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| Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Bangladesh - The country in the world's largest delta
Bangladesh is a country in South Asia that forms the eastern part of the ancient region of Bengal. Bangladesh literally means "The Country of Bengal". Lying north of the Bay of Bengal, it borders India and Myanmar, and is a close neighbour to China, Nepal and Bhutan. Evidence of civilization in Bangladesh dates back to 1st millenium BCE. The first signs of an individual political identity developed in the 7th and 8th centuries when Buddhism and Hinduism were prevalent. The Islamic invasion of India which witnessed continuous Muslim rule including the Mughals era saw the spread of Islam in Bengal. Later on, Bengal came under British control who partitioned Bengal into East Bengal and West Bengal, based on religious majorities. East with its largely Muslim population was thus geographically carved out in the present state. After the partition of India in 1947, the area became known as East Pakistan after becoming part of Pakistan. In 1971, after years of linguistic and ethnic differences with West Pakistan, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out. With the aid of the Indian military, the east became liberated later that year, forming the nation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world and much of it can be attributed to the fertile Ganges Delta and the monsoon rains that is the lifeline of Bangladesh. However, overpopulation and poverty have plagued Bangladesh along with regular flooding. Bangladesh consists mostly of a low-lying river delta located on the Indian subcontinent with a largely marshy jungle coastline on the Bay of Bengal known as the Sundarbans, home to the (Royal) Bengal Tiger and one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. Bangladesh is situated in the geographic region named the Ganges Delta (also known as the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta). This delta is the largest in the world.
Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, the Bangladeshi climate is tropical with a mild winter from October to March, a hot, humid summer from March to June, and a humid, warm rainy monsoon from June to October. Natural calamities, such as floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores affect the country almost every year, combined with the effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion. Dhaka is the country's capital and largest city. Other major cities include Chittagong, Rajshahi, and Khulna. Cox's Bazar, South of the city of Chittagong, has a sea beach that stretches uninterrupted over 120 km; it is frequently quoted as the world's longest natural sea . Apart from very small countries or urban city-states such as Singapore and Bahrain, Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world. The nation, at 982 persons per km, has often been compared to Indonesia's Java. Bangladesh is ethnically homogenous (of the same kind), with Bengalis comprising 98 per cent of the population, the rest belonging to the tribal people. The vast majority speak Bangla, or Bengali. Bengali, an Indo-Aryan language, is written in the Bengali script. It is the official language, though English is accepted in official tasks and in (higher) education. A small number of people, mostly non-Bengali Muslims from regions of India such as Bihar speak Urdu. A substantial number of non-Bengali tribal groups inhabit the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeast and the Northern regions of Bangladesh, including parts of the districts of Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rangpur. Almost all non-Bengali Bangladeshis speak Bangla as a second language. Most Bangladeshis (about 83 per cent) are Muslims, but Hindus constitute a sizeable (16 per cent) minority. There are also a small number of Buddhists, Christians, and others. Bangladesh has a unique cultural history, dating back more than 2500 years. The land, the rivers and the lives of the common people formulated a rich cultural heritage with marked differences from neighbouring regions. The multi-dimensional cultural heritage of Bangladesh encompasses within itself the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi daily life is full of traditions and festivals that reflect the unique culture and tradition of Bangladeshis. Some of the traditions and customs are as ancient as prehistoric days, while others are relatively recent. *** Fact file * Area : 144,000 sq. km. * Boundary: Bounded by India in the north, east and west and by the Bay of Bengal and Burma in the south. * Capital: Dhaka (Present area 414 sq. km. Master plan 777 sq.km.) * Population: 149.8.million (2004) * State language: Bangla (Bengali). English is also widely spoken and understood * Currency unit: Bangladesh Taka * President: Iajuddin Ahmed * Prime Minister: Begum Khaleda Zia * National days: National Martyr's Day - February 21, Independence Day - March 26, Victory Day - December 16. * Principal rivers: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Surma and Kushiara * Principal crops: Jute, rice, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, vegetables, potato, pulses, etc. * National flag of Bangladesh was adopted on January 13, 1972. The national flag is bottle green in colour, bearing a red circle in the centre, on the body of green. The background colour symbolises the greenery of Bangladesh with its vitality and youthfulness, while the red disc represents the rising sun and the sacrifice people made to obtain independence. * The national anthem of Bangladesh was composed by the great Rabindranath Tagore. * Bangladesh teems with icons and symbols, not the least of which is the ubiquitous Royal Bengal Tiger. This majestic beast finds its home in Bangladesh, in the still pristine mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. * The Doel or the magpie robin is the national bird of Bangladesh. * The jackfruit is Bangladesh's national fruit. * The water Lily is the national flower of Bangladesh |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Leaders of seven Asian countries recently gathered in Bangladesh to
hold the 13th SAARC Summit. Bangladesh, one of the most populated
countries in the world, boasts of rich soil and unique culture. 
Having densely vegetated lands, Bangladesh is often called the Green
Delta. The densely populated delta is formed by the confluence(the place
where rivers meet) of the Ganges (local name Padma), Brahmaputra (Jamuna),
and Meghna rivers and their tributaries as they flow down from the
Himalaya, creating the largest riverine delta in the world. Bangladesh's
alluvial soil is highly fertile but vulnerable to both flood and drought.
Hills rise above the plain only in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (highest
point: the Keokradong at 1230 m) in the far southeast and the Sylhet
division in the northeast. 
The cultural heritage of Bangladesh is manifested in various forms,
including music, dance and drama; art and craft; folklore and folktales;
languages and literature, philosophy and religion, festivals and
celebrations, as also in a distinct cuisine and culinary tradition. 
