Bangladesh is a country in South Asia surrounded by Bay of Bengal on the south and India on 3 other sides. The eighth-most populous country in the world, Myanmar shares a small border in the southeast. The country is narrowly separated from Nepal and Bhutan by the Siliguri Corridor. The city of Dhaka, named after goddess Dhakeshwari Shakti Perth is the capital, largest city, and nation’s economic, political, and cultural hub. Chittagong is the largest seaport is the second-largest city.
Bangladesh forms the larger and eastern part of the Bengal region. As per Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata, it was part of the Vanga Kingdom, modern-day Bengal region. It was also part of Maurya kingdom under Ashoka. The region was also ruled by Gupta Empire, Pala Empire, the Chandra dynasty, and the Sena dynasty. The region had overseas trade contacts during medieval times with the Roman world, Middle East, and Southeast Asia exporting everything from wood, muslin, and silk.
Islam was introduced during the Pala Empire, through trade links with Abbāsid Caliphate, it spread thanks to conquests by Bakhtiyār Khaljī, of Delhi Sultanate. Slowly becoming a Muslim-dominated region. Thanks to industrialization, the region established trade relations with Dutch and English East India Company, and became the basis of Anglo-Mughal War. After the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzēb and Governor Shāista Khān, the region became a semi-independent state under Nawabs of Bengal. Sirāj ud-Daulah, the last Nawab of Bengal, was defeated by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the whole region fell under company rule by 1793.
Bangladesh gained independence as East Pakistan in 1947 with West Pakistan after partition from India. But oppressive tactics by west Pakistan rulers and systematic killings led to millions of BengalI fleeing into India in late 1970. The rise of pro-democracy movement gave rise to Bengali nationalism and self-determination, leading to the Liberation War spearheaded by Mukti Bahini. It eventually resulted in emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent nation in 16th December 1971 thanks to the military intervention by India which captured Dhaka in a 2-week campaign. Bangladesh is divided into eight administrative divisions namely Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet with 64 districts.
The country continues to face challenges related to illiteracy, gender inequality, discrimination against women, violence against Hindu minorities, Rohingya refugee crisis, corruption, climate change, and women’s rights. Bangladesh is home to the world’s largest river delta, formed by Brahmaputra and Ganga river. It is famed for Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, a mangrove and swampland in the delta, Hilsa fish. It is 150 km long. natural uninterrupted sea beach in Asia is at Cox Bazar. Bangladesh has an abundance of wildlife in its forests, marshes, woodlands, and hills.
The vast majority of animals dwell within a habitat of 150,000 km2 of Sundarbans including Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, saltwater crocodile, black panther, and fishing cat. Bangladesh is also home to the Asian elephant, hoolock gibbon, Asian black bear and oriental pied hornbill, and numerous other animals. Rivers are the lifeline of the country. Well connected by air, land, and sea with all major cities of the world, its airport and seaports and extensive road and rail network are the main drivers of economic growth. Besides ship breaking Agriculture is the largest employment sector in Bangladesh but slowly textile manufacturing and tea production have grown in the few years to be major revenue earners.
Bangladesh’s tourist attractions include historical sites and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forests, and wildlife of various species. Adventure tourism is centered around activities like angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, and sea bathing. Bangladesh is known for its numerous colleges and universities with Dhaka being the main center. The country is known for its arts, music, and literature. Literary giants like Rabibndranath Tagore, NazrulIslam are most revered. The cuisine and festivals of Bangladesh are heavily influenced by Bengali culture. Overall Bangladesh has become a major player in the region.
