Bangladesh Overview

Official Name  : The People's Republic Of Bangladesh

Capital : Dhaka (Area 414 sq. km. Master plan 777 sq.km.)

The earliest inhabitants of what is now Bangladesh were a proto-Australoid people including the Veddas. Evidence also suggests that there was a strong Mongoloid presence as well. Soon after came the Aryans from Central Asia as part of their farthest sweep into deltaic India and the Dravidians from Western India. Later on the Muslims from Arabian, Turkish, Afghan, Persian and other minor stocks became the most important contributors to the vast melting pot of nations which now form Bangladesh.

Muslims came first as religious preachers and traders. But subsequently they became the rulers of this land holding sway from the 13th to the 18th century. Sometimes they were independent rulers like the Hussain Shahi and Ilyas Shahi dynasties while at other times they ruled on behalf of the Imperial seat at Delhi.

The language movement of 1952 which claimed a number of martyrs not only initiated the struggle but became the principal point of reference and rallying cry. The nationalist struggle intensified during 1969 and went through a dress rehearsal of sorts before bursting forth in 1971.

But the election results of 1970 which gave East Pakistan the rein of central government was ignored and on the 26th of March Pakistani soldiers attacked the civilians of Dhaka causing one of the greatest massacres in modern history.

This ignited the War of Independence in which 3 million people perished and 10 million people crossed over the border to save their lives. The people of Bangladesh mounted one of the most effective guerilla wars of modern times and finally the nine month long War of Independence came to an end on 16th December 1971. Bangladesh was free.

Mother language is Bangla. English is also widely spoken and understood. Arabic is read and spoken for religious purposes.

Currency

Currency unit is Taka. Notes are: 1,2,5,10,20,50,100, 500 & 1000 Taka.

Population

Total estimated population 130 million.  

Area  

Total: 144,000 sq km 
Land: 133,910 sq km 
Water: 10,090 sq km  

Location  

Latitude from 20 degree 34' to 26 degree 38' north. Longitude from 88 degree 01' to 92 degree 41' east.  

Boundary

Bounded by India from the north, east and west, Burma from the south-east and the Bay of Bengal from the south .  

Climate

Tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)  

Rainfall

Lowest 47" and highest 136"  

National Days  

National Martyrs Day ( February 21)
Independence Day ( March 26 )
Victory Day ( December 16)  

Main Rivers

Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Surma and Kushiara  

Major Crops

Rice, jute, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, vegetables, potato, pulses, etc.  

Fruits

Mango, banana, pineapple, jack-fruit, water-melon, green coconut, guava, lichis, etc.  

Major Industries

Jute, sugar, paper, textiles, fertilizers, cigarette, cement, steel, natural gas, oil-refinery, newsprint, power generation, rayon, matches, fishing and food processing, leather, soap, carpet, timber, ship-building, telephone, etc.  

Airports

Zia International Airport, Dhaka
Chittagong International Airport
Sylhet International Airport 

and

Ddomestic airports at Jessore, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi and Saidpur  

Sea Ports

Chittagong
Mongla

Tourist Interests

Longest sea beach, colorful tribal life, centuries' old archeological sites, the Sundarbans (home of the Royal Bengal Tigers and spotted deer), largest tea gardens, interesting riverine life, etc.