Bangladesh

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Bangladesh's Information


Capital	Dhaka
Languages	Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Bengali at least 98%, ethnic groups 1.1%
Religion	Muslim 89.1%, Hindu 10%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist, Christian) (2013 est.)
Government	Parliamentary republic
Independance	16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)
Area	148,460.00 km²
Water Area	18,290.00 km²
Land Area	130,170.00 km²
Population	156,186,882.00
Location	Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
No. Bordering Countries	2
Bordering Countries	Burma 271 km, India 4,142 km
GDP(PPP)	$628,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$3,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	The major export partners are the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are garments, knitwear, and agricultural products.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, India, and Singapore.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include cotton, chemicals, iron and steel, and foodstuffs.
Climate	Tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain	Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Where is Bangladesh?

Located in Southern Asia, Bangladesh has a 4,413.00 km border with Burma (271 km) and India (4,142 km). It has a 580.00 km coastline. Bangladesh refers to its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.

The capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka. Dhaka became a city following the country’s independence although it existed from as early as the fifteenth century. The city is in the central part of the country within a river delta. This city is one of the most populated and also one of the most densely populated in the world. With a very high population growth, the citizens of Dhaka represent the face of Bangladesh and also reflects an international diversity. Dhaka’s rich history, architecture, and conservation is responsible for the many old buildings that contribute to the country’s heritage and in return attracts local and international visitors. The city has a tropical savanna climate with most of the precipitation occurring between the months of May to October.

Geography

Bangladesh has a mean elevation of 85 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate with mild winters and hot, muggy summers with monsoons. The terrain of the country is mostly flat in the alluvial plain and hilly in the southeast.

Population

Bangladesh has a population of 156,186,882 making it the 8th largest in the world.

Bangla (Bengali) is the official and most commonly spoken language. The majority ethnic group is Bengali. The population is mostly Muslim, with a large Hindu minority.

Officially, Modern Standard Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh, however, use of the English language is also widespread and present in all formal sectors of the country. Bengali is an Indo-Aryan written in Bengali script which uses segmented abugida style. Written Bengali is cursive, has no distinct upper or lower case and forms a horizontal line at the top. Approximately 90% of Bangladesh speak the Modern Standard Bengali while at least 80% speak the standard Bengali. The Bengali language has specific ways of greeting and asking questions for children and adults. Bangladesh also has immigrant and minority languages, most of which are endangered or considered vulnerable.

Government

Bangladesh is an independent country. It gained independence from West Pakistan in 1971. Its constitution was last ratified in 1966.

The Republic of Bangladesh practices a parliamentary democracy where the electorate elect representatives who then elect a ceremonial president. The Prime Minister and the cabinet exercise executive powers. Since 2009, the Prime Minister has been Sheikh Hasina while President Abdul Hamid has been in office since 2013. The capital, Dhaka, hosts the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Bangabhaban Palace, and the Ganabhaban. Bangladesh goes to the polls every five years where those over eighteen years can vote. The president has two 5-year terms while the prime minister has no term limit. Unique to this country is the practice during a change of governments when the civil society acts as a caretaker and transitional government.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Bangladesh's GDP is $628,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $3,900.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 33rd largest economy and its citizens the 170th richest in the world. The currency of Bangladesh is the Taka (BDT).

The major export partners are the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Its main exports are garments, knitwear, and agricultural products. Its major import partners are China, India, and Singapore. Its major imports include cotton, chemicals, iron and steel, and foodstuffs.

Flag

The flag of Bangladesh, officially called the National Flag of Bangladesh and locally known as the Red and Green, is a rectangle made up of a red circle representing the sun and liberation blood, and a green background representing the country’s landscape. The circle is not at the exact center of the flag but slightly towards the poll. Actor and cubic artist Quamrul Hassan designed the current flag, a build-up from a previous version that was designed by student leaders and members of the Swadheen Bangla Nucleus during the struggle for independence in 1970. This first flag had a scaled map of Bangladesh.