Land and People of Bangladesh

Bengal
Delta
 Bengal Delta:
World’s largest delta
The upper part surrounded by the range of
Himalayas & the lower part surrounded by the
Bay of Bengal
The delta’s position is tilted
That’s why the water bodies originate from the
glaciers of Himalayas, carry a lot of sediments,
and flow through Bengal delta. They deposit the
sediments by the side of the river mouth before
emptying themselves in the Bay of Bengal. Due to
strong deposition of sediments for a long period of
time a fertile landform is formed by the side of the
Bay of Bengal.
Bengal Delta is
mostly known as
Ganges-Brahmaputra
Delta
How is the Ganges-Brahmaputra
delta formed?
The Ganges-Brahmaputra
delta is formed by the
confluence of two great rivers,
the Ganges and
the Brahmaputra
Ancient Human
Settlements and
Professions
Professions in Ancient Bengal: Economic system in ancient Bengal was
basically divided into 3 groups.
1)Agriculture: The history of agriculture records the domestication of plants
and animals and the development of techniques for raising them
productively. Wild grains were collected and eaten at the earlier time of
ancient period. Later on, irrigation, crop rotation and fertilizers were
introduced. People started producing food like wheat, rice and barley for
themselves.
2)Trade and Commerce: Bengal enjoyed prosperity through trade and
commerce in ancient period. The rivers afforded easy communication for
internal trade and Bengal’s location on the Bay of Bengal offered her the
opportunity of participating in International trade. For an example, Bengal
used to import spices and silk clothes in Greece and Rome.
3)Small Industries: Small industries were also introduced in ancient Bengal.
Salt industry, Jute industry, Shipping industry were the proof of the
existence of small industries.
Land and People of
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a delta – characterized by plain land,
mighty rivers, deep forests and Hills. Rising from the
Himalayas in the north, some of the greatest and mightiest
rivers of the world flow through Bangladesh and empty
them in the Bay of Bengal. Names of the Ganges, Padma,
Brahamaputra , the Jumna and Meghna are as familiar in
Bangladesh as throughout the world. They are still the
makers and breakers of life of the people of Bangladesh.
There are 700 rivers in Bangladesh.
HIMALAYAS AND BANGLADESH
Natural Calamities and
disasters
 Natural Calamities and disasters

 Because of climatic condition and
geographical location Bangladesh is prone to
natural calamities and disasters. Man- made
calamities have recently become even more
worse. There are instances of major
catastrophes in the past like floods,
earthquakes, tornados and cyclones. The
floods and cyclone in the south of Bangladesh
in November (10 ) 1970 killing some 500,000
people led eventually to the independence
movement of Bangladesh.
Cyclones
Origin of the Name of
Bengal
Origin of the name Bengal – The
earliest name of Eastern and Southern
Bengal was Banga or Bangal. West
Bengal was called Rarh and North
Bengal as Pundravardhan, Varendra,
Laukhnauti and Gaur. The name Bangala
to the whole region was given during the
Muslim period particularly from the time
of Shams al-Din Ilyas Shah ( 1342-57 ).
On 5th December 1969 Bangabandhu
named this territory Bangladesh.
SONARGAON
Races
 Races
 The Bangas, Pundras ( Pundras were the ancient people
of North- Bengal ) and other earliest peoples of Bengal
belonged to the non- Aryan and non-Dravidian stock .
 Though there is a controversy over the origin of the
Bengali people it is generally believed that they belong
to the Austro- Asiatic or Austric group.
 Though the Mongolo- Dravidian origins of the people of
Bengal are rejected by many scholars, it is believed that
Dravidian and Mongolian speaking people had settled in
Bengal.
 After the Dravidian and Mongolian the Homo- Alpinus,
the people of the Alpines and Palmers came and settled
in Bengal. They were not however, Aryans.
 The Aryan people began to come to Bengal from c. 1000
B.C. They came with their superior language, intellect
and various kinds of talents. They established the Aryan
civilization and culture in India as well as in Bengal.
 [ Aryan God ]
The Coming of the Muslims
 After the Aryans there came many other races of
people but the large number of people came
later from the Middle East and Abyssinians
from Africa and they were generally Muslims.
The Europeans started coming from 17th
Century AD.
 The Chittagong Hill Tracts became the abode of
the various tribes of Sino-Indian descent from
the 15th century.
 Thus with the settlements of peoples of different
race and culture Bengal became a melting pot of
many diverse nationalities giving rise to
characteristics typical of her own.
JANAPADAS
 Janapadas
 There existed no united or single state of
Bangladesh in ancient age. It was divided
into some small regions. Each region was
identified as a separate Janapada or
principality (human settlements). These
Janapadas were always in conflicts and
war with one another. As a result
sometimes their boundaries expanded
and sometimes reduced. These
Janapadas are Pundra, Varendra, Banga,
Samatata, Harikel, Gour, and Rarh.
PUNDRA
 The Pundra or Pundranagara is the earliest urban centre of

Bangladesh which dates back to the 4th century B.C. The
ruins of this have been identified at Mahasthan in Bogura
district. The ancient Pundra comprised of the present Rajshai,
Bogura, Dinajpur and Rangpur districts. The area was called
Pundra because a race of people known as Pundra lived here.
Mahasthangarh was another name of the area where Chinese
traveler Hiuen- Tsang visited in the 7th century. It was a
capital and a centre of administration during the Maurya (c.
321–185 bce) , Gupta(320 C.E-55o C.E.) and Pala ((750–
1174 A. D ) empires.
Mahasthangarh
Varendra
 Varendra –
 Parts of Rajshahi,
Rangpur and
Bogura of modern
days.
BANGA
 The South Eastern part of present Bangladesh was

known as Banga. A race named Banga inhabited this
region. Territories included were the greater districts
of Dhaka, Cumilla, Faridpur, Barishal and Patuakhali.
The Banga kings and the warriors earned great
name and fame in those days. The Hindu literary
sources indicate the Banga is a sea-faring nation.
They also mentioned that this is an area where the
finest quality white and soft cotton fabrics were
produced.
 [ Slide of Vikrampur or Dhaka ] Sonargaon and
Muslin
SONARGAON
MASLIN
SAMATATA
 Samatata – Cumilla- Noakhali

 This territory was situated in the south
western part of Bengal. The Chinese traveler
Hiuen-Tsang visited Samatata in the 7th
century A.D. He mentioned that the
Samatata was a centre of Buddhist culture.
The archaeological discoveries in the Lalmai-
Mainamati area confirm that the area
comprised of modern Cumilla- Noakhali
and the adjacent part of the hilly Tipperah.
 [ slide of Cumilla- Mainamati ]
Samatata
Harikela
 Harikela
 Most of the literary and archaeological
evidence indicate that the area was situated
in the modern Sylhet and Chittagong
districts.
 [ Slide of old Sylhet-Chittagong area ]
The Chandanpura Masjid at old part (north) of
Chittagong and The Chandanpura Masjid at old
Gour Gobinda Fort, Sylhet
GOUR
 Gour
 The Gour region comprised of the central parts of present
day West Bengal. In the early years of the Muslim rule the
kingdom of Laukhnauti was situated in this region and
Gour was the capital of this kingdom. In the 13th century
Gour was the capital of the entire Muslim Sultanate.
 It is believed that the areas which are now known as
Maldah, Murshidad, Birbhum and Burdwan were called
Gour Janapada in the ancient period. The famous and the
first independent King of Gour was Sashanka. He ruled
Gour in the 7th century and his capital was Karnasubarna
which was situated adjacent to the present day
Murshidabad city.
 [ Slide of Gour ]
Murshidabad-Katra-Mosque
Gaur, Malda, West Bengal
RARH
 It is now believed that Rarh of the ancient

days was the south- western part of ancient
Bengal.
 Howrah, Hughli and Burdwan are some areas
of ancient Rarh. The river Ajay divided this
region into two parts namely North and
South Rarh.
 [ Slide of Burdwan and Ajoy River ]
Burdwan at Map
BENGAL KINGDOM
Bengal

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Land and People of Bangladesh

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Bengal

 Natural Calamities and disasters

 The Pundra or Pundranagara is the earliest urban centre of

 The South Eastern part of present Bangladesh was

 Samatata – Cumilla- Noakhali

 It is now believed that Rarh of the ancient

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