INTRODUCTION

Bangladesh is a small country of South-East Asia. Though it is small country but it is full of resources. It is a country of natural beauty. Here people are cultural and kind. This country has a glorious history of freedom. Bangladesh is the only country which people fought for their mother tongue. New generation of Bangladesh always remember their sacrifice and really proud of this.  
  

National Anthem of Bangladesh

Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) 

My Bengal of gold, I love you

Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune

as if it were a flute,

In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from

your mango-groves makes me wild with joy-

Ah, what a thrill!

In Autumn, Oh mother mine,

in the full-blossomes paddy fields,

I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!

Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection

and what a tenderness!

What a quilt have you spread at the feet of

banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!

Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like

Nectar to my ears!

Ah, what a thrill!

If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,

my eyes are filled with tears!

The People's Republic of Bangladesh

The People's Republic of Bangladesh Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh
Flag Emblem
Anthem: Amar Shonar Bangla My Golden Bangla
Capital (and largest city)		Dhaka 23°42′N 90°21′E / 23.7°N 90.35°E / 23.7; 90.35
Official language(s)		Bangla
Demonym		Bangladeshi
Government		Unitary state and parliamentary democracy
-	President	Zillur Rahman
-	Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina Wazed
-	Speaker	Ad.Abdul Hamid
Independence		from Pakistan
-	Declared	March 26, 1971
-	Victory Day	December 16, 1971
Area
-	Total	147,570 km2 (94th) 56,977 sq mi
-	Water (%)	6.9
Population
-	2009 estimate	164.4 million (8th)
-	Density	1,099.3/km2 (9th) 2,917.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2010 estimate
-	Total	$257.545 billion
-	Per capita	$1,566
GDP (nominal)		2010 estimate
-	Total	$105.402 billion
-	Per capita	$641
Gini (2005)		33.2 (medium)
HDI (2007)		0.543 (medium) (146th)
Currency		Taka (BDT)
Time zone		BST (UTC+6)
Drives on the		left
ISO 3166 code		BD
Internet TLD		. bd
Calling code		880

History

Remnants of civilization in the greater Bengal region date back four thousand years, when the region was settled by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, and Austro-Asiatic peoples. The exact origin of the word "Bangla" or "Bengal" is not known, though it is believed to be derived from Bang, the Dravidian-speaking tribe that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.

The kingdom of Gangaridai was formed from at least the 7th century BC, which later united with Bihar under the Magadha, Nanda, Mauryan and Sunga Empires. Bengal was later part of the Gupta Empire and Harsha Empire from the 3rd to the 6th centuries CE. Following its collapse, a dynamic Bengali named Shashanka founded an impressive short-lived kingdom. After a period of anarchy, the bengali Buddhist Pala dynasty ruled the region for four hundred years, followed by a shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty. Medieval European geographers located paradise at the mouth of the Ganges and although this was overhopeful, Bengal was probably the wealthiest part of the subcontinent up until the 16th century. The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance.

Government and politics

National symbols of Bangladesh
Anthem	Amar Shonar Bangla
Animal	Royal Bengal Tiger
Bird	Oriental Magpie Robin
Fish	Hilsa
Flower	White Water Lily
Fruit	Jack fruit
Tree	Mango Tree
Sport	Hadudu
Calendar	Bengali calendar

Foreign policy and military

Bangladesh pursues a moderate foreign policy that places heavy reliance on multinational diplomacy, especially at the United Nations. In 1974 Bangladesh joined both the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations and has since been elected to serve two terms on the Security Council in 1978–1979 and 2000–2001. In the 1980s, 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 the founding of SAARC 1985, a Bangladeshi has held the post of Secretary General on two occasions.

Constitution

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times. 

Fundamental rights

As per Constitution: Part III Laws inconsistent with fundamental rights to be void. Equality before law. Discrimination on grounds of religion, etc. Equality of opportunity in public employment. Prohibition of foreign titles, etc. [No citizen shall, without the prior approval of the President, accept any title, honour, award or decoration from any foreign state.] Right to protection of law. Protection of right to life and personal liberty. Safeguards as to arrest and detention. Prohibition of forced labour. Protection in respect of trial and punishment. Freedom of movement. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of association. Freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech. Freedom of profession or occupation. Freedom of religion. Rights to property. Protection of home and correspondence. Enforcement of fundamental rights. Modification of rights in respect of disciplinary. Power to provide indemnity. Saving for certain laws. Inapplicability of certain articles. Principles of State Policy As per Constitution: Part II Fundamental principles. Promotion of local Government institutions. Participation of women in national life. Democracy and human rights. Principles of ownership. Emancipation of peasants and workers. Provision of basic necessities. Rural development and agricultural revolution. Free and compulsory education. Public health and morality. Equality of opportunity. Work as a right and duty. Duties of citizens and of public servants. Separation of Judiciary from the executive. National Culture. National monuments, etc. Promotion of international peace, security and solidarity.

Divisions, districts and upazilas

Bangladesh is divided into seven administrative divisions, each named after their respective divisional headquarters: Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Rangpur.

Geography and climate

Bangladesh lies between latitudes 20° and 27°N, and longitudes 88° and 93°E.

Bangladesh is 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 also known as "Yamuna"), and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. The alluvial soil deposited by these rivers has created some of the most fertile plains in the world. Bangladesh has 57 trans-boundary rivers, making water issues politically complicated to resolve – in most cases as the lower riparian state to India. Most parts of Bangladesh are less than 12 m (39.4 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 m (3.28 ft).

Demographics

Recent (2007–2010) estimates of Bangladesh's population range from 150 to 164 million and it is the 8th most populous nation in the world. In 1951, the population was 44 million. It is also the most densely populated large country in the world, and it ranks 11th in population density, when very small countries and city-states are included. A striking contrast is offered by Russia which has a slightly smaller population spread over a land area that is 120 times larger than Bangladesh. Bangladesh's population growth was among the highest in the world in the 1960s and 1970s, when the country swelled from 50 to 90 million. With the promotion of birth control in the 1980s, the growth rate has slowed. The population is relatively young, with 60% being 25 or younger and

3% being 63 or older. Life expectancy is 63 years for both males and females.

Economy

At April 2010, USA - based ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) awarded Bangladesh a BB- for a long term in credit rating which is below India and well over Pakistan and Sri Lanka in South Asia. And, despite continuous domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a developing nation. However, Bangladesh gradually decreased its dependency on foreign grant and loan from 85% (On 1988) to 2% (On 2010) for its annual development budget. Its per capita income in 2010 was US$641 compared to the world average of $8,985. But, if purchasing power parity (PPP) is taken into account, Bangladesh's economy is the 44th largest in the world at US$257 billion according to the IMF.

Flora and fauna

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. The Magpie Robin is the National Bird of Bangladesh and it is common and known as the Doyel or Doel (Bengali: দোয়েল). It is a widely used symbol in Bangladesh, appearing on currency notes and a landmark in the city of Dhaka is named as the Doyel Chatwar (meaning: Doyel Square).The national flower of the country is water lily, which is known as Shapla. The national fruit is jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) , which in Bengali is known as Kathal. In late 2010, the Bangladeshi government selected the Mango tree as the national tree. 

Education

The educational system in Bangladesh is three-tiered and highly subsidized. The government of Bangladesh operates many schools in the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It also subsidizes parts of the funding for many private schools. In the tertiary education sector, the government also funds more than 15 state universities through the University Grants Commission.

Sports

Cricket enjoys a passionate following in Bangladesh and it is the most popular sport followed by football (soccer). The national cricket team participated in their first World Cup in 1999, and the following year was granted elite Test cricket status. But they have struggled to date, recording only three Test match victories,one against Zimbabwe in 2005 and the other two in a series win of 2-0 against the West Indies in 2009. In July, 2010, they celebrated their first ever win over England in any form of match. Later in 2010,they managed to whitewash New Zealand for the first time in history. In 2011, Bangladesh is going to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 jointly with India and Sri Lanka.

In Asiad 2010 in Guangzhou they defeated Afghanistan to claim Gold Medal in the first ever cricket tournament held in Asian Games.

Hadudu (Kabaddi) is the national sport of Bangladesh. Other popular sports include field hockey, tennis, badminton, handball, volleyball, chess, shooting, angling and carrom. The Bangladesh Sports Control Board regulates twenty-nine different sporting fedesrations.