Bangladesh

What is Bangladesh Like?

Ask almost anyone around the World about Bangladesh and they will immediately associate it with frequent natural disasters, severe poverty and chronic over population (current estimates of the population suggests it is around 130 million and still increasing). All of which are valid pictures of a Country that has constantly struggled to maintain its place in the global community since its independence in 1971. However despite its traditional image Bangladesh has shown itself both uniquely resilient to its history and determined to create a secure and successful future. In many respects Bangladesh is also a land of remarkable contrasts in terms of religion, culture, politics and in its geography from the Tea Estates in the North, to the beautiful golden beach in the South, with the tower blocks and sprawling slums of Dhaka somewhere in between!

The 'Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh' is a predominantly Muslim country which is governed under a written constitution and which guarantees fundamental rights for its citizens and particularly minority groups including the small Christian community. "Bangla" is the official language spoken here although English is also spoken by the more educated people. The local currency is the 'Taka' (current exchange rates are 1 US$ = Tk 59/- and the UK pound sterling = Tk 115/-). Bangladesh has a typical tropical monsoon climate with wide variations in the temperature from a low of 5oC in winter (Nov-Feb) to a high of 40oC in the summer (April/May) with high humidity making it very 'sticky'. (Most of the school is air-conditioned.)

There are many examples of dedication, compassion and personal commitment in a common cause of justice, equality and poverty elimination by groups and individuals both indigenous and international. In fact it's a great place to live and work and it is against this background and the need to provide quality Christian education to the expanding expatriate community here in Dhaka, that Grace International School has successfully established its strategic and important presence.

The school itself is situated in one of the northern suburbs of Dhaka, Gulshan, close to many of the embassies and in the district where many of the expatriate families live. It operates on two sites about five to ten minutes apart by bus (on a good day!). The accommodation provided by the school is situated in apartment blocks in an adjacent district and school provides transport to and fro at the beginning and end of the day. Life in Dhaka has many of the advantages of city life anywhere--restaurants, sports facilities and shops--but with the unmistakeable features of a developing country with noise, dirt, erratic power supply and beggars to name but a few. Having said that, teachers are very adequately provided for and able to live very comfortably within it. It should be possible to save some of the allowance to finance trips around Bangladesh or further afield to India or South East Asia.

A great resource for learning more about life in Bangladesh is Virtual Bangladesh.