Discover the Culture of Bangladesh: A Tapestry of History, Traditions, and Hospitality

Clothing Culture

In urban areas, clothing culture today is heavily influenced by the Western lifestyle. Men commonly wear shirts, pants, and shoes. Women, particularly unmarried or working professionals, often wear salwar kameez both outside and at home. Married women, however, are more accustomed to wearing sarees.

Additionally, it is common for women and girls to cover their entire bodies and faces with a burka or hijab when going outside, although this practice is not universal. Some women, following religious teachings, choose to cover their beauty to maintain modesty in front of strangers. It is considered disrespectful for an unknown individual to see a woman’s beauty.

As Bangladesh is a subtropical country with short winters and predominantly hot weather throughout the year, punjabi and lungi are considered traditional clothing, well-suited to the country’s climate.

During festivals or special occasions like weddings, Eid, or mourning, clothing culture varies significantly. For instance, at wedding ceremonies, brides wear heavily embroidered sarees with gold jewelry, while grooms wear special Punjabis called Sherwani and pyjamas, often paired with a hat known as Pagri.

In times of mourning, women wear white sarees to show respect for the deceased. Meanwhile, in the tribal regions of Bangladesh, such as the Chittagong Hill Tracts or Sylhet, clothing styles are distinctive and reflect specific cultural and ritualistic practices.

Some historically significant fabrics of Bangladesh include:

• Muslin: Production ceased during British colonial rule for business interests.
• Jamdani: A fabric with unique and intricate weaving patterns.
• Khadi & Tangail: Common fabrics widely used for daily wear.

Traditional Handicrafts in the culture of Bangladesh

Traditionally, Bangladesh has been immensely rich in handicrafts, which are deeply rooted in the history and culture of the country. Below, we highlight some of the most popular handicrafts that visitors can purchase as memorable souvenirs from Bangladesh.

Textiles: As discussed earlier, Muslin, Jamdani, and Tangail fabrics are highly popular. In addition, Bangladesh is also renowned for its famous silk fabrics, which are woven using traditional techniques.

Nakshi Kantha: This is the most popular textile handicraft in Bangladesh, typically handmade in villages using old fabric. Its intricate and complex designs have gained immense popularity. In some cases, creating a single kantha can take more than a month.

Shetal Pati: A type of floor mat or carpet made from the bark of a shrub called Murta, also known as Pati Bet or Mustak. Appreciated for its craftsmanship, Shetal Pati is a widely valued handicraft. In 2017, UNESCO listed Shetal Pati as a cultural heritage of the Sylhet area.

Clay Crafts & Pottery: This is the oldest craft in Bangladesh, originating during the Mughal era of Bengal. Even today, clay crafts remain popular due to their eco-friendliness, affordability, and aesthetic appeal. Common items include clay banks, plates, bowls, water filters, wall hangers, dolls, and cups.

Cane and Bamboo Crafts: These are 100% handmade, with many villagers earning their livelihoods by creating bamboo and cane crafts. Items include tables, chairs, shop sets, walls for houses, combs, spoons, and small tools used in rice production.

Wood Carving: Widely used for home and office furniture, wood carving is a well-established industry in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi furniture is also popular abroad, recognized for its quality and craftsmanship.

Arts 

When it comes to art, Bangladesh has a unique culture that represents its diversity, life, and traditions.

Pot Chitra (Scroll Painting): This is a form of art that tells a story, often inspired by Hindu mythology.

Alpona: Alpona is another type of art that decorates large areas with intricate patterns. Nowadays, most Alpona designs are created by the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University for events like Victory Day or Bangla New Year.

Graffiti: Graffiti is one of the most popular art forms in Bangladesh. Heavily influenced by Islamic culture, it often features Arabic letters. During the 36 July Uprising, the streets, walls, and public spaces were flooded with graffiti.

Calligraphy: Calligraphy is another well-known art form in Bangladesh. Many religious families use calligraphy as home decoration to enhance beauty and express love and respect for the Holy Quran and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Rickshaw Art: Rickshaw art is widely used on rickshaw plates and other parts of the vehicle. Rickshaw producers hire special artists to paint them. Some artists depict the faces of famous Bangla movie heroes and heroines, while others draw humorous quotes that make people smile. Occasionally, they use their art to raise social awareness with quotes like “Send Your Son to School.”

Apart from these, there are other forms of art and handicrafts that contribute to Bangladesh’s rich culture. These include traditional musical instruments like Ektara, Dotara, Dhol, and Tabla, gold and silver jewelry designs, and popular textile art forms such as Block-Batik.

Music in the Cultures of Bangladesh

Bhatiali
Rivers are spread all over Bangladesh, and the people of this country have a very close connection with them. People often travel far and wide by river. 

The main feature of Bhatiali songs is that they are primarily composed about boatmen, boats, and similar themes.

Vaoyaiya
Vaoyaiya reflects the feelings of the heart. Due to the lack of rivers and canals in the northern part of Bangladesh, travel by ox cart was common. The ox cart driver, while the cart moved at night, would sing to himself, overwhelmed with feelings of separation.

As the cart wheels rolled over uneven roads, the melody of his song would break or fold. This kind of broken or folded melody is the origin of the Vaoyaiya song.

Murshidi Songs
Murshidi is a type of spiritual folk music that originated and developed through the Sufis. The term “Murshid” refers to a spiritual guide who instructs and advises the devotee, guiding them on the spiritual path. Devotees, influenced by their Muslim gurus, have composed these types of songs over time.

Jari Gan
Jari Gan emerged in the 17th century. “Jari” means mourning. Muslims of Bengal began this style of mourning music to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

Shari Gan
Shari Gan is a type of song sung to make work easier and more enjoyable, such as rowing a boat or cutting soil.

Gambhira
Gambhira is a type of song resembling a discussion between two people. It is a scripted song performed to raise awareness among the masses.

Lalon Songs
These songs were written by Lalon Shah and contain a deep philosophy of life and death.

Nowadays, these types of songs have been converted into modern forms by manipulating the melody and incorporating modern instruments, influenced by Western music.

Language 

Bangla as a language is one of the oldest, richest, and most influential languages in South Asia. Giyasuddin Azam Shah (1389–1410), the ruler of greater Bengal, was the first to promote the cultural and linguistic development of the Bangla language during the Middle Ages.

Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, a great scholar and linguist, made significant contributions to the development of the written form of modern Bangla.

By 2024, the number of Bengali-speaking people will reach 237 million. Bangladesh is the only country in the world where people shed their blood to secure their right to speak in their mother language, standing against the rulers.

Literature

The history of Bangla literature began with Chorjapod, a collection of Buddhist religious songs. According to Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, Chorjapod was written between 700 to 1200 AD. One of the most influential figures in ancient Bangla literature is Shah Muhammad Sagir, the creator of the Puthi poem (poetic song) Yusuf-Zulekha.

Puthi literature: Puthi literature is an ancient form of poetry that describes long stories written in rhythm. Later, the great poet Alaol emerged as a key figure. He was the royal poet of the Arakan royal family during the Middle Ages. Alaol’s best creation is Padabali Poetry.

In the modern age, Bangladesh has produced many influential literary figures.

1. Kazi Nazrul Islam: Known as the “Poet of Rebellion”, Nazrul Islam’s writings were banned by British rulers. He is now honored as the national poet of Bangladesh. He also created unique musical genres, such as Nazrul Geeti, along with religious songs like Hamd and Naat-e-Rasul.
2. Jasimuddin: Known as the “Rural Poet”, Jasimuddin was a teacher at the University of Dhaka. His contributions to Bangla literature are incredibly significant. He collected various songs and poems that were popular among the people of Bangladesh but had not been documented. Jasimuddin compiled over 10,000 folk songs, including some included in music anthologies like Jari Gaan and Murshida Gaan.
3. Farrukh Ahmed: Known as the “Poet of the Muslim Renaissance”, Farrukh Ahmed wrote extensively about the struggles and neglect faced by the people of Bangladesh. He is recognized for having written the highest number of sonnets in Bengali literature and sought to inspire the people to reframe their thinking.
4. Al Mahmud: Al Mahmud is an unavoidable figure in Bangla literature. He focused on themes such as nature, rural life, and contemporary issues in Bangladesh. He became well-known for his bold voice against the rulers of his time. Al Mahmud’s versatility shines through his work as a poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, children’s writer, and journalist.