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Kashmir has always been a region filled with cultural and geopolitical dynamics. It is well known for its landscapes, peaceful lakes, and majestic snow-covered mountains.
Kashmir has been at the heart of conflicts between India and Pakistan. But little do people know that Bangladesh also has a small part in Kashmir.
80 kilometres away from Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, there is a mesmerizingly beautiful village named 'Bangladesh'.
Nestled between Lake Wular and Mount Harmukh, Bangladesh village is situated in the Bandipora district of Kashmir. The naming of this village coincides with the independence of the original Bangladesh.
During the liberation war of 1971, the war broke out on both sides of India's East Pakistan border and the borders of Jammu & Kashmir. On the other hand, a devastating fire engulfed the adjacent Zurimanz village, reducing it to ashes.
Amidst these events, the inhabitants of Zurimanz began the arduous task of reconstructing their homes in the empty lands beside Zurimanz. The villagers of Zurimanz heard about the news of Bangladesh achieving independence.
They decided the new village would also be named 'Bangladesh' to honour the new state. In a remarkable coincidence, just as East Pakistan evolved into Bangladesh, Zurimanz too underwent a transformation, becoming Kashmir's own Bangladesh.
Initially, the name was used by word of mouth, but in 2010, the District Commissioner's office of Bandipora district also registered the name Bangladesh; now, about 70 families and 350 people live there.
However, there were different explanations about who had the original idea of naming the village after Bangladesh. Some locals argue that a minister of the Kashmir government had suggested that the new village should be named 'Bangladesh', and the villagers happily accepted it.
Either explanation may be true, but there is no difficulty in perceiving the distinct pride that the village has in the name 'Bangladesh'.
Although this name was given about fifty-two years ago, 'Bangladesh' remained an unknown township for the next four decades. But now that picture is changing fast, as the initiatives taken to protect the environment and promote tourism around Wular Lake have a huge role behind it.
Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in South Asia, at least eight and a half times the size of the well-known Dal Lake in Kashmir. But although Srinagar's Dal Lake is popular with tourists, the tourist presence in Wular is much less.
The 'Wular Conservation and Management Authority' has taken up a project to enhance Wular Lake, securing government funding and engaging private partners.
A modern boulevard is under construction along the Wular's banks, with a 200-meter boardwalk named 'Viewpoint' attracting tourists.
The livelihood of Bangladesh village residents is intertwined with Wular Lake, involving activities such as fishing, duck farming, and harvesting water chestnuts. The village's newfound popularity also raises questions about its naming, possibly linked to a suggestion from Chief Minister Syed Mir Kashim during his tenure in the 1970s, adding a historical layer to this far north Kashmir community.
However, it is undeniable that a humble village named Bangladesh, situated at the northernmost tip of Kashmir along the shores of the expansive Wular Lake, preserves a history spanning over fifty years within its embrace.