Sikhism in Bangladesh

Sikhism in Bangladesh dates back to 1504 but has declined after the partition.[2] There were eighteen historical Gurdwaras in Bangladesh but now only seven are left.

Bangladeshi Sikhs
Total population
approx. 23,000[1]
Founder
Guru Nanak
Scriptures
Guru Grontho Saheb
Languages
Punjabi & Bengali
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History

Sikhism first emerged in Bengal when Guru Nanak visited Bangladesh in 1504 and established a number of Gurdwaras.[3] Gurdwara Nanak Shahi is the principal Sikh Gurdwara (prayer hall) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located at the campus of the University of Dhaka and considered to be the biggest of the 7 Gurdwaras in the country. After the Partition of India, the Sikh community left for India.[3] After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War, Indian Sikh soldiers helped renovate the Gudwaras left in Bangladesh. Tegh Bahadur visited Dhaka. There is another Sikh temple known as the Gurudwara Sangat Tola. Many Sikhs also used to visit a well at the ruins of Jafarabad which they believed has waters with curative powers.[4]

There was a presence of Sikhism in Sylhet Division after Guru Nanak's visit in 1508. Kahn Singh Nabha has stated that in memory of Nanak's visit, Gurdwara Sahib Sylhet was established. This Gurdwara was visited twice by Tegh Bahadur and many hukamnamas were issued to this temple by Guru Gobind Singh. In 1897, the gurdwara fell down after the earthquake. Nearly all the Sikhs of Sylhet in the early 18th century were found in North Cachar where they used to work for the Assam Bengal Railway.[5]

References
  1. Largest Sikh Populations Retrieved March 23, 2018
  2. "Prayers from Punjab". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
  3. Nasrin Akhter (2012). "Sikhs, The". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. Allen, Basil Copleston (1912). Eastern Bengal District Gazetteers: Dacca. Allahabad: The Pioneer Press.
  5. B C Allen (1905). Assam District Gazetteers. 1: Cachar. Calcutta: Government of Assam.
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