CULTURE AND RELIGION of BANGLADESH

Culture:

Present day Bangladesh has a long history in its cultures. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the Bengali people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighboring regions. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh. The Bengal Renaissance of the 19th and early 20th centuries noted Bengali writers, saints, authors, scientists, researchers, thinkers, music composers, painters, and film-makers have played a significant role in the development of Bengali culture. The Bengal Renaissance contained the seeds of a nascent political Indian nationalism and was the precursor in many ways to modern Indian artistic and cultural expression. The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. It is manifested in various forms, including music, dance, and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktale; languages and literature; philosophy and religion; festivals and celebrations; as well as in a distinct cuisine and culinary tradition.

Religion in Bangladesh:

About 80 percent of Bangladeshis are Muslims, making Bangladesh one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. The Muslim community in Bangladesh tends to be accommodating to other faiths and beliefs and Bangladesh is known for its lack of communal strife. Hinduism is professed by about 13 percent of the population. There are also significant numbers of Buddhists in Bangladesh. Bangladesh also has a very small Christian community.

Islam in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Most Bangladeshi Muslims are Sunnis, but there is a small Shia community. Among religious festivals of Muslims are the Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Muharram etc.

The region of what is now Bangladesh saw wholesale conversions to Islam that began in the thirteenth century and continued on for hundreds of years. Muslim missionaries and mystics who wandered about the villages and towns were responsible for much of the conversions.

Hinduism in Bangladesh

Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh, covering more than 9.2% of the population. [Image: Pooja Scene] Hindus in Bangladesh are almost evenly distributed in all regions, with concentrations in Khulna, Jessore, Dinajpur, Faridpur, and Barisal. Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja etc. are some of the importanr Hindu festivals in Bangladesh.

Buddhism in Bangladesh

In the Chittagong Hills, Buddhist tribes formed the majority of the population. There are approximately 1 million Buddhists in Bangladesh, representing less than 1 percent of the population.

Christianity

There are less than a million Christians in Bangladesh, mostly Roman Catholic. Christians account for approximately only 0.3% of the total population.