Sylhet Division
Sylhet Division সিলেট বিভাগ Greater Sylhet | |
---|---|
Division | |
Tea Gardens of Srimongol | |
Map of Sylhet Division in red | |
Coordinates: 24°30′N 91°40′E / 24.500°N 91.667°ECoordinates: 24°30′N 91°40′E / 24.500°N 91.667°E | |
Country | Bangladesh |
Capital | Sylhet |
Area | |
• Total | 12,298.4 km2 (4,748.4 sq mi) |
Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 9,910,219 |
• Density | 810/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
Demographics | |
• Languages | Sylheti, Standard Bengali |
• Literacy rate | 39.18%[1] |
Time zone | BST (UTC+6) |
Sylhet Division (Bengali: সিলেট বিভাগ, pronounced Sileṭ Bibhag), also known as Greater Sylhet or Sylhet region,[2] is the northeastern division of Bangladesh, named after its main city, Sylhet. It is bordered by the Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura states of India to the north, east and south, respectively; and by the Bangladesh divisions of Chittagong to the southwest and Dhaka to the west.
Sylhet is considered one of the most picturesque and archaeologically rich regions in South Asia, and has major Islamic Sufi shrines and Hindu holy sites. Its bourgeoning economy has contributed to the regional attractions of landscapes filled with fragrant orange and pineapple gardens, and tea plantations. Many Sylhet community members have found work and residence abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom. They send remittances to fund projects and industries within the Sylhet Division, which have led to the expansion of the export industry and foreign investment sectors.
Administrative districts
The Division is subdivided into four districts (zilas) and thence into 36 sub-districts (upazilas).
Name | Capital | Area (km2)[3] | Population 1991 Census | Population 2001 Census | Population 2011 Census |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Habiganj District | Habiganj | 2,536.58 | 1,526,609 | 1,757,665 | 2,089,001 |
Moulvibazar District | Moulvibazar | 2,601.84 | 1,376,566 | 1,612,374 | 1,919,062 |
Sunamganj District | Sunamganj | 3,669.58 | 1,708,563 | 2,013,738 | 2,467,968 |
Sylhet District | Sylhet | 3,490.40 | 2,153,301 | 2,555,566 | 3,434,188 |
Total Division | Sylhet | 12,298.4 | 6,765,039 | 7,939,343 | 9,910,219 |
History
Historians believe that Sylhet was an expanded commercial center from the ancient period, which explains its original namesake. During this time, Sylhet was probably inhabited by Indo-Aryan Brahmins, though ethnically the population would also included Assamese, Dravidians of Bengal, Arabs, Persians and Turks. It has also been suggested that the Ancient Kingdom of Harikela was situated in modern Sylhet.[4][5]
The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet.[6] During the medieval period, Sylhet was a leading centre of Persian-speaking Muslim missionaries.[7]
A Muslim saint, Hazrat Shaikh al Mushaek Jalal Uddin, popularly known as Shah Jalal, arrived in Sylhet in 1303 CE from Mecca via Delhi, together with 360 Sufi saints and army generals such as Sikander Ghazi, Syed Nasiruddin and Khwaja Burhanuddin Qahafan, who defeated Govinda of Gaur.[3] Sikander Ghazi was the nephew of Sultan Feroze Shah of Delhi. Under the spiritual leadership of Hazrat Shah Jalal and his 360 companions, the Muslims converted many local Hindus. He died in Sylhet in or around the year 1350 CE. His shrine is located inside the parameter of the mosque complex known as Dargah-e-Shah Jalal.
Shah Jalal remains revered; visitors arrive from all over Bangladesh and beyond to pay homage.[3] Saint Shah Jalal and his companions are credited with converting most of the populace from their earlier beliefs in Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions to Islam. By the 15th century, Sylhet became a centre of Islam in Bengal. In the official documents and historical papers, Sylhet was often referred to as Jalalabad during the era of the Muslim rule.[8][9]
Hinduism, which is the name given by Europeans to the practices and beliefs of the people of the oldest civilization in the World in the Indus Valley, intricately links Sylhet and the rest of Bangladesh with its rich history. Sylhet is home to two of the fifty-one body parts of Sati, a form of Goddess Durga, that fell on Earth according to accepted legends. Shri Shail in Jainpur village near Gotatikar in south Surma and Jayanti at Kalajore Baurbhag village of Jaintia are where the neck and left palm of Sati fell on this Earth. In addition, the 16th century Krishna Chaitanya's ancestral homes are in Golapganj and Habiganj. Chaitanya was another reincarnation of Krishna to walk on Earth and guide Humanity. Hindus believe He will return during the kalijug or end of time, a belief common with Christianity and Islam who believe Christ and Imam Mehdi, respectively, will come at the end of time.
In the late 18th century, the British East India Company became interested in Sylhet and saw it as an area of strategic importance in the war against Burma. The British gradually absorbed Sylhet under their control, and governed it as a part of Bengal. After the British administrative reorganization of India, Sylhet was incorporated into Assam. It remained a part of Assam for the rest of the era of British rule.
In 1947, following a referendum and the Partition of India, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision, which was incorporated into the new Indian state of Assam.[10] The referendum was held on 3 July 1947, there were a total of 546,815 votes cast on 239 polling stations, a majority of 43.8 per cent voted in favour of East Bengal. There were protests regarding bogus votes. The referendum was acknowledged during India's independence celebration on 18 July 1947.[11] In 1971, Sylhet became part of the newly formed independent country of Bangladesh.[8]
The Sylhet region has a "friendship link" with the city of St Albans, in the United Kingdom. The link was established in 1988 when the District council supported a housing project in Sylhet as part of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. Sylhet was chosen because it is the area of origin for the largest ethnic minority group in St Albans.[12]
According to the St. Albans District Council: the majority of British Bangladeshis are of Sylheti ethnic origin (see British Bangladeshi). It is a testament of Sylhet in its history of trade relations with other parts of the world.
Civic administration
In 1995, Sylhet was declared the 6th division of the country. Prior to that it was part of the Chittagong Division. The Sylhet Division is subdivided into four districts (zillah): Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Sylhet. Further, the Sylhet Division contains 35 sub-districts (upazila/thana), 323 union parishad, 10,185 villages and 14 municipalities. Population: approximately 10 million, which is less than 7% of the total population of Bangladesh.
Culture
Many Sylheti try to marry spouses within the same regional, cultural, social and religious backgrounds.[13] Sylheti people are considered a distinct ethnic group in Bangladesh;[14] They are generally family oriented, follow and support Sylheti community culture, and are more conformist Muslims. These tendencies have led to some rivalry between non-Sylhetis and Sylhetis, due to differences in customs.[15]
Marriages are practiced in a traditional Muslim style, with henna ritual (mehendi), and prayers. Sylheti marriages often include contracts of marriage outlining the rights and obligations of both partners. People in Sylhet often marry partners living in the United Kingdom and the US, of communities originally from the district. Its unique culture and economy, and linguistic differences developed in part because the Greater Sylhet region was a part of Assam and Surma Valley State for about 100 years during the British Raj. There is a considerable flow of foreign currency sent from Sylhetis abroad to family in Bangladesh. .
Economy
The area around Sylhet is a traditional tea growing area. The Surma Valley is covered with terraces of tea gardens and tropical forests. Srimangal is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh; for miles around, tea gardens are visible on the hill slopes.
The area has over 150 tea gardens, including three of the largest tea plantations in the world, both in terms of area and production. Nearly 300,000 workers, of which more than 75% are women, are employed on the tea estates. Employers prefer to engage women for plucking tea leaves since they do a better job than, but are paid less than, men. A recent drought has killed nearly a tenth of the tea shrubs.
The plantations, or gardens, were mostly developed during the British Raj. The plantations were started by the British, and the managers still live in the white timber houses built during the Raj. The bungalows stand on huge lawns. The service and the lifestyle of managers is nearly unchanged.
A relatively new area that has come under tea cultivation is the sub-Himalayan terrain of Panchagarh. The soil and climate is highly favorable for growing tea. This area is contiguous with the states of Assam and Bengal in India, where tea has been grown for decades. Beginning with only 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land cultivated for tea in 2000, the commodity crop is now being cultivated on over 3,500 acres (14 km2) in Tentulia, Sadar and Atoari upazilas of Panchagarh.
The humus content in the soil here is more than in the traditional tea-growing areas of Sylhet. The tea produced in Panchagarh is reportedly better in quality than that of Sylhet. Several nurseries have been set up in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon to supply saplings to the tea gardens. Bangladesh exports tea to Pakistan and Russia.
Numerous projects and businesses in the city and in large towns have been funded by Sylhetis living and working abroad. More than 95 percent of the ethnic British Bangladeshis originated or had ancestors from this Sylhet region.[16] The Bangladesh government has set up a special Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Sylhet, in order to attract foreign investors, mainly from the UK.
Religion and faith
Sylhet is a holy place for both Muslim and Hindus. Historically it is known as the land of 360 awliyas (Muslim saints). Famous religious places include the shrines of Shah Jalal, Shah Farhan (popularly known as Shah Paran), Shah Kamal Quhafa in Shaharpara and Sipahsalar Syed Nasiruddin in Habiganj for Muslims.[17]
Sylhet has the largest concentration of Hindus in Bangladesh and is historically an important center for believers. It is part of the global Shakti Peethas, holy places of cosmic and enormous power, where Goddess Durga is worshipped. Of the fifty-one body parts of Sati, one form of Durga, that fell on Earth, Her neck fell on the south side of Surma River across the Sylhet town and her left palm fell in Jayanti. In addition, Sri Krishna Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu, the God of all Humanity and who will reappear during the kaliyug or end of time, visited his paternal family home in Thakurbari, Dhakadakshin, Golapganj and his maternal family home in Joypur, Habiganj in Sylhet Division in the 16th century. Hindu temples, such as Shri Chaitanya Dev Mandir in Dhakadakshin, Kali Mandir of Jainpur, Narayan Shiva Mandir of Khasa Pandith Para of BeaniBazar, Sri Mahaprabhu Bigraha Akhra of Jaldhup in Beanibazar, Shakti Piths temple of Kirit Devi Kamala, Bagala Matar Mandir of Habiganj, and Kalibari of Jaintiapur are popular.[18]
Followers of different religions are: Muslim 81.16%, Hindu 17.80%, Christian 0.06%, Buddhist 0.02%, and others 0.96%.
Saints
- Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) – Muslim saint of Bengal, National hero, pioneer of Sylhet.[3]
- Hazrat Shah Paran (R) – A renowned Sufi saint[19] of the Suhrawardiyya and Jalalia order. It is said that he was the son of a sister of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R). In 1303 AD, He took part in the expedition of Sylhet which was led by Shah Jalal. After the conquest of Sylhet he established a khanqah at Khadim Nagar in Dakshingarh Pargana, about 7 km away from Sylhet town, where he started Sufi spiritual practices and activities. He played a significant role in propagating Islam and establishing Muslim rule in the Sylhet region.
- Hazrat Shah Kamal Quhafa (R) was a sufi saint came to Bangladesh in circa 1315 CE from Mecca and founded Shaharpara.[20]
Politicians/Political Actors/Government Ministers
- Humayun Rashid Choudhury, former Speaker, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and MP.
- M Mokhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, former advisor to the President of Bangladesh and Minister of State, past Press Secretary to Bangladesh President, ex President of OCAB (Overseas Correspondents' Association Bangladesh) and Chief Editor of the Bangladesh Worldwide and Editor of the Weekly Prekkhit.
- Abdus Samad Azad, former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and MP.
- Saifur Rahman, former Finance Minister of Bangladesh and MP.
- Dr. Abdul Malik, Cardiologist and National Professor of Bangladesh.
- Shah A M S Kibria, former MP and Finance Minister of Bangladesh.
- M A Khan, former DCMLA and Communications and Agriculture Minister of Bangladesh.
- General M A G Osmany, former commander-in-chief of the Bangladesh Muktibahini (Liberation Forces), general and advisor to the President of Bangladesh for defence, former minister and MP.
- Mahmud Ali (Freedom Movement leader, statesman, journalist)
- Jamilur Reza Choudhury
Notable personalities
- Mohammad Ataul Karim
- Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Bangladeshi social worker, the founder and chairperson of BRAC
- Hason Raja
- Syed Mujtaba Ali, writer.[21]
- Dilwar Khan, poet
- Hason Raja[22]
- Radha Romon, lyricist and composer of folk and traditional dhamal dance music.[23]
- Runa Laila, playback singer.
- Subir Nandi, playback singer.
- Shah Abdul Karim, Baul and writer of folk songs.[24]
- Salman Shah, film actor.[25]
- Sanjeeb Chowdhury, singer and journalist.[26]
- Alaur Rahman, singer, Music Director and music teacher.
- Shuvro Dev, playback singer
- Syed Ahmed, a British TV personality
In popular culture
- Monica Ali's novel, Brick Lane (2003), explored the British Bangladeshi community in London, who are mostly from Sylhet Division. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2003. It was adapted as a film by the same name, released in 2007.
References
- ↑ http://www.sylhetdiv.gov.bd/node/831054
- ↑ Greater Sylhet Region CIMMYT. Retrieved on 26 March 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sajahan Miah (2012). "Sylhet Division". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Dilip K. Chakrabarti, S. Dara Shamsuddin, M. Shamsul Alam (1992). Ancient Bangladesh: A Study of the Archaeological Sources. Oxford University Press. p. 166.
- ↑ National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (Pakistan) (1996). Pakistan Journal of History and Culture. National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research. p. 33.
- ↑ "Islam in Bangladesh". OurBangla. Retrieved 2007.
- ↑ Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah (2012). "Persian". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Did you know? - Sylhet" (PDF). SylhetTimes. January 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ↑ Sylhet City. Bangla2000. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ↑ Karimganj – District in [Assam]], India
- ↑ Dewan Nurul Anwar Husain Chowdhury (2012). "Sylhet Referendum, 1947". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Sylhet, Bangladesh.St.Albans District Council.
- ↑ September 2006&hidType=HIG&hidRecord=0000000000000000126877 Bangladesh Web.com
- ↑ "BBC London: Faith – Bangladeshi London". BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2005.
- ↑ Pavla Navrátilová (7 August 2007). "Postcolonial Issues in Monica Ali’s 'Brick Lane' (Bachelor Thesis)". MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
- ↑ Gardner K (1995). "International migration and the rural context in Sylhet", New Community 18: 579–590
- ↑ Sylhet Itibritta, Syed Mujtaba Ali
- ↑ "Bangladesh – The Holy Land of Hindu and Buddhist Pilgrim=". Indo Link.
- ↑ Kānunago, Sunīti Bhūshaṇa (1988). A History of Chittagong. Dipankar Qanungo. p. 476.
- ↑ Syed Murtaja Ali, Shreehatte Itibritta
- ↑ Syed Mujtaba Ali Visva-Bharati
- ↑ Hasan Raja Banglapedia The Daily Star. Date:2008-08-26
- ↑ Siddiquee, Iqbal (4 March 2008). "Radha Raman Utshab held in Sylhet". www.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ↑ Documentary on Shah Abdul Karim to be screened at Kolkata
- ↑ The Graveyard of Salman Shah The Daily Star. Date: 31 October 2003
- ↑ Gayen, Kaberi (20 November 2007). "সঞ্জীবদা 'ভুল দরজায়' আর কড়া নাড়বেন না". Prothom Alo (in Bengali) (Mahfuz Anam). p. 11.
Sources
Census figures for 1991, 2001 and 2011 are from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Wing. The 2011 Census figures are based on preliminary results.
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sylhet Division. |
Meghalaya, India | ||||
Dhaka Division | Assam, India | |||
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Chittagong Division | Tripura, India |
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