Along the outskirts of the villages you will find an abundance of banana trees, bamboo, and tall slender betel-nut palms. Most of the people are farmers, but many still work as craftsmen, weavers, carpenters, and blacksmiths. Local industries include making reed mats, buttons from shells, and ironwork inlaid with brass. The warm, humid climate and ample amount of rain make Bangladesh one of the world's leading rice producers. Jute, a fibrous plant used in making string or cloth, is the chief export.
Rivers overflow during the rainy season, flooding the surrounding countryside.
Low lying areas are covered with waters up to fifteen feet deep and hundreds of miles wide. Monsoon rains and cyclones are yearly occurrences. Although these torrential rains bring immense fertility to the plains, they also destroy lives and damage property. Most Bangladeshis wear loose, lightweight clothing. Men wear tight skirt-like garments.