Visit Bangladesh & See the Beautiful Country

HOW TO TRAVEL WITHIN BANGLADESH

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Major cities such as Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Jessore, Saidpur, Barisal and Cox's Bazar are connected by air with Dhaka. These destinations are served by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and GMG Airlines.

RAIL

The Bangladesh Railway provides an efficient service to places of interest such as Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Bogra, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Kushtia starting from Dhaka. The inter-city express service is available to and from important cities at cheap fares.

For further details please contact
Bangladesh Railway, Dhaka.
Phone : 880-2-8315857, 880-2-9330522.
Web: www.railway.gov.bd

BUS / COACH SERVICE

Road transport in Bangladesh is predominantly a private sector affair. Rates are among the cheapest in the world. Express and non-stop services are available to principal towns from Gabtoli, Saidabad and Mohakhali bus terminals in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) also maintains a country-wide network of bus services. Recently BRTC has introduced Dhaka-Calcutta-Dhaka direct daily bus services via Benapole, Jessore (360km journey).

For details please contact

BRTC Dhaka.

Phone : 880-2-9555553, 9333803.

These are some Coach Companie's address, from where you can get the current timetable, schedule, fare and more.

Challenger 11, Fakirapool, Dhaka Tel: 8317680, 8317557	Citycom Hotel Eden Complex, Dhaka ,Tel: 7101956

Concord 167/B, Eden Complex, Circular Road Motijheel C/A., Dhaka-1000 Tel: 9345655	Drooti 75-Ka, Baghbari, Gabtoli, Mirpur, Dhaka, Tel: 8014563

Eagle Paribahan Opposite of Notre Dame College Dhaka , Tel: 7101504	Green Line Paribahan 9/2 Outer Circular Road, Momenbagh, Rajarbagh, Dhaka Tel: 9339623, 9342580, 8353005

Hanif Enterprise 22/3, Block-B, College Gate, Dhaka Tel: 9120116	Keya Paribahan 167/1, Motijheel Circular Road, Arambagh Dhaka Tel: 7101894, 7101250, 9121280

Modern Enterprise 64/7, Lake Circus Kalabagan, Dhaka, Tel: 9123743	Neptune AC Coach Service 167/4, Motijheel Circular Road Hotel Eden Building Dhaka-1000, Tel: 7101945, 7101951, 9123092

NP Elegance 100, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207, Tel: 8111930	Shohagh Paribahan (Pvt) Ltd 114, Malibagh D.I.T. Road , Dhaka Tel: 9334152, 8316766, 8126293

Shoukhin Paribahan 257-Ka, Bagbari, Gabtoli, Dhaka Tel: 8014397, 9001796	Silk Com 167, Motijheel, Circular Road , Dhaka Tel: 9351392

Silk Line 167, Motijheel, Circular Road , Dhaka Tel: 7102461	Shyamoli Paribahan BRTC Kamalapur Bus Depot, Dhaka, Tel: 9333803
Tokoyo Line 167/1, Motijheel, Circular Road , Dhaka Tel: 9134726	S. Alam Paribahan Fakirapool, Dhaka Tel: 9331864

RIVER

Country-made boats are the most widely used transport in the rivers of Bangladesh. These carry both passengers and merchandize. The landscape of Bangladesh is dominated by about 250 rivers, which flow essentially north-south. Mechanized water transport is mainly operated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), which run ferry and launch services on the main routes. There are also services run by private companies. Journey by Rocket Steamer Service from Dhaka (Sadarghat) to Khulna, the gateway to the Sundarbans is a rewarding experience even though the journey time is approximately 24 hours.

For details please contact

BIWTC, Dhaka.
Phone: 880-2-9551589, 9555031-33.

CAR RENTAL

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has a fleet of air-conditioned and non-airconditioned cars, microbuses and jeeps. Besides, it also offers transfer service for tourists between Dhaka airport and main city points/hotels.

For booking and other details please contact

Rent-a-Car,
Phone: 880-2-8119193, 880-2-8117855-9 Ext. 118.

Private car hire service is also available at Rajdhani tours, Dhaka. Cab Service is also available in some major cities including Dhaka. The following Taxi Cab Serivices are available in Dhaka:

Anudip Autos Ltd

158, Mirpur Road, Kalabagan, Dhaka
Tel: 9125138, 8125690, Fax: 880-2- 8125910,
E-mail: anu@yahoo.com

Cab Express (Bangladesh) Ltd.

30 Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka
Tel: 9348401, Fax: 880-2-9337941,
E-mail: cabex@bdcom.com

Capital Cab Company

30 Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka
Tel: 9352847, Fax: 880-2-8317468.

Cosmo Cab (Pvt.)

House # 84, Road # 7A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 9112959, 8127191, Fax: 880-2-8113308.
E-mail: cosm@bangla.net

Kool Cab Ltd.

House # 2, Road # 9,

Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 8130485.

National Logistics

House #1/B , Road # 3,

South Avenue, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212
Tel: 880-2-8824316, 880-191-340120

E-mail: nl@dhaka.net, nl_bd2004@yahoo.com

Navana Taxi Cab Co. Ltd.

125/A, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Tel: 9552212, Fax: 880-2-9566324.

Orion Taxi Cab (Pvt.) Ltd.

House # 50, Road # 27 (Old), Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Tel: 9347277, 9347288, Fax: 880-2- 9117510.
E-mail: orin@bdmail.net

CAR RENTAL

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation

233 Bir Uttam Ziaur Rahman Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215
Tel: 8119193, 8117855-9, Ext-118
Fax: 880-2-8126501, 880-2-8119192

E-mail: bpcreservation@yahoo.ca

Dhaka Tours Rent-A-Car Association

Shahbag, Dhaka-1000.
Tel: 9663134, 8611313

Harney's Rent-A-Car

Tower Hamlet (Ground Floor)
16, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka-1213
Tel: 8813021, 8810399, Fax: 880-2-8810399
E-mail: hbe@bdcom.com

Hertz International Licensee

House # 6, Road # 9, Block # G, Banani, Dhaka-1213
Tel: 9884311, Fax: 9881290
E-mail: hertz@ipsslgroup.com

National Parliament of Bangladesh

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This is our National Parliament of Bangladesh. It is a great architecture in Asia. It was created by architect Louis I. Kahn. It houses all parliamentary activities of Bangladesh.

The Bhaban consists of nine individual blocks: the eight peripheral blocks rise to a height of 110' while the central octagonal block rises to a height of 155'. All nine blocks include different groups of functional spaces and have different levels, inter-linked horizontally and vertically by corridors, lifts, stairs, light courts, and circular areas. The entire structure is designed to blend into one single, non-differentiable unit, that appears from the exterior to be a single story.

The main committee rooms are located at level two in one of the peripheral blocks. All parliamentary functionaries, including Ministers and chairpersons of some of the Standing Committees, have offices in the Bhaban. The Parliament Secretariat also occupies offices in the same building.Louis Kahn

The Jatiya Shangshad Bhaban was designed by the American architect Louis Kahn.

Beginning of construction: 1961
Cost of construction and design: Tk. 129 crore or 1.29 billion (=1,290,000,000)
Inauguration: 28th January, 1982
Architect: Louis I. Kahn
Total area: 200 acres (800,000 m²)
Location: Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
Number of Parliaments: 7 (seven)
GIS coordinates: 23.762465°,90.378545°

Location and basic layout

The enclave, situated in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, is bounded by four major streets:

Lake Road to the North;
Rokeya Sarani to the East;
Manik Mia Avenue to the South; and
Mirpur Road to the West.

The main building (the Bhaban) is divided into three parts:

The Main Plaza: 823,000 square feet (76,000 m²)
South Plaza: 223,000 square feet (21,000 m²)
Presidential Plaza: 65,000 square feet (6,000 m²)

The main building is at the center of the complex. The outer parts of the complex include the MP hostel. An intricately designed lake surrounds the main building.

Culture of Bangladesh

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Culture

Main article: Culture of Bangladesh

Bagerhat Shat Gambuj Masjid (60 dome mosque), built by Khan Jahan Ali

Ruins of the ancient Buddhist monestary in Mahasthangarh, Bogra

Intricate design in a Nakshikatha, a traditional stitched quilt

A new state for an old nation, Bangladesh has a culture that encompasses elements both old and new. The Bangla language boasts a rich literary heritage, which Bangladesh shares with West Bengal. The earliest literary text in Bangla is the eighth century Charyapada. Bangla literature in the medieval age was often either religious (e.g. Chandidas), or adaptations from other languages (e.g. Alaol). Bangla literature matured in the nineteenth century. Its greatest icons are the poets Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Bangladesh also has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by Maimansingha Gitika, Thakurmar Jhuli or stories related to Gopal Bhar.

The musical tradition of Bangladesh is lyrics-based (Baniprodhan), with minimal instrumental accompaniment. The Baul tradition is a unique heritage of Bangla folk music, and there are numerous other musical traditions in Bangladesh, which vary from one region to the other. Gombhira, Bhatiali, Bhawaiya are a few of the better-known musical forms. Folk music of Bengal is often accompanied by the ektara, an instrument with only one string. Other instruments include the dotara, dhol, flute, and tabla. Bangladesh also has an active heritage in North Indian classical music. Similarly, Bangladeshi dance forms draw from folk traditions, especially those of the tribal groups, as well as the broader Indian dance tradition. Bangladesh produces about 80 films a year.[42] Mainstream Hindi films are also quite popular, as are films from Kolkata, which has its own thriving Bengali-language movie industry. Around 200 dailies are published in Bangladesh, along with more than 1800 periodicals. However, regular readership is low, nearly about 15% of the population.[43] Bangladeshis listen to a variety of local and national radio programmes from Bangladesh Betar, as well as Bangla services from the BBC and Voice of America. There is a state-controlled television channel, but in the last few years, privately owned channels have grown considerably.

The culinary tradition of Bangladesh has close relations to Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine as well as having many unique traits. Rice and fish are traditional favourites; leading to a common saying that "fish and rice make a Bengali" (machhe bhate bangali). Meat Consumption has increased with higher production in recent years. Bangladeshis make distinctive sweetmeats from milk products; some common ones are Rôshogolla, Chômchôm and Kalojam.

The sari (shaŗi) is by far the most widely worn dress by Bangladeshi women. However, the salwar kameez (shaloar kamiz) is also quite popular, and in urban areas some women wear Western attire. Among men, European dressing has greater acceptance. Men also use the kurta-paejama combination, often on religious occasions. The lungi, a kind of long skirt, is widely worn by Bangladesh men.

The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are the largest festivals in the Islamic calendar. The day before Eid ul-Fitr is called Chãd Rat (the night of the Moon), and is often marked by firecrackers. Other Muslim holidays are also observed. Major Hindu festivals are Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama Buddha, is one of the most important Buddhist festivals while Christmas, called Bôŗodin (Great day) in Bangla is celebrated by the minority Christian population. The most important secular festival is Nôbobôrsho or Bengali New Year, the beginning of the Bengali calendar. Other festivities include Nobanno, Poush parbon (festival of Poush) and observance of national days like Shohid Dibosh.

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Bangladesh. In 2000, the Bangladesh cricket team was granted test cricket status and joined the elite league of national teams permitted by the International Cricket Council to play test matches. Other popular sports include football (soccer), field hockey, tennis, badminton, handball, volleyball, chess, carom, and kabadi, a 7-a-side team-sport played without a ball or any other equipment, which is the national sport of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board regulates 29 different sporting federations.

Places of Tourist Attraction-Chittagong Hill Tracks, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban & Jaflong

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Chittagong Hill Tracks
The Chittagong Hill Tracts have steep jungle hills, Buddhist tribal peoples and relatively low-density population. The tracts are about 60km (37mi) east of Chittagong. The region comprises a mass of hills, ravines and cliffs covered with dense jungle, bamboo, creepers and shrubs, and have four main valleys formed by the Karnapuli, Feni, Shangu and Matamuhur rivers.Rangamati, a lush and verdant rural area belonging to the Chakma tribe, is open to visitors, as is Kaptai Lake. The lake, ringed by thick tropical and semi-evergreen forests, looks like nothing else in Bangladesh. While the lake itself is beautiful, the thatched fishing villages located on the lakeshore are what make a visit really special.Boats that visit the villages leave from Rangamati. Bring your swimming gear because you can take a plunge anywhere.

Rangamati
From Chittagong a 77 km. road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you to Rangamati. It is also connected by waterway from Kaptai.This is the only place to visit through out the year. Rangamati expresses her full beauty in rainy season. Trees becoming greener, waterfalls are in full tide, the river Karnaphuli in her full wave in this season. If you already visited Rangamati in winter, we advice to go there again in monsoon; you will feel the difference of nature yourself. Parjatan holiday complex is the best place to stay in Rangamati. There are other hotels in Rangamati where you can stay. Boating is the prime attraction in Rangamati. You can go to Kaptai and also by Karnaphuli River you can go deep in side the hill areas where on the way you will find lots of natural waterfalls. If you wish you can take shower in the waterfall or you can swim in the river. By boat you can visit the tribal villages, King Chakma's (tribal) Palace that is called Chakma Rajbari, Rajbonbihar pagoda, Tribal museum etc. You can also enjoy the tribal handmaid crafts if you go for shopping in the local market.

Khagrachhari
Khagrachhari is the natural wild beauty of Bangladesh. Here you can visit the tribal lifestyle of Chakmas? in Khagrachari. You can also visit Alutila hill. Approximately 100 meters long a very dark Cave is the mysterious beauty of Alutila hill.

Bandarban
Lots of hills and hilly areas, waterfalls, River Sangu, Lakes and the tribal culture are the main attraction of Bandarban .You can go to Bandarban from Chittagong by road. Chimbuk hill is one of the major attractions of Bandarban. You can enjoy the journey to Chimbuk Hill by jig jag hilly roads. It's the third highest mountain in Bangladesh of approx. 3000 ft height. Reach Chimbuk by jeep or microbus from Rangamati. A beautiful Rest house is there on the top of Chimbuk hill. If you are lucky then you can feel the clouds touching your whole body. If you take the prior permission from Roads and Highway Department you can spent a night in the rest house on the top of Chimbuk hill. If you stay there a night, you will remember your stay for your whole life with the calmness of nature hearing sometimes the wild animals squalling.

Jaflong
Jaflong is one of the most attractive tourist spots in Sylhet division. It's about 60 km far from Sylhet town and takes two hours drive to reach there. Jaflong is also a scenic spot nearby amidst tea gardens and rate beauty of rolling stones from hills. It is situated besides the river Mari in the lap of Hill Khashia.The Mari river is coming from the great Himalayas of India, which bringing million tons of stone boulders with its tide. You can watch the stone collection from the river in Jaflong as well as you can enjoy the boating in the river Mari. Jaflong is totally a hilly area of real natural beauty where hills are greenish with the forests. Lots of wild animal lives in this forest, so you need to be careful to enter in the forest alone. You can see the lifestyle of Tribe Khashia in Jaflong. If you intend to visit Jaflong it is advisable to start from Sylhet in the early morning so that you can comeback by evening covering the other tourists spots of nearby areas of Jaflong. The other tourist areas nearby Jaflong are Tamabil, Sripur and Jaintapur.

Places of Tourist Attraction-Sundarban

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Sundarban
Sundarban is the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Located about 320 km. South-west of Dhaka and spread over an area of about 6000 sq. km. Of deltaic swamps along the coastal belt of Khulna, is the biggest mangrove forest. These dense mangrove forests are criss-crossed by a network of rivers and creeks. One finds here 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 in this region are Cheetahs, spotted deer, monkeys, pythons, wild bear and hyeanas. The forest is accessible by river from Khulna and Mongla. There are rest-houses for the visitors to stay and enjoy the unspoiled nature with all its charm and majesty. Spending sometimes inside the forest can be rare treat for the lovers of nature. It has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.


Royal Bengal Tiger Special Attraction of Sundarban	Deers at Sundarban

Main tourist sports inside the Sundarbans include Hiron Point (Nilkamal), Katka and Tinkona island to view tigers, deer, monkeys, Crocodiles, birds and natural beauty. Aother major attraction inside the Sundarbans is Dublarchar (island) mainly a fisherman's village. Herds of spotted deer are often found to graze here. Water transport is the only means of communication for visiting the Sundarbans from Khulna or Mongla port. Private motor launch, speed boats, country boats as well as mechanized vessel of Mongla Port Authority might be hired for the purpose. From Dhaka visitors may travel by air, road or rocket steamer to Khulna - the gateway to the Sundarbans. Most pleasant journey from Dhaka to Khulna is by paddle or Steamer Rocket presenting a picturesque panorama of rural Bangladesh. Day and night-long coach services by road are also available. The quickest mode is by air from Dhaka to Jessore and then to Khulna by road. Journey time varies depending on tides against or in favor in the river. Usually it takes 6 to 10 hours journey by motor vessel from Mongla TO Hiron Point or Katka.

Permission from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO). Khulna is required to visit the forest. Cholera vaccine is to be taken well in advance. Anti-malaria, anti-diarrhoeal, insect repellent cream, drinking water, green coconut, medical kit, light tropical dress, thick rubber soled boots etc. are to be carried with the tourist. It will be wise to take the help of an experienced guide to make the journey fruitful.

Tourist Attraction-Cox's Bazar, Teknaf & Saint Martin

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Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar is charmingly situated on low range of sand hills between the Baghkhali and the Bay of Bengal with a long open beach towards the sea. The town is named after lieutenant Cox, who died here in 1798 after he had established a colony of Mogh who sought shelter in British territory after the conquest of Arakan by the Burmese two third of the population of the town are descendants of these refugees. Miles of golden sands towering cliffs, pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, delightful seafood this is Cox's Bazar, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. Having the world's longest (120-km) beach slopping gently down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal.
Cox's Bazar is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the country.

Teknaf
80 kilometers south of Cox's Bazar is a pleasure spot on the West Bank of Naf river. A small town, it has arrangements for picnic hunting and boating. A trip by jeep to Teknaf from Cox's Bazar at dawn, is a rare experience.
St. Martin's Island
13 kilometers south west of the southern tip of the mainland, is a small coral island being fringed with coconut palms, varieties of rare sea shell, lime stones corals, and marine life like flying fishes, dolphins and sea tortoises.

Haire amar mon matano desh

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Haire amar mon matano desh,
Haire amar shona pholla matti
Roop dekhe tor keno amar noyon bhorena,
Tore etto bhallo bashi tobu poran bhorena
Haire amar mon matano desh
Jokhon tor oi gayer ghore,
ghu ghu daka,
nijhum kono dupure
Hongsho mithun bheshe berai,
shapla futta tol tolle oi pukure
Noyon pakhi disha harai,
Projapatir pakhai pahkai
Noyon pahki disha harai,
Projapatir pakhai pakhai
Tader kotha, mone dhore na
Roop dehkhe tor kenno amar noyon bhore na
Tore, ato bhallo bashi tobu poran bhorre na
Haire amar mon mathano desh
Jokhon tor oi akash nille,
Pal tulle jai, shath shagorer poshora
Nodir buhke hath channi dei,
Lokkho chelle, manik jalla ishara
Haire amar buker majhe, hajar tarrer bina

Bangladesh - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

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Facts and Statistics

Capital: Dhaka

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Population: 144,319,628 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims

Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1%

Languages in Bangladesh

The official language is Bangla, also known as Bengali. It is the first language of more than 98 percent of the population. It is written in its own script, derived from that of Sanskrit. Many people in Bangladesh also speak English and Urdu.

Bangla vocabulary shows many influences. These include a strong Islamic influence seen in the greetings of "Salaam aleykum" (Peace be unto you) and "Khoda hafez" (God Bless you) and nouns from the Arab world such as "dokan" (shop), "tarikh"(date), "kolom"(pen) and "bonduk" (gun). In West Bengal the Hindu influence is greater with the use of the Hindu greeting "Namashkar".

English has also had an influence on Bangla. During the days of the Raj many words of English origin such as "tebil" (table), "tiffin" (archaic in modern day English meaning snack box) entered Bangla. In more recent time the ever rising global nature of English has lead to words such as "television", "telephone", "video" and "radio" being adopted by Bangla. However, unlike India, there has never been the need for English as a lingua franca and thus Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Culture & Society

Hierarchy

. Bangladesh is a hierarchical society.
. People are respected because of their age and position.
. Older people are naturally viewed as wise and are granted respect.
. Bangladeshis expect the most senior male, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. This is also valid in businesses, the majority of which will be family owned/run.

Religion

. The majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim. However, most still very much mix this with pre-Islam folk traditions.
. Bangladeshis identify with the folk traditions of Bengali culture. This includes belief in shamanism and the powers of fakirs (Muslim holy men who are exorcists and faith healers), ojhaa (shamins with magical healing powers), and Bauls (religious mendicants and wandering musicians).
. There is a strong tradition of music, dance, and literature that includes classical devotions of Hindu and Muslim music.

Festivals

. Islam defines many of the festivals in Bangaldesh. These include two Eids (one after Ramadan and one after the Hajj) Shab-e-Qadr (the night of power), Milad un-Nabi (birth date of the Prophet Muhammad) and Shab-e-Barat (the night of the fortune).
. Hindu influences festivals include Durga Puja and Kali Puja (community worshipping of Goddess Durga and Kali).
. On the whole an entire community participates in each other's religious ceremonies.

Meeting & Greeting

. Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.
. The hand shake is common although they may feel rather limp.
. Women will only really be met within business contexts and even so, it is best to wait to see if a hand is extended before doing so.
. The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the response is wa alaikum salam.
. Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of Bangladeshi society.
. Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person's name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two people.
. In general, age dictates how people are addressed.
. If people are of the same age, they use first names.
. If the person being addressed is older than the speaker, the person is called by their first name and a suffix that denotes the family relationship.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. Gifts are mainly given between family members at religious holidays, especially after Ramadan and Hajj.
. In cities, it is becoming more common for gifts to be given on birthdays.
. In Bangladesh the importance of gifts is in the thought rather than the value. Part of the reason lies in the fact that gifts should be generally reciprocated and it would be considered rude to offer someone a gift that is difficult to reciprocate.

Some general gift giving etiquette guidelines include:

. When visiting a Bangladeshi's home, it is more common to bring pastries, sweets or good quality chocolates.
. If bringing flowers avoid frangipanis as they are used at funerals.
. Similarly white flowers indicate mourning.
. Do not give alcohol or products containing non-halal meat to Muslims.
. Never give money.
. It is considered bad form to open gifts in front of the giver.
. Gifts are given with two hands.

Dining Etiquette

. If meeting with people for dinner here are some basic rules on etiquette and protocol:
. If invited to a meal it is rude to flatly turn the invitation down. One should always use less direct language to suggest that it may be difficult such as "I will try." or "I will have to see".
. Meals both inside the house and outside will usually be same sex.
. Many people eat with their hands and it may be that you share food from a common dish.
. It would not be seen as impolite if you asked for utensils.
. Ensure you wash your hands before eating.
. Guests are generally served first then the oldest, continuing in order of seniority.
. Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.
. You will constantly be urged to take more food. Simply saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value. It is therefore always best to pace yourself to allow for more servings.
. The left hand is considered unclean so only eat, pass dishes or drink with the right hand.

Our National Theme

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My Bengal of gold, I love you
Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune
as if it were a flute,
In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from
your mango-groves makes me wild with joy-
Ah, what a thrill!
In Autumn, Oh mother mine,
in the full-blossomed paddy fields,
I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!
Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection
and what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of
banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!
Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like
Nectar to my ears!
Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
my eyes are filled with tears!