Bangladesh is a republic of southern Asia. It is located in the north eastern portion of the Indian subcontinent, bordered on the north, east, and west by India, on the southeast by Myanmar, and on the south by the Bay of Bengal. The area of the country is 147,570 sq km (56,977 sq mi). The capital and largest city of Bangladesh is Dhaka. Geographically, historically, and culturally, Bangladesh forms the larger and more populous part of Bengal, the remainder of which constitutes the neighboring Indian state of Bangla.

    

Following the independence of India from 200 years of British rule and its partition in 1947, the area of Bangladesh became a province of Pakistan, known as East Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan Province declared their independence as the nation of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971, while fighting a savage war against the central Pakistani government. The fiscal separation from Pakistan took place, with aid from India, on December 16, 1971. Its independence was finalized on December 16, 1971, when Pakistani troops in the region surrendered to a joint force of Bangladeshi and Indian troops, forming what is now recognized as the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh. Bangladesh was soon recognized by most other nations, although Pakistan withheld diplomatic recognition until 1974 and China did not recognize the nation until 1976. Bangladesh was admitted to the United Nations in 1974.

    

Reading the world's press you could be forgiven for thinking that Bangladesh is a disaster zone rather than a travel destination. But hiding behind these images of cyclones and floods is a strikingly lush and beautiful land with a rich history and a variety of attractions unusual for a country this size. For a start, you can visit archaelogical sites dating back over 2000 years; check out the longest beach and the largest littoral mangrove forest in the world; and see decaying 'Gone With The Wind' mansions of 19th-century maharajas.

Despite being the world's most crowded country, rural Bangladesh feels relaxed, spacious and friendly: travellers from India have been agreeably surprised to find border officials offering them cups of tea rather than reams of forms to fill in. Facilities are limited but if you have an independent streak, it's definitely worth avoiding the crowds heading to India and Nepal and following the old slogan of Bangladesh's tourist body: 'Come to Bangladesh before the tourists'.




Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Capital city: Dhaka (Population: 8.5 million)
Population: 133 million (133,376,684 - July 2002)
Area: 143,998 sq km (55,598 sq miles)
Land boundaries: Total: 4,246 km
Border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Language: Bangali, English
Nationality: Noun: Bangladeshi(s), Adjective: Bangladeshi




Currency: The unit of the currency is the Taka. Notes are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 Taka. Coins are 1, 5, 25, 50 & 100 Paisa.
Climate: Tropical; mild winter (October to March); Hot, humid summer (March to June); Humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October).
Temperature: maximum 34° C. and minimum 8°C.
Rainfall: lowest 47' and highest 136'.
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh.
National Days: Mourning Day-February 21, lndependence Day-March 26, Revolution Day-November 7 and Victory Day-December 16.
Religion: Muslim 84.5%, Hindu 12%,Christian 2%, Buddhist 1%, Other Religion 0.5%.
Principal Rivers: Padda, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Karnaphuli.
Principal Crops: Jute, Rice, Tobacco, Tea, Sugarcane, Potato, Pulses etc.
Important Fruits: Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Jack-fruit, Water-melon, Green coconut, Guava, etc.
Major industries: Jute, Ready-made Garments, Sugar, Paper, Textile, Fertilizer, Cigarette, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Oil-Refinery, Newsprint, Power Generation, Rayon, Matches, Fishing & Food Processing, Leather, Soap, Carpet. Timber. Ship-Building, Telephone, etc.

Flag description: The colors of the Bangladeshi flag are red and green. The red sun in the middle represents pride and the bloodshed the people of Bangladesh suffered during the war of independence; the red sun of freedom. The body of green represents the lush field that fill the country; symbolizes the lush countryside.

Most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal.


Shahid Minar - Remembering Ekushey February

The Central Martyr's Monument in Dhaka was erected in memory of those who laid down their lives for establishing the dignity and rightful place of Bangla as the national language on February 21, 1952. On this day every year, the people pay homage to the language martyrs and throng the monument in thousands in bare foot and it is bedecked with flowers and wreaths. The monument itself consists of five pillars. The central largest pillar represent the Mother protecting her children., which are represented by the four smaller pillars. The celebration is for the entire day in which the whole country participates. The day is also recognized world-wide as the International Mother Tongue Day.


Shapla - National Flower of Bangladesh

The Shapla flower, or water lily, is the national flower of Bangladesh and the real flowers can be found in abundance in lakes and ponds. The majority of the lilies are white but there are some purple one that can be found throughout the lad. Both are captive and exotic in their beauty.




National Anthem of Bangladesh (in Bengali)

Amar shonar bangla,
Ami tomay bhalobashi,
Chiro din tomar akas, tomar batash,
Amar prane, bajay basi.
O ma, Fagune tor amer bane
ghrane pagal kore -
mari hay, hay re -
O ma, aghrane tor bhara khete
ami ki dekhechi madhur hasi.

Ki sobha, ki chaya go.
Ki sneho, ki maya go -
Ki achol bichayechobater mule.
nadir kule kule.
Ma, tor mukher bani amar kane
lage sudhar mato -
mari hay, hay re -
ma tor badan khani malin hole.
Oma, ami nayan jole basi.


Translation of the National Anthem (in English)

My Bengal of gold,
I love you.
Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune
As if it were a flute.
In spring, O mother mine,
the fragrance from your mango groves
Makes me wild with joy
Ah, what a thrill!
In autumn, O mother mine,
In the full blossomed paddy fields
I have seen spread all over sweet smiles.

Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection
And what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of Banyan trees
And along the banks of rivers!
O mother mine, words from your lips
Are like nectar to my ears.
Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, O mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
eyes are filled with tears!





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