The Eastern Bangladeshi city of Sylhet is home to the tomb of Hazrat Shah Jalal, one of the Sufi saints, and the Museum of Rajas. This museum contains the belongings of the local folk poet Hasan Raja.
History
Sylhet is a city in Bangladesh. It is located in the Sylhet Valley, which is a major oil and tea producing area of Bangladesh. In the ancient period, Sylhet was ruled by local chieftains. The name of Sylhet was anglicized from Srihatta.
During the Muslim rule, Sylhet was known as Jalalabad. Shah Jalal, who converted most of the population of Sylhet to Islam, died in the region around the year 1350. His shrine is located inside the Dargah-e-Shah Jalal mosque complex. He is still revered in Bangladesh.
Before the Partition of India, Sylhet was under the rule of the British East India Company. After the Partition, Sylhet became part of the newly formed Pakistan.
Previously, the district of Sylhet was part of colonial Assam. However, four subdivisions were upgraded to districts in 1984. There was rapid urbanisation in the 1960s.
The Sylhet Referendum was held on 6-7 July 1947. This referendum decided whether the district would join the newly created Pakistan or the Indian Union. Both Hindus and Muslims cast their life-changing votes in makeshift poll booths.
Throughout history, the city of Sylhet was attacked from neighbouring kingdoms. It was also subjected to earthquakes. During the last 150 years, three major earthquakes have hit the region. Currently, there are no major earthquakes in Sylhet.
During the rule of the British, the population of Sylhet grew. There were thousands of young Sylhetis serving on British merchant ships. Some of the lascars married English women. Other lascars settled in various communities.
Eventually, the region became a center of Islam in Bengal. It was also a place for Islamic and linguistic education. Many independent petty kingdoms were formed.
There were three major earthquakes in Sylhet between the years 1897 and 1918. Among the earthquakes that took place, one killed only two people.
Geology
The Sylhet area of northeastern Bangladesh is a natural basin, which absorbs a huge amount of rainwater. It also has a complex ecology. Rocks in the Sylhet area are of sedimentary origin. However, the contribution of sedimentary rocks is highly variable, depending on depositional conditions.
Sedimentary rocks consist of limestone, sandstone, siltstone, claystone and shale. These rocks are characterized by their porous properties. They are more permeable to water than igneous rocks.
The Sylhet Limestone Formation is a late Mesozoic and Cenozoic rock unit deposited in an intermediate environment. This formation is found in Gwainghat, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
In addition to limestone, other rock units are studied. Some of these include the Rajmahal Formation, which consists of hornblende basalt, tuff and olivine basalt. Another rock unit is the Fossiliferous Limestone Formation. This formation contains fossils, shells and Bryozoans.
The tectonic history of the Sylhet trough was reconstructed using seismic data and well logs. Subsidence rates increased 3 to 8 times from the Miocene to the Pliocene-Pleistocene. A south-directed overthrusting of the Shillong Plateau on the Dauki fault was responsible for this subsidence change.
Detailed litho-bio-chronostratigraphic techniques were used to study the nature of sedimentary sequences. The study showed that sediments were deposited in several formations.
The Sylhet Limestone is located at the Dauki River section, Gwainghat, Sylhet. Several non-clastic minerals were also studied. For petrographic analysis, 19 samples were collected from twelve locations.
The sandstone in the Surma Group is one of the main reservoir rocks in Bangladesh. It is a thick unit, which is a part of the Indo-Burman range. All of the oil and gas production in the region comes from this rock.
There are many other sandstones and lava units in the Sylhet area. However, they have not been extensively studied.
Handicrafts
Handicrafts in Sylhet are made by local craftsmen and artisans. They are experts in traditional and modern crafts. Their products include cane and bamboo products, basket ware and furniture. These are widely used in homes by millions of women.
Among the famous handicrafts in Bangladesh, bamboo work and cane work are two of the most popular. In Sylhet, bamboo is used to make a wide variety of bamboo items.
Another popular craft in Sylhet is Shital Pati. This is a family-based craft that empowers the underprivileged communities. The craft is an important source of livelihood for these people. It is also an art of creating a unique mat that is used for prayer.
One of the oldest aesthetics in the history of Bangladesh is the arts and crafts. Tribal societies made numerous arts and crafts that served religious purposes. Various utilitarian crafts were also produced.
The ancient Vanga people produced pottery and iron implements. Similarly, the Garos produce a variety of textiles for domestic use.
Bamboo is the main material for the production of these handicrafts. Many different colours are prepared by bamboo artisans. Some of these are dyed with powders mixed in water.
Sacred textiles are also produced in Sylhet. These artifacts have religious significance and provide pointers to the development of the spiritual side of the people.
Cane and bamboo products of Sylhet are sold in international markets. Some of the cane products include flower vases, tea trays and chairs. Baskets are also manufactured by the craftsmen.
Shital Pati craft is increasing in numbers, thanks to the efforts of the government to promote it. Local craft fairs are organized to raise awareness about the craft.
Tea growing area
The area around Sylhet is a famous tea growing region in Bangladesh. There are more than 150 tea gardens in this region. In addition, it is home to three of the world’s largest tea gardens. These tea estates are surrounded by a beautiful landscape and offer the perfect environment for tea cultivation.
This region has a pleasant climate that is warm and humid year round. Annual rainfall is generally between 90 and 180 inches. Nevertheless, there are some areas that experience insufficient rainfall, which can result in lower yields.
The region is particularly suitable for tea growth, due to its elevation and mild climate. Its soil is deep and friable, which allows the plant to thrive.
The climate is largely influenced by temperature, sunshine and soil temperature. Ideally, the best sites for tea cultivation are mountainous regions that have consistent rainfall. However, flat land is also ideal for tea production.
Tea is grown in the north and eastern parts of Bangladesh. Some of the most attractive tea gardens in the world are found in Sylhet.
Tea plantations in the country date back to British rule. In the 1860s, the industry was a booming industry. A lot of tea plantations appeared lucrative, but the over-enthusiasm led to the crash of the industry.
The tea industry was later diversified. Local entrepreneurs began establishing tea farms. As a result, the tea industry in Sylhet started to develop.
Today, the tea industry in Bangladesh has more than 4 million workers. The industry accounts for 3% of global tea production. However, the future of the industry is dominated by foreign forces. Consequently, local competiveness must be maintained in order to shift power back to the local producers.
Economic links with Bangladeshi diaspora
The Bangladeshi diaspora comprises people who have migrated to other countries. A significant Bangladeshi community is present in several Arab states of the Persian Gulf. In addition, there is a strong Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore.
While Bangladesh is a developing country, it still faces many challenges. Among these, poor governance has been cited as a major impediment to development. Its child malnutrition rate is higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) threshold.
Bangladeshi migrants are increasingly sending money home, which contributes to the economy. Although remittances have declined by about two percent in 2013, they increased to US$ 14.2 billion in 2012. These remittances make up a large proportion of the nation’s GDP.
The migrant flow began in the late 1980s and has increased steadily. It is mainly composed of young middle class people. They send remittances to relatives in Bangladesh and invest in various sectors of their host country.
Bangladeshi migrants in Italy maintain transnational ties by visiting their relatives in Bangladesh for periods of up to two weeks to a few months. This enables them to maintain their cultural and religious practices and also to continue their businesses in their home country. Some Bangladeshi diaspora members have a thriving creative life in Italy.
In addition, the Bangladeshi diaspora has a presence in the media in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Members of the diaspora are also active in political and cultural institutions in these countries.
In addition, the UK census recorded that in 2000, there were 154,000 Bangladeshi immigrants living in the UK. Several of these expatriates are prominent in the political and cultural life of the UK. Many of these people have become doctors, lawyers, engineers and politicians.