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It is therefore always best to pace yourself to allow for more servings. Simply saying “I’m full” will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value. You will constantly be urged to take more food. Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins. Guests are generally served first then the oldest, continuing in order of seniority. Ensure you wash your hands before eating. It would not be seen as impolite if you asked for utensils. Many people eat with their hands and it may be that you share food from a common dish. Meals both inside the house and outside will usually be same sex. One should always use less direct language to suggest that it may be difficult such as “I will try.” or “I will have to see”. If invited to a meal it is rude to flatly turn the invitation down. If meeting with people for dinner here are some basic rules on etiquette and protocol: It is considered bad form to open gifts in front of the giver. Do not give alcohol or products containing non-halal meat to Muslims. Similarly white flowers indicate mourning. If bringing flowers avoid frangipanis as they are used at funerals. When visiting a Bangladeshi’s home, it is more common to bring pastries, sweets or good quality chocolates. Some general gift giving etiquette guidelines include: Part of the reason lies in the fact that gifts should be generally reciprocated and it would be considered rude to offer someone a gift that is difficult to reciprocate. In Bangladesh the importance of gifts is in the thought rather than the value. In cities, it is becoming more common for gifts to be given on birthdays. Gifts are mainly given between family members at religious holidays, especially after Ramadan and Hajj. If the person being addressed is older than the speaker, the person is called by their first name and a suffix that denotes the family relationship. If people are of the same age, they use first names. In general, age dictates how people are addressed. Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person’s name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two people. Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of Bangladeshi society. The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the response is wa alaikum salam. Women will only really be met within business contexts and even so, it is best to wait to see if a hand is extended before doing so. The hand shake is common although they may feel rather limp. Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex. On the whole an entire community participates in each other’s religious ceremonies. Hindu influences festivals include Durga Puja and Kali Puja (community worshipping of Goddess Durga and Kali). These include two Eids (one after Ramadan and one after the Hajj) Shab-e-Qadr (the night of power), Milad un-Nabi (birth date of the Prophet Muhammad) and Shab-e-Barat (the night of the fortune). Islam defines many of the festivals in Bangaldesh. There is a strong tradition of music, dance, and literature that includes classical devotions of Hindu and Muslim music. This includes belief in shamanism and the powers of fakirs (Muslim holy men who are exorcists and faith healers), ojhaa (shamins with magical healing powers), and Bauls (religious mendicants and wandering musicians). Bangladeshis identify with the folk traditions of Bengali culture. However, most still very much mix this with pre-Islam folk traditions. The majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim. This is also valid in businesses, the majority of which will be family owned/run. Bangladeshis expect the most senior male, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. Older people are naturally viewed as wise and are granted respect. People are respected because of their age and position. The culture of Bangladesh is composite and over the centuries has assimilated influences of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh.The Bengal Renaissance contained the seeds of a nascent political Indian nationalism and was the precursor in many ways to modern Indian artistic and cultural expression. The Bengali people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighboring regions.