Sylhet
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- This article is about the city. For the district or the administrative division, see Sylhet District or Sylhet Division
Sylhet (Sylheti: Silôţ; Bengali: সিলেট, Sileţ, formerly Srihôţţo) is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the capital of Sylhet Division (সিলেট বিভাগ Sileţ Bibhag) and Sylhet District (সিলেট জেলা Sileţ Jela). The city has approximately 290,000 residents.
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[edit] History
Sylhet is an ancient settlement. Historians believe that Sylhet or, as it was known in ancient times, Sreehatta ("enriched marketplace"), was an expanded commercial center from the ancient period, which explains its original namesake. During this time, Sreehatta was probably inhabited by Indo-Aryan Hindu Bengalis, though ethnically much of the population would also have been of Munda, Assamese, and Dravidian ancestry.
In the ancient and early medieval period, Sylhet was ruled primarily by local chieftains. There is evidence to suggest that the Maharaja Sri Chandra, of northern Bengal, conquered Bengal in the 10th century, although this is a much disputed topic amongst Bangladeshi historians and archaeologists. This was a period of relative prosperity and there is little evidence to suggest this was marred by wars or feuds. Sylhet was certainly known by the rest of India, and is even referred to in the ancient Hindu sacred Tantric text, the Shakti Sangama Tantra, as 'Silhatta'. The last chieftain to reign Sylhet was Gaur Gobinda.
The 14th century marked the beginning of Islamic influence in Sylhet. In the early 14th Century, a Muslim saint arrived in Sylhet from Yemen, Hazrat Shah Jalal, and his companions (reported to be about 360) triumphed over Sylhet and began to spread Islam. Although Shah Jalal was a native of Konya in Turkey, it didn't take long for him to become a highly respected figure in Sylhet. He died in Sylhet a few years later; his tomb is a revered shrine in Bangladesh.
Saints such as Shah Jalal and Shah Paran were responsible for the conversion of most of the populace from Hinduism to Islam. Shortly thereafter, Sylhet became a centre of Islam in Bengal. During this era of Muslim rule, Sylhet was often known as 'Jalalabad' in official documents and historical accounts, such as that of Ibn Battuta.
Much later, the British East India Company began to be interested in Sylhet as early as 1765, as an area of strategic importance in the war against Burma. Sylhet gradually was absorbed into British control and administration and was governed as a part of Bengal. After the British administrative reorganization of India, Sylhet was eventually incorporated into Assam. It remained a part of Assam for the rest of the era of British rule. In 1947, following a referendum, almost all of erstwhile Sylhet became a part of East Pakistan, barring the Karimganj subdivision which was incorporated into the new Indian state of Assam.
Important historical places include the Stone Monument of Jaintapur, Mound of Gharduara, Gaiyabi Mosque, tombs of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Shah Paran, Abu Torab Mosque, Nawabi Masque, Mughal Mosque at Akhalia, temple of Sri Chaitannya Dev in Dhaka Dakshin and the Thin Mandir (trio temple)and the ancient Pargana of Kanihati.
Sylhet and Sylhetis all over the world have been contributing to society in their countries and causes far and wide. Sylhetis everywhere have formed Sylheti associations or 'Sreehatta Sammelani' in different parts of the world. In India major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore have formed Sreehatta Sammelans, thereby bringing their own people closer and maintaining cultural links and integrity.
[edit] People
The Sylheti language (Silôţi or Sileţi) is spoken throughout Sylhet Division, with some minor dialectal variations. Sylheti is an Eastern Indic language closely related to Bengali (Bangla), Chittagonian, and Assamese (Ôxômiya). Most Sylhetis are at least bilingual to some degree, as they are taught Bengali at all levels of education in Bangladesh. Sylheti is also the dominant dialect of Bengali among the inhabitants of the Barak Valley in India, centered around Cachar district in Assam. The largest Sylheti-dominated city in India is Silchar, with significant Sylheti-speaking populations in Agartala, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Sylhet is the home of most Bangladeshi migrants to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. Certain parts of the United Kingdom are heavily populated with people from Sylhet, most notably the East End of London, especially the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, which includes Brick Lane, a famous street dubbed "Banglatown" for its large Bangladeshi, almost entirely Sylheti, population. The town of Sylhet is twinned with St Albans, United Kingdom. As so many Sylhetis are resident abroad, Sylhet has a major flow of foreign currency from non-resident Bangladeshis; many Sylheti families' sole source of income comes from relatives abroad.
Early Thalukdors and Zameedars who were forced to give up their coat af arms to the British, came mainly from the Habiganj and Sunamganj areas. A few kept hold of their titles and later they used their possesions to finance their to move to Britain. These parts of the region still show some signs of ancient Zameedary history in the structures of villages and towns like Sunamgonj, Jagannathpur and Bishnath.
Given its unique cultural and economic development, and linguistic differences (Greater Sylhot region was a part of Assam for much of the British Raj in comparison to the rest of Bangladesh), and given that Sylhet has, for most of its recent history, been a region of a larger entity (ie, Assam, Bengal, Bangladesh), Sylheti's have a strong attachment to their regional identity. This is illustrated by the creation by British Sylheti's of The Campaign Against Monica Ali's Film Brick Lane, [1] [2] as many Sylhetis objected to Monica Ali's (a Non-Sylheti Bengali) portrayal of them in her novel.
Many Sylhetis regard themselves as fiercely proud of their own language, family-orientated community culture and conservative practice of Islam, though not all Sylhetis are Muslim. This is illustrated in the court action taken against the makers of the Hason Raja movie, he being a Sylheti cultural icon, as the film depicts him as a lecherous fellow who forsakes his family and uses obscene language. The film was also shot in Bengali rather than Hason Raja's native Sylheti language. [3]
Sylheti attachment to their regional identity also continues in the efforts of many Sylhetis to keep marital relationships within the same regional cultural background.[4]
[edit] Land and economy
The city is noted for its picturesque rolling hills, such as the Jaintia and Khasia hills. Sylhet is also famed for its tea gardens, most notably those in the Srimongol area.
The construction industry in Sylhet is currently booming with many shopping centres and apartments being built to luxurious standards, funded by foreign investment from Sylhetis living abroad. As a result property prices are rising. Many new hotels and restaurants, often themed on those found in London eg. London Fried Chicken (LFC), have also been established to cater to the visiting Sylheti expatriate population and the growing Sylheti middle classes.
More than eight out of 10 Indian restaurants in the UK are owned by Bangladeshis, the vast majority of whom - 95% - come from Sylhet. In 1946, there were 20 restaurants or small cafes owned by Sylheti Bengalis; in 1960 there were 300; and by 1980, more than 3,000. Now, according to the Curry Club of Great Britain, there are 8,500 Indian restaurants, of which roughly 7,200 are Bengali. An awful lot of chicken tikka masala, apparently now Britain's national dish, has its origins with chefs from this region. [5]
The amount of idle money lying with the commercial banks in Sylhet as deposits is about 4,000 crore taka, which is not common in the rest of Bangladesh. [6]
[edit] Transport
The city is served by Osmani International Airport.
[edit] Education
Notable educational institutions in or near the city includes Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Medical College.
[edit] Places of interest
- The Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R)
- The Shrine of Hajrat Shah Paran (R)
- Haripur Gas Field
- Madhabkunda Waterfall
- Tamabil & Jaflong
- Srimangal
- Temple of Sri Chaitannya Dev
- Shahi Eidgah
- Gour Gobinda Fort
- Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
- Dream Land (Theme Park)
- Lawacherra Rainforest
- Jointapur Rajbari (palace)
- Sripur
- Jaflong
- ZAK Estate (Park and Resort)
[edit] External links
- the Information Portal of Sylhet
- About Sylhet
- Sylhet, The region of tea gardens
- Sylhet
- Sylhet in Pictures
| Cities of Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
| Barisal • Bogra • Chittagong • Comilla • Dhaka • Faridpur • Jessore • Khulna • Mymensingh • Narayanganj • Rangpur • Rajshahi • Sylhet | |
