This is my dream to travel to Bangladesh although it
is India’s neighborhood. Social networking site Face book has played an
important role for communication with Bangladeshi peoples.
I started journey from Bangalore to Kolkata via
Train on 11 Aug’13.On 13 August’13 I reached Kolkata railway station and then I
took taxi from railway platform to Avenue Circus where Bangladesh High
Commission is situated. I took a room next to High commission .On 14th
August ’13 in the morning around 8.30 am I took VISA form from the Bangladesh
High commission.
According to Bangladesh High Commission rule to get
Tourist VISA the following documents needs to submit:
→Original Passport copy with minimum of 6 months
validity.
→2 Passport size color photographs
→ Xerox Copy of Passport
→ Xerox copy of Pan Card/Voter ID
→ Xerox copy of Municipal Residential
Certificate/Panchayat Certificate.
→If you are employee than NOC (No Objection
Certification) from the employer from the head of the organization and Passport
copy are enough.
The
Said documents are must to pursue the Bangladesh VISA else they won’t issue the
VISA.
Around 11am I submitted the VISA form along with
Passport to the High commission and they said to collect Passport on next day
around 5PM onwards. On 15th August ’13(it was holiday for High commission)
so I went to Park Street in Kolkata to take Bus ticket for Kolkata Dhaka. It
took Rs.1200 for the ticket for 17th August’13.On 16th
August ’13 at 5.15pm I collected the
Passport from the Bangladesh High Commission .
On 17th August’13 I got up early in the
morning for the journey.I reached the Bus station one hour earlier i.e 10.30am.There
I got many Bangladeshi fellows who are also going to Dhaka, with them I
exchanged the Mobile no.Nearby money exchange centre I converts Indian currency
to Bangladeshi Taka. Now I was ready to travel to Bangladesh for first time. I
got much adventure for the journey.
On an around 4.30PM the bus reached Haridashpur port
of India’s border. The bus authority
told us to submit the passports to them. So I did it.
After 15min the bus authority gave the passport
along with port entry form for submitted to the immigration office. As the
Procedures of the immigration followed I was inside in Bangladesh. One thing I
just wanted to remind that there are many brokers between India and Bangladesh
port. The always ready to help but my advice is that don’t entertain those
fellows. They will create some unwanted scene there. They are well connected
with corrupt immigration officials. So better carry your luggage and other
valuable goods with you.
Around 5.30PM I entered at Bennapole of Bangladesh (other
side of Haridashpur) I immediately
bought SIM of Grameen Phone which
available of BD taka 250 and it does not
required any docouments.And I was ready to connect with friends.
The bus was ready to travel towards Dhaka .The bus
reached Dhaka at 1.30AM.As convertiation with my friend Ripa ,she refer one
relative for accompanied me and she told me to wait until dawn and I must not
trust any one.Accordingly I was I waited till 4.30 AM. Than Rapa’s relative
name as Mahboob Alam came by rickshaw and accompanied me to nearby Lodge. As I
entered to Lodge he told me that I have to take rest and he will come in the
evening to met me.The lodge rent is very cheap compared to India.It will be
rougly Rs.350/day.
According to planned in the evening around 5pm Miss
Ripa came to pick up from the lodge.I carried my camera so that I can take some
memorable photos in and around Dhake city.We travelled from Sapla Chottor to
Various Parts of the city.I was surprised that there is huge traffic jams in
the streets,roads,and various lanes,and it caused by rickshaws.I ever seen like
this jams before.Many working peoples are happy to travel through rickshaws
rather than private vehicles.One thing is always remember that there is no
fixed rate for rickshaws and Autos.So we bargained with Autos to travel one
place to another.
Than we travelled at Basundara,Dhanmondi,Moti
Jheel,Romna Park ets.Later in the evening around 7.30pm Ripa’s friend Enamul
came to join the Light food at restaurant at Moti Jheel.We chat around 1hour there.
Like this I spent 1st day in Dhaka city. Than I moved to the Lodge.
Me at Basundhara Mall
Me and Ripa at Basundhara Mall
Next day 19/08/13, I got up around 9am and Lodge
manager was asking to submit the Passport copy.The Lodge manger once saw the
Passport and confirmed that I am from India and then he tried to communicate
with English. It wad the much funniest thing ever. Although he could not
communicate English properly. I speak Bengali fluently but he did not give time
to speak Bengali.
In the evening Ripa sent her relative Mahboob Islam
to lodge and told me to bring valuable items that I brought from India i,e
Chockolate,Chips,Biscuits,Cosmetics etc.We again went to Basundara Shoping
Mall,there I gave all the goods to Ripa.She was very much happy after getting
the goods as I could see her face.In the mean time Ripa’s colleague Enamul came
to joint the party.Later in the evening me,Ripa and Enamul were went to the New
Eskaton where Ripa’s residence is situated.There Ripa’s Mom served us dinner at
around 8pm.Soon after I moved to Lodge.
Mehboob infront of me.
Next day, on 20/08/13 Mahboob’s friend came to pick
me up from the Sapla Chottor to see their Garment Industry.I forgot the place
where the garment industry is situated.Many people warm wished me there.There I
took lunch again than again I moved to the Lodge.In the evening around 10.30pm
I took the Bus ticket for Chittagong where I supposed to met Facebook
friend.His name is Mamon Kazi.
According to conversation with Mamon Kazi I get down
at Chittagong and than took a bus to Hat Hazaari ,where he was waiting to pick
up.We met first time there.
From there he took the luggage to his house at
around 8.30am.There I met Mamun’s Mom, Dad,sister,2 brother. Later Mamun’s Mom
served me the breakfast and told me to take rest. I slept there till my Mobile
rung up from unknown no.Surprisingly that call was from Facebook friend name is
Maria Jebin Dipu a Manipuri Muslim girl. She was astonished and calling
me,’Bhaiya’(Bro) on first time.Then she said that she got mine no from
Sanjib(who is also Facebook friend) and insist to stay there until she reached
from Shyllet on 21/08/13.
In the evening Mamun accompanied me to his friends
in and around Hat hazaari Bazaar.
On 22/08/13 at around 1pm Maria Jebin Dipu came with Tahnima friend of her to
Hat Hazaari Baazar to pick up and then we went her Chittagong University campus
to roam in and around.It was really nice to visit there.Then her father call up
and asking about me and then she gave her mobile to me to speak with her
father.As I spoke with Her father name is Abdul Mateen and he also insisted to visit his house.Actually
mine main intention was also to stay there for few days.
Tahnima from left,Maria Jebin Dipu in the middle and me in Chittagong University Campus.
Later in the evening around 5.30pm me and Jabin were
came to Mamun’s house to collect luggage for departure.Mamun and his family
were insisted not to go from there and stay few days.But I felt very sad to say
that it was short journey and I must moved to Dhaka.
I took ticket from Chittagong to Dhaka at around
8pm.Around 10pm I gave depart to Jebin for Dhaka. I reached Dhaka on 23/08/13
at around 6am.There we had meeting with Mahboob,Ripa and one more fellow I
forgot his name for some Garment business. Although the business yet to be
start. That evening around 11pm I start journey towards Mouluvi Bazaar to visit
Jebin’s village. In the bus I got one passenger next to my seat.Once he knew
that I am from India,he just sat to near to me and then started to chat me till
I got down near to Shaistaganj (it is point to Adhampur).He was very kindly
person and gave his card to me. On 24/08/13 I took a local bus from Shaistaganj
around 5.30am to Shreemangal.The bus reached there around 7.30 am,after
reaching I just call up to Jebin’s father Abdul Mateen.He told me to wait till
he comes.I waited there around 1hour for him.I was some mental pressure like it
was my first met and I did not know him and family.I felt little shame but I
have strong determination that I must visit their house.
Around 8.30am he accompanied an Auto rickshaw to
pick me up. There I met him first time and he told me to take breakfast nearby
hotel.We took light breakfast and then tea there and started the Auto Rickshaw
towards Adhampur Baazar (Where his house situated).Around 9.30am we reached his
house their I met his wife elder daughter(although I saw them on Facebook
photos).He gave one room for stay.
It was a great moment for me to met them.Mateen’s
wife served Tea and biscuits.
I took rest there but I could not slept because it
was very hot and high humidity.
Around 12noon Facebook friend Sanjib came to see
me.We chat a little and invite me to come his house.
Around 6.30 pm I was chatting with Mateen’s wife in
a drawing room. In the mean time group of
ten fellows came to met me. They all are in my friends list.It was the
most memorable day in my life.We chat a lot.I love that moment. Those friends
names as Abdullah,Jahed Hassan,Murtuza,Touheed,Rayhan,Hemal etc others I could not recall their names.In the
evening Abdullah and Jahed Hassan were came and accompanied to Adhampur Baazar
for Tea.Adhampur Baazar is a hot spot for Manipuri Community.There
Majority of the Manipuri people concentrate in and
around there. Majority of the people are assemble at dawn.
There I got many Pangal community(Manipuri Muslim)
people and did group chat. They were much curious about Pangal Community in
Assam and Manipur states of India. I
tried to reply one by one related query by them. They were much happy to see me
as tourist. Then the group were decided to roam across the Pangal Dominated
village on next day.
Finally Mateen called me for dinner and served Beef
curry,rice etc.
On 25/08/13 around 10 am, according to the planned
the 10 member group came with bikes for roam across the villages. We visited
each and every Pangal Villages and they introduced me with other Pangal people.
They also invite me to visit their homes. I took many photos of each visited areas.
One thing is that most of the Pangal Villages are situated to Indian border Tripura
and Assam States.
Manipuri Community attending Meeting at MV Baazar
Manipuri Community attending Meeting at MV Baazar
Than I came to Mateen’s house around 3pm and slept little.
Later again went to roam Adhampur Baazar.Later in the evening Mateen’s wife
served me dinner with Chicken and rice. During Dinner time Mateen’s wife told
me to visit her school where she is teaching.
On 26/08/13 around 11am my friend Abdullah accompanied
to Mateen’s wife’s school. There I met her and took tea in the school.
Then again we moved to Mateen’s School where he is teaching.
Then I met Mateen to his chamber.(he is a Headmaster).Than later Mateen
introduced me with his staffs and showed the school compound.
In the evening around 4pm Mateen’s Wife accompanied
to some Pangal’s village and later around 7pm I took Bus from Sylhet to Dhaka
and then to Kolkata.
Like this my short journey of Bangladesh completed. For my personal
experience the Bangladehs journey was awesome and memorable ever.The people are
very nice and supported.
