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For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). Bengal Map of the Bengal region: West Bengal and Bangladesh Largest city Dhaka[1] 23.42° N 90.22° E Main language Bangla Area 232,752 km²  Population (2001) 209,468,404[2][3] Density 951.3/km²[2][3] Infant mortality rate 55.91 per 1000 live births[4][5] Websites wbgov.com and bangladesh.gov.bd Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. Today it is mainly divided between the independent nation of Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan), and the Indian federal republic's constitutive state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous kingdoms of Bengal (during local monarchial regimes and British rule) are now part of the neighboring Indian states of Bihar, Tripura and Orissa. The majority of Bengal is inhabited by Bengali people (also called 'Bangali') who speak Bengali (or 'Bangla'). {citationneeded} Bengal is a region in South Asia. ... Image File history File links Location-Bangla01. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... 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. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 10,000 km² and 100,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Bangla redirects here. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... For other uses, see Bihar (disambiguation). ... Tripura   (Bengali: ত্রিপুরা, Hindi: त्रिपुरा) is a state in North East India. ... , Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated on the east coast of India. ... The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between India and Bangladesh) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating back four millennia. ... Bangla redirects here. ... The region of Bengal is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with a population density exceeding 900/km². Most of the Bengal region lies in the low-lying Ganges–Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta, the world's largest delta. In the southern part of the delta lies the Sundarbans—the world's largest mangrove forest and home of the Bengal tiger. Though the population of the region is mostly rural and agrararian, two megacities, Kolkata (previously Calcutta) and Dhaka, are located in Bengal. The Bengal region is notable for its contribution to the socio-cultural uplift of Indian society in the form of the Bengal Renaissance, and revolutionary activities during the Indian independence movement. Bengal was once recognised as one of the preeminent centers of thought in the world: "What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow and the rest of the world the day after" (Gopal Krishna Gokhale). “Ganga” redirects here. ... The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of Asia. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Ganges 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. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Sundarbans delta is the largest mangrove forest in the world. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ... Trinomial name Panthera tigris tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger primarily found in India, Bangladesh and also in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and in southern Tibet. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Megacity. ... , “Calcutta” redirects here. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bengali: Ḍhākā; IPA: ) is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. ... The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the region of Bengal in undivided India during the period of British rule. ... Revolutionary movement for Indian independence is often a less-highlighted aspect of Indian independence movement - the underground revolutionary factions. ... The Indian Independence Movement was a series of revolutions empowered by the people of India put forth to battle the British Empire for complete political independence, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. ... Gopal Krishna Gokhale (गोपाल कृष्‍ण गोखले) born May 9, 1866, in Kolhat, Maharashtra, India was one of the founding social and political leaders during the Indian Independence Movement against the British Empire in India. ... Contents 1 Etymology and ethnology 2 History 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 Economy 6 Culture 7 Intra-Bengal relations today 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External links [edit] Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown, though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang that settled in the area around the year 1000 BCE.[6] Other accounts speculate that the name is derived from Vanga(bôngo), which came from the Austric word "Bonga" meaning the Sun-god. The word Vanga and other words speculated to refer to Bengal (such as Anga) can be found in ancient Indian texts including the Vedas, Jaina texts, the Mahabharata and Puranas. The earliest reference to "Vangala"(bôngal) has been traced in the Nesari plates (805 AD) of Rashtrakuta Govinda III which speak of Dharmapala as the king of Vangala.[7] The Austric language superfamily is a large theoretical grouping of languages primarily spoken in South East Asia and the Pacific. ... Map of the Mahajanapadas Earliest reference to Angas (अंग) occurs in Atharava Veda (V.22. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... Jaina Solo (b. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... Jain cave in Ellora The Rastrakutas (Sanskrit/Maharashtri Prakrit [1]/Marathi[2][3]:राष्ट्रकूट, Kannada: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ) were a dynasty which ruled the southern and the central parts or the Deccan, India during the 8th - 10th century. ... Govinda III was King of Rashtrakuta from 793 to 814. ... Dharamapala (rule: 770 AD - 810 AD) was the second and very illustrious ruler of Bengal. ... The Proto-Australoids were one of the earliest inhabitants of Bengal.[8] Dravidians migrated to Bengal from the south, while Tibeto-Burman peoples migrated from the Himalayas,[8] followed by the Indo-Aryans from north-western India. The modern Bengali people are a blend of these people. Pathans, Iranians, Arabs and Turks also migrated to the region in the late Middle Ages while spreading Islam. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see Dravidian (disambiguation). ... The Tibeto-Burman linguistic subfamily of the proposed Sino-Tibetan language family is spoken in various central and south Asian countries: Myanmar (Burmese language), Tibet (Tibetan language), northern Thailand (Mong language), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and the Ladakh region of... For the movie Himalaya, see Himalaya (film). ... 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. ... The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between India and Bangladesh) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating back four millennia. ... Language(s) Pashto (plus second languages from countries of residence) Religion(s) Islam (predominantly Sunni) Pashtuns (Pashto/Urdu/Persian: or پختون , also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns), also called Pathans (Urdu: پٹھان, Hindi: पठान ) or ethnic Afghans (Pashto: افغان )[9][10] are an Eastern Iranian ethno-linguistic group with populations primarily in eastern and... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Dante by Michelino The Late Middle Ages is a term used by historians to describe European history in the period of the 14th to 16th centuries (AD 1300–1500). ... [edit] History Main article: History of Bengal Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire Robert Clive, of British East India Company, after winning the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The Bengal Presidency at its greatest extent in 1858 Map of the Bengal province, 1893 Remnants of Copper Age settlements in the Bengal region date back 4,000 years,[9][10] when the region was settled by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman and Austro-Asiatic peoples. After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdoms of Anga, Vanga and Magadha were formed by the 10th century BCE, located in the Bihar and Bengal regions. Magadha was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of Buddha and consisted of several Janapadas.[8] One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is the mention of a land named Gangaridai by the Greeks around 100 BCE, located in an area in Bengal.[11] From the 3rd to the 6th centuries CE, the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the Gupta Empire. 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. ... Buddha, Mahayana tradition, Pala Dynasty, 11th century. ... Buddha, Mahayana tradition, Pala Dynasty, 11th century. ... Media:Example. ... Lands Bhutan â€¢ China â€¢ Korea Japan â€¢ Tibet â€¢ Vietnam Taiwan â€¢ Mongolia Doctrine Bodhisattva â€¢ Bodhicitta Karuna â€¢ Prajna Sunyata â€¢ Buddha Nature Trikaya â€¢ Eternal Buddha Scriptures Prajnaparamita Sutra Avatamsaka Sutra Lotus Sutra Nirvana Sutra VimalakÄ«rti Sutra Lankavatara Sutra History 4th Buddhist Council Silk Road â€¢ Nagarjuna Asanga â€¢ Vasubandhu Bodhidharma      A statue of a Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire. ... Clive This work is copyrighted. ... Clive This work is copyrighted. ... Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey (September 29, 1725 - November 22, 1774) was the statesman and general who established the empire of British India. ... 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... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 589 pixel Image in higher resolution (2310 × 1700 pixel, file size: 979 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A Map of the Bengal Presidency at its fullest extent in 1858 The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 589 pixel Image in higher resolution (2310 × 1700 pixel, file size: 979 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A Map of the Bengal Presidency at its fullest extent in 1858 The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1063x1327, 396 KB) map from [1] File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bengal History of Bengal Maps of India Maps of Bangladesh ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1063x1327, 396 KB) map from [1] File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bengal History of Bengal Maps of India Maps of Bangladesh ... The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos copper stone) period or Copper Age period (also known as the Eneolithic (Aeneolithic)), is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools. ... 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. ... 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. ... Map of the Mahajanapadas Earliest reference to Angas (अंग) occurs in Atharava Veda (V.22. ... Genera Calicalicus Schetba Vanga Falculea Artamella Leptopterus Cyanolanius Oriolia Euryceros Tylas Hypositta Xenopirostris The vangas are a group of little-known small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to Madagascar. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... Siddhartha and Gautama redirect here. ... The Janapadas are the major realms or kingdoms of Vedic (Iron Age) India, by the 6th century BC evolving into the sixteen classical Mahajanapadas . ... Gangaridai was the name of a country in the 300 BC in the Indian subcontinent. ... BCE redirects here. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in the world. ... The first recorded independent king of Bengal was Shashanka, reigning around early 7th century.[12] After a period of anarchy, the native Buddhist Pala Empire ruled the region for four hundred years, and expanded across the northern Indian subcontinent into Afghanistan during the reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala. The Pala dynasty was followed by a shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty. Islam was introduced to Bengal in the twelfth century by Sufi missionaries. Subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region.[13] Bakhtiar Khilji, a Turkic general of the Slave dynasty of Delhi Sultanate, defeated Lakshman Sen of the Sena dynasty and conquered large parts of Bengal. Consequently, the region was ruled by dynasties of sultans and feudal lords under the Delhi Sultanate for the next few hundred years. In the sixteenth century, Mughal general Islam Khan conquered Bengal. However, administration by governors appointed by the court of the Mughal Empire gave way to semi-independence of the area under the Nawabs of Murshidabad, who nominally respected the sovereignty of the Mughals in Delhi. The most notable among them is Murshid Quli Khan, who was succeeded by Alivardi Khan. Shashanka (Bangla: শশাঙ্ক) is often attributed with creating the first unified political entity in Bengal. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... Dharamapala (rule: 770 AD - 810 AD) was the second and very illustrious ruler of Bengal. ... Devapala (rule: 810 AD - 850 AD) was a powerful king of Pala dynasty of Bengal. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Sena dynasty ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... 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. ... Age of the Caliphs  Expansion under the Prophet Muhammad, 622-632  Expansion during the Patriarchal Caliphate, 632-661  Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750 The initial Muslim conquests (632–732), also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab conquests,[1] began after the death of the Islamic prophet... 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. ... This article is about the various peoples speaking one of the Turkic languages. ... The Slave dynasty (Urdu: سلطنت غلامان) served as the first Sultans of Delhi in India from 1206 to 1290. ... The Delhi Sultanate (دلی سلطنت), or Sulthanath-e-Hind (سلطنتِ ہند) / Sulthanath-e-Dilli (سلطنتِ دلی) refers to the various Muslim dynasties that ruled in India from 1210 to 1526. ... Lakshman Sen or Lakshman Sena (1179 - 1206 CE) was the fourth ruler of the Sena dynasty of Bengal. ... For other uses, see Sultan (disambiguation). ... Shaikh Alauddin Chisti was a subedar and general of the army of the Mughal empire in Bengal, and the first governor of the city of Dhaka, the capital of modern Bangladesh. ... 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... Nawab (Urdu: نواب ) was originally the subadar (provincial governor) or viceroy of a subah (province) or region of the Mughal empire. ... Murshidabad is a city in West Bengal, India as well as a district in the state. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... Murshid Quli Khan[1] (died 1725), earlier known as Kartalab Khan, was the first effectively independent Nawab of Bengal. ... Ali Vardi Khan was the independent nawab or ruler of Bengal between 1740 and 1756. ... European traders arrived late in the fifteenth century. Their influence grew until the British East India Company gained taxation rights in Bengal subah, or province, following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, when Siraj ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab, was defeated by the British.[14] The Bengal Presidency was established by 1765, eventually including all British territories north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), from the mouths of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra to the Himalayas and the Punjab. The Bengal famine of 1770 claimed millions of lives.[15] Calcutta was named the capital of British India in 1772. The Bengal Renaissance and Brahmo Samaj socio-cultural reform movements had great impact on the cultural and economic life of Bengal. The failed Indian rebellion of 1857 started near Calcutta and resulted in transfer of authority to the British Crown, administered by the Viceroy of India.[16] Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones.[17] 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). ... A Subah is a province of the former Mughal Empire. ... 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... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Shirajuddaula. ... Bengal, known as Bango ( Bengali:বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bangodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bengali, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... A British Raj province comprising British conquests from the Mughals and Marathas in central India. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of Asia. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... This article is about the geographical region. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Anthem God Save The King The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy²  - 1858... The Bengal Renaissance refers to a social reform movement during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the region of Bengal in undivided India during the period of British rule. ... Brahmo Samaj is a social and religious movement founded in Kolkata, India in 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. ... Combatants Rebellious East India Company Sepoys, 7 Indian princely states, deposed rulers of Oudh, Jhansi and smaller states in region, Civilians from rebellious regions. ... This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. For information about other Commonwealth realm monarchies, as well as other relevant articles, see... The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ... The Partition of Bengal in 1905, was made on 16 October by then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. ... Bengal played a major role in the Indian independence movement, in which revolutionary groups were dominant. Armed attempts against to overthrow the British Raj reached a climax when Subhash Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army against the British. Bengal was also central in the rising political awareness of the Muslim population — Muslim League was established in Dhaka in 1906. In spite of a last ditch effort to form a United Bengal,[18] when India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines.[19] The western part went to India (and was named West Bengal) while the eastern part joined Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan, giving rise to Bangladesh in 1971). The circumstances of partition was bloody, with widespread religious riots in Bengal.[19][20] The Indian Independence Movement was a series of revolutions empowered by the people of India put forth to battle the British Empire for complete political independence, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. ... Revolutionary movement for Indian independence is often a less-highlighted aspect of Indian independence movement - the underground revolutionary factions. ... Anthem God Save The King The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy²  - 1858... Subhash Chandra Bose, (Bangla: নেতাজী সুভাষ চন্দ্র বসু ( सुभाष चदंर वसु ) Shubhash Chôndro Boshu) (January 23, 1897 – presumably August 18, 1945 [although this is disputed]note), also known as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence Movement against the British Raj and was a prominent supporter of the Axis dictatorships as... The Indian National Army (I.N.A) or Azad Hind Fauj was the army of the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India ) which fought along with the Japanese 15th Army during the Japanese Campaign in Burma, and in the Battle of Imphal, during the Second... The All India Muslim League (Urdu: مسلم لیگ), founded at Dhaka in 1906, was a political party in British India that developed into the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state from British India on the Indian subcontinent. ... The History of the Republic of India began on August 15, 1947 when India became an independent Dominion within the British Commonwealth. ... 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. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... The post-partition political history of East and West Bengal diverged for the most part. Starting from the Bengali Language Movement of 1952.[21], political dissent against West Pakistani domination grew steadily. Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, emerged as the political voice of the Bengali-speaking population of East Pakistan by 1960s.[22] In 1971, the crisis deepened when Rahman was arrested and a a sustained military assault was launched on East Pakistan.[23] Most of the Awami League leaders fled and set up a government-in-exile in West Bengal. The guerrilla Mukti Bahini and Bengali regulars eventually received support from the Indian Armed Forces in December 1971, resulting in a decisive victory over Pakistan on 16 December in the Bangladesh Liberation War or Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[24] The post independence history of Bangladesh was strife with conflict, with a long history of political assassinations and coups before parliamentary democracy was established in 1991. Since then, the political environment has been relatively stable. This article is about the language movement in 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. ... 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. ... 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. ... Combatants Bengali units of Pakistan Army and civilian volunteers Pakistan Armed Forces Commanders Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed (April 17 -December 16) Col(ret). ... 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. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants India Mukti Bahini Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 400,000+ troops Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... West Bengal, the western part of Bengal, became a state in India. In the 1960s and 1970s, severe power shortages, strikes and a violent Marxist-Naxalite movement damaged much of the state's infrastructure, leading to a period of economic stagnation. The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 resulted in the influx of millions of refugees to West Bengal, causing significant strains on its infrastructure.[25] West Bengal politics underwent a major change when the Left Front won the 1977 assembly election, defeating the incumbent Indian National Congress. The Left Front, led by CPI(M) has governed for the last three decades.[26] The state's economic recovery gathered momentum after economic reforms in India were introduced in the mid-1990s by the central government, aided by election of a new reformist Chief Minister in 2000. , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Map showing the districts affected by the Naxalite movement Naxalite or Naxalism is an informal name given to radical, often violent, revolutionary communist groups that were born out of the Sino-Soviet split in the Indian communist movement. ... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders Col. ... Left Front election propaganda in Kolkata 2004 DSP-meeting in Kolkata West Bengal Left Front Committee meeting for solidarity with Tripura Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. ... Indian National Congress, Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major political party in India. ... CPI(M) flag The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), is a political party in India. ... Economic reform in India is something which is under close study. ... The Government of India (Hindi: भारत सरकार [1]Bhārat Sarkār), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of... A Chief Minister is the elected Head of Government of a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British overseas territory that has attained self-government. ... [edit] Geography See also: Geography of West Bengal The Bengal Tiger Most of the Bengal region is in the low-lying Ganges–Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta. The Ganges Delta arises from the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The total area of Bengal is 232752  sq km — West Bengal is 88,752 sq km and Bangladesh 144,000 sq km. Landform of West Bengal 1. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (533x800, 154 KB) A tiger licking his paw, photo taken by Bernard Landgraf File links The following pages link to this file: Bengal Tiger ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (533x800, 154 KB) A tiger licking his paw, photo taken by Bernard Landgraf File links The following pages link to this file: Bengal Tiger ... “Ganga” redirects here. ... The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of Asia. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Ganges 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. ... “Ganga” redirects here. ... Map of the Brahmaputra Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Most parts of Bangladesh are within 10 meters (33 ft) above the sea level, and it is believed that about 10% of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by 1 metre (3 ft).[27] The highest point in Bangladesh is in Mowdok range at 1,052 metres (3,451 ft) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to the southeast of the country.[28] A major part of the coastline comprises a marshy jungle, the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and home to diverse flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger. In 1997, this region was declared endangered.[29] This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,180 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar (Burma). ... This article is about marsh, a type of wetland. ... Box Log Falls, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia Jungle usually refers to a dense forest in a hot climate, such as a tropical rainforest. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Sundarbans delta is the largest mangrove forest in the world. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ... 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. ... West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The state has a total area of 88,752 km² (34,267 sq mi).[30] The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state belongs to the eastern Himalaya. This region contains Sandakfu (3,636 m (11,929 ft))—the highest peak of the state.[31] The narrow Terai region separates this region from the plains, which in turn transitions into the Ganges delta towards the south. The Rarh region intervenes between the Ganges delta in the east and the western plateau and high lands. A small coastal region is on the extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangrove forests form a remarkable geographical landmark at the Ganges delta. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... Look up Bay of Bengal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... 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. ... Darjeeling Himalayan hill region is situated on the North-Western side of the state of West Bengal in India. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... The view from the highest point in West Bengal Sandakfu or Sandakphu (3636 m) is the highest peak in the state of West Bengal, India. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The Terai, or Tarai (i. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Ganges 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. ... Rarh region of West Bengal is the region that intervenes between the Western plateau and high lands and the Ganges delta. ... The Western plateau and highlands is the eastern border of the chhotanagpur plateau. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Sundarbans delta is the largest mangrove forest in the world. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ... Choto Pashla, West Bengal state has 1 snake for every 2 residents, mainly the poisonous monocled cobra, being found everywhere -- in rice fields, ditches, muddy ponds and houses (more than 3,000 snakes in this village of 6,000 people). Reptiles first came to the village 130 kilometres (80 miles) northwest of the state capital Kolkata en masse 6 centuries ago during a flood. The Hindu village worshipped the snakes as the representatives of a goddess. [32] For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831 Monocled Cobra Naja kaouthia is a species of snake. ... Terrace of rice paddies in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... A ditch with water can be used for drainage and irrigation. ... Ponds Cream is a brand of beauty and healthcare products that is produced by Unilever of England. ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Masouleh village, Gilan Province, Iran. ... Orders  Crocodilia - Crocodilians scary crocodiles. ... , “Calcutta” redirects here. ... Flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... For the 1934 film, see The Goddess (1934 film). ... [edit] Demographics Main article: Bengali people About 210 million people live in Bengal, around 60% of them in Bangladesh and the remainder in West Bengal.[2][33] The population density in the area is more than 900/km²; making it among the most densely populated areas in the world.[2][3] The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between India and Bangladesh) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating back four millennia. ... Bengali is the main language spoken in Bengal. English is often used for official work. There are small minorities who speak Urdu, Hindi, Chakma, and several other tribal languages. Nepali is spoken primarily by the Gorkhas of Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Bangla redirects here. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Hindi (DevanāgarÄ«: or , IAST: , IPA:  ), an Indo-European language spoken all over India in varying degrees and extensively in northern and central India, is one of the 22 official languages of India and is used, along with English, for central government administrative purposes. ... The Chakma language (Changma Vaj or Changma Kodha) is an Indo-European language spoken in southeastern Bangladesh and neighboring areas of India. ... Nepali (Khaskura) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma). ... Gurkha Soldiers (1896) Wives and children of Gurkha Soldiers (1896) Gurkha (or Gorkha) are a people from Nepal who take their name from the former city-state of Gorkha, which went on to found the Kingdom of Nepal later on. ... Darjeeling is a district of West Bengal whose headquarters are at the hill station of Darjeeling. ... Two major religions practiced in Bengal are Islam and Hinduism. In Bangladesh 88% of the population is Muslim (US State Department est. 2006) and 11% are Hindus (US State Dept. 2006). In West Bengal, Hindus are the majority with 72.5% of the population while Muslims comprise 25%, and other religions make up the remainder.[34] Other religious groups include Buddhists, Christians, and Animists. About 2% of the population is tribal.[35] For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... hinduism also involves the exchange of male pun. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Buddha giving the first sermon About 0. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... The term Animism is derived from the Latin anima, meaning soul.[1][2] In its most general sense, animism is simply the belief in souls. ... Life expectancy is around 63 years, and are almost same for the men and women.[36][37] In terms of literacy, West Bengal leads with 69.22% literacy rate,[2] in Bangladesh the rate is approximately 41%.[38] The level of poverty is high, the proportion of people living below the poverty line is more than 30%.[39][35] [edit] Economy Worker in a paddy, a common scene all over Bengal Agriculture is the leading occupation in the region. Rice is the staple food crop. Other food crops are pulses, vegetables, potato, maize, oil seeds etc. Jute is the principal cash crop. Tea is also produced commercially; the region is well known for Darjeeling and other high quality teas. The service sector is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product of West Bengal, contributing 51% of the state domestic product compared to 27% from agriculture and 22% from industry.[40] State industries are localized in the Kolkata region and the mineral-rich western highlands. Durgapur–Asansol colliery belt is home to a number of major steel plants.[41] West Bengal has the third largest economy (2003–2004) in India, with a net state domestic product of US$ 21.5 billion.[40] During 2001–2002, the state's average SDP was more than 7.8% — outperforming the National GDP Growth.[42] The state has promoted foreign direct investment, which has mostly come in the software and electronics fields;[43] Kolkata is becoming a major hub for the Information technology (IT) industry. Owing to the boom in Kolkata's and the overall state's economy, West Bengal is now the third fastest growing economy in the country.[44] Image File history File links BDricefield. ... Image File history File links BDricefield. ... Terrace of paddy fields in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... The word Jute is also used in reference to the Germanic people, the Jutes. ... In agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for money. ... Darjeeling tea has traditionally been prized above all other black teas, especially in the UK and the countries comprising the former British Empire. ... The tertiary sector of industry, also called the service sector or the service industry, is one of the three main industrial categories of a developed economy, the others being the secondary industry (manufacturing and primary goods production such as agriculture), and primary industry (extraction such as mining and fishing). ... This article is about GDP in the context of economics. ... The Net Domestic Product (NDP) equals the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) minus depreciation on a countrys Capital (economics) goods. ... USD redirects here. ... This article is about economics. ... Information and communication technology spending in 2005 Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. ... Since 1990, Bangladesh has achieved an average annual growth rate of 5% according to the World Bank, despite the hurdles. The middle class and the consumer industry have seen some growth. Bangladesh has seen a sharp increase in foreign direct investment. A number of multinational corporations, including Unocal Corporation and Tata, have made major investments, the natural gas sector being a priority. In December 2005, the Central Bank of Bangladesh projected GDP growth around 6.5%.[45] Although two-thirds of Bangladeshis are farmers, more than three quarters of Bangladesh’s export earnings come from the garment industry,[46] which began attracting foreign investors in the 1980s due to cheap labour and low conversion cost. In 2002, the industry exported US$5 billion worth of products.[47] The industry now employs more than 3 million workers, 90% of whom are women.[48] A large part of foreign currency earnings also comes from the remittances sent by expatriates living in other countries. The middle class (or middle classes) comprises a social group once defined by exception as an intermediate social class between the nobility and the peasantry. ... Consumers refers to individuals or households that purchase and use goods and services generated within the economy. ... This article is about economics. ... A multinational corporation (or transnational corporation) (MNC/TNC) is a corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or delivers services in at least two countries. ... Union Oil Company of California, dba Unocal was incorporated in California in 1890. ... Tata may refer to: Tata Group, a multinational company based in India Tata Motors, one of Indias largest automobile company known for its hatchback motorvehicle Tata Indica Tata Steel, worlds fifth largest steel producer Tata Consultancy Services, Indias largest IT company Tata Airlines, now Air India Tata... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... Bangladesh Bank is the central bank of Bangladesh. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into textile. ... For the band, see Expatriate (band). ... One significant contributor to the development of the economy of Bangladesh has been the widespread propagation of microcredit by Grameen Bank and other similar orgamizations. Together, these organizations had about 5 million members by late 1990s.[49] Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty who are not considered bankable. ... The Grameen Bank (Bangla: গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক) is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans (known as microcredit) to the impoverished without requiring collateral. ... [edit] Culture Baul singers at Basanta-Utsab, Shantiniketan