I spent some time in Bangladesh in December visiting with people working to fight human trafficking and help remove girls from brothels. Disturbing, beautiful work. So much to think about, and Bangladesh has been on my mind 24-7 since then.
Did you know that...
Bangladesh has the 4th largest Muslim population on earth.
Other than city-states and small islands, Bangladesh is by far the most densely populated country on earth, with 2900 people per square mile! That's 160 million people in an area smaller than either Nepal or the US state of Iowa. I still can't get my mind around these numbers.
Bangladesh is situated on the world's largest river delta, making it one of the most fertile countries on earth and home to frequent monsoon flooding.
Bangladesh is home to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering work on micro-credit loans to the poor.
Chittagong is home to the largest ship-breaking yard in the world. Google a few pictures and stories of what goes on here - the scope and tragedy of this work is mind-boggling.
Cox's Bazaar in southeastern Bangladesh is the largest natural sea beach in the world.
The Sundurbans in southwestern Bangladesh are the largest mangrove forest in the world, and also home to the man-eating Bengal tiger which regularly makes a meal out of unfortunate villagers.
Bangladesh was part of British India until 1948, then part of Pakistan as East Pakistan until 1971, and since then has been the free nation of Bangladesh.
Depending on how you count, the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka is the 9th largest urban center in the world with over 12 million people.
How many of these facts can you say you knew before reading this list?
100 Taka to any non-Bangladeshi who knew it all before reading this post.
Troy!
You might owe me 100 taka... But maybe I'm half Bengali. Bangladesh is my second home since childhood. And yes, it is impossible to fall in love with this country. Would be wonderful to go together some day.
You do an awesome job, Troy! We admire all you do for the least of these.
Wanted you to know that CJ and Mrs Usha is leaving for the Netherlands in Feb. Such an answer to prayer.
Keep up the good work!
Much love,
Daniel & Paulina
Posted by: Daniel & Paulina | January 18, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Amazing stuff. I knew # 2, 3, and 4 only, so no taka for me. 2900 people per square mile! For some contrast, where we live in Western Alaska is one of the MOST densely populated parts of the Alaska Bush, and there are about 25,000 people in an area the size of Oregon. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon%E2%80%93Kuskokwim_Delta) This pencils out to about .33 people per square mile. Bangladesh is nearly 9,000 times more crowded than where we live. For Alaska as a whole, including relatively urban southcentral AK, there are less than 1.1 persons per square mile.
Posted by: Peter Schneidler | January 25, 2011 at 02:17 AM
amazed to see your devotion for us... the Bangladeshi...!!!!
Posted by: Sultana | November 20, 2011 at 04:52 PM