| Home | |
| About us | |
| President’s Message | |
| Holocaust (Bengali Text) | |
| About Bangladesh | |
| Photo Gallery | |
| Recognition | |
| Contact Us | |
| Donate | |
Bangladesh Center for Holocaust Studies |
|---|
 |
About Bangladesh:
Background:
Bangladesh is located in South Asia bordered by India and Myanmar. The nation was known as East Pakistan after it separated from India. In 1971, East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan and was renamed Bangladesh. A vast part of the country is located on river deltas that make the land very fertile. Bangladesh has a significant coastline that borders with the Bay of Bengal.
People:
Bangladesh is densely populated with more than 150 million people. Even though most of the people live in rural areas, the rate of urbanization has rapidly increasing. It is a very homogenous nation and Bengalis makes 98% of the population.
Bangladesh is predominantly Muslim with significant number of Hindu population. There are also a small number of Christians, Buddhists and followers of indigenous religions. The majority of the Bangladeshi Muslims belong to the Sufi branch of Sunni Islam.
Language:
Bengali (Official), Indigenous languages.
Politics and Government:
Bangladesh is a multi-party parliamentary democracy. The Prime minister is the head of the government. The President is the head of the state but is a ceremonial position. Dhaka is the administrative capital of Bangladesh. The nation actively participates in many international organizations.
Culture:
Bangladesh has a glorious history and culture. The Bengali language boasts very rich literary heritage. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity have shaped the culture of Bangladesh. Music, dance, art and food has heavily influenced by many cultures of former Indian Subcontinent. People also celebrate numerous festivals that are unique to Bangladesh such as Pohela Baishakh (Bengali New Year).
Economy:
Bangladesh is a developing nation with 6% annual growth rate. Even though two-thirds of the population is employed in the agricultural sector, the service sector generates more than half of the $224 billion of the annual GDP. It is a major exporter of textile and seafood. The currency is known as ‘Taka’. Bangladesh is transitioning from heavily regulated state-owned enterprise to liberalized market economy. The rising number of middle-class and political stability has been attracting foreign direct investment.
Infrastructure:
Physical infrastructures such as transportation and telecommunication systems are still inadequate for a modern nation. But Internet and mobile devices have revolutionized the communication sector. Bangladesh has two major world-class ports that are vital to its economy and trade.