A Little Bit About Bangladesh

A Little Bit About Bangladesh

Located in South Asia, Bangladesh is bordered by India to its west, north and east, Myanmar to its southeast and to its south, it faces the Bay of Bengal. Along with the neighbouring Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, it forms part of the ethnolinguistics region of Bengal. The area of the country is 147,570 square kilometres (56,980 square miles). The capital and largest city of Bangladesh is Dhaka, which is home to 20 million people. 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. Geographically, historically, and culturally, Bangladesh forms the larger and more populous part of Bengal, the remainder of which constitutes the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal.

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 archaeological 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 one of 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 Myanmar and India
Bangladesh on GlobeTime zone: BST (GMT/UTC +6)
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Capital city: Dhaka (population: 20 million, 2019 estimate)
Population: 168 million (2019 estimate)
Area: 147,570 sq km (56,980 sq mi)
Land boundaries: 4,246 km
Border countries: Myanmar 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Language: Bengali, English
Nationality: Noun: Bangladeshi(s), Adjective: Bangladeshi
Calling code: +880
ccTLD: .bd
ISO Code: BD / BDG / 050
Divisions: Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet
Currency: The unit of the currency is the Bangladeshi Taka; notes are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Taka; coins are 1, 2, and 5 Taka
Climate: Tropical; mild winter (October to March); Hot, humid summer (March to June); Humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Temperature: Maximum 40° C and minimum 8°C
Rainfall: Lowest 47′ and highest 136′
Religion: Muslim 90.4%, Hindu 8.5%, Buddhist 0.6%, Christian 0.4%, other religions 0.1% (2011 census)
Principal rivers: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Karnaphuli
Principal crops: Jute, rice, tobacco, tea, sugar cane, 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, matches, fishing & food processing, leather, soap, carpet, timber, ship-building, etc.
Independence: 16th December 1971 (from West Pakistan); 26th March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16th December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Flag of Bangladesh 🇧🇩

The colours 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.

Proportion: 5:3:1
Adopted: 17 January 1972
Designer: Quamrul Hassan

Bangladesh

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

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!

Last updated on December 7, 2023 @ 12:47 BST.