Bangladesh

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Coordinates: 24°N 90°E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the country. For other uses,
see Bangladesh (disambiguation).

People's Republic of
Bangladesh
গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী
বাংলাদেশ (Bengali)
Gôṇôprôjātôntrī Bāṅlādēś
 Flag

Emblem

Anthem:
আমার সোনার বাংলা (Bengali)
Amar Sonar Bangla
("My Golden Bengal")
Duration: 2 minutes and 15 seconds.2:15

Government Seal

Capital Dhaka
and largest 23°45′50″N 90°23′20
city ″E
 Official Bengali[1][2]
language
and national
language
Recognised English[3]
foreign
language
Ethnic gro 99% Bengali
ups show
(2022 1% others
census)[4]
Religion 91.04% Islam (official)
(2022 7.95% Hinduism
census)[5][6][7] 0.61% Buddhism
0.30% Christianity
0.12% other
Demonym( Bangladeshi
s)
Governmen Unitary parliamentary
t republic under
an interim government
• President Mohammed
Shahabuddin
• Chief Muhammad Yunus
Adviser
• Chief Syed Refaat Ahmed
Justice
Legislature Jatiya Sangsad
Independence
from Pakistan
• Declaration 26 March 1971
and
liberation
war
• Provisional 10 April 1971
Government
• Victory 16 December 1971
• Current 16 December 1972
constitution
Area
• Total 148,460[8] km2 (57,320 s
q mi) (92nd)
• Water (%) 6.4
• Land area 130,170 km2[8]
• Water area 18,290 km2[8]
Population
• 2022 census 169,828,911[9][10] (8th)
• Density 1,165/km2 (3,017.3/sq
mi) (13th)
GDP (PPP) 2024 estimate
• Total $1.620
trillion[11] (25th)
• Per capita $9,410[12] (126th)
GDP (nomi 2024 estimate
nal)
• Total $455.166
billion[13] (34th)
• Per capita $2,650[14] (137th)
Gini (2022) 49.9[15]
high inequality
 HDI (2022) 0.670[16]
medium (129th)
Currency Taka (৳) (BDT)
Time zone UTC+6 (BST)
Drives on left
Calling +880
code
ISO 3166 BD
code
Internet .bd
TLD .বাংলা

This article contains Bengali text. Without proper rendering

support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.
Bangladesh,[a] officially the People's Republic of
Bangladesh,[b] is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-
most populous country in the world and among the most
densely populated with a population of 170 million in an
area of 148,460 square kilometres (57,320 sq mi).
Bangladesh shares land borders with India to the north,
west, and east, and Myanmar to the southeast. To the
south, it has a coastline along the Bay of Bengal. It is
separated from Bhutan and Nepal by the Siliguri
Corridor, and from China by the mountainous Indian
state of Sikkim. Dhaka, the capital and largest city, is the
nation's political, financial, and cultural
centre. Chittagong is the second-largest city and the
busiest port. The official language is Bengali,
with Bangladeshi English also used in government.
Bangladesh is part of the historic
and ethnolinguistic region of Bengal, which was divided
during the Partition of British India in 1947 as the eastern
enclave of the Dominion of Pakistan, from which it
gained independence in 1971 after a bloody war.[17] The
country has a Bengali Muslim majority. Ancient Bengal
was known as Gangaridai and was a stronghold of pre-
Islamic kingdoms. The Muslim conquest after 1204 led to
the sultanate and Mughal periods, during which an
independent Bengal Sultanate and wealthy Mughal
Bengal transformed the region into an important centre
of regional affairs, trade, and diplomacy. The Battle of
Plassey in 1757 marked the beginning of British rule.
The creation of Eastern Bengal and Assam in 1905 set a
precedent for the emergence of Bangladesh. The All
India Muslim League was founded in Dhaka in 1906.
[18]
The Lahore Resolution in 1940 was supported by A. K.
Fazlul Huq, the first Prime Minister of Bengal. The
present-day territorial boundary was established with the
announcement of the Radcliffe Line.
In 1947, East Bengal became the most populous
province in the Dominion of Pakistan and was
renamed East Pakistan, with Dhaka as the legislative
capital. The Bengali Language Movement in 1952,
the 1958 Pakistani coup d'état, and the 1970 Pakistani
general election spurred Bengali nationalism and pro-
democracy movements. The refusal of the
Pakistani military junta to transfer power to the Awami
League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, triggered
the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The Mukti
Bahini, aided by India, waged a successful armed
revolution; the conflict saw the Bangladeshi genocide.
The new state of Bangladesh became a
constitutionally secular state in 1972, although Islam was
declared the state religion in 1988.[19] In 2010,
the Bangladesh Supreme Court reaffirmed secular
principles in the constitution.[20] The Constitution of
Bangladesh officially declares it a socialist state.[21]
A middle power in the Indo-Pacific,[22] Bangladesh is
home to the fifth-most spoken native language, the third-
largest Muslim-majority population, and the second-
largest economy in South Asia. It maintains the third-
largest military in the region and is the largest contributor
to UN peacekeeping operations.[23] Bangladesh is a
unitary parliamentary republic based on the Westminster
system. Bengalis make up almost 99% of the population.
[24]
The country consists of eight divisions, 64 districts,
and 495 subdistricts, and includes the world's largest
mangrove forest. Bangladesh hosts one of the
largest refugee populations due to the Rohingya
genocide.[25] Bangladesh faces challenges
like corruption, political instability, overpopulation,
and effects of climate change. Bangladesh has twice
chaired the Climate Vulnerable Forum and hosts the Bay
of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) headquarters. It is a
founding member of the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and a member of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and
the Commonwealth of Nations.
Etymology
Main article: Names of Bengal
The etymology of Bangladesh ("Bengali country") can be
traced to the early 20th century, when Bengali patriotic
songs, such as Aaji Bangladesher
Hridoy by Rabindranath Tagore and Namo Namo Namo
Bangladesh Momo by Kazi Nazrul Islam, used the term
in 1905 and 1932 respectively.[26] Starting in the 1950s,
Bengali nationalists used the term in political rallies
in East Pakistan. The term Bangla is a major name for
both the Bengal region and the Bengali language. The
origins of the term Bangla are unclear, with theories
pointing to a Bronze Age proto-Dravidian tribe,[27] and the
Iron Age Vanga Kingdom.[28] The earliest known usage of
the term is the Nesari plate in 805 AD. The term Vangala
Desa is found in 11th-century South Indian records.[29]
[30]
The term gained official status during the Sultanate of
Bengal in the 14th century.[31][32] Shamsuddin Ilyas
Shah proclaimed himself as the first "Shah of Bangala" in
1342.[31] The word Bangāl became the most common
name for the region during the Islamic period.[33] 16th-
century historian Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak mentions in
his Ain-i-Akbari that the addition of the suffix "al" came
from the fact that the ancient rajahs of the land raised
mounds of earth in lowlands at the foot of the hills which
were called "al".[34] This is also mentioned in Ghulam
Husain Salim's Riyaz-us-Salatin.[35] The Indo-Aryan
suffix Desh is derived from the Sanskrit word deśha,
which means "land" or "country". Hence, the
name Bangladesh means "Land of Bengal" or "Country
of Bengal".[30]
History
Main article: History of Bangladesh
Part of a series on the

History of Bangladesh

 Etymology
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Ancient
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The history of Bangladesh dates back over four millennia
to the Chalcolithic period. The region's early history was
characterized by a succession
of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms and empires that fought
for control over the Bengal region. Islam arrived in the
8th century and gradually became dominant from the
early 13th century with the conquests led by Bakhtiyar
Khalji and the activities of Sunni missionaries like Shah
Jalal. Muslim rulers promoted the spread of Islam by
building mosques across the region. From the 14th
century onward, Bengal was ruled by the Bengal
Sultanate, founded by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, who
established an individual currency. The Bengal Sultanate
expanded under rulers like Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah,
leading to economic prosperity and military dominance,
with Bengal being referred to by Europeans as the
richest country to trade with. The region later became a
part of the Mughal Empire, and according to historian C.
A. Bayly, it was probably the empire's wealthiest
province.
Following the decline of the Mughal Empire in the early
1700s, Bengal became a semi-independent state under
the Nawabs of Bengal, ultimately led by Siraj-ud-Daulah.
It was later conquered by the British East India
Company after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Bengal
played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution in
Britain, but also faced significant deindustrialization.
The Bengal Presidency was established during British
rule.
The borders of modern Bangladesh were established
with the partition of Bengal between India and Pakistan
during the Partition of India in August 1947, when the
region became East Pakistan as part of the newly
formed State of Pakistan following the end of the British
rule in the region. The Proclamation of Bangladeshi
Independence in March 1971 led to the nine-month-
long Bangladesh Liberation War, which culminated in the
emergence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Independence was declared by Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman in 1971.
 Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab
of Bengal
Since gaining independence, Bangladesh has faced
political instability, economic reconstruction, and social
transformation. The country experienced military coups
and authoritarian rule, notably under General Ziaur
Rahman and General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. The
restoration of parliamentary democracy in the 1990s saw
power alternate between the Awami League, and
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. In recent decades,
Bangladesh has achieved significant economic growth,
emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing
economies, driven by its garment industry, remittances,
and infrastructure development. However, it continues to
grapple with political instability, human rights issues, and
the impact of climate change. The return of the Awami
League to power in 2009 under Sheikh Hasina's
leadership saw economic progress but criticisms
of authoritarianism. Bangladesh has played a critical role
in addressing regional issues, including the Rohingya
refugee crisis, which has strained its resources and
highlighted its humanitarian commitments.
The poverty rate went down from 80% in 1971 to 44% in
1991 to 13% in 2021.[36][37][38] Bangladesh emerged as the
second-largest economy in South Asia,[39][40] surpassing
the per capita income levels of both India and Pakistan.[41]
[40]
As part of the green transition, Bangladesh's industrial
sector emerged as a leader in building green factories,
with the country having the largest number of certified
green factories in the world in 2023.[42] In January 2024,
Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
secured a fourth straight term in Bangladesh's general
election. Following nationwide protests against the
Awami League government, on 5 August 2024, Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee to
India.[43][44][45][46][47] An interim government was formed on 8
August, with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as
the Chief Advisor.[48]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Bangladesh

Physical map of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is in South Asia on the Bay of Bengal. It is
surrounded almost entirely by neighbouring India, and
shares a small border with Myanmar to its southeast,
though it lies very close to Nepal, Bhutan, and China.
The country is divided into three regions. Most of the
country is dominated by the fertile Ganges Delta, the
largest river delta in the world.[49] The northwest and
central parts of the country are formed by
the Madhupur and the Barind plateaus. The northeast
and southeast are home to evergreen hill ranges.
The Ganges delta is formed by the confluence of the
Ganges (local
name Padma or Pôdda), Brahmaputra (Jamuna or Jomu
na), and Meghna rivers and their tributaries. The Ganges
unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the
Brahmaputra) and later join the Meghna, finally flowing
into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is called the "Land of
Rivers";[50] as it is home to over 57 trans-boundary rivers,
the most of any nation-state. Water issues are hence
politically complicated since the country is a
lower riparian state to India.[51]
Bangladesh is predominantly rich fertile flat land. Most of
it is less than 12 m (39 ft) above sea level, and it is
estimated that about 10% of its land would be flooded if
the sea level were to rise by 1 m (3.3 ft).[52] 17% of the
country is covered by forests and 12% is covered by hill
systems. The country's haor wetlands are of significance
to global environmental science. The highest point in
Bangladesh is the Saka Haphong, located near the
border with Myanmar, with an elevation of 1,064 m
(3,491 ft).[53] Previously, either Keokradong or Tazing
Dong were considered the highest.
Climate
Main articles: Geography of Bangladesh § Climate,
and Climate change in Bangladesh

Flooding after the 1991 Bangladesh

cyclone, which killed around 140,000 people
Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, Bangladesh's climate is
tropical, with a mild winter from October to March and a
hot, humid summer from March to June. The country has
never recorded an air temperature below 0 °C (32 °F),
with a record low of 1.1 °C (34.0 °F) in the northwest city
of Dinajpur on 3 February 1905.[54] A warm and
humid monsoon season lasts from June to October and
supplies most of the country's rainfall. Natural calamities,
such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal
bores occur almost every year,[55] combined with the
effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion.
The cyclones of 1970 and 1991 were particularly
devastating, the latter killing approximately 140,000
people.[56]
In September 1998, Bangladesh saw the most severe
flooding in modern history, after which two-thirds of the
country went underwater, along with a death toll of
1,000.[57] As a result of various international and national
level initiatives in disaster risk reduction, the human toll
and economic damage from floods and cyclones have
come down over the years.[58] The 2007 South Asian
floods ravaged areas across the country, leaving five
million people displaced, with a death toll around 500.[59]
Climate change
Main article: Climate change in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is recognised to be one of the countries
most vulnerable to climate change.[60][61] Over the course
of a century, 508 cyclones have affected the Bay of
Bengal region, 17 percent of which are believed to have
made landfall in Bangladesh.[62] Natural hazards that
come from increased rainfall, rising sea levels, and
tropical cyclones are expected to increase as the climate
changes, each seriously affecting agriculture, water and
food security, human health, and shelter.[63] It is estimated
that by 2050, a three-foot rise in sea levels will inundate
some 20 percent of the land and displace more than 30
million people.[64] To address the sea level rise threat in
Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 has been
launched.[65][66]
Biodiversity
Main article: Fauna of Bangladesh
 A Bengal tiger, the national animal,
in the Sundarbans
Bangladesh is located in the Indomalayan realm, and
lies within four terrestrial ecoregions: Lower Gangetic
Plains moist deciduous forests, Mizoram–Manipur–
Kachin rain forests, Sundarbans freshwater swamp
forests, and Sundarbans mangroves.[67] Its ecology
includes a long sea coastline, numerous rivers and
tributaries, lakes, wetlands, evergreen forests, semi
evergreen forests, hill forests, moist deciduous forests,
freshwater swamp forests and flat land with tall grass.
The Bangladesh Plain is famous for its fertile alluvial soil
which supports extensive cultivation. The country is
dominated by lush vegetation, with villages often buried
in groves of mango, jackfruit, bamboo, betel
nut, coconut, and date palm.[68] The country has up to
6000 species of plant life, including 5000 flowering
plants.[69] Water bodies and wetland systems provide a
habitat for many aquatic plants. Water
lilies and lotuses grow vividly during the monsoon
season. The country has 50 wildlife sanctuaries.
Bangladesh is home to much of the Sundarbans, the
world's largest mangrove forest, covering an area of
6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi) in the southwest
littoral region. It is divided into three protected
sanctuaries–the South, East, and West zones. The
forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
northeastern Sylhet region is home to haor wetlands, a
unique ecosystem. It also includes tropical and
subtropical coniferous forests, a freshwater swamp
forest, and mixed deciduous forests. The southeastern
Chittagong region covers evergreen and semi-evergreen
hilly jungles. Central Bangladesh includes the plainland
Sal forest running along with the districts of
Gazipur, Tangail, and Mymensingh. St. Martin's Island is
the only coral reef in the country.
Bangladesh has an abundance of wildlife in its forests,
marshes, woodlands, and hills.[68] The vast majority of
animals dwell within a habitat of 150,000 square
kilometres (58,000 sq mi).[70] The Bengal tiger, clouded
leopard, saltwater crocodile, black panther and fishing
cat are among the chief predators in the Sundarbans.
[71]
Northern and eastern Bangladesh is home to
the Asian elephant, hoolock gibbon, Asian black
bear and oriental pied hornbill.[72] The Chital deer are
widely seen in southwestern woodlands. Other animals
include the black giant squirrel, capped langur, Bengal
fox, sambar deer, jungle cat, king cobra, wild
boar, mongooses, pangolins, pythons and water
monitors. Bangladesh has one of the largest populations
of Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins.[73] The country has
numerous species of amphibians (53), reptiles
(139), marine reptiles (19) and marine mammals (5). It
also has 628 species of birds.[74]
Several animals became extinct in Bangladesh during
the last century, including the one-horned and two-
horned rhinoceros and common peafowl. The human
population is concentrated in urban areas, limiting
deforestation to a certain extent. Rapid urban growth has
threatened natural habitats. The country has widespread
environmental issues, pollution of the Dhaleshwari
River by the textile industry and shrimp cultivation in
Chakaria Sundarbans have both been described by
academics as ecocides.[75][76] Although many areas are
protected under law, some Bangladeshi wildlife is
threatened by this growth. The Bangladesh Environment
Conservation Act was enacted in 1995. The government
has designated several regions as Ecologically Critical
Areas, including wetlands, forests, and rivers.
The Sundarbans tiger project and the Bangladesh Bear
Project are among the key initiatives to strengthen
conservation.[72] It ratified the Rio Convention on
Biological Diversity on 3 May 1994.[77] As of 2014, the
country was set to revise its National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan.[77]
Government and politics
Main articles: Government of Bangladesh and Politics of
Bangladesh
 Bangabhaban (literally Bengal
House) is the presidential palace of Bangladesh. It was
originally a house for the Viceroy of India and

the Governor of Bengal. The National

Parliament building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, a
neighborhood named after the first Prime Minister of
Bengal

Kamal Hossain, jurist and author of the 1972 Constitution of

Bangladesh

Supreme Court of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a de jure representative democracy under
its constitution, with a Westminster-style parliamentary
republic that has universal suffrage. The head of
government is the Prime Minister, who forms a
government every five years. The President invites the
leader of the largest party in parliament to become Prime
Minister.[78]
The Government of Bangladesh is overseen by
a cabinet headed by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
The tenure of a parliamentary government is five years.
The Bangladesh Civil Service assists the cabinet in
running the government. Recruitment for the civil service
is based on a public examination. In theory, the civil
service should be a meritocracy. But a disputed quota
system coupled with politicisation and preference for
seniority have allegedly affected the civil service's
meritocracy.[79] The President of Bangladesh is the
ceremonial head of state[80] whose powers include signing
bills passed by parliament into law. The President is the
Supreme Commander of the Bangladesh Armed Forces
and the chancellor of all universities. The Supreme Court
of Bangladesh is the highest court of the land, followed
by the High Court and Appellate Divisions. The head of
the judiciary is the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, who sits
on the Supreme Court. The courts have wide latitude
in judicial review, and judicial precedent is supported by
Article 111 of the constitution. The judiciary includes
district and metropolitan courts divided into civil and
criminal courts. Due to a shortage of judges, the judiciary
has a large backlog.
The Jatiya Sangshad (National Parliament) is
the unicameral parliament. It has 350 members of
parliament (MPs), including 300 MPs elected on the first
past the post system and 50 MPs appointed to reserved
seats for women's empowerment. Article 70 of the
Constitution of Bangladesh forbids MPs from voting
against their party. However, several laws proposed
independently by MPs have been transformed into
legislation, including the anti-torture law.[81] The
parliament is presided over by the Speaker of the Jatiya
Sangsad, who is second in line to the president as per
the constitution.[82]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative geography of Bangladesh
Further information: Divisions of Bangladesh, Districts of
Bangladesh, and Upazilas of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is divided into eight administrative divisions,
[83][53][84]
each named after their respective divisional
headquarters: Barisal (officially Barishal[85]), Chittagong (o
fficially Chattogram[85]), Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh,
Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
Divisions are subdivided into districts (zila). There are 64
districts in Bangladesh, each further subdivided
into upazila (subdistricts) or thana. The area within each
police station, except for those in metropolitan areas, is
divided into several unions, with each union consisting of
multiple villages. In the metropolitan areas, police
stations are divided into wards, further divided
into mahallas.
There are no elected officials at the divisional or district
levels, and the administration is composed only of
government officials. Direct elections are held in each
union (or ward) for a chairperson and several members.
In 1997, a parliamentary act was passed to reserve three
seats (out of 12) in every union for female candidates.[86]
Administrative Divisions of Bangladesh

Are 2021
a Populati Dens
Divisio Capita Establis
(k on ity
n l hed
m2) (projecte 2021
[87]
d)[88]

Barisal 1 January 13,22

Barisal 9,713,000 734
Division 1993 5

Chittagon
Chittagon 1 January 33,90
g 34,747,000 1,025
g 1829 9
Division

Dhaka 1 January 20,59

Dhaka 42,607,000 2,069
Division 1829 4

Khulna 1 October 22,28

Khulna 18,217,000 817
Division 1960 4

Mymensi 14
Mymensi 10,58
ngh September 13,457,000 1,271
ngh 4
Division 2015
 Administrative Divisions of Bangladesh

Are 2021
a Populati Dens
Divisio Capita Establis
(k on ity
n l hed
m2) (projecte 2021
[87]
d)[88]

Rajshahi 1 January 18,15

Rajshahi 21,607,000 1,190
Division 1829 3

Rangpur 25 January 16,18

Rangpur 18,868,000 1,166
Division 2010 5

Sylhet 1 August 12,63

Sylhet 12,463,000 986
Division 1995 5
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is considered a middle power in global
politics.[89] It plays an important role in the geopolitical
affairs of the Indo-Pacific,[90] due to its strategic location
between South and Southeast Asia.[91] Bangladesh joined
the Commonwealth of Nations in 1972 and the United
Nations in 1974.[92][93] It relies on multilateral diplomacy on
issues like climate change, nuclear nonproliferation,
trade policy and non-traditional security issues.
[94]
Bangladesh pioneered the creation of SAARC, which
has been the preeminent forum for regional diplomacy
among the countries of the Indian subcontinent.[95] It
joined the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1974,
 and is a founding member of the Developing 8
[96]

Countries.[97] In recent years, Bangladesh has focused on

promoting regional trade and transport links with support
from the World Bank.[98] Dhaka hosts the headquarters
of BIMSTEC, an organisation that brings
together countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
Relations with neighbouring Myanmar have been
severely strained since 2016–2017, after over
700,000 Rohingya refugees illegally entered
Bangladesh.[99] The parliament, government, and civil
society of Bangladesh have been at the forefront
of international criticism against Myanmar for military
operations against the Rohingya, and have demanded
their right of return to Arakan.[100][101]
Bangladesh shares an important bilateral and economic
relationship with its largest neighbour India,[102] which is
often strained by water politics of the Ganges and
the Teesta,[103][104][105] and the border killings of Bangladeshi
civilians.[106][107] Post-independent Bangladesh has
continued to have a problematic relationship with
Pakistan, mainly due to its denial of the 1971
Bangladesh genocide.[108] It maintains a warm
relationship with China, which is its largest trading
partner, and the largest arms supplier.[109] Japan is
Bangladesh's largest economic aid provider, and the two
maintain a strategic and economic partnership.
[110]
Political relations with Middle Eastern countries are
robust.[111] Bangladesh receives 59% of its remittances
from the Middle East,[112] despite poor working conditions
affecting over four million Bangladeshi workers.
[113]
Bangladesh plays a major role in global
climate diplomacy as a leader of the Climate Vulnerable
Forum.[114]
Military
Main article: Bangladesh Armed Forces

Map of Bangladesh UN
Peacekeeping Force deployments
The Bangladesh Armed Forces have inherited the
institutional framework of the British military and
the British Indian Army.[115] In 2022, the active personnel
strength of the Bangladesh Army was around 250,000,
[116]
excluding the Air Force and the Navy (24,000).[117] In
addition to traditional defence roles, the military has
supported civil authorities in disaster relief and provided
internal security during periods of political unrest. For
many years, Bangladesh has been the world's largest
contributor to UN peacekeeping forces. The military
budget of Bangladesh accounts for 1.3% of GDP,
amounting to US$4.3 billion in 2021.[118][119]
The Bangladesh Navy, one of the largest in the Bay of
Bengal, includes a fleet of frigates, submarines,
corvettes, and other vessels. The Bangladesh Air
Force has a small fleet of multi-role combat aircraft. Most
of Bangladesh's military equipment comes from China.
[120]
In recent years, Bangladesh and India have increased
joint military exercises, high-level visits of military
leaders, counter-terrorism cooperation and intelligence
sharing. Bangladesh is vital to ensuring stability and
security in northeast India.[121][122]
Bangladesh's strategic importance in the eastern
subcontinent hinges on its proximity to China, its frontier
with Burma, the separation of mainland and northeast
India, and its maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal.[123] In
2002, Bangladesh and China signed a Defence
Cooperation Agreement.[124] The United States has
pursued negotiations with Bangladesh on a Status of
Forces Agreement, an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing
Agreement and a General Security of Military Information
Agreement.[125][126][127] In 2019, Bangladesh ratified the
UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[128]
Civil society
Since the colonial period, Bangladesh has had a
prominent civil society. There are various special interest
groups, including non-governmental organisations,
human rights organisations, professional
associations, chambers of commerce, employers'
associations, and trade unions.[129] The National Human
Rights Commission of Bangladesh was set up in 2007.
Notable human rights organisations and initiatives
include the Centre for Law and Mediation, Odhikar,
the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety,
the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association,
the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity
Council and the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee.
The world's largest international NGO BRAC is based in
Bangladesh. There have been concerns regarding the
shrinking space for independent civil society in recent
years.[130][131][132]
Human rights
Main article: Human rights in Bangladesh

The Rapid Action Battalion has been

sanctioned by the United States for human rights
abuses.
Torture is banned by the Constitution of Bangladesh,
[133]
but is rampantly used by Bangladesh's security
forces. Bangladesh joined the Convention against
Torture in 1998 and it enacted its first anti-torture law,
the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, in
2013. The first conviction under this law was announced
in 2020.[134] Amnesty International Prisoners of
Conscience from Bangladesh have included Saber
Hossain Chowdhury and Shahidul Alam.[135][136] The widely
criticized Digital Security Act was repealed and replaced
by the Cyber Security Act in 2023.[137] The repeal was
welcomed by the International Press Institute.[138]
On International Human Rights Day in December 2021,
the United States Department of
Treasury announced sanctions on commanders of
the Rapid Action Battalion for extrajudicial killings,
torture, and other human rights abuses.[139] Freedom
House has criticised the government for human rights
abuses, the crackdown on the opposition, mass media,
and civil society through politicized enforcement.
[140]
Bangladesh is ranked "partly free" in Freedom
House's Freedom in the World report,[141] but its press
freedom has deteriorated from "free" to "not free" in
recent years due to increasing pressure from the
government.[142] According to the British Economist
Intelligence Unit, the country has a hybrid regime: the
third of four rankings in its Democracy Index.
[143]
Bangladesh was ranked 96th among 163 countries in
the 2022 Global Peace Index.[144] According to National
Human Rights Commission, 70% of alleged human-
rights violations are committed by law-enforcement
agencies.[145]
LGBT rights are frowned upon among social
conservatives.[146] Homosexuality is affected by Section
377 of the Penal Code of Bangladesh, which was
originally enacted by the British colonial government.[147]
[148]
An underground LGBT scene is flourishing across the
country. However, Bangladesh only recognises the
local transgender community known as the Hijra, which
is the most widely accepted LGBT group among poorer
sections of society.[149][150] Organized crime by the Hijra is
growing, with blackmailing and extortion rackets
operating on Grindr and resulting in theft, murder and
kidnapping.[151][152] According to the 2016 Global Slavery
Index, an estimated 1,531,300 people are enslaved in
Bangladesh, or roughly 1% of the population.[153][154][155][156]
Corruption
Main article: Corruption in Bangladesh
Like many developing countries, institutional
corruption is an issue of concern for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh was ranked 146th among 180 countries
on Transparency International's 2018 Corruption
Perceptions Index.[157] Land administration was the sector
with the most bribery in 2015,[158] followed by education,
[159]
police[160] and water supply.[161] The Anti Corruption
Commission was formed in 2004, and it was active
during the 2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis, indicting
many leading politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen
for graft.[162][163][164]
Economy
Main article: Economy of Bangladesh
 Office blocks on Kemal Ataturk
Avenue in Dhaka
Bangladesh is the second largest economy in South Asia
after India.[39][40] The country has outpaced India and
Pakistan in terms of per capita income.[41][40] According to
the World Bank, "when the newly independent country of
Bangladesh was born on December 16, 1971, it was the
second poorest country in the world—making the
country's transformation over the next 50 years one of
the great development stories. Since then, poverty has
been cut in half at record speed. Enrollment in primary
school is now nearly universal. Hundreds of thousands of
women have entered the workforce. Steady progress
has been made on maternal and child health. And the
country is better buttressed against the destructive
forces posed by climate change and natural disasters.
Bangladesh's success comprises many moving parts—
from investing in human capital to establishing
macroeconomic stability. Building on this success, the
country is now setting the stage for further economic
growth and job creation by ramping up investments in
energy, inland connectivity, urban projects, and transport
infrastructure, as well as focusing on climate change
adaptation and disaster preparedness on its path toward
sustainable growth."[165] Bangladesh has made one of the
greatest leaps on the Human Development Index among
Asian countries. According to UNDP, "Asia and the
Pacific has observed the fastest Human Development
Index (HDI) progress in the world—with Bangladesh
being one of the best performers, moving from an HDI of
0.397 in 1990, the fourth lowest in the region, to a HDI of
0.661 in 2021. Only China had greater improvements in
the region over this period".[166]

Chittagong has the busiest port on

the Bay of Bengal.
In 2022, Bangladesh had the second largest foreign-
exchange reserves in South Asia. The reserves have
boosted the government's spending capacity despite tax
revenues forming only 7.7% of government revenue.[167] A
big chunk of investments have gone into
the power sector. In 2009, Bangladesh was experiencing
daily blackouts several times a day. In 2022, the country
achieved 100% electrification.[168][169][170] One of the major
anti-poverty schemes of the Bangladeshi government is
the Ashrayan Project which aims to eradicate
homelessness by providing free housing.[171] The poverty
rate has gone down from 80% in 1971,[172] to 44.2% in
1991,[173] to 12.9% in 2021.[36] The literacy rate was
74.66% in 2022.[174] Bangladesh has a labor force of
roughly 70 million,[175] which is the world's seventh-
largest; with an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of 2021.
[176]
The government is setting up 100 special economic
zones to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and
generate 10 million jobs.[177] The Bangladesh Investment
Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh
Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) have been
established to help investors in setting up factories; and
to complement the longstanding Bangladesh Export
Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA).
The Bangladeshi taka is the national currency. The
service sector accounts for about 51.3% of total GDP
and employs 39% of the workforce. The industrial sector
accounts for 35.1% of GDP and employs 20.4% of the
workforce. The agriculture sector makes up 13.6% of the
economy but is the biggest employment sector, with
40.6% of the workforce.[167] In agriculture, the country is a
major producer of rice, fish, tea, fruits, vegetables,
flowers,[178] and jute. Lobsters and shrimps are some of
Bangladesh's well-known exports.[179]
Private sector
The private sector accounts for 80% of GDP compared
to the dwindling role of state-owned companies.
[180]
Bangladesh's economy is dominated by family-
owned conglomerates and small and medium-sized
businesses. Some of the largest publicly traded
companies in Bangladesh include Beximco, BRAC
Bank, BSRM, GPH Ispat, Grameenphone, Summit
Group, and Square Pharmaceuticals.[181] Capital markets
include the Dhaka Stock Exchange and the Chittagong
Stock Exchange. Its telecommunications industry is one
of the world's fastest-growing, with 171.854 million
cellphone subscribers in January 2021.[182] Over 80% of
Bangladesh's export earnings come from the garments
industry.[8] Other major industries
include shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, steel, ceramics, el
ectronics, and leather goods.[183] Muhammad Aziz
Khan became the first person from Bangladesh to be
listed as a billionaire by Forbes.[184]
Infrastructure

The Padma Bridge is a road-rail

bridge which spans the Bangladeshi branch of
the Ganges that is known as the Padma River. It is the
longest bridge on the Ganges. When it was opened in
June 2022, the bridge was expected to boost GDP by
1.23%.[185]
Since 2009, Bangladesh has embarked on a series
of megaprojects. For instance, the 6.15 km long Padma
Bridge was built for US$3.86 billion.[186] The bridge was
the first self-financed megaproject in the country's
history.[187] Other megaprojects include the Dhaka Metro,
a mass rapid-transit system in the capital; Karnaphuli
Tunnel, an underwater expressway in Chittagong; Dhaka
Elevated Expressway; Chittagong Elevated Expressway;
and the Bangladesh Delta Plan, designed to mitigate the
impact of climate change.
Tourism
Further information: Tourism in Bangladesh
The tourism industry is expanding, contributing some
3.02% of total GDP.[188] Bangladesh's international
tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $391 million.
[189]
The country has three UNESCO World Heritage
Sites (the Mosque City, the Paharpur Buddhist
Ruins and the Sundarbans) and five tentative-list sites.
[190]
Activities for tourists include angling, water skiing,
river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, and beachgoing.
[191][192]
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)
reported in 2019 that the travel and tourism industry in
Bangladesh directly generated 1,180,500 jobs in 2018 or
1.9% of the country's total employment.[193] According to
the same report, Bangladesh experiences around
125,000 international tourist arrivals per year.
[193]
Domestic spending generated 97.7 percent of direct
travel and tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in
2012.[194]
Energy
Main articles: Electricity sector in Bangladesh, Energy
policy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Power Development
Board, Natural gas and petroleum in Bangladesh,
and Petrobangla
 Wind turbines on Kutubdia Island
Bangladesh is gradually transitioning to a green
economy. It has the largest off-grid solar power
programme in the world, benefiting 20 million people.
[195]
An electric car called the Palki is being developed for
production in the country.[196] Biogas is being used to
produce organic fertilizer.[197]
Bangladesh continues to have huge untapped reserves
of natural gas, particularly in its maritime territory.[198][199] A
lack of exploration and decreasing proven reserves have
forced Bangladesh to import LNG from abroad.[200][201]
[202]
Gas shortages were further exasperated by
the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[203]
While government-owned companies in
Bangladesh generate nearly half of Bangladesh's
electricity, privately owned companies like the Summit
Group and Orion Group are playing an increasingly
important role in both generating electricity, and
supplying machinery, reactors, and equipment.
[204]
Bangladesh increased electricity production from 5
gigawatts in 2009 to 25.5 gigawatts in 2022. It plans to
produce 50 gigawatts by 2041. U.S. companies
like Chevron and General Electric supply around 55% of
Bangladesh's domestic natural gas production and are
among the largest investors in power projects. 80% of
Bangladesh's installed gas-fired power generation
capacity comes from turbines manufactured in the United
States.[205]
The government stopped buying spot price LNG in June
2022. The country's forex reserves declined due to
surging fuel imports. Bangladesh imported 30% of its
LNG on the spot price market in 2022, down from 40% in
2021. Bangladesh continues to trade in LNG on
the futures exchange markets.[206]
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh's first
operational nuclear plant, is nearing completion as of the
end of 2023.[207]
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of
Bangladesh and Bengalis

Population (millions)

Yea ±%
Pop.
r p.a.

197 67,800,00
—
1 0

198 80,600,00 +1.94

0 0 %

199 105,300,0 +2.71

 0 01 %

200 129,600,0 +2.10

0 00 %

201 148,700,0 +1.38

0 00 %

201 161,100,2 +4.09

2 00 %

202 165,160,0 +0.25

2 00 %

Source: OECD/World
Bank[208][209]

According to the 2022 Census, Bangladesh has a

population of 165.1 million,[9] and is the eighth-most-
populous country in the world, the fifth-most populous
country in Asia, and the most densely populated large
country in the world, with a headline population density
of 1,265 people/km2 as of 2020.[210] Its total fertility
rate (TFR), once among the highest in the world, has
experienced a dramatic decline, from 5.5 in 1985 to 3.7
in 1995, down to 2.0 in 2020,[211] which is below the sub-
replacement fertility of 2.1.[212] The majority of
Bangladeshis live in rural areas, with only 39% of the
population living in urban areas as of 2021.[213] It has
a median age of roughly 28 years, with 26% of the total
population aged 14 or younger,[214] and merely 5% aged
65 and above.[215]
Bangladesh is an ethnically and culturally homogeneous
society, as Bengalis form 99% of the population.
[209]
The Adivasi population includes
the Chakmas, Marmas, Santhals, Mros, Tanchangyas, B
awms, Tripuris, Khasis, Khumis, Kukis, Garos,
and Bisnupriya Manipuris. The Chittagong Hill Tracts
region experienced unrest and an insurgency from 1975
to 1997 in an autonomy movement by its indigenous
people. Although a peace accord was signed in 1997,
the region remains militarised.[216] Urdu-
speaking stranded Pakistanis were given citizenship by
the Supreme Court in 2008.[217] Bangladesh also hosts
over 700,000 Rohingya refugees since 2017, giving it
one of the largest refugee populations in the world.[99]
Urban centres
Further information: List of cities and towns in
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and the largest city and is
overseen by two city corporations that manage between
them the northern and southern parts of the city. There
are 12 city corporations which hold mayoral elections:
Dhaka South, Dhaka
North, Chittagong, Comilla, Khulna, Mymensingh, Sylhet,
Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
But there are 8 district's in total. There being 8 districts in
total. They
are- Dhaka,Chittagong,Sylhet,Rangpur,Rajshahi, Khulna
, Mymensingh, Barishal. Mayors are elected for five-year
terms. Altogether there are 506 urban centres in
Bangladesh which 43 cities have a population of more
than 100,000.

Largest cities or to
[1
Rank Name
1 Dhaka
2 Chittagong
3 Gazipur
4 Narayanganj
5 Khulna
Dhaka 6 Rangpur
7 Mymensingh
8 Rajshahi
9 Sylhet
10 Cumilla
Language
Main article: Languages of Bangladesh
The official and predominant language of Bangladesh
is Bengali, which is spoken by more than 99% of the
population as their native language.[218][219] Bengali is
described as a dialect continuum where there are
various dialects spoken throughout the country. There is
a diglossia in which much of the population can
understand or speak Standard Colloquial Bengali, and
their regional dialects.[220] These
include Chittagonian and Sylheti,[219] though some
linguists consider them as separate languages.
English plays an important role in Bangladesh's judicial
and educational affairs, due to the country's history as
part of the British Empire. It is widely spoken and
commonly understood, and is taught as a compulsory
subject in all schools, colleges and universities, while the
English-medium educational system is widely attended.
[221]

Tribal languages, although increasingly endangered,

include the Chakma language, another native Eastern
Indo-Aryan language, spoken by the Chakma people.
Others are Garo, Meitei, Kokborok and Rakhine. Among
the Austroasiatic languages, the most spoken is
the Santali language, native to the Santal people.[222]
The stranded Pakistanis and some sections of the Old
Dhakaites often use Urdu as their native tongue. Still, the
usage of the latter remains highly reproached.[223]
Religion
Religions in Bangladesh (2022)[224]
Islam (91.04%)
Hinduism (7.95%)
Buddhism (0.61%)
Christianity (0.30%)
Others (0.12%)
Main article: Religion in Bangladesh
 Baitul Mukarram in Dhaka
Bangladesh was constitutionally proclaimed as a secular
state in 1972. It grants freedom of religion,
ensures separation of church and state, and claims to be
"secular in practise" while establishing Islam as the state
religion.[225][226][227][228] The constitution bans religion-based
politics and discrimination, and proclaims equal
recognition of people adhering to all faiths.[229] Islam is the
largest religion across the country, being followed by
about 91.1% of the population.[209][230][231] The vast majority
of Bangladeshi citizens are Bengali Muslims, adhering
to Sunni Islam. The country is the third-most populous
Muslim-majority state in the world and has the fourth-
largest overall Muslim population.[232]
Before the partition of India in 1941, Hindus formed 28%
of the population. After the formation of Bangla Desh, the
Hindus were 13.50% in 1974. After the independence
there was a drastic decrease of the Hindus and are main
minorities in the Bangladesh. In 2022, Hinduism is
followed by 7.9% of the population,[209][230][231] mainly by
the Bengali Hindus, who form the country's second-
largest religious group and the third-largest Hindu
community globally, after those in India and
Nepal. Buddhism is the third-largest religion, at 0.6% of
the population. Bangladeshi Buddhists are concentrated
among the tribal ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts. At the same time, coastal Chittagong is home to
many Bengali Buddhists. Christianity is the fourth-largest
religion at 0.3%, followed mainly by a small Bengali
Christian minority. 0.1% of the population practices other
religions like Animism or is irreligious.[209][233]
Education
Main article: Education in Bangladesh

Literacy rates in Bangladesh districts

The constitution states that all children shall receive free
and compulsory education.[234] Education in Bangladesh
is overseen by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of
Primary and Mass Education is responsible for
implementing policy for primary education and state-
funded schools at a local level. Primary and secondary
education is compulsory, and is financed by the state
and free of charge in public schools. Bangladesh has
a literacy rate of 74.7% per cent as of 2019: 77.4% for
males and 71.9% for females.[235][236] The country's
educational system is three-tiered and heavily
subsidised, with the government operating many schools
at the primary, secondary and higher secondary levels
and subsidising many private schools. In the tertiary
education sector, the Bangladeshi government funds
over 45 state universities[237] through the University
Grants Commission (UGC), created by Presidential
Order 10 in 1973.[238]
The education system is divided into five levels: primary
(first to fifth grade), junior secondary (sixth to eighth
grade), secondary (ninth and tenth grade), higher
secondary (11th and 12th grade), and tertiary which is
university level.[239] According to Hossain 2016, the formal
schooling of secondary education in Bangladesh is
seven years. The first three years are called junior
secondary and include grades six to eight. The next two
years are called secondary and include grades nine and
ten. The final two years are called higher secondary and
include grade eleven and twelve. Based on the
information from Hossain 2016 and Daily Star 2010, to
pass the fifth grade the Bangladesh Education Ministry
requires a public exam called Primary School Certificate
(PSC). During the eighth grade students have to pass
the Junior School Certificate (JSC) exam to get enrolled
in ninth grade, while tenth-grade students have to pass
the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam to proceed
to eleventh grade. Lastly, students have to pass the
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam at grade
twelve to apply for university.[240][241]
Universities in Bangladesh are of three general types:
public (government-owned and subsidised), private
(privately owned universities) and international (operated
and funded by international organisations). The country
has 47 public,[237] 105 private[242] and two
international universities; Bangladesh National
University has the largest enrolment, and the University
of Dhaka (established in 1921) is the oldest. Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is a
premiere university for engineering education. University
of Chittagong, established in 1966, has the largest
campus.[243] Dhaka College, established in 1841, is the
oldest educational institution for higher education in
Bangladesh.[244] Medical education is provided by 29
government and private medical colleges. All medical
colleges are affiliated with the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
Bangladesh was ranked 105th in the Global Innovation
Index in 2023.[245]
Health
Main article: Health in Bangladesh

Historical development of life

expectancy in Bangladesh, displaying significant strides
since independence[246]
Bangladesh, by the constitution, guarantees healthcare
services as a fundamental right to all of its citizens.
[247]
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the
largest institutional healthcare provider in Bangladesh,
[248]
and contains two divisions: Health Service
Division and Medical Education And Family Welfare
Division.[249] However, healthcare facilities in Bangladesh
are considered less than adequate, although they have
improved as the economy has grown and poverty levels
have decreased significantly.[248] Bangladesh faces a
severe health workforce crisis, as formally trained
providers make up a small percentage of the total health
workforce.[250] Significant deficiencies in the treatment
practices of village doctors persist, with widespread
harmful and inappropriate drug prescribing.[251]
Bangladesh's poor healthcare system suffers from
severe underfunding from the government.[248] As of 2019,
some 2.48% of total GDP was attributed to healthcare,
[252]
and domestic general government spending on
healthcare was 18.63% of the total budget,[253] while out-
of-pocket expenditures made up the vast majority of the
total budget, totalling 72.68%.[254] Domestic private health
expenditure was about 75% of the total healthcare
expenditure.[255] As of 2020, there are only 5.3 doctors per
10,000 people, and about six physicians[256] and three
nurses per 10,000 people, while the number of hospital
beds is 8 per 10,000.[257][258] The overall life expectancy in
Bangladesh at birth was 73 years (71 years for males
and 75 years for females) as of 2020,[259] and it has a
comparably high infant mortality rate (24 per 1,000 live
births) and child mortality rate (29 per 1,000 live births).
 Maternal mortality remains high, clocking at 173 per
[260][261]

100,000 live births.[262] Bangladesh is a key source market

for medical tourism for various countries, mainly India,
[263]
due to its citizens dissatisfaction and distrust over
their own healthcare system.[264]
The main causes of death are coronary artery
disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory disease;
comprising 62% and 60% of all adult male and female
deaths, respectively.[265] Malnutrition is a major and
persistent problem in Bangladesh, mainly affecting the
rural regions, more than half of the population suffers
from it. Severe acute malnutrition affects 450,000
children, while nearly 2 million children have moderate
acute malnutrition. For children under the age of five,
52% are affected by anaemia, 41% are stunted, 16%
are wasted, and 36% are underweight. A quarter of
women are underweight and around 15% have short
stature, while over half also suffer from anaemia.[266]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Bangladesh
See also: Culture of Bengal and Bengali Renaissance
Architecture
Main article: Architecture of Bangladesh
 Mosque in the 15th century in
a Bengali style
The architectural traditions of Bangladesh have a 2,500-
year-old heritage.[267] Terracotta architecture is a distinct
feature of Bengal. Pre-Islamic Bengali architecture
reached its pinnacle in the Pala Empire when the Pala
School of Sculptural Art established grand structures
such as the Somapura Mahavihara. Islamic
architecture began developing under the Bengal
Sultanate, when local terracotta styles influenced
medieval mosque construction.
The Sixty Dome Mosque was the largest medieval
mosque built in Bangladesh and is a fine example of
Turkic-Bengali architecture.[268] The Mughal style replaced
indigenous architecture when Bengal became a province
of the Mughal Empire and influenced urban housing
development. The Kantajew Temple and Dhakeshwari
Temple are excellent examples of late medieval Hindu
temple architecture. Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture,
based on Indo-Islamic styles, flourished during the British
period. The zamindar gentry in Bangladesh built
numerous Indo-Saracenic palaces and country
mansions, such as the Ahsan Manzil, Tajhat
Palace, Dighapatia Palace, Puthia Rajbari and Natore
Rajbari.
Bengali vernacular architecture is noted for pioneering
the bungalow. Bangladeshi villages consist
of thatched roofed houses made of natural materials
like mud, straw, wood, and bamboo. In modern times,
village bungalows are increasingly made of tin.[citation needed]
Muzharul Islam was the pioneer of Bangladeshi modern
architecture. His varied works set the course of modern
architectural practice in the country. Islam brought
leading global architects, including Louis Kahn, Richard
Neutra, Stanley Tigerman, Paul Rudolph, Robert
Boughey and Konstantinos Doxiadis, to work in erstwhile
East Pakistan. Louis Kahn was chosen to design the
National Parliament Complex in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Kahn's monumental designs, combining regional red
brick aesthetics, his concrete and marble brutalism and
the use of lakes to represent Bengali geography, are
regarded as one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.
In recent times, award-winning architects like Rafiq
Azam have set the course of contemporary architecture
by adopting influences from the works of Islam and
Kahn.[citation needed]
Visual arts and crafts
Main article: Bangladeshi art
 Embroidery on Nakshi
kantha (embroidered quilt), a centuries-old Bengali art
tradition
The recorded history of art in Bangladesh can be traced
to the 3rd century BCE, when terracotta sculptures were
made in the region. In classical antiquity, notable
sculptural Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist art developed in the
Pala Empire and the Sena dynasty. Islamic art has
evolved since the 14th century. The architecture of the
Bengal Sultanate saw a distinct style of domed mosques
with complex niche pillars that had no minarets. Mughal
Bengal's most celebrated artistic tradition was the
weaving of Jamdani motifs on fine muslin, which is now
classified by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Jamdani motifs were similar to Iranian textile art (buta
motifs) and Western textile art (paisley). The Jamdani
weavers in Dhaka received imperial patronage.
[269]
Ivory and brass were also widely used in Mughal
art. Pottery is thoroughly used in Bengali culture.
The modern art movement in Bangladesh took shape
during the 1950s, particularly with the pioneering works
of Zainul Abedin. East Bengal developed its own
modernist painting and sculpture traditions, which were
distinct from the art movements in West Bengal. The Art
Institute Dhaka has been a significant centre for visual
art in the region. Its annual Bengali New Year
parade was enlisted as an intangible cultural heritage by
UNESCO in 2016.
Modern Bangladesh has produced many of South Asia's
leading painters, including SM Sultan, Mohammad
Kibria, Shahabuddin Ahmed, Kanak Chanpa
Chakma, Kafil Ahmed, Saifuddin Ahmed, Qayyum
Chowdhury, Rashid Choudhury, Quamrul
Hassan, Rafiqun Nabi and Syed Jahangir, among
others. Novera Ahmed and Nitun Kundu were the
country's pioneers of modernist sculpture.
In recent times, photography as a medium of art has
become popular. Biennial Chobi Mela is considered the
largest photography festival in Asia.[270]
Literature
Main article: Bangladeshi literature

Syed Mujtaba Ali

Bengali literature is a millennium-old tradition;
the Charyapadas are the earliest examples of Bengali
poetry. Sufi spiritualism inspired many Bengali Muslim
writers. During the Bengal Sultanate, medieval Bengali
writers were influenced by Arabic and Persian works.
Sultans of Bengal patronized Bengali literature.
Examples include the writings of Maladhar
Basu, Bipradas Pipilai, Vijay Gupta, and Yasoraj Khan.
The Chandidas are notable lyric poets from the early
Medieval Age. Syed Alaol was the bard of Middle
Bengali literature. The Bengal Renaissance shaped
modern Bengali literature, including novels, short stories,
and science fiction. Rabindranath Tagore was the first
non-European laureate of the Nobel Prize in
Literature and is described as the Bengali Shakespeare.
[271]
Kazi Nazrul Islam was a revolutionary poet who
espoused political rebellion against colonialism and
fascism. Begum Rokeya is regarded as the pioneer
feminist writer of Bangladesh.[272] Other renaissance icons
included Michael Madhusudan Dutt and Sarat Chandra
Chattopadhyay. The writer Syed Mujtaba Ali is noted for
his cosmopolitan Bengali worldview.[273] Jasimuddin was a
renowned pastoral poet. Shamsur Rahman and Al
Mahmud are considered two of the greatest Bengali
poets to have emerged in the 20th century. Farrukh
Ahmad, Sufia Kamal, Syed Ali Ahsan, Ahsan
Habib, Abul Hussain, Shahid Qadri, Fazal
Shahabuddin, Abu Zafar Obaidullah, Omar Ali, Al
Mujahidi, Syed Shamsul Huq, Nirmalendu Goon, Abid
Azad, Hasan Hafizur Rahman and Abdul Hye Sikder are
important figures of modern Bangladeshi poetry. Ahmed
Sofa is regarded as the most important Bangladeshi
intellectual in the post-independence era. Humayun
Ahmed was a popular writer of modern
Bangladeshi magical realism and science fiction. Notable
writers of Bangladeshi fictions include Mir Mosharraf
Hossain, Akhteruzzaman Elias, Alauddin Al
Azad, Shahidul Zahir, Rashid Karim, Mahmudul
Haque, Syed Waliullah, Shahidullah Kaiser, Shawkat
Osman, Selina Hossain, Shahed Ali, Razia Khan, Anisul
Hoque, and Abdul Mannan Syed.
The annual Ekushey Book Fair and Dhaka Literature
Festival, organised by the Bangla Academy, are among
the enormous literary festivals in South Asia.
Museums and libraries
Main articles: Museums in Bangladesh and List of
libraries in Bangladesh

The Varendra Research

Museum in Rajshahi, maintained by Rajashi University[274]
Established in 1910, the Varendra Research Museum is
the oldest museum in Bangladesh.[274][275] It houses
important collections from both the pre-Islamic and
Islamic periods, including the sculptures of the Pala-
Sena School of Art and the Indus Valley civilisation, and
Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian manuscripts and
inscriptions.[276][277]
The Ahsan Manzil, the former residence of the Nawab of
Dhaka, is a national museum housing collections from
the British Raj.[277][278]

Bangladesh National
Museum in Dhaka
The Tajhat Palace Museum preserves artifacts of the
rich cultural heritage of North Bengal, including Hindu-
Buddhist sculptures and Islamic manuscripts.
The Mymensingh Museum houses the personal antique
collections of Bengali aristocrats in central Bengal.
The Ethnological Museum of Chittagong showcases the
lifestyle of various tribes in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh
National Museum is located in Shahbagh, Dhaka, and
has a rich collection of antiquities. The Liberation War
Museum documents the Bangladeshi struggle for
independence and the 1971 genocide.[citation needed]
The Hussain Shahi dynasty established royal libraries
during the Bengal Sultanate. Libraries were established
in each district of Bengal by the Zamindar gentry during
the Bengal Renaissance in the 19th century. The trend
of establishing libraries continued until the beginning of
World War II. In 1854, four major public libraries were
opened, including the Bogra Woodburn Library, the
Rangpur Public Library, the Jessore Institute Public
Library, and the Barisal Public Library.
The Northbrook Hall Public Library was established in
Dhaka in 1882 in honour of Lord Northbrook, the
Governor-General. Other libraries inaugurated in the
British period included the Victoria Public Library, Natore
(1901), the Sirajganj Public Library (1882), the Rajshahi
Public Library (1884), the Comilla Birchandra Library
(1885), the Shah Makhdum Institute Public Library,
Rajshahi (1891), the Noakhali Town Hall Public Library
(1896), the Prize Memorial Library, Sylhet (1897), the
Chittagong Municipality Public Library (1904) and the
Varendra Research Library (1910). The Great Bengal
Library Association was formed in 1925.[279] The Central
Public Library of Dhaka was established in 1959.
The National Library of Bangladesh was established in
1972. The World Literature Centre, founded by Ramon
Magsaysay Award winner Abdullah Abu Sayeed, is
noted for operating numerous mobile libraries across
Bangladesh and was awarded the UNESCO Jon, Amos
Comenius Medal.[citation needed]
Women
Main article: Women in Bangladesh
See also: Gender inequality in Bangladesh
Further information: Child marriage in Bangladesh
 Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
Although as of 2015, several women occupied a key
political office in Bangladesh, its women continue to live
under a patriarchal social regime where violence is
common.[280] Whereas in India and Pakistan, women
participate less in the workforce as their education
increases, the reverse is the case in Bangladesh.[280]
Bengal has a long history of feminist activism dating
back to the 19th century. Begum
Rokeya and Faizunnessa Chowdhurani played an
important role in emancipating Bengali Muslim women
from purdah, before the country's division, as well as
promoting girls' education. Several women were elected
to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in the British Raj.
The first women's magazine, Begum, was published in
1948.
In 2008, Bangladeshi female workforce participation
stood at 26%.[280] According to a report published by the
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in March 2023, the
female labour force participation rate has reached to
42.68%.[281] in 2022 Women dominate blue collar jobs in
the Bangladeshi garment industry. Agriculture, social
services, healthcare, and education are chosen
occupations for Bangladeshi women, while their
employment in white collar positions has steadily
increased.
Performing arts

A Baul playing the ektara at Lalon

Shah's shrine in Kushtia
Theatre in Bangladesh includes various forms with a
history dating back to the 4th century CE.[282] It includes
narrative forms, song and dance forms, supra-personae
forms, performances with scroll paintings, puppet theatre
and processional forms.[282] The Jatra is the most popular
form of Bengali folk theatre. The dance traditions of
Bangladesh include indigenous tribal and Bengali dance
forms, as well as classical Indian dances, including
the Kathak, Odissi and Manipuri dances.
The music of Bangladesh features
the Baul mystical tradition, listed by UNESCO as
a Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage.[283] Fakir
Lalon Shah popularised Baul music in the country in the
18th century and it has since been one of the most
popular music genres in the country since then. Most
modern Bauls are devoted to Lalon Shah.[284] Numerous
lyric-based musical traditions, varying from one region to
the next, exist,
including Gombhira, Bhatiali and Bhawaiya. Folk music
is accompanied by a one-stringed instrument known as
the ektara. Other instruments include the dotara, dhol,
flute, and tabla. Bengali classical music includes Tagore
songs and Nazrul Sangeet. Bangladesh has a rich
tradition of Indian classical music, which uses
instruments like the sitar, tabla, sarod, and santoor.
[285]
Sabina Yasmin and Runa Laila were considered the
leading playback singers in the 1990s, while musicians
such as Ayub Bachchu and James are credited with
popularising rock music in Bangladesh.[286][287]
Media and cinema
Main articles: Media of Bangladesh and Cinema of
Bangladesh

Anwar Hossain playing Siraj-ud-

Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, in the
1967 film Nawab Sirajuddaulah
The Bangladeshi press is diverse and privately owned.
Over 200 newspapers are published in the
country. Bangladesh Betar is a state-run radio service.
 The British Broadcasting Corporation operates the
[288]

popular BBC Bangla news and current affairs service.

Bengali broadcasts from Voice of America are also very
popular. Bangladesh Television (BTV) is a state-owned
television network. More than 20 privately owned
television networks, including several news
channels. Freedom of the media remains a major
concern due to government attempts at censorship and
the harassment of journalists.[citation needed]
The cinema of Bangladesh dates back to 1898 when
films began screening at the Crown Theatre in Dhaka.
The Dhaka Nawab Family patronised the production of
several silent films in the 1920s and 30s. In 1931, the
East Bengal Cinematograph Society released the first
full-length feature film in Bangladesh, titled Last Kiss.
The first feature film in East Pakistan, Mukh O Mukhosh,
was released in 1956. During the 1960s, 25–30 films
were produced annually in Dhaka. By the 2000s,
Bangladesh produced 80–100 films a year. While the
Bangladeshi film industry has achieved limited
commercial success, the country has produced notable
independent filmmakers. Zahir Raihan was a prominent
documentary maker assassinated in 1971. Tareque
Masud is regarded as one of Bangladesh's outstanding
directors.[289][290] Masud was honoured by FIPRESCI at the
2002 Cannes Film Festival for his film The Clay
Bird. Tanvir Mokammel, Mostofa Sarwar
Farooki, Humayun Ahmed, Alamgir Kabir, Chashi Nazrul
Islam and Sohanur Rahman Sohan, who was best
known in Dhallywood for directing romantic films.[291] His
film Ananta Bhalobasha released in 1999 marked a
turning point in Bangladeshi cinema by
introducing Shakib Khan, who is now one of the biggest
superstars in the industry,[292] are some of the prominent
directors of Bangladeshi cinema. Bangladesh has a very
active film society culture. It started in 1963 in Dhaka.
Now around 40 Film Societies are active all over
Bangladesh. Federation of Film Societies of
Bangladesh is the parent organisation of the film society
movement of Bangladesh. Active film societies include
the Rainbow Film Society, Children's Film
Society, Moviyana Film Society, and Dhaka University
Film Society.[citation needed]
Textiles
See also: Textile arts of Bangladesh and Muslin trade in
Bengal

A ramp walk by a model during a fashion

show in Bangladesh in 2012
The Nakshi Kantha is a centuries-
old embroidery tradition for quilts, said to be indigenous
to eastern Bengal (Bangladesh). The sari is the national
dress for Bangladeshi women. Mughal Dhaka was
renowned for producing the finest muslin saris, as well
as the famed Dhakai and Jamdani, the weaving of which
is listed by UNESCO as one of the masterpieces of
humanity's intangible cultural heritage.[293] Bangladesh
also produces the Rajshahi silk. The shalwar kameez is
also widely worn by Bangladeshi women. In urban areas,
some women can be seen in Western clothing.
The kurta and sherwani are the national dress of
Bangladeshi men; the lungi and dhoti are worn in
informal settings. Aside from ethnic wear,
domestically tailored suits and neckties are customarily
worn by the country's men in offices, in schools, and at
social events.
The handloom industry supplies 60–65% of the country's
clothing demand.[294] The Bengali ethnic fashion
industry has flourished. The retailer Aarong is one of
South Asia's most successful ethnic wear brands. The
development of the Bangladesh textile industry, which
supplies leading international brands, has promoted the
local production and retail of modern Western attire. The
country now has several expanding local brands like
Westecs and Yellow. Bangladesh is the world's second-
largest garment exporter. Among Bangladesh's fashion
designers, Bibi Russell has received international
acclaim for her "Fashion for Development" shows.[295]
Cuisine
Main article: Bangladeshi cuisine
Further information: Bengali cuisine

Panta bhat with Hilsa fish, a popular

dish consumed on Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year)
Bangladeshi cuisine, formed by its geographic location
and climate, is rich and diverse; sharing its culinary
heritage with the neighbouring Indian state of West
Bengal.[296]: 14 The staple dish is white rice, which along
with fish, forms the culinary base. Varieties of leaf
vegetables, potatoes, gourds and lentils (dal) also play
an important role. Curries of beef, mutton, chicken and
duck are commonly consumed,[297] along with multiple
types of bhortas (mashed vegetables),[298] bhajis (stir
fried vegetables) and tarkaris (curried vegetables).[296]:
8
Mughal-influenced dishes include kormas,
kalias, biryanis, pulaos, teharis and khichuris.[297]

Egg Chitoi Pitha

Puri, Bangladeshi Local Food
Among the various used
spices, turmeric, fenugreek, nigella, coriander, anise, car
damom and chili powder are widely used; a famous
spice mix is the panch phoron. Condiments and herbs
used include red onions, green chillies,
garlic, ginger, cilantro, and mint.[296]: 12 Coconut
milk, mustard paste, mustard seeds, mustard
oil, ghee, achars[297] and chutneys are also widely used in
the cuisine.[296]: 13–14
Fish is the main source of protein, owing to the country's
riverine geography, and it is often enjoyed with its roe.
The hilsa is the national fish and is immensely popular; a
famous dish is shorshe ilish. Other highly consumed
fishes include rohu, pangas, and tilapia.
[299]
Lobsters, shrimps and dried fish (shutki) also play an
important role, with the chingri malai curry being a
famous shrimp dish.[296]: 8 In Chittagong, famous dishes
include kala bhuna and mezban, the latter being a
traditionally popular feast, featuring the serving
of mezbani gosht, a hot and spicy beef curry.[296]: 10 [297][300] In
Sylhet, the shatkora lemons are used to marinate dishes,
a notable one is beef hatkora.[300] Among the tribal
communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, cooking
with bamboo shoots is popular.[301] Khulna is renowned
for using chui jhal (piper chaba) in its meat-based dishes.
[300][297]
 Kacchi Biryani, a popular dish
originating in the capital Dhaka
Bangladesh has a vast spread of desserts, including
distinctive sweets such as
the rôshogolla, roshmalai, chomchom, sondesh, mishti
doi and kalojaam, and jilapi.[302] Pithas are traditional
boiled desserts made with rice or fruits.
[303]
Halwa and shemai, the latter being a variation
of vermicelli; are popular desserts during religious
festivities.[304][305] Ruti, naan, paratha, luchi and bakarkhani
are the main local breads.[306][297] Hot milk tea is the most
commonly consumed beverage in the country, being the
centre of addas.[307] Borhani, mattha and lassi are popular
traditionally consumed beverages.[308][309] Kebabs are
widely popular, particularly seekh kebab, chapli
kebab, shami kebab, chicken tikka and shashlik, along
with various types of chaaps.[297] Popular street foods
include chotpoti, jhal muri, shingara,
[310]
samosa and fuchka.[311]
Holidays and festivals
Main articles: Public holidays in Bangladesh and List of
festivals in Bangladesh
Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali new year, is the major
festival of Bengali culture and sees widespread
festivities. Of the major holidays celebrated in
Bangladesh, only Pahela Baishakh comes without any
pre-existing expectations (specific religious identity, a
culture of gift-giving, etc.) and has become an occasion
for celebrating the simpler, rural roots of Bengal. Other
cultural festivals include Nabonno and Poush Parbon,
Bengali harvest festivals.[312]

A fair in Comilla
The Muslim festivals of Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-
Adha, Mawlid, Muharram, Chand Raat, Shab-e-Barat;
the Hindu festivals of Durga
Puja, Janmashtami and Rath Yatra; the Buddhist festival
of Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama
Buddha, and the Christian festival of Christmas
are national holidays in Bangladesh and see the most
widespread celebrations in the country. The two Eids are
celebrated with a long streak of public holidays and allow
celebrating the festivals with their families outside the
city.[312]
Alongside national days like the remembrance of 21
February 1952 Language Movement Day (declared
as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in
1999),[313] Independence Day and Victory Day. On
Language Movement Day, people congregate at
the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to remember the national
heroes of the Bengali Language Movement. Similar
gatherings are observed at the National Martyrs'
Memorial on Independence Day and Victory Day to
remember the national heroes of the Bangladesh
Liberation War.[314]
Sports
Main article: Sports in Bangladesh

Bangladesh cricket team

In rural Bangladesh, several traditional indigenous
sports such as Kabaddi, Boli Khela, Lathi
Khela and Nouka Baich remain fairly popular. While
Kabaddi is the national sport,[315] Cricket is the most
popular sport in the country. The national cricket
team participated in their first Cricket World Cup in 1999
and the following year was granted Test cricket status.
Bangladesh reached the quarter-final of the 2015 Cricket
World Cup, the semi-final of the 2017 ICC Champions
Trophy and they reached the final of the Asia Cup 3
times – in 2012, 2016, and 2018. Shakib Al Hasan is
widely regarded as one of the greatest All-rounders in
the history of Cricket and as one of the greatest
Bangladeshi sportsman ever.[316][317][318][319][320][321] On 9
February 2020, the Bangladesh youth national cricket
team won the men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup, held in
South Africa. This was Bangladesh's first World Cup
victory.[322][323] In 2018, the Bangladesh women's national
cricket team won the 2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia
Cup defeating India women's national cricket team in the
final.[324]

Bangladesh football team

Football is also a leading sport in Bangladesh.
[325]
Although football was seen as the most popular sport
in the country before the 21st century, success in cricket
has overshadowed its previous popularity. The first
instance of a national football team was the emergence
of the Shadhin Bangla Team, which played friendly
matches throughout India to raise international
awareness about the Bangladesh Liberation War in
1971.[326] On 25 July 1971, the team's captain, Zakaria
Pintoo, became the first person to hoist the Bangladesh
flag on foreign land before their match in Nadia
district of West Bengal.[327] Following independence,
the national football team participated in the AFC Asian
Cup (1980), becoming only the second South Asian
team to do so.[328] Bangladesh's most notable
achievements in football include the 2003 SAFF Gold
Cup and 1999 South Asian Games. In 2022,
the Bangladesh women's national football team won
the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship.[329][330]
Bangladesh archers Ety Khatun and Roman Sana won
several gold medals winning all the 10 archery events
(both individual and team events) in the 2019 South
Asian Games.[331] The National Sports Council regulates
42 sporting federations.[332] Chess is very popular in
Bangladesh. Bangladesh has five grandmasters in
chess. Among them, Niaz Murshed was the first
grandmaster in South Asia.[333] In 2010, mountain
climber Musa Ibrahim became the first Bangladeshi
climber to conquer Mount Everest.[334] Wasfia Nazreen is
the first Bangladeshi climber to climb the Seven
Summits.[335]
Bangladesh hosts several international
tournaments. Bangabandhu Cup is an international
football tournament hosted in the country. Bangladesh
hosted the South Asian Games several times.
Bangladesh co-hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup
2011 with India and Sri Lanka in 2011. Bangladesh
solely hosted the 2014 ICC World
Twenty20 championship. Bangladesh hosted the Cricket
Asia Cup in 2000, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Bangladesh
has also hosted the 1985 Men's Hockey Asia Cup.[336]