Bangladesh is likely one of the most densely populated nations on the planet, with its folks dwelling in a delta of rivers that stream into the Bay of Bengal.
Poverty is widespread, however Bangladesh lately has diminished inhabitants progress and improved well being and schooling.
Previously East Pakistan, Bangladesh was solely created in 1971, when the 2 elements of Pakistan break up after a bitter conflict that dragged into neighboring India.
Bangladesh spent 15 years underneath army rule and, though democracy was restored in 1990, the political scene stays unstable. Islamic extremism has additionally grown within the historically tolerant nation.
Bangladesh is low-lying and weak to floods and cyclones. It’s anticipated to be adversely affected by any sea stage rise.
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH: THE FACTS
- Capital: Dhaka
- Space: 148,460 sq. km
- Inhabitants: 165.1 million
- Language: Bengali
- Longevity: 71 years (males) 74 years (girls)
LEADER
President: Mohammed Shahabuddin
Mohammed Shahabuddin was elected unopposed within the 2023 presidential election. He was nominated by the ruling Awami League. Earlier than being elected to the largely ceremonial put up, he had served as a choose and as a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Fee.
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina has secured her fourth consecutive time period as prime minister in a disputed election in January 2024 – she has been prime minister since 1996.
Her Awami League celebration and its allies received 223 of the 300 parliamentary seats contested, amid a boycott by the principle opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) and following mass arrests of BNP leaders and supporters.
Official figures instructed a low voter turnout of round 40%, though critics stated even these figures might have been inflated. As compared, the final election in 2018 had a turnout of greater than 80%.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimated that round 10,000 activists had been arrested after an opposition rally on October 28, 2023 turned violent, ensuing within the loss of life of at the least 16 folks and the damage of greater than 5,500. He accused the federal government of “filling jails with political opponents of the ruling Awami League”.
Fears have been raised that this new victory for the Awami League might result in de facto one-party rule.
Few observers count on the federal government to ease its crackdown – particularly if opposition events and civil society teams proceed to boost questions concerning the authorities's legitimacy.
The BNP boycotted the elections after the Awami League rejected their calls for for an unbiased interim authorities to preside over the elections.
TV is the principle medium. State-run BTV has nationwide terrestrial protection and privately owned satellite tv for pc channels are extensively adopted.
The media tends to polarize, aligning itself with one or the opposite of the principle political factions.
AUDIT,
Some vital dates within the historical past of Bangladesh:
1204 – Muslim conquest of Bengal.
14th century – Bengal sees the rise of three city-states; Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti.
1352 – Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah unites the three city-states into the Sultanate of Bengal, which dominates the world for a lot of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
17th century – Mughal Empire controls Bengal.
18th century – The Nawabs of Bengal, inside the Mughal Empire, turned the de facto unbiased rulers of the world.
1757 – After the Battle of Plassey, Bengal is the primary area of the Indian subcontinent to be conquered by the British East India Firm.
1947 – British colonial rule over India ends. A predominantly Muslim state comprising East and West Pakistan, on both aspect of India, was created. The 2 provinces are separated from one another by greater than 1,500 km of Indian territory.
1971 – Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan) turns into unbiased after a conflict with West Pakistan – now simply Pakistan – with India supporting Bengali nationalists in opposition to Pakistan.
1973 – The primary parliamentary elections give the Awami League a landslide victory.
1975 – A army coup sees founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his relations killed, ending civilian rule.
1979 – The second parliamentary elections convey to energy the Bangladesh Nationalist Get together of former military chief Ziaur Rahman.
1981 – President Ziaur Rahman was killed through the failed army coup.
1982 – Common Hussain Muhammad Ershad takes energy in a coup. He suspends the structure and political events.
1991 – The nation returns to a parliamentary authorities system.
2006-2008 – The political disaster causes the leaders of each main events to be arrested for a short while.
2014-17 – Bangladesh faces a marketing campaign of violence by Islamists in opposition to bloggers, atheists and secular intellectuals.