History

Bangladesh forms the Bengal delta region in the Indian subcontinent, where civilization dates back more than 4,300 years. The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established during the British-partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became East Pakistan, part of the newly formed state of Pakistan. It was separated from West Pakistan by 1,600 km (994 mi) of Indian territory. Due to political, economic and linguistic discrimination, popular agitation and civil disobedience grew against the Pakistani state. Led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bengali people increasingly demanded self-determination, culminating in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh—was founded as a constitutional, secular, democratic, multiparty, parliamentary republic. After independence, Bangladesh endured periods of poverty and famine, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by economic progress and relative political calm.

Geographically, modern Bangladesh straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra delta and has an ancient, historic and rich cultural heritage intertwined with the larger history of the Indian subcontinent. It is a pluralistic nation of religious and ethnic diversity. It is the world's eighth most populous country, as well as one of the world's most densely populated countries. The republic is a parliamentary democracy, with an elected parliament called the Jatiyo Sangshad. Bangladesh is a founding member of SAARC, of which it is a pioneer and vocal promoter, the Developing 8 Countries, BIMSTEC and BCIM, as well as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement. Bangladesh is also the world's largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions.