Panorama of the Week: Indigenous Market, Chittagong Hill Tracts
Filed Under: Open the panorama below and you might be wondering, “Is that really Bangladesh??”
In scenes like this one at the indigenous market in the town of Bandarban, it’s easy to forget which country we’re visiting. Bandarban is part of an area known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). CHT’s rolling hills in southeastern Bangladesh are home to over fifteen indigenous groups, many of which have their origins in far eastern India, Burma and Southeast Asia.
While the market had some unusual features for one in Bangladesh — a monitor lizard butchered to bits at the river’s edge, a huge pig sawed in half mid-market, massive sting rays hanging on hooks, and sacks jumping with plump frogs — something else stood out. Women.
Women were everywhere – as vendors, buyers, connoisseurs of cigars, and among the out and about. While the presence of women may not sound terribly profound, their absence from other markets and many facets of public life here in Bangladesh has been noticeable. And we’ve missed it.
So at the Sunday episode of the Bandarban indigenous market we enjoyed the opportunity to sit with vendors (men and women), throw around a few words in Bangla (didn’t really help), use charades to communicate some more, learn the local names of vegetables, and share a few smiles.
When you open the panorama below to full screen, be sure to use the down arrow to catch the colorful action on the ground.
Panorama: Weekly Indigenous Market in Bandarban, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts)
For best panorama viewing results, press fullscreen (four arrows) and navigate around with your mouse.
Articles and Photos About Bangladesh
April 11th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Ah, this is precisely what I hoped to do back when I was planning a goodly exploration of Bangladesh. But alas, I’ve since opted instead to – not just visit, but move – lock, stock ‘n barrel – to Vietnam. Preeecisely so I can better/more leisurely explore that side of the globe. So, while it may be awhile yet, with any luck I will one day soon experience this fascinating corner of the globe.
April 11th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Wow, that panorama is awesome. Really gives you a sense of being there…
April 12th, 2011 at 9:48 am
@Dyanne: Congrats on your upcoming move to Vietnam! It’s quite a fascinating country and more differences between the south and north than we first expected.
When you do visit Bangladesh, be sure to try and carve out a chunk of time. Things usually take a bit longer than expected and life moves at a different pace.
@Roy: Thanks, glad you enjoyed the pano!
April 13th, 2011 at 8:50 am
This is the first time I’ve looked at one of your panoramas – how awesome is this??
So much more immersive than just photos…I can practically hear the chatter and feel the dirt under my feet.
Off to the archives to check out the rest…
April 13th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Thanks for sharing, and I love the panorama pic! I spent some time in Chittagong (the city) and some of the surrounding villages. Beautiful country indeed.
April 14th, 2011 at 4:04 am
Looks like a fun, small but busy market!
April 16th, 2011 at 10:18 am
Thanks for the great read. Keep it up!
April 17th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
@Megan: So glad you enjoyed this! You’ve probably already figured out the archive panoramas, but just in case here they are: http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/category/photography/panorama/
@Claire: The city of Chittagong is rather big and crazy – it must have been nice to spend time in the villages around. This part of Bangladesh was one of our favorites.
@Sofia: That’s a perfect description! Later in the week we were at another indigenous market in Rangamati and it was mobbed with people – not quite as enjoyable.
@Brady: Thanks, glad you enjoyed this!