গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh People's Republic of Bangladesh
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Amar Shonar Bangla My Golden Bengal
Capital (and largest city)		Dhaka 23°42′N, 90°21′E
Official languages		Bengali
Demonym		Bangladeshi
Government		Parliamentary republic[1]
-	President	lajuddin Ahmed
-	Prime Minister	vacant
-	Chief Adviser	Fakhruddin Ahmed
Independence		from Pakistan
-	Declared	March 26, 1971
-	Victory Day	December 16 1971
Area
-	Total	147,570 km² (94th) 55,599 sq mi
-	Water (%)	7.0
Population
-	2007 estimate	150,448,340[2] (7th)
-	Density	1045/km² (11th) 2,706/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2008 IMF[3] estimate
-	Total	$222.4 billion (48th)
-	Per capita	$1,374 (148th)
Gini (2000)		31.8 (medium)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.547 (medium) (140th)
Currency		Taka (BDT)
Time zone		BDT (UTC+6)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+6)
Internet TLD		.bd
Calling code		+880
1	Adjusted population, p.4, Population Census 2001, Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2001-08).

Bangladesh (help· info) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ] Bangladesh), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bengali: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh) is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. Together with the Indian state of West Bengal, it makes up the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal. The name Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal" in the official Bengali language. Bangladesh (or Bangla Desh) may refer to: Bangladesh, a country in South Asia Bengal, the historic socio-cultural region in South Asia Bangladesh (district), a district in Yerevan, Armenia Category: ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ... Flag Ratio: 3:5 The national flag of Bangladesh was adopted officially on January 17, 1972. ... The National Emblem of Bangladesh was adopted shortly after independence in 1971. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) (Bangla:আমার সোনার বাংলা) is a song written and composed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. ... Image File history File links LocationBangladesh. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Total population of Bangladesh, 1961-2003, in thousands. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bengali: Ḍhākā; IPA: ) is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Bangla redirects here. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Parliamentary republics around the world, shown in Orange (Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President) and Green (Parliamentary republics with an executive President linked to Parliament). ... // Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: 11 April 1971 to 12 January 1972 Abu Sayeed Chowdhury: 12 January 1972 to 24 December 1973 Mohammad Mohammadullah: 26 December 1973 to 25 January 1975 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: 25 January to 15 August 1975 Khandakar Mushtaq Ahmed: 15 August to 6 November 1975 Abu Sadat Mohammad... The Prime Minister of Bangladesh is, in practice, the most powerful political position in Bangladesh. ... Caretaker government of Bangladesh (Bengali: ) is a form of administrative system, in which the country is ruled during the interim period between the removal of the old government and the takeover of the newly elected government. ... Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed (born May 1, 1940, Munshiganj, British India) is a noted Bangladeshi economist, civil servant, and a former governor of the Bangladesh Bank, the countrys central bank. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... December 16 is celebrated as the Victory day in Bangladesh. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... IMF redirects here. ... To help compare orders of magnitude this page lists dimensionless numbers between 109 and 1012. ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... ISO 4217 Code BDT User(s) Bangladesh Inflation 7% Source The World Factbook, 2005 est. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .bd is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Bangladesh. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... // Country International (Telephone) Dialing/Calling Code: +880: BD To dial in Bangladesh from outside : COUNTRY EXIT CODE(00) + 880 + CITY AREA or NETWORK CODE + NUMBER. Country Exit Code may differ in various country, network, location. ... Image File history File links Bangladesh. ... Bangla redirects here. ... Bangla redirects here. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Look up Bay of Bengal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ... Bangla redirects here. ...

The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became the eastern wing of the newly-formed Pakistan. However, it was separated from the western wing by 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) across India. Political and linguistic discrimination as well as economic neglect led to popular agitations against West Pakistan, whose campaign of suppression led to the war for independence in 1971 and the establishment of Bangladesh after the Freedom Fighters of Bengal and Indian Army Jointly defeated Pakistani forces. However, the new state had to endure famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative stability and economic progress. 1947 Partition of Bengal create to separate Bengal entity of hindu West Bengal and muslim East Bengal ( present independent nation Bengaladesh. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... West Pakistan was the popular and sometimes official (1955–1970) name of the western wing of Pakistan until 1971, when the eastern wing (East Pakistan) became independent as Bangladesh. ... West Pakistan was the popular and sometimes official (1955–1970) name of the western wing of Pakistan until 1971, when the eastern wing (East Pakistan) became independent as Bangladesh. ... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders Col. ... Belligerents India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora G.G Bewoor K. P. Candeth Gul Hassan Khan Abdul Hamid Khan Tikka Khan A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 100,000 Mukti BahiniRebels 400,000+ troops Casualties and losses 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] Unknown... Bangladesh has faced several military coups since its independence from Pakistan in 1971. ...

Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world and has a high poverty rate. Geographically the country straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta and is subject to annual monsoon floods and cyclones. The government is a parliamentary democracy; however, civilian rule has been suspended under emergency law since 11 January 2007. Bangladesh is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, SAARC, BIMSTEC, the OIC, and the D-8. As the World Bank notes in its July 2005 Country Brief, the country has made significant progress in human development in the areas of literacy, gender parity in schooling and reduction of population growth.^[4] Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Ganges Delta (also Sunderban Delta or the Bengal Delta) is a river delta in the South Asia region of Bengal, consisting of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal, India. ... For other uses, see Monsoon (disambiguation). ... This article is about the meteorological phenomenon. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2007 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Appointed 24 November 2007 Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total...  Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Maldives  Nepal  Pakistan  Sri Lanka Headquarters Kathmandu, Nepal Statistics Area  - Total 7th if ranked 5,130,746 km² Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 1st if ranked 1,467,255,669 285. ... BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic coorperation Background On 6 June 1997, a new sub-regional grouping was formed in Bangkok and given the name BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation). ... The flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organization with a Permanent Delegation to the United Nations. ... The official D-8 logo. ... Children reading. ...

History

The Shaheed Minar, which commemorates the Language Movement, is a well known landmark in Bangladesh.

Main article: History of Bangladesh

See also: History of Bengal

Remnants of civilisation in the greater Bengal region date back four thousand years,^[5][6] when the region was settled by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, and Austro-Asiatic peoples. The exact origin of the word "Bangla" or "Bengal" is unknown, though it is believed to be derived from Bang, the Dravidian-speaking tribe that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.^[7] Image File history File links Shaheed_minar_Roehl. ... Image File history File links Shaheed_minar_Roehl. ... Image:Shaheed minar. ... Bangladesh became one of the youngest major nation states following a pair of twentieth century secessions from India (1947) and Pakistan (1971). ... Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire Further information: History of Bangladesh The history of Bengal (including Bangladesh and West Bengal) dates back four millennia. ... For other uses, see Civilization (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dravidian (disambiguation). ... The Tibeto-Burman family of languages (often considered a sub-group of the Sino-Tibetan language family) is spoken in various central and south Asian countries, including Myanmar (Burma), northern Thailand, and parts of Western China (Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai (Amdo), Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal... Austro-Asiatic languages The Austro-Asiatic languages are a large language family of Southeast Asia, and also scattered throughout India and Bangladesh. ...

After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdom of Gangaridai was formed from at least the seventh century BC, which later united with Bihar under the Magadha and Maurya Empires. Bengal was later part of the Gupta Empire from the third to the sixth centuries CE. Following its collapse, a dynamic Bengali named Shashanka founded an impressive yet short-lived kingdom. Shashanka is considered as the first independent king in the history of Bangladesh. 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 twelfth century by Sufi missionaries, and subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region.^[8] Bakhtiar Khilji, a Turkish general, defeated Lakshman Sen of the Sena dynasty and conquered large parts of Bengal. The region was ruled by dynasties of Sultans and feudal lords for the next few hundred years. By the 16th century, the Mughal Empire controlled Bengal, and Dhaka became an important provincial centre of Mughal administration. The Indo-Aryans are a wide collection of peoples united by their common status as speakers of the Indo-Aryan (Indic/Indian) branch of the family of Indo-European and Indo-Iranian languages. ... Gangaridai was the name of a country in the 300 BC in the Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see Bihar (disambiguation). ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... A representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which was erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in the world. ... BCE redirects here. ... Shashanka (Bangla: শশাঙ্ক) is often attributed with creating the first unified political entity in Bengal. ... Buddhism is a variety of teachings described as a religion[1] or way of life that attempts to identify the causes of human suffering and offer various ways that are claimed to end, or ease suffering. ... Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Sena dynasty ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. ... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to Divine love and the cultivation of the elements of the Divine within the individual human being. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Bakhtiyar Khalji, also known as Malik Ghazi Ikhtiyaru l-Din Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji, was a Khilji, a Muslim Turk, who was head of the armies that conquered much of northeastern India. ... Lakshman Sen or Lakshman Sena (1179 - 1206 CE) was the fourth ruler of the Sena dynasty of Bengal. ... For other uses, see Sultan (disambiguation). ... Capital Delhi / Agra Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai, Turkish; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707 Aurangzeb History  - Established April 21, 1526  - Ended September 21, 1857 Area...

European traders arrived late in the 15th century, and their influence grew until the British East India Company gained control of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.^[9] 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.^[10] During colonial rule, famine racked the Indian subcontinent many times, including the Great Bengal famine of 1943 that claimed 3 million lives.^[11] The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... Combatants British East India Company Siraj Ud Daulah (Nawab of Bengal), La Compagnie des Indes Orientales Commanders Colonel Robert Clive (later Governor of Bengal and Baron of Plassey) Mir Jafar Ali Khan, defected (Commander-in-chief of the Nawab), M. Sinfray (French Secretary to the Council) Strength 2,200 European... Belligerents Rebellious East India Company Sepoys, 7 Indian princely states, deposed rulers of the independent states of Oudh, Jhansi Some Indian civilians. ... This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; for further information, see Commonwealth realm, Elizabeth II, and British Royal Family. ... A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. ... The Bengal famine of 1943 is one amongst the several Famines that occurred in British administered undivided Bengal (now independent Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) in 1943. ...

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.^[12] When India was partitioned in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines, with the western part going to India and the eastern part joining Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), with its capital at Dhaka.^[13] The Partition of Bengal in 1905, was made on 16 October by then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. ... The Partition of Bengal in 1947 divided Bengal into the two separate entities of West Bengal belonging to India, and East Bengal belonging to Pakistan. ... East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly included the modern state of Bangladesh. ...

In 1950, land reform was accomplished in East Bengal with the abolishment of the feudal zamindari system.^[14] 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 Bengali Language Movement of 1952 was the first sign of friction between the two wings of Pakistan.^[15] Dissatisfaction with the central government over economic and cultural issues continued to rise through the next decade, during which the Awami League emerged as the political voice of the Bengali-speaking population. It agitated for autonomy in the 1960s, and in 1966, its president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was jailed; he was released in 1969 after an unprecedented popular uprising. Zamindar, also known as Zemindar, Zamindari, or the Zamindari System (Persian: زمیندار) were employed by the Mughals to collect taxes from peasants. ... This article is about the language movement in Bangladesh. ... The Bangladesh Awami League (বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ Bangladesh Aoami Lig) or the Bangladesh Peoples League is the main opposition party in Bangladesh and the political catalyst for Bengali discontent and rebellion in 1971. ... It has been suggested that Six Points be merged into this article or section. ...

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh.

In 1970, a massive cyclone devastated the coast of East Pakistan, and the central government responded poorly. The Bengali population's anger was compounded when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose Awami League won a majority in Parliament in the 1970 elections,^[16] was blocked from taking office. After staging compromise talks with Mujib, President Yahya Khan arrested him on the early hours of March 26, 1971, and launched Operation Searchlight,^[17] a sustained military assault on East Pakistan. Yahya's methods were extremely bloody, and the violence of the war resulted in many civilian deaths ^[18]. Chief targets included intellectuals and Hindus, and about ten million refugees fled to neighbouring India (LaPorte,^[19] p. 103). Estimates of those massacred throughout the war range from three hundred thousand to 3 million.^[20][21] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (436x605, 193 KB)Source:[1] Rationale Pakistani copyright law applies as this picture was taken in East Pakistan in 1953. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (436x605, 193 KB)Source:[1] Rationale Pakistani copyright law applies as this picture was taken in East Pakistan in 1953. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangla: শেখ মুজিবর রহমান Shekh Mujibur Rôhman) (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975) was a Bengali political leader in East Pakistan and the founding leader of Bangladesh. ... Lowest pressure 966 hPa (mbar) Fatalities 300,000-500,000 (Deadliest tropical cyclone of all time) Damage $86. ... The Bangladesh Awami League (বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ Bāŋlādeś Āowāmī Līg) or the Bangadesh Peoples League is the main opposition party in Bangladesh. ... Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (February 4, 1917 – August 10, 1980) was the President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Bengali units of Pakistan Army and civilian volunteers Pakistan Armed Forces Commanders Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed (April 17 -December 16) Col(ret). ... Literati redirects here. ...

Most of the Awami League leaders fled and set up a government-in-exile in Calcutta, India. The Bangladesh Liberation War lasted for nine months. The guerrilla Mukti Bahini and Bengali regulars eventually received support from the Indian Armed Forces in December 1971. The Indian army, under the command of Lt. General J.S. Aurora, achieved a decisive victory over Pakistan on 16 December, 1971, taking over 90,000 prisoners of war^[22] in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. , “Calcutta” redirects here. ... Guerrilla redirects here. ... Liberation War commemoration poster Mukti Bahini (Bengali: ) (Liberation Army), also termed as the Freedom Fighters or FFs was a guerrilla force which fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. ... The Indian Armed Forces is the primary military organization responsible for the territorial security and defence of India. ... Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora (February 13, 1916 - May 3, 2005) was the Indian commander whose comprehensive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Belligerents India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora G.G Bewoor K. P. Candeth Gul Hassan Khan Abdul Hamid Khan Tikka Khan A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 100,000 Mukti BahiniRebels 400,000+ troops Casualties and losses 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] Unknown...

After its independence, Bangladesh became a parliamentary democracy, with Mujib as the Prime Minister. In the 1973 parliamentary elections, the Awami League gained an absolute majority. A nationwide famine occurred during 1973 and 1974,^[11] and in early 1975, Mujib initiated a one-party socialist rule with his newly formed BAKSAL. On August 15, 1975, Mujib and his family were assassinated by mid-level military officers.^[23] The Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League was the political amalgmation of the Awami League with the Krishak Sramik Party that supported President Mujibur Rahman in governing Bangladesh. ... is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A series of bloody coups and counter-coups in the following three months culminated in the ascent to power of General Ziaur Rahman, who reinstated multi-party politics and founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Zia's rule ended when he was assassinated in 1981 by elements of the military.^[23] Bangladesh's next major ruler was General Hossain Mohammad Ershad, who gained power in a bloodless coup in 1982 and ruled until 1990, when he was forced to resign under western donor pressure in a major shift in international policy after the end of communism when anti-communist dictators were no longer felt necessary. Since then, Bangladesh has reverted to a parliamentary democracy. Zia's widow, Khaleda Zia, led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to parliamentary victory at the general election in 1991 and became the first female Prime Minister in Bangladesh's history. However, the Awami League, headed by Sheikh Hasina, one of Mujib's surviving daughters, clinched power at the next election in 1996 but lost to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party again in 2001. These two female ex-prime ministers are now in imprisonment in a sub-jail due to their suspected attachment with corruption. Ziaur Rahman (Bengali: Ziaur Rôhman) (January 19, 1936 — May 30, 1981) was the 6th President of Bangladesh and the founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. ... Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Dôl, BNP) is the immediate past ruling political party of Bangladesh, as part of an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (as of October 2006). ... Hossain Mohammad Ershad (b. ... Khaleda Zia (Bengali: ) (born 15 August 1945) was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996, the first woman in the countrys history to hold that position, and then again from 2001 to 2006. ... Sheikh Hasina Wazed (Bangla: শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ) (born September 28, 1947) was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. ...

In 11 January of 2007, following widespread violence, a caretaker government was appointed to administer the next general election. The country had suffered from extensive corruption,^[24] disorder and political violence. The new caretaker government has made it a priority to root out corruption from all levels of government. To this end, many notable politicians and officials, along with large numbers of lesser officials and party members, have been arrested on corruption charges. The caretaker government claims to be paving the way for free and fair elections to be held before the end of 2008.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Bangladesh

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban houses the Parliament of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy with Islam as the state religion^[25]. Direct elections involving all citizens over the age 18 are held every five years for the unicameral parliament known as Jatia Sangsad. The parliament building is known as the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban designed by architect Louis Kahn and currently has 345 members including 45 reserved seats for women, elected from single-member constituencies. The Prime Minister, as the head of government, forms the cabinet and runs the day-to-day affairs of state. While the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President, he or she must be an MP who commands the confidence of the majority of parliament. The President is the head of state, a largely ceremonial post elected by the parliament.^[26] Politics of Bangladesh takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) (Bangla:আমার সোনার বাংলা) is a song written and composed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. ... Trinomial name Panthera tigris tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found through the rainforests and grasslands of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, India and Nepal. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, family Muscicapidae. ... Hilsa, also pronounced Ilish (Bangla: ইলিশ) is the national fish of Bangladesh and also relished in Indias Bengali and Oriya speaking populace. ... Genera Barclaya Wall. ... Binomial name Lam. ... Kabaddi or Kabadi is a team pursuit sport, primarily played in South Asia. ... The Bangla calendar also known as Bônggabdo in the Bengali language, is the traditional calendar used in Bangladesh and Bangla-speaking regions of India. ... Image File history File links Jatiyo_Sangshad_Bhaban_(Roehl). ... Image File history File links Jatiyo_Sangshad_Bhaban_(Roehl). ... Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, designed by Louis I. Kahn, houses the National Parliament of Bangladesh. ... A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The House of Representatives Chamber of the Parliament of Australia in Canberra. ... Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, designed by Louis I. Kahn, houses the National Parliament of Bangladesh. ... Salk Institute, La Jolla, California Louis Isadore Kahn (February 20, 1901/1902 – March 17, 1974) was a world-renowned architect who practiced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... This article is about the governmental body. ... This page lists Presidents of Bangladesh. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ...

However the President's powers are substantially expanded during the tenure of a caretaker government, which is responsible for the conduct of elections and transfer of power. The officers of the caretaker government must be non-partisan and are given three months to complete their task. This transitional arrangement is an innovation that was pioneered by Bangladesh in its 1991 election and then institutionalised in 1996 through its 13th constitutional amendment.^[27] A caretaker is a term mainly used in the United Kingdom, meaning a concierge or janitor. ...

The Constitution of Bangladesh was drafted in 1972 and has undergone fourteen amendments.^[27] The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Justices are appointed by the President. The judicial and law enforcement institutions are weak.^[28] Separation of powers, judicial from executive was finally implemented on the 1st of November, 2007. It is expected that this separation will make the judiciary stronger and impartial. Laws are loosely based on English common law, but family laws such as marriage and inheritance are based on religious scripts, and therefore differ between religious communities. The constitution of Bangladesh is the supreme law in Bangladesh. ... Amend redirects here. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... The Supreme Court of Bangladesh is the highest court of law in Bangladesh. ... English law is a formal term of art that describes the law for the time being in force in England and Wales. ...

The two major parties in Bangladesh are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Awami League. BNP is led by Khaleda Zia and finds its allies among Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islami Oikya Jot, while Sheikh Hasina's Awami League aligns with leftist and secularist parties. Hasina and Zia are bitter rivals who have dominated politics for 15 years; both are women and each is related to one of the leaders of the independence movement. Another important player is the Jatiya Party, headed by former military ruler Ershad. The 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 been elected to the Parliament. This article lists political parties in Bangladesh. ... Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Dôl, BNP) is the immediate past ruling political party of Bangladesh, as part of an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (as of October 2006). ... The Bangladesh Awami League (বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ Bangladesh Aoami Lig) or the Bangladesh Peoples League is the main opposition party in Bangladesh and the political catalyst for Bengali discontent and rebellion in 1971. ... Khaleda Zia (Bengali: ) (born 15 August 1945) was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996, the first woman in the countrys history to hold that position, and then again from 2001 to 2006. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (a. ... The Islami Oikyo Jot is an Islamic political party in Bangladesh. ... Sheikh Hasina Wazed (Bangla: শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ) (born September 28, 1947) was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. ... Left wing redirects here. ... This article is about secularism. ... Jatiya Party (National Party) is a Bangladeshi political party. ...

Two radical Islamist parties, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were banned in February 2005. Bomb attacks taking place since 1999 have been blamed on those groups, and hundreds of suspected members have been detained in numerous security operations, including the head of those two parties in 2006. The first recorded case of a suicide bomb attack in Bangladesh took place in November 2005. Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh), known in popular usage as the JMJB, is a vigilante Islamic radicalist organization based in Bangladesh, especially around the countrys north-western region, which gained worldwide reknown for its efforts to create an all-Islamic state based upon only the... Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh is a radical Islamist organisation from Bangladesh. ...

The 22 January 2007 election was postponed indefinitely and emergency law declared in 11 January 2007 as Army backed caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed aims to prepare a new voter list and crack down on corruption. The government aims to hold new elections by 2008 but a lack of coordination between the Election Commission and the Government and Politial Parties threatens to undermine this deadline. Recent activities of Government have created uncertainty about Election while Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, two leader of major Political parties BNP and Awami League who ruled the country for 15 years last, were detained and are facing criminal charges in court and the banned indoor politics is yet to be exercised. Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed (born May 1, 1940, Munshiganj, British India) is a noted Bangladeshi economist, civil servant, and a former governor of the Bangladesh Bank, the countrys central bank. ...

Meanwhile the Bangladesh Military has expressed their interest in controlling the country with statements like "own brand of Democracy" and making changes in the constitution to allow military participation in politics. ^[29] They are also assisting the interim Government of Bangladesh in a drive against corruption which seems to be mostly targeted against the politicians and opponents. The military has also imposed censorship of the national media and closing down/hampering private TV stations.^[30] Illegal detentions and torture to extract confessions have also become rampant. ^[31]

Foreign policy and military

Main articles: Foreign relations of Bangladesh and Military of Bangladesh

Bangladesh pursues a moderate foreign policy that places heavy reliance on multinational diplomacy, especially at the United Nations. In 1974 Bangladesh joined both the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations and has since been elected to serve two terms on the Security Council in 1978-1979 and 2000–2001. In the 1980s, Bangladesh played a lead role in founding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in order to expand relations with other South Asian states. Since the founding of SAARC 1985, a Bangladeshi has held the post of Secretary General on two occasions. Bangladesh pursues a moderate foreign policy that places heavy reliance on multinational diplomacy, especially at the United Nations. ... The Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force are composed of regular military personnel. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2007 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Appointed 24 November 2007 Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... UN redirects here. ... “Security Council” redirects here. ...  Afghanistan  Bangladesh  Bhutan  India  Maldives  Nepal  Pakistan  Sri Lanka Headquarters Kathmandu, Nepal Statistics Area  - Total 7th if ranked 5,130,746 km² Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 1st if ranked 1,467,255,669 285. ...

Bangladesh's most important and complex foreign relationships are with India and Pakistan. These relationships are informed by historical and cultural ties and form an important part of the domestic political discourse.

Bangladesh's relationship with India began on a positive note because of India's assistance in the independence war and reconstruction. Throughout the years, relations between both countries have fluctuated for a number of reasons. The Washington Post reported on a major source of tension between Bangladesh and India, the Farakka Dam (article titled “India’s Major Gains and Losses in World Affairs” by M.M. Ali, March 1997, pg. 25). In 1975, India defied international law and the rights of Bangladeshi people by building a dam on the Ganges River 11 miles (18 km) from the Bangladeshi border. The dam diverts much needed water from Bangladesh and adds a man-made disaster to the country plagued by natural disasters. The dam also has terrible ecological consequences. Bangladesh claims that India feels too comfortable in playing the role of "Big Brother" to smaller, weaker nations. (Citation: The Washington Post “India’s Major Gains and Losses in World Affairs” by M.M. Ali, March 1997, pg. 25)^{[citation needed]} India has voiced concerns about anti-Indian separatists and Islamic militants allegedly being harboured across their 2,500-mile (4,000 km) border, as well as the flow of illegal migrants, and is building a fence along most of it.^[32] But at the 2007 SAARC meeting both nations pledged to work cooperatively on security, economic and border issues.^[33] During the Partition of India after independence in 1947, the Bengal region was divided into two: East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) and West Bengal. ... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders Col. ... India is presently constructing a 3,286-kilometer fence to seal off the Indian-Bangladeshi border. ...

The current strength of the army is around 200,000, the air force 7,000, and navy 14,950.^[34] In addition to traditional defense roles, the military has been called on to provide support to civil authorities for disaster relief and internal security during periods of political unrest. Bangladesh is not currently active in any ongoing war, but it did contribute 2,300 troops to the coalition that fought in the 1991 Gulf War and Bangladesh is consistently a top contributor to UN peacekeeping forces around the world. As of May 2007, Bangladesh had major deployments in Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sudan, Timor-Leste and Cote d'Ivoire.^[35] For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... The Democratic Republic of the Congo, called Zaïre between 1971 and 1997, is a nation in central Africa. ... The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor, is an island nation in Southeast Asia, consisting of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecussi-Ambeno, a political exclave of East Timor situated on the western side of... Côte dIvoire (often called Ivory Coast in English; see below about the name) is a country in West Africa. ...

Bangladesh enjoys relatively warm ties with the People's Republic of China which has, particularly in the past decade, increased economic cooperation with the South Asian nation. Between 2006-07, trade between the two nations rose by 28.5% and there have been agreements to grant various Bangladeshi commodities tariff-free access to the Chinese market. Military cooperation between the Military of Bangladesh and the People's Liberation Army is also increasing, with joint military agreements signed and Bangladesh procuring Chinese arms which range from small arms to large naval surface combatants such as the Chinese Type 053H1Missile Frigate. The Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force are composed of regular military personnel. ... Peoples Liberation Army redirects here. ... The Jianghu class frigate is Peoples Liberation Army Navy Type 053H class with dedicated anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare duties and the Type 053H class with dedicated air defense role is Jiangwei class frigate. ...

Divisions, districts, and upazilas

Administrative divisions of Bangladesh. This map shows the highest level unit called a Division.

Dhaka

Chittagong

Main articles: Divisions of Bangladesh, Districts of Bangladesh, and Upazilas of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is divided into six administrative divisions,^[2] each named after their respective divisional headquarters: Barisal (বরিশাল), Chittagong (চট্টগ্রাম), Dhaka (ঢাকা), Khulna (খুলনা), Rajshahi (রাজশাহী), and Sylhet (সিলেট). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 439 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (500 × 682 pixels, file size: 20 KB, MIME type: image/png) i have to do a report on this Divisiones de Bangladesh Map of the divisions of Bangladesh in English. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 439 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (500 × 682 pixels, file size: 20 KB, MIME type: image/png) i have to do a report on this Divisiones de Bangladesh Map of the divisions of Bangladesh in English. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bengali: Ḍhākā; IPA: ) is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about Chittagong as a city in Bangladesh. ... The South Asian country of Bangladesh consists of 6 divisions (bibhag), each named after its respective capital. ... The divisions of Bangladesh are divided into 64 districts (zila or zilla, Bangla: jela). ... The districts of Bangladesh are divided into subdistricts (upazilas). ... Barisal is located in south-central Bangladesh. ... Chittagong Division is one of the six administrative divisions of Bangladesh. ... Dhaka Division is an administrative division within Bangladesh. ... Khulna Division is an administrative region in south-west Bangladesh. ... Rajshahi is in Northwestern part of Bangladesh. ... Sylhet is the Northeastern division of Bangladesh, named for its main city, Sylhet. ...

Divisions are subdivided into districts (zila). There are 64 districts in Bangladesh, each further subdivided into upazila (subdistricts) or thana ("police stations"). 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, which are further divided into mahallas. There are no elected officials at the divisional, district or upazila levels, and the administration is composed only of government officials. Direct elections are held for each union (or ward), electing