Profile of Bangladesh

BANGLADESH: COUNTRY PROFILE

Bangladesh as a holiday making land exposes to many flamboyant facets. Its tourist attractions are many folded, which include archaeological sites, historical mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forests and tribal people, wildlife of various species. Bangladesh offers ample opportunities to tourists for angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, sea bathing as well as bringing one in close touch with pristine nature.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES

Located in the north-eastern part of South Asia, Bangladesh lies between 20º34' and 26º36' north latitude and 88º01' and 92 º 41’ east longitudes. The majestic Himalayas stand some distance to the north, while in the south lies the Bay of Bengal. The gangetic Plains of west Bengal border the country on the west and in the east lie the hilly and forested regions of Tripura , Mizoram(India) and Myanmar. These picturesque geographical boundaries frame a low lying plain of about 1,47,570 sq.km criss-crossed by innumerable rivers and streams. Mighty rivers the Padma(Ganges), the Brahamaputra(Jamuna) & the Meghna and the Karnafuli. This is Bangladesh, a fertile land where nature is bounteous.

Much of the country's land area has been built up from alluvial deposits brought down by the major rivers. The country is mostly flat except for a range of hills in the south-east. The topography of the country is characterized by wooded marshy lands and jungles with plane lands occupying most of the river basins. There are deep forested regions in Sylhet, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban Hill Districts, Sundarbans (the World Heritage site), Mymensingh and Tangail.

HISTORY OF EMERGENCE

Bangladesh has a logn and eventful history as a nation. Although it enjoyed as a free and sovereign state only in 1971, after a nine month-long war of liberation, the land itself and its people, have their origin in antiquity. The earliest nation of Bangladesh in found in the 9th century BC Indian epic the Mahabharata. There are evidences of story Mongoloid presence at the time.Then in 5th & 6th century BC came the Aryans from Central Asia and dravidians from western India. The Hindu and Buddhist dynasties of guptas, palas and senas ruled the country until 13th century, when muslim conquerors took over the reigns of the country.

The muslim rules either belonging to independent dynasties such as the Hossain Shahi or Ilyas Shahi dynasties or Viceroys exercising power on behalf of the imperial seat of Delhi and continued to rule the country until the middle of the 18th century, when the British took over the control of Bengal and eventually the whole of India.The Europeans, mainly Portuguese, Dutch, French and British traders had began to arrive in Bangladesh from the 15th century and extended an economic control over the region.

Modern Period
In 1757 British coloniers defeated the last Muslim ruler of Bengal, Nowab Sirajuddoullah at Plessey. After the end of the British rule in 1947, the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. But the movement for autonomy for East Pakistan began within a couple of years because of linguistic and cultural differences and economic disparity between the two wings. The seeds of independence were sown through the great Language Movement of 1952 to recognise Bangla as a State Language. Then East Pakistan emerged as a sovereign and independent state of Bangladesh. After nine month-long sanguinary war of liberation. In which three million people courted martyrdom.

Demography
Bangladesh has a population of 133.40 million making it the most densely populated country of the world. 85% population lives in rural areas. Density of population is about 900 per sq.km. There are about 2 million people of 23 tribes. They dwell mostly in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban and in part of northern districts. The tribes have exotic distinct cultures of their own.

Language
The state language and mother tong is Bangla. English is widely spoken and understood. Now a days some young people are learning other languages like French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinies etc. for professional purpose.

Religion
Bangladesh is a land of religious freedom, harmony and tolerance. People of all castes and creeds live here in perfect harmony. The percentage distribution of population to religions is as follows : Muslims - 88%, Hindus - 10%, Christians, Buddhists and others 2%.

Government
The country is officially known as The People's Republic of Bangladesh and has a parliamentary form of Government. The President is the Head of the State while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government. The country is divided into 6(six) divisions namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet and Khulna. There are 64 districts, 465 upazillas (small administrative unit) and 85,650 villages under the six divisions.

Legislature
Bangladesh has a 345-seat Parliament called 'Jatiyo Sangsad'. 300 members of Jatiyo Sangsad are directly elected by the Electoral College and 45 seats are reserved for women, nominated proportionately by the members of different parties in parliament. They are designated as Member of the Parliament.

Economy
The Economy is characterized by a large subsistence agricultural sector, which contributes to sum 85% of the country's population and small modern industrial sector. The total cultivable area is around 24 millions acres and there are a little more than 15 million cultivators. Major agricultural crops are rice, jute (the golden fiber), wheat, potato, pulses, sugarcane, tea, onion, garlic, ginger, tobacco etc. Tea, leather, ready made garments, frozen shrimp, jute and jute products are major foreign exchange earners. Export of handicrafts is booming fast. Remittances from Bangladeshi employed abroad are also contributing significantly towards foreign exchange earnings.

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Wearing Apparel	:	Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.
Currency	:	Taka (Tk.) is the unit of currency. The taka is equal to 100 paisa (smallest unit). Notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 taka and coins of 25, 50 paisa and taka 1 and 5 are in circulation. 1US$ = 70.00 Taka(appox).
Banking Hours	:	9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday - Thursday and closed on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
Time Difference	:	+0600 Hrs GMT.
Working Hours	:	Office Hours 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday - Thursday and closed on Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
Newspapers	:	Dailies both in Bangla and English are published from Dhaka, Chittagong and other important cities and towns. Main English Newspapers are the Bangladesh Observer, The Daily Star, The Financial Express, The Daily Independent, New Age,The news today and the Holiday (weekly). Main Bangla Newspapers are the Ittefaq, Dinkal, Janakantha, Prothom Alo, Jugantar, Inqilab, Ajker Kagoj, Sangbad and Samakal.
Radio Stations	:	Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Khulna, Rangamati, Comilla. News is broadcast in both Bangla and English.
Television	:	Dhaka and Chittagong.
Electricity	:	220 volts A. C.
International Airports	:	Zia International Airport, Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong and Osmany International Airport, Sylhet.
Domestic Airports	:	Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Ishwardi, Saidpur, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet.

Sea ports	:	Chittagong, Mongla
River ports	:	Dhaka, Chandpur, Barisal, Khulna, Patuakhali, Baghabari, Serajganj, Narayangonj and Bhairab Bazar.
Best Tourist Season	:	October to March.
Public Holidays	:	The following holidays are observed nationally:
February	:	Amar Ekushey- 21 February also known as Shaheed Day or the National Mourning Day. It is now being observed as the "International Mother Language Day" across the world after the declaration of UNESCO.
March	:	Independence Day - 26 March
May	:	May Day - 1 May
June	:	Bank Holiday - 30 June
December	:	Victory Day - 16 December, Christmas Day- 25 December, Bank Holiday- 31 December

Other Holidays include Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Religious festivals, dates of which are subject to appearance of the moon.