Nikari (Bengali: নিকারি) or Nikeri (Bengali: নিকেরি) are the predominant Muslim community of South Bengal region.[1]

Nikari People
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

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Nikari means 'doer of good work'. The name stems from the Persian word nek, which means good.[2]

Origin

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Nikaris are mainly converted Muslim wholesalers of fish and fruit.[3] They mainly fish in the Sundarbans region.

References

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  1. ^ PeopleGroups.org. "PeopleGroups.org - Nikari, Muslim". peoplegroups.org. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  2. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: West Bengal. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 944. ISBN 978-81-7046-300-9.
  3. ^ "নিকারি মানেই কি মুসলমান". অন্য দিগন্ত. Retrieved 2024-09-25.