Bangladesh

ে ে ববববববব
বব
Gôno Projatontri Bangladesh

Flag Coat of arms

Motto: none
Anthem: Amar Shonar Bangla
(My Golden Bengal)

Dhaka
Capital
23°42′ N 90°22′ E
Largest city Dhaka
Official language(s) Bengali
Government Parliamentary Republic
President Iajuddin Ahmed
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
Independence From Pakistan
- Declared 26 March 1971
- Victory Day 16 December 1971
Area
- Total 144,000 km² (91st)
55,598 mi²
- Water (%) 7.0%

Population
144,319,628 (7th)
- 2005 est.
1,002/km² (6th)
- Density
2,595/mi²
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
- Total $280 billion (32nd)
- Per capita $1875 (151st)
HDI (2003) 0.520 (139th) – medium
Currency Taka (BDT)
Time zone BDT (UTC+6)
- Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+6)
Internet TLD .bd
Calling code +880 - SubCodes

The People's Republic of Bangladesh is a South Asian country bordering India,

Myanmar and the Bay of Bengal. Together with the West Bengal State of India, it
comprises the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal. The name Bangladesh is written as
বাংলােদশ and pronounced IPA: /'baŋlad̪eʃ/. It means "Country of Bengal", but the origin
of the word Bangla (Bengal) is obscure.

The borders of Bangladesh were set by the partition of India in 1947, when it became the
eastern wing of Pakistan, separated from the western wing by 1,600 km (1,000 miles).
Despite their common religion, the ethnic and linguistic gulf between the two wings was
compounded by the Government's, often from West Pakistan, neglect and persecution.
This resulted in the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, after a bloody war supported by
India. The years following independence have been marked by political turmoil and
corruption, with 13 different heads of government (of which two were assassinated), and
at least four coups. The last two political transitions were lawful.

Bangladesh's population ranks 8th in the world, but its area is ranked 93th, which is
approximately 144,000 sq km. It is 3rd among Muslim-majority nations, though it has a
slightly smaller Muslim population than the Muslim minority in India. It is the most
densely populated country larger than 700 km² in the world. Geographically dominated
by the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, the country has annual monsoon floods, and
cyclones are also common. Bangladesh is one of the founding members of South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BIMSTEC, and a member of the OIC
and the D-8.

Contents

• 1 History
• 2 Government and politics
• 3 Subdivisions
• 4 Geography and climate
• 5 Economy
 • 6 Demographics
• 7 Culture
• 8 Sports
• 9 Education

History

Main article: History of Bangladesh

Remnants of civilization in the greater Bengal region date back four millennia[1][2] when
the region was settled by Dravidians and Tibeto-Burmans. It mostly fractured into
unaffiliated units, ruled by various foreign and domestic kingdoms and empires. After the
arrival of Indo-Aryans, Bengal was ruled by the Gupta Empire from the 4th through 6th
centuries CE. Then, a dynamic Bengali Shashanka erected an impressive but short-lived
kingdom. After a period of anarchy, the Buddhist Pala dynasty ruled the region for four
hundred years, followed by a shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty. Islam was
introduced to Bengal in the 12th century by Sufi missionaries, and subsequent Muslim
conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region.[3] Bakhtiar Khilji, a Turkish
general, defeated Lakshman Sen of the Sena dynasty and conquered large parts of
Bengal.[3] The region was ruled by dynasties of Sultans and feudal lords for the next few
hundreds years. By the 16th century, the Mughal empire controlled Bengal and Dhaka
became an important provincial center of Mughal administration as the seat of the
Nawab.

European traders arrived late in the 15th century and their influence grew till the British
East India Company gained control of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.[4]
The bloody rebellion of 1857 known as the Sepoy Mutiny resulted in transfer of authority
to the crown, with a British viceroy running the administration.[5] During the colonial rule
famine racked the subcontinent many times, including the Great Bengal Famine, that
claimed 3 million lives.[6][7] Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to
divide the province of Bengal into two zones, with Dhaka being the capital of the eastern
zone.[8] When India was partitioned in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines,
the western part going to India, while the eastern part joined Pakistan as a province called
East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), with its capital in Dhaka. In 1950, land reform
was accomplished in East Bengal through the abolition of the feudal zamindari system.[9]
However, despite the economic and demographic weight of the east, Pakistan's
government and military were largely dominated by the upper classes from the west. The
Language Movement of 1952 was the first sign of friction between the two wings of
Pakistan.[10] Tension with West Pakistan continued to rise through the next decade, during
which Awami League emerged as the political mouthpiece of the Bengali population. It
agitated for autonomy in the sixties, and in 1966, its president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
was jailed, released later after unprecedented popular uprising in 1969.
Lt. Gen. Niazi (Pakistan) surrendering to Lt. Gen. Arora (Indian Army) on 16 December
1971
In 1970, a massive cyclone devastated coastal East Pakistan, and the central government
responded poorly. The anger was compounded when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose
Awami League won a majority in Parliament in the 1970 elections,[11] was blocked from
taking office. After staging compromise talks with Mujib, President Yahya Khan arrested
him and on March 25, 1971 launched Operation Searchlight,[12] a sustained military
assault on East Pakistan. Yahya's methods were extremely bloody, and the violence of the
war resulted in large scale civilian deaths.[13] Chief targets included intellectuals and
Hindus. Ten million refugees fled to neighbouring India. Estimates of those massacred
range from several hundred thousand to 3 million [14][15]. Most of the Awami League
leaders fled and set up a government-in-exile in Kolkata, India. The Bangladesh
Liberation War lasted for 9 months. The guerrilla Mukti Bahini and Bengali regulars
eventually received support from the Indian Armed Forces in December 1971. Under the
command of Lt. General J.S. Arora, the Indian army achieved a decisive victory over
Pakistan, taking over 90,000 prisoners of war[16] in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Bangladesh - also showing Rail and Road links.

After independence, Bangladesh became a parliamentary democracy, with Mujib as the
Prime Minister. In the 1973 parliamentary elections, Awami League gained an absolute
majority. A nationwide famine occurred during 1973 and 1974.[7] In early 1975, Mujib
initiated one party socialist rule with his newly formed BAKSAL, instituting strict
government control over press and industry. On August 15, 1975, Mujib and his family
were assassinated by mid-level military officers.[17] A series of bloody coups and counter-
coups in the following three months culminated in the ascent to power of General Ziaur
Rahman. He removed secularism and socialism as the basic principles of the constitution,
replacing them with "absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah" and "Social justice".
[18]
Zia retained a presidential system but reinstated multi-party politics. He founded
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which won the 1979 election. [19] Zia's rule ended
when he was assassinated in 1981 by elements of the military. [17] Bangladesh's next major
ruler was General Hossain Mohammad Ershad who gained power in a bloodless coup in
1982. He made Islam the state religion. Ershad ruled from 1982 until 1990, when he was
ousted in a popular uprising. Since then, Bangladesh has reverted to parliamentary
democracy. Zia's widow Khaleda Zia led BNP to parliamentary victories in 1991 and
2001 and was the Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996 and again since 2001. She maintains
a bitter rivalry with one of Mujib's surviving daughters Sheikh Hasina who heads the
Awami League and was in power from 1996 to 2001. Inspite of widespread poverty and
corruption, Bangladesh remains a democracy to date.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Bangladesh, List of political parties in Bangladesh

National symbols of Bangladesh

Flag Green with a red circle

Anthem Amar Shonar Bangla

Animal Royal Bengal Tiger

Bird Doyel

Flower Shapla

Fruit Jackfruit

Sport Kabadi

Calendar Bangla Calendar

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban houses the National Parliament of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The President is the head of state, a largely
ceremonial post. The real power is held by the Prime Minister, who is head of
government. The president is elected by the legislature every five years and has normally
limited powers that are substantially expanded during the tenure of a caretaker
government, mainly in controlling the transition to a new government. Bangladesh has
instituted an unique system of transfer of power: at the end of the tenure of the
government, power is handed over to members of the civil society for three months, who
run the general elections and transfer the power to elected representatives. This system
was adopted to the constitution in 1996.[20]

The prime minister is ceremonially appointed by the president and must be a member of
parliament (MP) commanding the confidence of the majority of other MPs. The cabinet is
composed of ministers selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president. The
unicameral Bangladeshi parliament is the House of the Nation or Jatiyo Sangshad, which
has 300 members elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies for five-
year terms of office. There used to be 30 special seats reserved for women, who were
elected by the 300 regular members of the parliament. This transitory provision is no
longer in place, and no new provision has been enacted. There is universal suffrage,
citizens attain the right to vote at age 18.

The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 and has undergone thirteen
amendments.[21] The highest judiciary body is the Supreme Court, whose chief justices
and other judges are appointed by the president. The judiciary is not separate from the
administration, which has caused much commotion in recent years. Laws are loosely
based on English common law. But family laws (regarding marriage, inheritance, etc.)
are based on religious scripts, and hence differ from one religious community to another.
Map of Bangladesh showing the six administrative divisions

The two major parties in Bangladesh are Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami
League. BNP finds its allies among Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and
Islami Oikya Jot, while Awami League aligns itself with leftist and secularist parties.
Jatiya Party is also a important player, headed by the former military ruler Ershad.
Awami League-BNP rivalry has been bitter and punctuated by protests, violence and
murder. Student politics is particularly strong in Bangladesh, a legacy from the liberation
movement era. Almost all parties have highly active student wings, and students have
even been elected to the Parliament.

Two radical Islamist parties, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Jama'atul
Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were banned in February, 2005. Since then, a series of
bomb attacks have been blamed on those groups, and hundreds of their suspected
members have been detained in numerous security operations. The first recorded case of
a suicide bomb attack in Bangladesh took place in November 2005.

Subdivisions

Main article: Divisions of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is divided into six administrative divisions,[22] all named after their respective
divisional headquarters: Barisal (বিরশাল), Chittagong (চটগাম), Dhaka (ঢাকা), Khulna (খুলনা),
Rajshahi (রাজশাহী), and Sylhet (িসেেলট).

The next administrative unit is a district or zila (িজলা in Bangla). There are 64 districts in
Bangladesh, each district further subdivided into thana or Police stations (formerly called
upa-zila or sub-districts). Each police station, except for those in metropolitan areas, is
divided into several unions. The unions consist of many villages. In the metropolitan
areas, the unit is a ward, which consists of several mahalla or areas. There are no elected
officials at divisional or district levels, and the administration is run solely by government
officials. Direct elections are held for each union (or ward), electing a chairperson and a
number of members. In 1997, a parliamentary act was passed to reserve 3 seats (out of
12) for female candidates in every union.[23]

Dhaka is the country's capital and largest city. Other major cities include Barisal,
Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet. The metropolitan cities have mayoral elections,
while smaller towns elect a chaiperson (both elections are held every five years).

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Bangladesh

Bangladesh consists mostly of a low-lying river delta located on the Indian subcontinent,
in the geographic region called the Ganges Delta or Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta.
This densely populated delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local name
Padma or Pôdda), Brahmaputra (Jomuna), and Meghna rivers and their tributaries as
they flow down from the Himalaya. It is the largest river delta in the world. Bangladesh's
alluvial soil is highly fertile but vulnerable to flood and drought. Hills rise above the plain
only in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (highest point: in the Mowdok range at 1,052 m
(3,451 ft), N 21°47'12" E 92°36'36") in the far southeast and the Sylhet division in the
northeast. Most parts of Bangladesh are less than 10 meters above sea level, and it is
believed that about 10% of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by 1
meter.[24] A large part of the coastline consists of the marshy jungle known as the
Sundarbans. Sundarbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, is home to
very diverse flora and fauna, including the (Royal) Bengal Tiger. This region is
endangered and half the size it used to be 150 years ago with substantial reduction in
diversity as well.[25]

Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, the Bangladeshi climate is tropical with a mild winter
from October to March, a hot, humid summer from March to June, and a humid, warm
rainy monsoon from June to October. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical
cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores affect the country almost every year, combined with
the effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion. Cox's Bazar, south of the city of
Chittagong, has a sea beach that stretches uninterrupted over 120 kilometres (75 mi); it is
one of the world's longest unbroken natural sea beaches.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bangladesh

Fishermen near the town of Cox's Bazar in southern Bangladesh. Many industries in
Bangladesh are still primitive by modern standards.
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and
demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains an underdeveloped, overpopulated, and ill-
governed nation. The par capita income in 2004 was a low 440 USD, and many other
economic indicators were less than impressive.[26] Yet, as the World Bank notes in its July
2005 Country Brief, the country has made impressive progress in human development by
focusing on increasing literacy, achieving gender parity in schooling, and reducing
population growth.

Jute was once Bangladesh's economic engine. Its share of the world export market
peaked in the late 1940s at 80%[27] and even in the early 1970s accounted for 70% of its
export earnings. But after polypropylene products began to substitute jute products
worldwide, Bangladesh's jute industry started to slow down. Bangladesh also grows
significant quantities of rice, tea and mustard. Although two-thirds of Bangladeshis are
farmers, nowadays more than three quarters of Bangladesh’s export earnings come from
the garment industry,[28] which began attracting foreign investors in the 1980s due to
cheap labor and low conversion cost. In 2002, the industry exported US$5 billion worth
of products.[29] The industry now employs more than 3 million workers, 90% of whom are
women.[30] A significant part of foreign currency earnings also comes from the
remittances sent by expatriate Bangladeshis living in other countries.

Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-
owned enterprises, mismanaged port facilities, a growth in the labour force that has
outpaced jobs, inefficient use of energy resources (such as natural gas), insufficient
power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, political infighting and
corruption. According to the World Bank's Country Brief updated July, 2005: "Among
Bangladesh’s most significant obstacles to growth are poor governance and weak public
institutions."[31]

In spite of the hurdles, since 1990 the country has achieved an average annual growth rate
of 5% according to the World Bank. The middle class and the consumer industry have
seen some growth. In December 2005, four years after its report on the emerging "BRIC"
economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), Goldman Sachs named Bangladesh one of
the "Next Eleven,"[32] along with Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria,
Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. Bangladesh has seen a sharp increase in
foreign direct investment. A number of multinational corporations, including Unocal and
Tata, have made significant investments, with the natural gas sector a priority. In
December 2005, the Central Bank of Bangladesh projected GDP growth around 6.5%.[33]

One significant contributor to the development of the economy has been the widespread
propagation of Microcredit by Muhammad Yunus through the Grameen Bank. Already in
late 1990's Grameen Bank had 2.3 million members, with a further 2.5 million members
of other similar organizations.[34]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Bangladesh

Dhaka is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
Bangladesh has a population of 146 million,[35] making it the 8th most populous country
in the world. Bangladesh is the one of the most densely populated countries in the world
with about 1,000 persons per square kilometre (2,585/sq. mi). In the mid-1980's, the
government promoted birth control, which helped to reduce the population growth rate to
about 2.2%.[35] However, most of the people are relatively young (the 0–25 age group
represents 60 percent of the total population and only 3 percent is 65 or older). Life
expectancy rate is 63 years for both males and females, the healthy life expectancy is 53
years.[35]

Bangladesh is ethnically homogeneous, with Bengalis comprising 98% of the population.

The remainder are mostly Bihari migrants and indigenous tribal groups. There are 13
tribal groups located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the most populous of the tribes are the
Chakmas. The region has been a source for ethnic tension since the inception of
Bangladesh.[36] The largest tribal groups outside the Hill Tracts are the Santhals and the
Garos (Achiks). The main language, as in West Bengal, is Bangla (Bengali), an Indo-
Aryan language of Sanskrit origin (like Hindi, Punjabi, and Gujarati and others). The
language is written in its own Bengali script. Bangla is the official language of
Bangladesh, but English is used as a second language among the middle and upper
classes, and is often used in official tasks and higher education. The two major religions
practiced in Bangladesh are Islam (83% CIA est. 1998, 88% US State Department est.
2005) and Hinduism (16% CIA est. 1998, 11% US State Dept. 2005). The ethnic Biharis
are predominantly Shia Muslims. There are also some Buddhists, Christians, and
Animists.

Health and education levels have improved steadily and poverty levels have gone down.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh remains among the poorest nations in the world. Most
Bangladeshis are rural and poor, living on subsistence farming. Nearly half of the
population lives on less than 1 USD per day. [37] Health problems abound, ranging from
surface water contamination, to arsenic in the ground water,[38] and diseases including
malaria, leptospirosis and dengue. Literacy rates are 54% among men and 32% among
women.
Culture

Main articles: Culture of Bangladesh, Public holidays in Bangladesh

Bagerhat Shat Gambuj Masjid (60 dome mosque), built by Khan Jahan Ali

Bangladesh has a vibrant culture that encompasses traditions both old and new. The
Bangla language boasts a rich literary heritage, which Bangladesh shares with West
Bengal. The first literary text in Bangla is the seventh century Charyapada. Bangla
literature in the medieval age was often either religious (e.g. Chandidas), or adaptations
from other languages (e.g. Alaol). Bangla literature matured in the nineteenth century. Its
greatest icons are Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Bangladesh also has a
long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by Môemonshingha gitika, Ţhakurmar Jhuli or
stories related to Gopal Bhar.

The musical tradition of Bangladesh is lyrics-based (Baniprodhan), with minimal

instrumental accompaniment. The Baul tradition is a unique heritage of Bangla folk
music, and there are numerous other musical traditions in Bangladesh, which vary from
one region to the other. Gambhira, Bhatiali, Bhawaiya are a few of the better known
musical forms. Folk music of Bengal is often accompanied by the êktara, an instrument
with only one string. Other instruments include the dotara, đhol, flute, and tabla.
Bangladesh also has an active heritage in North Indian classical music. Similarly,
Bangladeshi dance forms draw from folk traditions, especially those of the tribal groups,
as well as the broader Indian dance tradition. Bangladesh produces about 60 films a year.
Bollywood-made cinema is also quite popular, as are films from Kolkata, in West
Bengal, which has its own thriving Bengali-language movie industry. Around 200 dailies
are published in Bangladesh, along with more than 1800 periodicals. However, regular
readership is low, nearly about 15% of the population.[39] Bangladeshis listen to a variety
of local and national radio programmes, as well as Bangla services from BBC and VOA.
There is a state controlled television channel, but in the last few years, privately owned
channels have grown in viewership.

The culinary tradition of Bangladesh has close relation to Indian and Middle Eastern
cuisine as well as having many distinctive traits. Rice and fish are traditional favourites,
so much so that a common saying goes "Rice and fish make a Bengali" (machhe bhate
bangali). Consumption of meat has increased with higher production in recent years.
Bangladeshis make distinctive sweetmeats made from milk products, some of the
common ones are Rashogolla, Chomchom and Kalojaam. Sari is by far the most widely
worn dress by Bangladeshi women. However, Salwar kameez is also quite popular, and
in urban areas one finds the occasional young girl in trousers and a shirt. Among men,
European dressing has greater acceptance. Men also use the Kurta-Pajama combination,
often on religious occasions. Lungi is widely used in rural areas and often the only kind
of dress a man wears, but in urban areas it is used as an informal dress.

The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are the greatest festivals in the Islamic
calendar. The day before each Eid in called Chand Raat (The night of the moon), and is
often marked by firecrackers. Other Muslim holidays are also observed. Hindus celebrate
a number of festivals, most important of them are Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.
Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama Buddha, is one of the most
important Buddhists festivals while Christians celebrate Christmas, called Boro din (The
great day) in Bangla. The most important secular festival is Nobobarsha or New year, the
beginning of the Bengali calendar. Other festivities include Nobanno, Poush parbon
(festival of Poush) and observance of the national days, for example Shahid dibosh.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Bangladesh

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh cricket team
was granted test cricket status and joined the elite league of national teams permitted by
the International Cricket Council to play test matches in 2000. Other popular sports
include football, field hockey, tennis, badminton, handball, kabadi, volleyball, chess, and
carom. Kabadi (কাবািড), a 7-on-7 team sport played without a ball or any other equipment,
is the national game of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board regulates 29
different sporting federations (as of 2005). BKSP (Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan)
is the premier sports institute of the country.

On the international stage, Bangladesh has had its most noteworthy successes in cricket
and chess. Bangladesh has participated in two cricket World Cups in 1999 and 2003. In
2005, Bangladesh won its first 5-day test match against Zimbabwe and defeated
Australia, the 2003 world champion, in a one-day match in one of the biggest upsets in
cricket history. Other noteworthy victories include the one-day victories over Pakistan
(World Cup 1999), India (December 2004) and Sri Lanka (February 2006). In chess,
Bangladesh has had two Grandmasters: Niaz Morshed and more recently Ziaur Rahman.
Players from Bangladesh have won gold medals in shooting in the Commonwealth
Games.

Education
A view of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Building at BUET
Main article: Education in Bangladesh
The literacy rate in Bangladesh is approximately 41%.[40] Education is highly subsidised
by the Government, which operates many schools and colleges at the primary, secondary
and higher secondary level as well as many public universities. To increase the literacy
level, many innovative programs have been introduced in the country. Among the most
successful ones are Food for education (FFE) program introduced in 1993.[41] To promote
literacy among women, a stipend program for women till the higher secondary level was
instituted in 1994.[42] Administratively, the country is divided into seven education boards
(Barishal, Chittagong, Comilla, Dhaka, Jessore, Rajshahi and Sylhet Education Boards)
which oversee education from the primary to the higher secondary level, and conduct the
primary and junior scholarship examinations, the Secondary School Certificate
examination, and the Higher Secondary Certificate examination.

Higher education is also subsidised by the government, and most of the students seeking
college education are enrolled in a public institution. Dhaka University is the largest and
oldest university in Bangladesh. The National University regulates all public colleges in
the country; a student at a public college receives a degree from the National University.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), located in Dhaka, is the
foremost institution for technology in the country. There are newer universities in
Chittagong, Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet that also provide engineering
education. Public education in medical sciences is provided by Medical Colleges, each
regulated by a public university. Postgraduate education in medical sciences is provided
by BSMM University in Dhaka. Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh is
the premier institution for agricultural studies, though other institutes exist as well. There
are also a number of polytechnic institutes providing diplomas in specific technologies.
Bangladesh also has a leather institute, a textile institute and other specialized education
centres. Since the 1990's, higher education has boomed with the introduction of private
universities. There are many private universities providing general, engineering and
medical education.
Notable research institutions include Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

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