Chapter 2: Culture

and Cultural Diversity

of Bangladesh
Culture and
Cultural Lesson 1: Introduction
Diversity of
Bangladesh
to Cultural Diversity in
Bangladesh
  To learn the fact of the cultural
diversity in Bangladesh.
Learning
 To learn the effect of diverse
Objective cultural mixture on Bangladeshi
culture
  The way of life, especially
What is the general customs and
Culture? beliefs of a particular group
of people at a particular time.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Cultural Diversity in
Bangladesh

 Subtopics:
1. Cultural Diversity According to Religion
2. Cultural Diversity According to Language
3. Cultural Diversity According to Ethnicity
4. Diverse Cultural Mixture
 Cultural Diversity According to Religion
Ancient belief of religion
people used to worship natural forces like sky, wind,
sun and moon and natural elements like river, seas,
trees etc.

Konark Sun Temple

  Later in Bangladesh, the Brahman religion
spread.
 The Vedic book of religion and Vedanta hymns
Cultural written in Sanskrits were added in Brahman
religion.
Diversity
According to
Religion
 Cultural Diversity According to Religion
Hierarchy of caste system

 Hindu religion added dance

as a part of prayer. It had
caste system which
attracted the lower castes
to Muslim religion.
 Islam was introduced in
12th and 13th century.
 Cultural Diversity According to Religion
 Migrant Sufis introduced Islam to Bengali in the 12th century.
 Example: In the 15th century Shah Jalal spread Islam and
converted the infidel to Islam.
  Both Hindus and Muslims have some common folk
culture such as Baul songs, Nakshi Katha,
Nobanno, Pohela Boishakh etc. 
 The Buddhist people follow Buddha and celebrate
Buddha Purnima.
Cultural  The Christian also celebrate big festivals like new
year, Christmas.
Diversity
According
to Religion
Let’s enjoy a Baul song!
 Cultural Diversity According to
Language
 98% of the people here identify as having Bengali
ethnicity and their language is Bangla.
 We have small ethnic groups whose language is not
Bangla they brought diversity in our culture. There is 50
small ethnic groups who have about 35 languages.
 Cultural Diversity According to Ethnicity
 Most of the people of
Bangladesh are
Bangalees but the small
tribal groups brought
diversity in our culture

Bangali dance & the Jaintia dance Bangali food & chakma food
The ethnic groups
have different
lifestyle, food habit,
marriage
ceremonies, rules
and rites
  “Bangladeshi Culture” is  mixed
together with other tribal culture.
 We can also find other influences
Diverse like Modern technology and
ideology.
Cultural
 At present, because of
Mixture Globalization, other cultures are
influencing the Bengali language,
clothing, religion and lifestyle.
Any Question?