Why are people from Bangladesh travelling to India more and more?

If you ask a random group of travel enthusiasts in Bangladesh about their abroad expeditions, it is highly likely that India would be a common country between all of them. In fact, let alone travel enthusiasts, if there is one country that a Bangladeshi has visited, it is most probably India. A report from the daily Dhaka Tribune further backs it up where it says, “Bangladeshi tourists to India have been outnumbering the tourists that come to visit India from Europe and the in for the last three years. One in every five tourists to India is from Bangladesh, with most tourists travelling to the country for holiday and recreation purposes.” (1 Bangladeshi among every 5 tourists in India, 2019) 

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Cost-efficiency and all the similarities

India being the direct neighbour to Bangladesh, travelling to and from there is undoubtedly cheap and with the introduction of newer and improved modes of transport to go the different parts of India from different ports, the journey is becoming increasingly easier and efficient day by day. The wallet can be at ease too as India is not a very thrifty place and in many ways, the cost of living is more similar to Bangladesh than most other countries around the world. And Bangladeshis often have so many relatives living there, sometimes that cost is eliminated as well. The cheap and efficient tourism packages too attract Bangladeshis to go to India all the time. 

Communication

Language barrier is hardly an issue for Bangladeshis not just because Bengali is spoken in the entire region Kolkata but also because an enormous portion of Bangladeshis are adept in understanding and speaking in Hindi, the official language of India. This may be due to the similarity between the two languages or even because of the avid viewing of Hindi films and series back here in Bangladesh. Whatever it may be, it successfully eliminates the issue of constraints in communication.

Culture

The lifestyles are pretty similar as well with practically similar dress codes and climates and conservative societies with similar ideologies. With ties dating back to the very foundation of Bangladesh emerging out as a country and the help India assisted with, the relation between the two nations is very amicable as well where Bangladeshis are always personally invited and welcomed as one of their own. Many Muslim communities situated in India attract the Muslims in Bangladesh and the Hindu communities in Bangladesh frequently come to visit the famous religious shrines and historical places of their deities scattered around India and to take part in all the grand festivities as well. The people of India are warm and welcoming to all its visitors generally as well and would not leave any opportunity to treat you with utmost respect and care as the ancient Indian traditions go by the saying, ‘AtithiDevoBhava’ roughly translated as “Consider guests equivalent to Gods.”

Health

A major reason for Bangladeshi citizens to go to India is for issues to do with health. People in Bangladesh oftentimes trust to take a second consult abroad when they are not convinced of the options in their country and India happens to be the top of the list for that. Not only because it is close and cheaper than most other countries abroad, but India also provides world-class medical facilities with uncomplicated booking procedures and personalised services without essentially needing another doctor’s referral.

Shopping

India is a popular shopping destination for Bangladeshis for major events such as weddings and other celebrations due to the diverse collection of fine couture it provides at very reasonable prices. Hence, it is extremely common to hear of families taking a trip to India a few months prior to a grand wedding for shopping ravishing clothing in bulk quantities from there. 

Around the mini world

Most Bangladeshis however, visit India not for the above missions but for the many reasons that travellers from all around the world visit India for its rich cultural heritage, the colourful diversity of people and their lifestyles, the different languages are spoken and the variety of food available in its different parts of the expanse and the exquisitely beautiful land ornamented with its diverse weather itself that gave the country the title of ‘mini world’. The established tourism industry of India enables people from all around the world to experience the scenic beauty of India. And countless people hence travel to India now and then to see the mountains, beaches, deserts, waterfalls, forests and snow at different times of the year.

Alpha and Omega, there are hence plentiful reasons why more and more people from Bangladesh travel to India every year and why your next visit may be a thoroughly enjoyable trip to India as well, rightfully so.

While all of these reasons exhibit positivity and cross cultural interaction, it is also representative of a serious underlying problem. India has a major influence over its neighboring states like Bangladesh in the form of geopolitics, culture and economy. With Indian TV channels swarming the television, children and adult alike are being drawn towards Indian way of life. While adults are being heavily influenced by over-the-top misleading Indian soap operas, children are learning Hindi language over English and more importantly forgetting their mother tongue of Bangla owing to heavy usage of Hindi in children cartoons. Even internationally acclaimed TV channels such as National Geographic, Animal Planet etc. copyrights are being purchased by India. Then these channels are being used as the medium to showcase everything Indian without the slightest trace of International representation. These result in planting Indian loyalty subconsciously into the mind of non-Indian viewers.Every year during Eid-ul-Fitr thousands of Bangladeshis flock to Kolkata just to shop. It is estimated that India generates millions of cash in revenue because of the shopping done. That is Bangladeshi money going into Indian economy and more importantly we are not valuing our own clothing industry. All of these are examples of soft power exertedby India over its neighbors to maintain its state of influence.

In conclusion, cross cultural experience is a noteworthy notion ofbilateral relations. However, we must not forget our own roots and our own form of self-expression. The moment we give in too much to other country’s interests is the moment we start losing touch with our own motherland.

Written by

Muksetul Alif

Information Collected