Bangladesh

1947 – Partition of British India; East Bengal becomes East Pakistan

1971 – Independence from Pakistan (date of modern state formation) after a bloody war of independence (Bangladesh Liberation War)

1975 – Assassination of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

1980s – Military rule under General Hussain Muhammad Ershad

1991 – Return to parliamentary democracy with the election of Khaleda Zia

2007 – Political turmoil and a military-backed caretaker government

2008 – Return to democracy under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

2010 – International Crimes Tribunal established to prosecute war criminals from the 1971 independence war

2015 – Terrorist attacks on cafes and foreign nationals, raising concerns about security

2017 – Rohingya refugee crisis as hundreds of thousands flee Myanmar into Bangladesh

2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic affects the economy and health system

2020 – Cyclone Amphan causes severe flooding and damage to coastal areas

2022 – Floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains displaced millions

Continent: Asia (South Asia)
Location: South Asia, on the Bay of Bengal
Capital: Dhaka
Language: Bengali (official)
Currency: Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
Population: ~170 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6)

Borders: India (west, north, and east), Myanmar (southeast), Bay of Bengal (south)
Landscape: Low-lying floodplains, river deltas, and marshes
Major Rivers: Ganges (Padma), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), Meghna
Notable Features: Sundarbans mangrove forest (home to Bengal tigers), Chittagong Hill Tracts

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Bengali (98%); small communities of indigenous people, Chakma, and others
Religion: Predominantly Muslim (90%), with minorities of Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism
Urban Population: ~37% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: One of the most densely populated countries in the world, with rapid urbanization

Famous For: Traditional Bengali arts, literature, textile industry (particularly jute), vibrant festivals
Cuisine: Rice and fish, biryani, pitha (sweet treats), chutney, hilsa fish
Arts: Bengali literature (Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore), folk music, traditional dance, and festivals
Sports: Cricket, football (soccer), kabaddi

Economy Type: Developing, largely agriculture-based with emerging industries
GDP: Approx. $400 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Textiles, agriculture (rice, jute, tea), pharmaceuticals, remittances
Key Exports: Textiles, garments, seafood, jute, leather goods
Unemployment Rate: ~4.2% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Capital and largest city Dhaka; textile production centers in Narayanganj and Chittagong

Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Mohammad Shahabuddin (last updated: April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral Jatiyo Sangsad (National Parliament)
Constitution: In effect since 1972

Dhaka: Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, National Museum
Sundarbans: UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for the Bengal tigers and unique ecosystem
Cox’s Bazar: World’s longest unbroken sea beach
Sylhet: Tea plantations, cultural landmarks
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 3 (last updated: 2023)