Nepalis in Bangladesh

Nepalis in Bangladesh

Total population
1,100[1]
Regions with significant populations
Dhaka
Languages
Bengali · Nepali
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Nepali people

There is a small community of Nepalis in Bangladesh who are mostly descendants of Nepalese migrants who fled their homeland in the 1950s as well as recent expatriates from Nepal.^[2]

Overview

Many Nepalis fled their home country when it became a nation state in the 1950's. To escape the demands of the state and enhance their standard of living, they settled in various parts of North India, as well as the neighboring countries of Burma, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Most of the Nepalis in Bangladesh are farmers, living in small villages situated near rivers or springs. The better-off Nepalis own their land, and raise wet rice during the monsoon season. They raise dry rice, maize, and wheat in the summer and winter months. The Nepalese also cultivate vegetable gardens to feed their families. Most farmers also raise cows for the family’s milk and goats and buffalo for meat. The Hindu caste structure keeps the Nepalis in one of two categories, upper caste landowners and lower caste servants.

In recent years, many of the Nepalis have now moved into the cities. Unfortunately, most of the urban population live in run-down houses with very poor sanitation and no modern conveniences. They usually work in local businesses, as merchants or for the government. There are also a number of students from Nepal studying in Dhaka.^[3] There are about 300 Nepalese students in University of Science and Technology in Chatgaun.

See also

• Bangladesh–Nepal relations
• Nepalis in Pakistan

References

1. ^ Joshua Project - Nepalese of Bangladesh^{[unreliable source?]}
2. ^ Global Prayer Digest - Hindu Nepalis in Bangladesh^{[unreliable source?]}
3. ^ Educate Nepal - Nepali students clash in Dhaka