Bangladesh Diary

I am now sitting in a hotel room. This is not the first time that I am in a hotel but definitely it is for the first time that I am in a foreign land. The hotel is full of amenities and quite comfortable with all kinds of modern luxury. In the centre of the hotel room, one table is placed and on this table I have kept my passport which is testimony of the fact that I am an Indian. Today at the time of doing immigration formalities at the border, the officer asked me “Are you an Indian?” Perhaps he is used to of asking this kind of question to everyone passing through that border. But I felt delighted with this question of him. For the first time in my life I was giving my introduction to someone as “yes, I am an Indian”. While staying in India, we never introduce ourselves as “Indian” rather we are Bengali, Assamese, Bihari etc. In fact, we have become ‘resident non-Indians’, meaning thereby, residing in India but not identifying ourselves as Indians.

In Bangladesh emigration office, one young officer was there. His name was Mr. Rajib Deb. He is a student of MBA programme of Sylhet International University. He also works in the immigration/emigration office of Bangladesh. He was informed by the Head of the Department of Business Administration, Sylhet International University, Sylhet to take care of me. He could recognize me and he completed all the formalities on behalf of me. He has offered me a cup of tea as well. It was my first greeting at Bangladesh and I must admit that Bangladesh has greeted me well. Nice experience. In a foreign land also such a privileged treatment, because I am a teacher and at that time really felt proud to be a teacher.   

Mr. Rajib Deb has arranged vehicle for my journey from Border to Sylhet town and instructed the driver of the vehicle to take care of me.

The next problem was currency. I had only 50/- dollar in my wallet. This I purchased in India from a foreign exchange dealer. I have given him Rs. 3,500/- and in return he had given me one single note of 50/- dollar. Then I realized the worth of our currency. For one bundle of notes one single piece of note. That was really very discouraging. But what to do. We have to accept the fact, whether we like it or not.

I had another note of Rs. 500/- (Indian currency). This would also not work in Bangladesh. It also need to be exchanged. I had another taka 300/- in my wallet. This also happens for the first time that I had currency of three countries in my wallet but still finding it very difficult to pay taxi fare because the auto driver was asking taka 600/- as fare and I had only taka 300/- in my wallet.

Mr. Rajib Deb helped me in exchanging Indian currency with Bangladeshi taka. For Rs. 500/- I got only 560/- taka. I started asking myself “Is it the level of Indian economy? We have heard that India is a big brother in the region and this entire sub-continent is known as Indian sub-continent. India is the third biggest economy of the world and is this the valuation of its currency?” The shop keeper who exchanged the currency had said that earlier the rates were high but now with the depreciation of Indian rupee it is almost going to be equal. I murmured “Achche din aane wale hai”.

I started my journey after that. I found Bangladesh similar in fact identical to that of India. Same people, same climate, same language, but two different countries. I was reminded of a dialogue of a Hindi movie ‘Sarfaros’ where Nasiruddin shah says “Siyasat ke dalalo ne zameen pe lakir khich ke mulk ke do tukade kar diye aur dono taraf ke zahilo ko yeh fisala karne ka adhikar mil gaya ki kaun sa gadha takht pe baithega”.

The journey from boarder to Sylhet was very pleasant. The roads were in very good condition, perhaps better then Roads from Silchar to Karimganj in India. I was excited to be in a foreign land for the first time. Mobile network was already lost. I was observing the scenario outside the vehicle. I could not find many vehicles especially personal vehicles. I asked the driver, “Why is there lesser number of personal cars on the road? Is it because of some special occasion or people of Bangladesh do not like to possess personal cars?”

He said, “Sir, Actually maintaining a car in Bangladesh is very costly. There is an import duty of 300%. Thus, the car which costs around taka 5, 00,000 outside Bangladesh, costs around taka 20, 00,000 in Bangladesh. Moreover, those who possess car have to pay an annual road tax of taka 50,000 to the government.” Hearing this I was very surprised. I thought this must be a lesson to those in India who often say that Government of India has not done anything for the people. I started appreciating Government of India though I happens to be the big critic of our government. We realize the worth of our system once we are out of the system.

But again I realized that the good condition of roads were also partially because of lesser burden on the roads. In a way, one way of controlling traffic, good or bad I do not know but definitely those who were driving cars were driving in comfort unlike in India where we have to face many problems starting from bad road conditions to traffic jam even on the highways.

The auto rickshaw in which I was travelling was an Indian brand. I found Indian two wheelers very popular there. A few Chinese brands were also visible but when I asked about the popularity of motor cycles in Bangladesh, the auto rickshaw driver told that Chinese brands are not of good quality and people prefer to use Indian brands because of its reliability. The term ‘reliability’ especially attached with the Indian brands, gave me some pride.

On the way to Sylhet, I crossed some schools and colleges. I found girls were roaming and going to schools in one group. Boys were going to school in separate group. I have not found a single pair of boy and girl even talking to each other. Most of the girls were wearing hijab and burka. Perhaps Islamic culture is very dominant in Bangladesh. I was also feeling pity for the boys and girls. Perhaps they also would like to talk to each other but there customs and traditions are not allowing them to do so. Bangladesh is densely populated country. At this occasion again I am reminded of a dialogue of a movie Pardes where the actor said in frustration to the actress, “Tum logo jaisa farebi maine aur kahi nahi dekha. Dikhane ke liye mardo ki society alag, auroto ki society alag par bachche paida karne me tum logo ne world record bana diya hai”.

After almost one hour of run, I reached the hotel. I took my lunch and then taken rest by laying on the bad for some time. My lecture was from 5 pm. I reached the campus of Sylhet International University and the Vice Chancellor himself introduced me to the participants. I had taken the class. After the class the participants appreciated me for the lecture.

Next day, I have to give a talk on ‘management in practice’. I have decided to deliver on ‘behavioural finance’. It was also an excellent session. The participants said that this was a new concept to them.

I visited the market in Sylhet in the evening. The markets were very busy due to the upcoming Eid festival. In the market I was again surprised to see a shop selling jeans and trousers for the girls. My mind of a management professor became active and I entered the shop and asked to the shopkeeper after giving my introduction and talking about the price and quality of the some of the jeans, “Here I have not seen a single girl wearing jeans and trousers, then who will purchase your jeans and trousers?”

The shopkeeper said, “Sir, the girls who were burka used to wear these inside burka.” This was another exclamation for me.

I had shown my curiosity to see cinema hall in Sylhet. I believe that the culture of any place is visible at the cinema halls. I was told that the cinema halls in entire Bangladesh are in very sick conditions. However, people love to watch movies. Hindi movies are very popular in Bangladesh. Due to the popularity of Hindi movies, Hindi is also getting popularity in this country. Hindi movies are playing a great role in making Hindi language more popular. A research scholar can also think of undertaking his/her research in this area to explore the impact of Hindi cinema on popularity of Hindi language in India as well as outside India. In India, non-Hindi speaking have to learn Hindi because Hindi is almost lingua franka of the country. But outside India, simply to enjoy Hindi movie people are learning Hindi is remarkable.

I also visited one Islamic Bank in order to have some idea about it because I have my research interest in Islamic finance. It was also an awesome experience.

In Bangladesh, since maintaining a car is very costly, rickshaw is very popular mode of public transport. Most of the vehicles runs on CNG. The market was flooded with Indian brands but relatively costly then they would have cost in India.

But apart from all these, the trip of Bangladesh would be remembered for the kind of hospitality the people have shown. I was simply fascinated with their reception. Right from the teachers of the university to the Head of the Department Mr. Abdul Latif; the Vice Chancellor of Sylhet International University, owner of the hotel where I stayed, the hospitality and reception was simply heart touching and still fresh in my memories. I was invited at the home of my friend Pranob Saha for dinner. Dinner was excellent and more than the dinner Pronob and his wife’s hospitability is in my memory. Next day Pronob was with me and helped me in completing all the necessary formalities required for a foreigner before leaving Bangladesh.

I think this kind of visits should be encouraged which would strengthen the relationship between two countries. Both the countries share a rich history and if the steps are taken appropriately then it can lead to the creation of win-win situation for both the nations.