ZERODOT INFO

Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) was formed by a group of likeminded activist in 1993. It has started project activities with the help of foreign donors since 1996. Central support office of IDEA is based in Sylhet city while it has branches to operate field activities and established partnership with other NGOs in different corners of Sylhet division. It has been implementing projects/ programme through its partners in Brahmanbaria and Kishoregonj district. IDEA has been implementing multidimensional activities targeted to develop people living in different underserved areas. www.idea.org.bd

Before the 10th century most of the land around Sylhet was covered with dense tropical jungle with rivers flowing through them. Inscriptions on ancient copper plates found around Sylhet describe the area as inhabitable but full of wild animals and poisonous reptiles. The Kamarupa Kings gave forest land to Brahmans to cultivate and civilise the tribal people and a millenium later the Mughals gave the land to muslims to do the same. The indigenous tribal people moved further north to escape the change and established their rule there, creating the natural divide that still exists today between Sylhet and Meghalaya. According to inscriptions and Hindu holy scriptures, Sylhet was called Sreehatta in ancient times (Sanskrit for prosperous market place). One of the greatest explorers of all time, Ibn Batuta sailed down the Surma in 1346 and wrote about the villages, gardens, water wheels and orchards on the river bank in his travel journals, but he did not mention any market places as ...