Chittagong

Chittagong (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম, Chaṭṭagrām) is the major sea-port and second largest city of Bangladesh. It is located in the south-eastern portion of the country near Myanmar (Burma). The city was built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, which ends nearby, in the Bay of Bengal. Chittagong has a population of over 3.5 million, and is continuing to grow. One of the cleanest cities of Bangladesh, it has had an ancient reputation of great mystique and beauty.

People and Culture

Being a renowned port city from ancient times, Chittagong has attracted people from various regions of the world. These international contacts left a lasting impact on the language, religion and culture of the city. Al Idrisi, writing in 1154 AD, states that Arab merchants from Baghdad and Basrah frequently visited an area near the mouth of the Meghna, which is now generally believed to be Chittagong. Other travellers and historians have recorded Arab contacts with Chittagong as far back as the ninth century AD. Apart from the merchants, many Sufis and saints also visited and settled in the region. The conquest of Bengal by Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1204 led to a large-scale Muslim settlement in Chittagong. The frequent interaction of people of different races, religions and cultures-promted by trade and settlement-left a permanent mark on the physical features, dialect and religion of the people of Chittagong.

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The vast majority of the people of Chittagong are Muslims; a small percentage of Hindus and Christians also live in the city. There are a good number of Arabic words in the dialect spoken in Chittagong; besides many places and people have Arabic names as well. The names of places like Alkaran (Al-qarn), or Sulek Bahar (Sulukul Bakulia) are of Arab derivation. Apart from Arabic words certain Arakanese, Portuguese, Pali and Hindi words are also found in the Chittagonian dialect, which is generally known as Chatgaiyan Buli. The majority of the people in Bangladesh do not understand this dialect. Though the Chittagonian dialect is extremely different from Bengali, there is no difference when it comes to writing.

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With the advent of foreigners Chittagong became a melting pot of different races. As a result, in the streets of the city of Chittagong one will come across people of varied features. Certain physical features are generally noticed in people who have foreign blood in them. High cheekbones, narrow faces and hooknoses proclaim Arab lineage, while the muscular, bull-necked, strong-featured and thick-bearded are the descendants of the Afghan and the Mughal soldiers.

Related Topics:
Arab - Afghan - Mughal

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Of the Europeans, the descendants of the Portuguese are still to be seen in Chittagong. Most of them married local women and are known as Kala Firinghis or Matia (earth coloured) Firinghis. They are mostly Roman Catholic Christians. During the British period, they enjoyed certain privileges and were given preference in appointments to certain institutions like the Port, Railway and also for clerical posts in government offices. An area in the city known as Firingi Bazar is said to be named after them. The most significant contribution of the Portuguese is the presence of many Portuguese words in the Bengali language, which are in daily use even now. A few examples are - anaras (pineapple), pepe (papaya), padri (clergyman), fita (ribbon), alpin (pin), botam (button), chabi(key), and more.

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The people of Chittagong are very enterprising and have always been found ready to leave their hearth and home in search of better opportunities. Many took to a seafaring life while others went to the neighbouring country of Myanmar. This immigration was checked with the outbreak of the Second World War and the separation of Burma from India. In the wake of the Japanese occupation of Burma many Chittagonians tried to return home. Thousands perished trying to find their way through hostile terrain infested by wild animals. About this time a popular uprising among the Burmese against everything non-Burmese resulted in a further exodus of the Chittagonians from Burma. Many of these Chittagonians were carrying on lucrative business in timber and rice. In 1947 after the partition of India a similar fate befell the Chittagonians who were working in the ports of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. They had to leave their jobs and begin afresh in Chittagong. Their return, however, introduced a highly skilled group into the economy of the city. They brought with them entrepreneurship, capital and technical know-how, which gave a great boost to the economy of the city.

Related Topics:
Myanmar - India - Japanese - Calcutta - Madras - Bombay

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Though the partition of India in 1947 drove out the Chittagonians from Burma and India, it offered many opportunities to the Muslims of India and Pakistan. Thus it is seen that during the decade 1951-61 there was a heavy influx of Muslim refugees, mainly traders, businessmen, industrialists, employees and labourers from India and West Pakistan to Chittagong. The support of discriminatory policies and state patronage, which were evidently politically motivated, were offered to Muslim immigrants from India and West Pakistan. This led to a marked increase in their population, mainly within the Chittagong Municipality. The Aga Khanis, the Cutchy Memons, Bohras and Nakhudas from Mumbai and Surat were the leading businessmen and industrialists in Chittagong after 1947. However in the seventies most of these immigrants left, due to persecution from the new Bangladeshi government, and business and trade in Chittagong reverted to the people based in Chittagong. Around the same period (1971 and onwards) there has been a significant erosion of Hindu population in Chittagong owing to migration to India. It is worth mentioning that among this migrated Hindu population there are many internationally renowned personalities.

Related Topics:
India - Pakistan

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