Burhānuddin, Bangladesh

With a population of just 45,670, Burhānuddin is a sleepy backwater, hardly the bustling hub one might expect. The 14th-century Sufi Muslim figure Syed Ghāzī Burhān ad-Dīn may be celebrated in local folklore, but his legacy seems to have done little to modernize this remote region.

Intolerance of minority faiths appears to be a persistent headache, as evidenced by the bloody clashes over cow slaughter between the Muslim settlers and the Hindu King Gour Govinda. Navigating the bureaucratic and social minefields of this insular community would test the patience of even the most seasoned expat.

In short, Burhānuddin is best suited for those seeking a quiet, traditional way of life far from the trappings of the modern world - provided they have the fortitude to weather the region's challenges.