaon. National Memorial : It locates at Savar, 35, km. from Dhaka city. The memorial designed by architect Moinul Hossain is dedicated to the sacred memory of the millions of unknown martyrs of the war of liberation. Lalbagh Fort : It was built in 1678 A.D. by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The fort was the scene of bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) when 260 sepoys stationed here backed by the people revolted against British forces. Outstanding among the monuments of the Lalbagh are the tomb of Pari Bibi , Lalbagh Mosque, Audience Hall and Hammam of Nawab Shaista Khan now housing a museum. 1857 Memorial : ( Bahadur Shah Park) Built to commemorate the martyrs of the first liberation war (1857-59) against British rule. It was here that the revolting sepoys and their civil compatriots were publicly hanged. Bangabandhu Memorial Museum : The residence of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi has been turned into a musuam. It contains rare collection of personal effects and photographs of his lifetime. Mukti Juddha Museum : Situated at Segun Bagicha area of the city the museum contains rare photographs of Liberation war and items used by the freedom fighters during the period. Ahsan Manzil Museum : On the bank of the river Buriganga in Dhaka the pink majestic Ahsan Manzil has been renovated and turned into a museum recently. It is an example of the nations rich cultural heritage. It was the home of the Nawab of Dhaka and a silent spectator to many events. The renovated Ahsan Manzil is a monument of immense historical beauty. It has 31 rooms with a huge dome atop which can be seen from miles around. It now has 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawab. Curzon Hall : Beautiful architectural building named after Lord Curzon. It now houses the Science Faculty of Dhaka University. Old High Court Building : Originally built as the residence of the British Governor, it illustrates a happy blend of European and Mughal architecture. Dhaka Zoo : Popularly known as Mirpur Zoo. Colorful and attractive collections of different local and foreign species of animals and birds including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger are available here. National Museum : Located at the central point of the city, the museum contains a large number of interesting collections including sculptures and paintings of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods. Botanical Garden : Built on an area of 205 acres of land at Mirpur and adjacent to Dhaka Zoo. One can have a look at the zoo and the botanical garden in one trip. National Park : Situated at Rejendrapur, 40 km. north of Dhaka city , this is a vast (1,600 acres) national recreational forest with facilities for picnic and rowing etc. Central Shahid Minar : Symbol of Bengali nationalism. This monument was built to commemorate the martyrs of the historic Language movement of 1952. Hundreds and thousands of people with floral wreaths and bouquet gather on 21 February every year to pay respect in a solemn atmosphere. Celebrations begin at zero hour of midnight. National Poet's Graveyard : Revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam died on the 29 August 1976 and was buried here. The graveyard is adjacent to the Dhaka University Mosque. Suhrawardy Uddyan (Garden) : A Popular Park. The oath of independence of Bangladesh was taken here and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman gave clarion call for independence on this occasion on the 7th March 1971. The place is famous for its lush verdure and gentle breezes. Eternal Flame to enliven the memory of the martyrs of our Liberation war has been blown here recently. Mausoleum of National Leaders : Located at the southwestern corner of Suhrawardy Uddyan, it is the eternal resting place of great national leaders, Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque, Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy and Khaja Nazimuddin. Banga Bhaban : The official residence of the President, located in the city . One can have an outside view of this grand palace. Baldha Garden : Unique creation of the late Narendra Narayan Roy, the landlord of Baldha. Year of establishment was 1904. Located in Wari area of Dhaka city, the garden with its rich collection of indigenous and exotic plants is one of the most exciting attraction for naturalists and tourists. Ramna Green: A vast stretch of green garden surrounded by a serpentine lake near the Sheraton Hotel. Parliament House : Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament House) located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar has distinctive architectural features. Designed by the famous architect Louis I. Kahn, it may be called an architectural wonder of this region. Science Museum : The museum is a modern learning center related to the latest scientific discoveries. It is situated at Agargaon. Institute of Arts and Crafts : Situated in the picturesque surroundings of Shahbagh the Institute of Arts and Crafts has a representative collection of folk-art and paintings by artists of Bangladesh. Sonargaon : About 29 km. from Dhaka. Sonargaon is one of the oldest capitals of Bangal. A Folk Arts and Crafts Museum has been established here. Other attractions in and around Dhaka include the Institute of Arts and Crafts with its representative collection of folk art and paintings, handicraft shops. Aparajeya Bangla monument, picnic spots at Chandra and Salna, industrial estates of Tongi, Narayanganj, Demara, Tejgaon, cruising by country boat in the nearby river or a visit to a village to see jute cultivation, weaving and pottery making. Last but not the least travel by a horse driven cart or rickshaw along busy Dhaka streets is a rewarding experience. Picnic Spots : There are good picnic spots in the area around Savar and Mirzapur. Other beauty spots connected by road with Dhaka include Joydevpur, Sripur, Madhupur, Rajendrapur National Park, Chandra and Salna, all of which have rest-houses that can be used by tourists on request to the Forest Department. Bangaldesh Parjatan Corporation owns two picnic spots with Bunglows at Chandra and Salna which can also be hired by tourists. Sightseeing Tours : Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation runs conducted sightseeing tours from its Tourist Information Centre at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The duration of the Dhaka City sightseeing tours is three hours approximately. The Corporation operates a number of other interesting sightseeing tours around the Dhaka City (Ph: 8119192). For the transit passengers the Corporation also runs special city sightseeing tours from from the Tourist Information Centre, Zia International Airport, Ph: 880-2-8914416. Clubs : Dhaka Club, Dhaka: formed in 1851 in the name of Ramna Dhaka Club. Accom, Rest. & Bar, Swimming Pool, Indoor Games, Tennis, Squash Ph: 880-2- 8619180-4, 505800-4 Golf Club, Kurmitola: Temporary Membership for tourists available, Golf, Rest. & Bar. Ph: 880-2-605301 Australian Club: Rd. 83, Gulshan, Membership to all Australians and New Zeaianders, Swimming, Tennis, Squash, Volleybal, Ph:880-2- 603775 American Club: Gulshan, Membership open to all Americans and their families, Swimming, Tennis, Squash, Volleyball, Basketball, Rest, Ph: 880-2-8821025-27 Swedish Club: Rd. 47, Gulshan, open to all Swedesh and their guests, Swimming, Squash, Tennis, Ph: 880-2-601043. Netherlands, Recreation Cantre: Road 74, house 33, Gulshan 2, members must be Dutch, Swimming Tennis, Rest, Ph: 880-2-602039

Ministry investigator quizzes Limon, father

A doctor records the statement of Limon Hossain at National Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in Dhaka yesterday after Barisal ADC Shawkat Akbar, to the left of the physician, ends questioning the teenager. Limon's mother, next to her son, looks on.Photo: STARStaff Correspondent

A home ministry assigned investigator questioned Limon Hossain, maimed in a Rab shootout, and his father at a city hospital yesterday.

Additional Divisional Commissioner of Barisal Mohammad Shawkat Akbar quizzed the teenager and his father Tofazzal Hossain thoroughly for over two hours from 11:15am at a special cabin of National Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor).

Limon, 16, has been undergoing treatment at the hospital after his release on bail on May 9 from a prison ward at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal.

His left leg had to be amputated after a Rapid Action Battalion team shot him to injury in Jhalakathi on March 23.

Yesterday, ADC Akbar allowed the media in the room where he asked Limon a wide range of questions about the March 23 incident, his childhood and education.

He threw a volley of leading questions minutely examining the alibi of Limon and parents.

As the questioning continued, tears started rolling down the cheeks of Limon. His mother Henoara Begum, touched by her son's ordeal, also failed to hold her tears.

Akbar also asked details about how much the poor family had received from visitors and well-wishers and whether or not any editor had ever visited the maimed boy.

The interrogator also wanted to know who gave them the money and how much, and who helped the family open bank accounts.

Limon's father told the ADC that people from all walks of life helped them according to their ability.

The interrogator eagerly noted down when the father told him that BH Haroon, a local Awami League lawmaker, was so moved that he gave the family Tk 20,000 and promised to help Limon complete his education.

Akbar also took notes when Limon's father told him that a top Rab official gave the family Tk 5,000 for his son's treatment.

Dr Kazi Enamul Kabir, a doctor on duty, recorded Limon's statement and read it out to the boy who later signed it.

After Limon, the ADC quizzed the father for one hour till 1:45pm.

The home ministry had asked Shawkat Akbar to submit a report within 15 working days after the probe began on April 29.

The ministry has given him additional seven days, from May 23 to 29, to complete the probe, the ADC told The Daily Star after completing the questioning.

Asked whether it was necessary to question Limon as the home minister backed the statement that Limon has criminal link, the ADC replied he received no instruction from the ministry or any other quarter regarding how to conduct the probe.

“I have nearly completed the probe and I shall submit my findings to the home ministry,” said Akbar.

Limon was transferred to Nitor after being released from the Jhalakathi jail on a six-month bail granted by the High Court. The HC order came following a petition of a rights body claiming his innocence.

On Monday, the Rab claimed that Limon and his family had links with a local criminal gang.

This statement was based on reports of four probe committees ordered by Rab and police after the March 23 incident, said Rab officials.

The reports found that Limon was a member of Morshed Bahini, a local gang of criminals, and he suffered the bullet wound in an encounter between the miscreants and Rab personnel.

The Rab filed two cases against Limon accusing him of possessing illegal firearms, and of obstructing law enforcers from carrying out their duties and attempted murder.

Limon's mother also filed a case against the Rab personnel who went to her village to hunt the Morshed gang.

Also on Thursday, serving yet another hard blow to the maimed teenager, Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique at a news conference claimed both Limon and his father are members of a criminal gang.

Later on Sunday, Home Minister Sahara Khatun backed Tarique by saying his remark on Limon must be a government statement.

On April 11, Rab Director General Mokhlesur Rahman, however, said Limon was not a “notorious criminal”.

Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths

Ian Jack (21 May) mentions the controversy about death figures in Bangladesh's liberation war. On 8 January 1972 I was the first Bangladeshi to meet independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after his release from Pakistan. He was brought from Heathrow to Claridge's by the Indian high commissioner Apa Bhai Panth, and I arrived there almost immediately.Mujib was puzzled to be addressed as "your excellency" by Mr Panth. He was surprised, almost shocked, when I explained to him that Bangladesh had been liberated and he was elected president in his absence. Apparently he arrived in London under the impression that East Pakistanis had been granted the full regional autonomy for which he had been campaigning. During the day I and others gave him the full picture of the war. I explained that no accurate figure of the casualties was available but our estimate, based on information from various sources, was that up to "three lakh" (300,000) died in the conflict.To my surprise and horror he told David Frost later that "three millions of my people" were killed by the Pakistanis. Whether he mistranslated "lakh" as "million" or his confused state of mind was responsible I don't know, but many Bangladeshis still believe a figure of three million is unrealistic and incredible.