Bangladesh
This is Bangladesh in 1978, where I started working in January of that year. I left in June 1981.
Ships under sail cannot be seen on the Buriganga near Dhaka anymore. When we revisited Dhaka and the Buriganga river in December 1995 the sound of small motors on virtualy all boats on the river had replaced the impressive sails from the past.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts in the South is a beautiful but long contested area. The fight between the tribes in this aera, such as the Chakma and the Mru and the Bangladeshi settlers is still continuing. In November 1997 an agreement was signed between the Government and tribal representatives. It is not clear yet what will be the effect of this agreement.
The Mru tribe
In 1980 I was able to unoffically travel to the Mru tribe in the CHT. They are animists and live in houses on poles. Here are a few pictures showing their customs and habits. The Zia ur Rahman government in Dhaka at that time was already pacifying this area near Birma by migrating many Bangladeshi there. They are now in the majority compared to the original tribal people.
A Mru mother takes care of her baby.
The family eats sitting on the cane floor.
I am talking with curious Mru.
In the background the hut in which we spent the night.
Hindu marriage
In 1978 during my field work for UNICEF I encountered a Hindu marriage in a village north of Bogra. 
A young bride.
And the music makers among the bamboo trees.
© Dick de Jong, 2004