Nikari (Bengali: নিকারি) or Nikeri (Bengali: নিকেরি) are the predominant Muslim community of South Bengal region.[1]
নিকারী | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
 Bangladesh 85,000  70,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Bangladesh (Khulna District) West Bengal (North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas) | |
| Languages | |
| South Bangali or Rarhi (native) Standard Bengali (mostly spoken as an L2) | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Muslim | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mahimal Mahifarash Bengalis |
Etymology
editNikari means 'doer of good work'. The name stems from the Persian word nek, which means good.[2]
Origin
editNikaris are mainly converted Muslim wholesalers of fish and fruit.[3] They mainly fish in the Sundarbans region.
References
edit- ^ PeopleGroups.org. "PeopleGroups.org - Nikari, Muslim". peoplegroups.org. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: West Bengal. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 944. ISBN 978-81-7046-300-9.
- ^ "নিকারি মানেই কি মুসলমান". অন্য দিগন্ত. Retrieved 2024-09-25.