Bangladesh is amazingly green. Rice fields, rivers, tea gardens, vegetable gardens, and forests have given a special characteristic to Bangladesh. Located in the north of the Bay of Bengal the country is gifted with abundant rainfalls.

Rainfalls are extremely beautiful. Sometimes rain drops are like showers and the paddy fields are filled with water. Farmers challenge heavy rains to plough the soil with large oxen and tillers while some others planting paddy saplings.
The beauty of nature, accompanied by a traditionally rich music and song, leaves an unforgettable memory in the mind of every foreign visitor.
The country is rightly called the land of rivers. Rivers are seen one after another. Some rivers are big and navigable and some others are small.
There are plenty of well-constructed bridges making it possible to cross over rivers to tour the country and in some parts along the roads the locals sell fruits typical of the country.
It is not just the nature which has given a distinctive characteristic to this land. The people are also kind and they show affection toward foreigners. As a cultural tradition the Bengali people consider foreigners as their guest and are ready to provide services to their guests.
People talk about the tourist attractions of their country and are ready to give any information to foreigners.
Bangladesh has a great potential for eco tourism. For example, the Sundarbans in the southwest is world’s largest mangrove forest where tourists can collect wild honey and see the Royal Bengal Tiger.
We as part of a 20-member foreign media delegate from different countries were supposed to go and see the Sundarbans, however, we lost this chance as it was announced that the weather was stormy.
Proud nation
Common people talk fervently about the 1971 war of independence, are proud of their language and democracy, and greatly adore the independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
People say we did great sacrifices to keep our native language and win independence from West Pakistan.
Officials including parliamentarians and ministers insist on self-determination, democracy, independence, transparency, and good governance.
They are trying to change the prevalent view in the world that Bangladesh is a poor country, although they do not deny that poverty is a problem and are trying to improve the living conditions of the people. Diplomats also want to know outsiders’ view of Bangladesh.
Empowerment of women
Bangladeshis are proud to talk about the empowerment of women. Bangladeshis should also take pride that they have seen female prime ministers in their young country.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad say Bangladesh is trying to strengthen democracy, empower women and building democratic institutions.
Bangladeshi women have successfully challenged social prejudices and are now playing a vital role in various sectors.
Historically, women have been active in Bangladesh. For example, they played important role in the liberation war, helping and nursing freedom fighters and even acting as freedom fighters.
Currently, there are three female ministers in the cabinet including Foreign Minister Dip Moni.
Bangladeshi officials are unanimous that in a prosperous society women must receive necessary education, have access to health services, and also provided job opportunities.
The parliament has approved laws lifting barriers for an active involvement of women in social activities.
Dipu Moni, the first female foreign minister in Bangladesh, told foreign media delegates in Dhaka that “We should change the mindset that women cannot do important jobs.”
Moni says sometimes it is cultural barriers which prevent women from taking roles. “There are obstacles for women inside and not just outside,” the foreign minister explained.
Moni says Bangladesh has been “portrayed as a poor and flooded country” but she says Bangladeshis are “very resilient” and calls her country as an “amazingly vibrant society”.
She adds, “It is not an exaggeration if I say what is happening in Bangladesh has had a ‘huge impact’ on the whole region.”
And currently, women are serving in courts, police, armed forces, etc.
The foreign minister also described Bangladesh as “a multi-cultural and pluralistic society.”
She also said if “we seek a knowledge-based society we should end the digital divide in Bangladesh.”
Moni, a trained physician, also believes that keeping girls in school, not marrying soon, creating job opportunities for women helps reduce to birth rate in the populous country.
Officials as well as people believe that during the military dictatorship the country was isolated and the country was not allowed to flourish.
Young democracy
Bangladeshis insist on free flow of information and say the constitution has guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of press.
To create a transparent atmosphere the sitting parliament has enacted the “right to information”.
Foreign diplomats based in Dhaka have different views about the efficiency and the performance of the government. For example, in my dialogue with a Western diplomat she praised the performance of the Bangladesh government saying it has succeeded to control extremism and attract foreign investment. However, another diplomat from a Middle Eastern country said Bangladesh is not as democratic as it claims.
However, what is clear is that Bangladesh is a young democracy and to reach a full-blown democracy Bangladeshis must exercise democracy and facilitate the path for meritocracy, efficiency and accountability.
Foreign investment
Economic progress in Southeast Asia has also affected the mind of officials and people for development as well. People say foreigners are investing in their country and say they are feeling economic progress in their country. Moreover, people are resilient and optimistic about the future.
To stimulate economic growth and create jobs the government has adopted an open door policy to attract foreign investment. The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, as an official state body, seeks to promote, attract and facilitate foreign investment in all Export Processing Zones.
Incentives such as tax exemptions, full repatriation of profit, capital and establishment, 100 percent foreign ownership as well as cheap and skilled manpower have provided a good environment for investment in Bangladesh.
The ambition for economic development is gradually changing the face of Bangladesh and the country is gradually moving from the list of Least Developed Countries (LDC) to one of the developing countries. The national economic growth is an indication for the claim.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said poverty is “our enemy and we should fight it together.”
Sylhet, a model of development
The signs of progress are quite evident in Sylhet, a city of modern architecture. Tall buildings are mushrooming in the city and it seems the city will turn into a model of development in the country.
Being close to the touristic region of Jaflong which is famous for its scenic hill forests and waterfalls at the border with India has given a special status to the northeastern city of Sylhet.
In Jaflong workers collect stones and gravels from the riverbed used as construction materials and along the riverside locals have put on sale beautiful traditional shawls.
Zastat resort
On the road between Sylhet and Jaflong there is Zastat holiday resort which is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the green hills. The resort has been designed in a way to meet the taste of travelers.
The resort, consisting of more than 17 acres of green hills and hilltops, features a collection of Bangladesh’s rare birds and deer. It is also equipped with world class health center and offers an array of local, Asian and international cuisines. The resort is within 9 kilometers of the Osmani international airport.
Tea resort
Tea resort, constructed by the British consultants, glorifies tea industry in Bangladesh. The resort, located near Srimangal town, consists of more than 25 acres of green hills and hilltops. It is a gifted with a scenic beauty, featuring outdoor park, lawn tennis, table tennis and badminton, swimming pool, restaurant, etc.
It is a calm place far from the sound of city life. Staying in the resort is memorable and fantastic which brings comfort and peace of mind. It is a good place for walking and enjoying the nature.
The villas, built based on modern design and architecture, are called bunglow.
Srimangal tea garden, known as the tea capital of Bangladesh, is considered among the largest tea gardens in the world.
Srimangal is a picturesque hilly area covered with tea plants. Tea gardens form a green carpet on the sloping hills and one cannot take away his eyes from the gardens especially by anybody who is the friend of nature.
Rickshaws
The three-wheeled rickshaws are widely used as passenger carriers in cities across Bangladesh. Some foreign visitors also like to take a rickshaw to reach destinations or even for amusement. Though riding a rickshaw is a little bit hard it has many advantages. They are safe, emission-free, very much better than motorcycles which produce lots of noise and emissions in many cities in the world