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People's Republic of Bangladesh
গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ
Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh
Motto: None
Anthem: Amar Shonar Bangla
My Golden Bengal
Location of Bangladesh
Capital
and largest city
Dhaka
Official languagesBengali (Bangla)
GovernmentParliamentary republic
• President
Iajuddin Ahmed
vacant

Fakhruddin Ahmed
Independence 
from Pakistan
• Declared
March 26 1971
December 16 1971
• Water (%)
7.0
Population
• 2007 estimate
150,448,339[1] (7th)
• 2001 census
129,247,2331
GDP (PPP)2006 estimate
• Total
$330.8 billion (31st)
• Per capita
$2200 (141st)
Gini (2000)31.8
medium inequality
HDI (2004)Increase 0.530
Error: Invalid HDI value (137th)
CurrencyTaka (BDT)
Time zoneUTC+6 (BDT)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+6 (not observed)
Calling code880 (SubCodes)
ISO 3166 codeBD
Internet TLD.bd
  1. Adjusted population, p.4, "Population Census 2001, Preliminary Report". Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2001-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
This article refers to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. For other uses of "Bangladesh", see Bangladesh (disambiguation)

Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is surrounded by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar to the far southeast and 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" and is written as বাংলাদেশ and pronounced ['baŋlad̪eʃ]ⓘ in the official Bengali language.

Bangladesh is a product of the partitioning of British India starting with the 1947 partition which made it the eastern wing of Pakistan. This pairing based on common religion (Islam) proved geographically awkward, as a distance of some 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) separated the two regions. Subject to political and linguistic domination as well as economic neglect, Bengalis gained their independence in 1971 with help from India in a civil war marked by Islamabad's brutality. In spite of its liberation narrative, Bangladesh's development has since been marred by political turmoil, with fourteen different heads of government and at least four military coups.

Bangladesh is among the most highly and densely populated countries in the world. The population is generally poor, rural and Muslim. Geographically the country straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta and is subject to annual monsoon floods and cyclones. The government is a secular parliamentary democracy which has been suspended under emergency law since January 2007. Bangladesh is a member of SAARC, BIMSTEC, the OIC and the D-8.

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 civilization in the greater Bengal region date back four thousand years,[2][3] 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 BCE.[4]

After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdom of Gangaridai was formed from at least the seventh century BCE, 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. 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.[5] 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 sixteenth century, the Mughal Empire controlled Bengal, and Dhaka became an important provincial center of Mughal administration.

European traders arrived late in the fifteenth century, and their influence grew until the British East India Company gained control of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.[6] 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.[7] During colonial rule, famine racked the Indian subcontinent many times, including the Great Bengal famine of 1943 that claimed 3 million lives.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

In 1950, land reform was accomplished in East Bengal with the abolishment of the feudal zamindari system[11] 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 Language Movement of 1952 was the first sign of friction between the two wings of Pakistan.[12] 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.

File:P015.gif
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,[13] was blocked from taking office. After staging compromise talks with Mujib, President Yahya Khan arrested him on the night of March 25, 1971, and launched Operation Searchlight,[14] a sustained military assault on East Pakistan. Yahya's methods were extremely bloody, and the violence of the war resulted in many civilian deaths.[15] Chief targets included intellectuals and Hindus, and about ten million refugees fled to neighbouring India (LaPorte,[16] p. 103). Estimates of those massacred range from three hundred thousand to 3 million.[17][18]

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. Under the command of Lt. General J.S. Arora, the Indian Army achieved a decisive victory over Pakistan on 16 December,1971, taking over 90,000 prisoners of war[19] in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

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,[8] 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.[20]

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.[20] 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. Bangladesh enjoys the distinction of having two female politicians leading national politics.

In January 2007, following widespread violence, a caretaker government was appointed to administer the next general election. The country had suffered from extensive corruption,[21] 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
National symbols of Bangladesh
Anthem Amar Shonar Bangla
Animal Bengal Tiger
Bird Oriental Magpie Robin
Fish Hilsa
Flower White Water Lily
Fruit Jackfruit
Sport Kabadi
Calendar Bengali calendar
Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban houses the Parliament of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a secular parliamentary democracy. Direct elections involving all citizens over the age 18 are held every five years for the unicameral parliament. The parliament is known as the Jatiyo Sangshad and currently has 345 seats, 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.[22]

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 institutionalized in 1996 through its 13th constitutional amendment.[23]

The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 and has undergone fourteen amendments.[23] The highest judiciary body is the Supreme Court, whose Chief Justices and judges are appointed by the President. The Judiciary is not separate from the administration, which has caused much commotion in recent years. Laws are loosely based on English common law, but family laws such as marriage and inheritance are based on religious scripts, and hence differ from one religious community to another.

The two major parties in Bangladesh are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Awami League. BNP finds its allies among Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islami Oikya Jot, while Awami League aligns with leftist and secularist parties. 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.

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.

The 2006 election was postponed indefinitely and emergency law declared in January 2007 as the caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed aims to revise the voter list and crack down on corruption.

Foreign policy and Military

Bangladesh pursues a moderate foreign policy that places heavy reliance on multinational diplomacy, especially at the United Nations. Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1974 and continues to actively participate in meetings and discussions. In 1974, Bangladesh was admitted into the United Nations and has since been elected to serve two terms on the Security Council in 1978-1979 and 2000–2001.

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 its establishment in 1985, Bangladesh has been allotted the post of Secretary General on two occasions.

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.

India was Bangladesh's key ally in the Bangladeshi Independence War of 1971 and even after the war provided military and reconstruction aide to the country. Throughout the years, relations between both countries continue fluctuating as ongoing border disputes and insurgency plague both nations. Bangladesh claims that India feels too comfortable in playing the role of "Big Brother" to smaller, weaker nations and India accuses Bangladesh over harbouring Indian separatists hiding in Bangladesh [citation needed]. Nevertheless, recent peace agreements and strategic economic cooperatives have somewhat eased tensions [citation needed].

Pakistan, despite sharing a gruesome history with Bangladesh, remains as one of its most important allies [citation needed]. Repatriation and diplomatic agreements after the war in 1971 has allowed for more peaceful relations between both countries [citation needed]. However, some advocates of Bangladesh still seek apologies from Pakistan for heinous war crimes and brutality by the Pakistani army against Bangladeshi civilians.[citation needed]

See also: Foreign Relations of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force are composed of regular military personnel. Some of the senior officers and noncommissioned officers served in the Military of Pakistan before the 1971 independence war.[citation needed] Senior officers include "repatriates" who were interned in Pakistan during the war, and freedom fighters who fought against Pakistan.[citation needed]

In addition to traditional defense roles, the military has been called on to provide support to civil authorities for disaster relief and internal security. The current strength of the army is set to be about 200,000, the air force 7000, and navy 14,950.[citation needed] Bangladesh is not currently active in any ongoing war, but it did contribute 2300 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.[24]

See also: Military of Bangladesh

Divisions, districts, and upazilas

Administrative divisions of Bangladesh.
Dhaka
File:Chittagong02.jpg
Chittagong
Main articles: Divisions of Bangladesh, Districts of Bangladesh, and Upazilas of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is divided into six administrative divisions,[1] each named after their respective divisional headquarters: Barisal (বরিশাল), Chittagong (চট্টগ্রাম), Dhaka (ঢাকা), Khulna (খুলনা), Rajshahi (রাজশাহী), and Sylhet (সিলেট).

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 a chairperson and a number of members. In 1997, a parliamentary act was passed to reserve three seats (out of twelve) in every union for female candidates.[25]

Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. Other major cities include Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet. These metropolitan cities have mayoral elections, while other municipalities elect a chairperson. Mayors and chairpersons are elected for a span of five years.

City City Population[26] Metro Population[26]
Dhaka 6,969,458 11,918,442
Chittagong 3,920,222 3,920,222
Khulna 1,400,689 1,400,689
Rajshahi 727,083 727,083
Sylhet 339,368 339,368
Barisal 291,769 291,769

Other Areas:

City Administrative Division Population[26]
Comilla Chittagong 419,623
Tungi Dhaka 368,914
Mymensingh Dhaka 336,960
Rangpur Rajshahi 295,999
Narshingdi Dhaka 292,838
Bogra Rajshahi 284,003
Jessore Khulna 250,065
See also: Districts of Bangladesh

Geography and climate

Satellite image presenting physical features of Bangladesh.
Main article: Geography of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is located in the low-lying Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta. This delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local name Padma or Pôdda), Brahmaputra (Jamuna or Jomuna), and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The alluvial soil deposited by these rivers has created some of the most highly fertile plains of the world.

Template:Multi-video start Template:Multi-video item Template:Multi-video end

Most parts of Bangladesh are less than 12 metres (39 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]

Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, Bangladeshi climate is tropical with a mild winter from October to March, a hot, humid summer from March to June. A warm and humid monsoon season lasts from June to October and supplies most of the country's rainfall. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores occur almost every year, combined with the effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion. Cox's Bazar, south of the city of Chittagong, has a beach that stretches uninterrupted over 120 kilometres (75 mi).

In September 1998 Bangladesh saw the most severe flooding the modern world has seen. Although only 1000 people were killed, 30 million were made homeless and 130,000 cattle were killed. 50,00 hectares of land were destroyed and 11, 000km of roads were damaged of destroyed. 66% of the country was underwater. There were several reasons for the severity of the flooding. Firstly there were unusually high monsoon rains, secondly the Himalayas shed off a equally unusually high amount of melt water, for which global warming could be held responsible although claims are unproven. Another reason for the flooding is that fact that 70% of the country is only 1meter above sea level. Also trees which usually intercept rain water were cut down for fire wood or to make space for animals.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bangladesh
Fishermen near the town of Cox's Bazaar in southern Bangladesh. Many industries in Bangladesh are still primitive by modern standards.

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a developing nation, in part due to its large population.[citation needed] Its per capita income in 2006 was US$2300 compared to the world average of $10,200.[1] Yet, 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.[30]

Jute was once the economic engine of the country. Its share of the world export market peaked in the Second World War and the late 1940s at 80%[31] and even in the early 1970s accounted for 70% of its export earnings. However, polypropylene products began to substitute for jute products worldwide and the jute industry started to decline. Bangladesh grows significant quantities of rice, tea and mustard. Although two-thirds of Bangladeshis are farmers, more than three quarters of Bangladesh’s export earnings come from the garment industry,[32] 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.[33] The industry now employs more than 3 million workers, 90% of whom are women.[34] A large part of foreign currency earnings also comes from the remittances sent by expatriates living in other countries.

File:BDricefield.jpg
Worker in a paddy field - a common scene throughout Bangladesh. The economy of Bangladesh is often cited to be agro-based because of its dependency on agriculture.

Obstacles to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, mismanaged port facilities, a growth in the labour force that has outpaced jobs, inefficient use of energy resources (such as natural gas), insufficient power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, political infighting and corruption. According to the World Bank, "among Bangladesh’s most significant obstacles to growth are poor governance and weak public institutions."[30]

Despite these hurdles, the country has achieved an average annual growth rate of 5% since 1990, according to the World Bank. Bangladesh has seen expansion of its middle class, and its consumer industry has also grown. In December 2005, four years after its report on the emerging "BRIC" economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), Goldman Sachs named Bangladesh one of the "Next Eleven,"[35] along with Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and seven other countries. Bangladesh has seen a dramatic increase in foreign direct investment. A number of multinational corporations, including Unocal Corporation and Tata, have made major investments, with the natural gas sector being a priority. In December 2005, the Central Bank of Bangladesh projected GDP growth around 6.5%.[36]

One significant contributor to the development of the economy has been the widespread propagation of microcredit by Muhammad Yunus (awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2006) through the Grameen Bank. By the late 1990s, Grameen Bank had 2.3 million members, along with 2.5 million members of other similar organizations.[37]

In order to enhance economic growth, the government set up several export processing zones to attract foreign investment. These are managed by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority.

See also: Education in Bangladesh

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Bangladesh

Recent (2005-2007) estimates of Bangladesh's population range from 142 to 159 million, making it the 7th most populous nation in the world. With a land area of 144,000 square kilometers (55,600 sq mi, ranked 94th), the population density is remarkable. A striking comparison is offered by the fact that Russia's population is slightly smaller. Indeed Bangladesh boasts the highest population density in the world, excluding a handful of city-states. Bangladesh's population growth was among the highest in the world in the 1960s and 1970s, when the count grew from 50 to 90 million, but with the promotion of birth control in the 1980s, the growth rate slowed. The total fertility rate is now 3.1 children per woman, compared with 6.2 three decades ago. The population is relatively young, with the 0–25 age group comprising 60%, while 3% are 65 or older. Life expectancy is 63 years for both males and females.[38]

Bangladesh is ethnically homogeneous, with Bengalis comprising 98% of the population. The remainder are mostly Bihari migrants and indigenous tribal groups. There are thirteen tribal groups located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the most populous of the tribes are the Chakmas. The region has been a source for ethnic tension since the inception of Bangladesh.[39] The largest tribal groups outside the Hill Tracts are the Santhals and the Garos (Achiks). Human trafficking has been a lingering problem in Bangladesh[40] and illegal immigration has remained a cause of friction with Myanmar[41] and India.[42].

The main language, as in West Bengal, is Bangla (Bengali), an Indo-Aryan language of Sanskrit origin and has its own script. Bangla is the official language of Bangladesh. English is used as second language among the middle and upper classes [citation needed] and in higher education. Since a President Order in 1987, Bangla is used for all official correspondence except foreign ones. [citation needed]

Two major religions practiced in Bangladesh are Islam (83%) and Hinduism (16%).[43] About 90% of the Muslims are Sunni, while over 5% are Shi'a. Ethnic Biharis are predominantly Shia Muslims. Other religious groups include Buddhists, Christians, and Animists. Bangladesh ranks third after Indonesia and Pakistan among Muslim majority nations and since India has a higher Muslim population it ranks fourth in this category.

Health and education levels have recently improved as poverty levels have decreased. Nevertheless, Bangladesh remains among the poorest nations in the world. Most Bangladeshis are rural, living on subsistence farming. Nearly half of the population lives on less than 1 USD per day.[44] Health problems abound, ranging from surface water contamination, to arsenic in the groundwater,[45] and diseases including malaria, leptospirosis and dengue. The literacy rate in Bangladesh is approximately 41%.[46] There is gender disparity, though, as literacy rates are 50% among men and 31% among women, according to a 2004 UNICEF estimate.[47] Literacy has gone up due to many programs introduced in the country. Among the most successful ones are the Food for education (FFE) program introduced in 1993,[48] and a stipend program for women at the primary and secondary levels.[49]

Culture

File:BanglaNak1.jpg
Intricate design in a Nakshikatha, a traditional stitched quilt.
Bagerhat Shat Gambuj Masjid, a sixty-dome mosque, built by Khan Jahan Ali.
File:Mahasthan.gif
Ruins of the ancient Buddhist monastery in Mahasthangarh, Bogra.
Cox's Bazar, World's longest uninterrupted beach.
Main article: Culture of Bangladesh
See also: Public holidays in Bangladesh

A new state for an old nation, Bangladesh has a culture that encompasses elements both old and new. The Bengali language boasts a rich literary heritage, which Bangladesh shares with the Indian state of West Bengal. The earliest literary text in Bangla is the eighth century Charyapada. Bangla literature in the medieval age was often either religious (e.g. Chandidas), or adaptations from other languages (e.g. Alaol). Bangla literature matured in the nineteenth century. Its greatest icons are the poets Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Bangladesh also has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by Maimansingha Gitika, Thakurmar Jhuli or stories related to Gopal Bhar.

The musical tradition of Bangladesh is lyrics-based (Baniprodhan), with minimal instrumental accompaniment. The Baul tradition is a unique heritage of Bangla folk music, and there are numerous other musical traditions in Bangladesh, which vary from one region to the other. Gombhira, Bhatiali, Bhawaiya are a few of the better-known musical forms. Folk music of Bengal is often accompanied by the ektara, an instrument with only one string. Other instruments include the dotara, dhol, flute, and tabla. Bangladesh also has an active heritage in North Indian classical music. Similarly, Bangladeshi dance forms draw from folk traditions, especially those of the tribal groups, as well as the broader Indian dance tradition. Bangladesh produces about 80 films a year.[50] Mainstream Hindi films are also quite popular, as are films from Kolkata, which has its own thriving Bengali-language movie industry. Around 200 dailies are published in Bangladesh, along with more than 1800 periodicals. However, regular readership is low, nearly about 15% of the population.[51] Bangladeshis listen to a variety of local and national radio programmes from Bangladesh Betar, as well as Bangla services from the BBC and Voice of America. There is a state-controlled television channel, but in the last few years, privately owned channels have grown considerably.

The culinary tradition of Bangladesh has close relations to Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine as well as having many unique traits. Rice and fish are traditional favourites; leading to a common saying that "fish and rice make a Bengali" (machhe bhate bangali). Meat consumption has increased with higher production in recent years [citation needed]. Bangladeshis make distinctive sweetmeats from milk products; some common ones are Rôshogolla, Chômchôm and Kalojam.

The sari (shaŗi) is by far the most widely worn dress by Bangladeshi women. However, the salwar kameez (shaloar kamiz) is also quite popular, and in urban areas some women wear Western attire. Among men, European dressing has greater acceptance. Men also use the kurta-paejama combination, often on religious occasions. The lungi, a kind of long skirt, is widely worn by Bangladesh men.

The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are the largest festivals in the Islamic calendar. The day before Eid ul-Fitr is called Chãd Rat (the night of the Moon), and is often marked by firecrackers. Other Muslim holidays are also observed. Major Hindu festivals are Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama Buddha, is one of the most important Buddhist festivals while Christmas, called Bôŗodin (Great day) in Bangla is celebrated by the minority Christian population. The most important secular festival is Pohela Baishakh or Bengali New Year, the beginning of the Bengali calendar. Other festivities include Nobanno, Poush parbon (festival of Poush) and observance of national days like Shohid Dibosh.

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Bangladesh. In 2000, the Bangladesh cricket team was granted Test cricket status and joined the elite league of national teams permitted by the International Cricket Council to play test matches. Other popular sports include football (soccer), field hockey, tennis, badminton, handball, volleyball, chess, carom, and kabadi, a seven-a-side team-sport played without a ball or any other equipment, which is the national sport of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board regulates twenty-nine different sporting federations.

See also

Template:BangladeshTopics

Template:Bangladesh ties

References

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  2. ^ Bharadwaj, G (2003). "The Ancient Period". In Majumdar, RC (ed.). History of Bengal. B.R. Publishing Corp.
  3. ^ "4000-year old settlement unearthed in Bangladesh". Xinhua. 2006-March. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden, ed. (1989). "Early History, 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1202". Bangladesh: A country study. Library of Congress.
  5. ^ Eaton, R (1996). The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-20507-3.
  6. ^ Baxter, C (1997). Bangladesh, From a Nation to a State. Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-3632-5.
  7. ^ Baxter, pp.30—32
  8. ^ a b Sen, Amartya (1973). Poverty and Famines. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-828463-2.
  9. ^ Baxter, pp. 39—40
  10. ^ Collins, L (1986). Freedom at Midnight, Ed. 18. Vikas Publishers, New Delhi. ISBN 0-7069-2770-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Baxter, p. 72
  12. ^ Baxter, pp. 62—63
  13. ^ Baxter, pp. 78—79
  14. ^ Salik, Siddiq (1978). Witness to Surrender. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-577264-4.
  15. ^ "Genocide in Bangladesh, 1971". Gendercide Watch.
  16. ^ LaPorte, R (1972). "Pakistan in 1971: The Disintegration of a Nation". Asian Survey. 12(2): 97–108.
  17. ^ White, M (2005). Death Tolls for the Major Wars and Atrocities of the Twentieth Century. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "The Bangladeshi holocaust". VirtualBangladesh.com.
  19. ^ Burke, S (1973). "The Postwar Diplomacy of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971". Asian Survey. 13 (11): 1036–1049.
  20. ^ a b Mascarenhas, A (1986). Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. Hodder & Stoughton, London. ISBN 0-340-39420-X.
  21. ^ "Bangladesh tops most corrupt list". BBC News. 2005-10-18. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Background Note: Bangladesh, US Department of State, May 2007
  23. ^ a b "Constitutional Amendments". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
  24. ^ UN Mission's Summary detailed by Country, Monthly Summary of Contributors of Military and Civilian Police Personnel, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, 2007-5-31
  25. ^ Local Government Act, No. 20, 1997.
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  27. ^ Ali, A (1996). "Vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change and sea level rise through tropical cyclones and storm surges". Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 92 (1–2): 171–179.
  28. ^ Summit Elevations: Frequent Internet Errors. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
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  33. ^ Rahman, S (2004). "Global Shift: Bangladesh Garment Industry in Perspective". Asian Affairs. 26 (1): 75–91.
  34. ^ Begum, N (2001). "Enforcement of Safety Regulations in Garment sector in Bangladesh". Proc. Growth of Garment Industry in Bangladesh: Economic and Social dimension. pp. 208–226.
  35. ^ "South Korea, Another `BRIC' in Global Wall". 2005-12-09.
  36. ^ Annual Report 2004–2005, Bangladesh Bank
  37. ^ Schreiner, Mark (2003). "A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh". Development Policy Review. 21 (3): 357–382.
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  39. ^ Rashiduzzaman, M (1998). "Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord: Institutional Features and Strategic Concerns". Asian Survey. 38 (7): 653–670.
  40. ^ Gazi, R (2001). Trafficking of Women and Children in Bangladesh, Special Publication No. 11 (PDF). ICDDR,B. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ AI Index: ASA 16/005/2004, Amnesty International
  42. ^ "report covering the issue". BBC News.
  43. ^ Bangledesh- CIA World Factbook
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  45. ^ Nickson, R (1998). "Arsenic poisoning of Bangladesh groundwater". Nature (6700): 338. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "2005 Human Development Report". UNDP.
  47. ^ UNICEF: Bangladesh Statistics.
  48. ^ Ahmed, A (2002). The food for education program in Bangladesh: An evaluation of its impact on educational attainment and food security, FCND DP No. 138. International Food Policy Research Institute. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ Khandker, S (2003). Subsidy to Promote Girls’ Secondary Education: the Female Stipend Program in Bangladesh. World Bank, Washington, DC. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ Feature film in Banglapedia
  51. ^ Newspapers and periodicals in Banglapedia

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