An Overview of Sylhet, Bangladesh

An Overview of Sylhet, Bangladesh

Picturesque hills and verdant swathes of tea gardens. Sherbert sunrises, flourishing jungle, and sinuous swamp forests. This is Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Notable for its natural beauty, tea plantations, and Sufi shrines, Sylhet is a little-known gem of Bangladesh. Here is a brief overview of its history and culture, tourist attractions, and economy, followed by a look at Sylhetis abroad.

Sylhet Division and Sylhet City

First, let’s make a quick distinction. “Sylhet” can be in reference to either Sylhet Division or the city of Sylhet. Sylhet Division is one of eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh. It encompasses a 4,748.4 square mile area in the northeast, and is named after the major city in the region—Sylhet.

The city of Sylhet is nestled along the bank of the Surma River. One of the most populous cities in the country, it’s also an important spiritual and cultural center. 

History and Culture

Sylhet has a long and complicated history, going back to its time as a commercial center in ancient Bengal and Assam. Through the intervening years, the region changed hands many times. Passing beneath the rule of medieval Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, Islamic conquest, the Bengal Sultanate, British administration, and Pakistani governance, Bangladesh finally established its independence in 1971. Sylhet Division was created in 1995.

The blend of historical influences on the region leave Bangladesh with a varied culture and a unique sense of place. While its religious scene is predominantly Sunni Islam, Bangladeshi American author Nazli Kibria describes it as “laced with indigenous rituals, as well as Hindu and Buddhist belief, lending it the feel of a ‘folk’ religion.” In fact, more than 48 different indigenous communities are present within Bangladesh’s borders. Sylhet itself plays home to the Tripura, Santal, Monipuri, Garo/Mandi, Hajong, Khasi, Munda, Kol, and Khond peoples.

The Sights of Sylhet

Sylhet’s rich history has left its mark on the region’s visual landscape as well. Many of the popular attractions in Sylhet Division and the city of Sylhet are architectural works from different eras in its history. Two of these landmarks, well known as the ‘gateway to Sylhet city,’ are Ali Amjad’s Clock and Keane Bridge, built in 1872 and 1936, respectively. Another famous sight is the prayer hall Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. Built under Mughal rule in the 1660s, it is large enough to accommodate 100,000 worshippers at once. Sylhet is also visited for its collection of Muslim tombs and shrines.

But man-made marvels are far from the only attractions in Sylhet. In fact, the region is better known for its natural beauty. Rolling green hills, lush tea plantations, and sprawling forests are a mark of Sylhet’s claim to fame: bountiful fertility.

Agriculture

Sylhet plays a major role in Bangladesh agriculture. As a fertile and geologically distinct region, it provides a wealth of crops and natural resources, from natural gas and rubber to cane, agarwood, and citrus. The iconic crop of Sylhet, though, is tea.

A study of tea production in the Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources named Sylhet as “the major tea-producing region” of Bangladesh. It is home to an abundance of tea gardens, from the scenic Lakkatura Tea Garden to the historic Malnicherra Tea Estate, the oldest commercial tea estate on the Indian subcontinent. Of the 167 tea gardens in Bangladesh, a whopping 135 are located in Sylhet Division.

The Bangladeshi Diaspora

Aside from its luscious tea gardens, Sylhet also takes in much of its income from remittances—funds sent home from citizens living and working abroad. The Guardian reported that Sylhet Division “receives around US $1bn in remittances every year from expatriate Bengalis in the UK alone.” Remittances are such a significant part of Sylhetis’ income because of the so-called “Bangladeshi Diaspora”—the large number of Bangladeshis migrating to other countries. Germany’s Federal Agency for Civic Education reports that in 2013, more than 7.8 million Bangladeshis were living in other countries. 

A report from the Migration Policy Institute asserts that the United States is “the seventh most common destination country for Bangladesh-born emigrants and the fifth-largest source of remittances.” Data from the Pew Research Center reveals that the top three metropolitan areas in the US for Bangladeshis in 2019 were New York, Detroit, and Washington.

In Detroit and nearby Hamtramck, the presence of Bangladeshis has led to the neighborhood name “Banglatown.” Many of the Bangladeshis in the area hail from Sylhet, and carry their home and culture with them.

Here at One New Humanity, we serve immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities in Banglatown. Our very own community garden is named Sylhet Farm, after the plentiful region of Bangladesh. The plot provides a positive space to grow healthy food that supports people in the community. In 2021 alone, we produced around 600lbs of fruits and vegetables that were distributed for free or very low cost to Banglatown residents at the Sylhet Farmers Market.

Donate now to support Sylhet Farm and our other community initiatives like Sisterhood Fitness. If you’re in the Detroit area, consider dropping off in-kind donations, organizing a collection drive, or shopping at our nonprofit thrift store, Joy Thrift in Hamtramck! Together we can elevate our beautiful community, and bring joy and support to those who need it most.