Bangladesh,
a country in Asia,
is surrounded by India on
all sides, except for the southeast tip that borders with Myanmar and
the southern border shared with the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh
is about the size of Wisconsin and Dhaka is the nation's capital and
largest city.
A low-lying country prone to floods and tropical storms, Bangladesh has suffered tremendous damage to its land and people. Two-thirds of the land suffers from flooding during the year, destroying lives, property, and crops, which is especially difficult since Bangladesh relies heavily on its agriculture for economic growth.
Approximately 15 percent of Bangladesh is forested, with a jungle region, tidal forest, and a tropical rain forest. Bangladesh is home to wild animals such as tigers, crocodiles, elephants, and leopards.
An estimated 147.3 million people make up Bangladesh's population. Ninety-eight percent of them are Bengalis who speak Bengali, the national language. English is also spoken. Tribal hill people, who make up the rest of the population, speak a variety of languages. Most people live in the country or remote areas of Bangladesh. About 40 percent of the population is literate.
Unsanitary conditions are prevalent in Bangladesh, and contribute to widespread illness. Water and food supplies are usually contaminated as a result of the flooding that accompanies seasonal storms. Each year, the population suffers from tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera, among other chronic illnesses.
For centuries, Bangladesh was dominated by larger political systems, but in 1971, the country declared its independence. The constitution of 1972 outlined a parliamentary government headed by a prime minister. In 1975, it was revised to declare that an elected president would serve as chief of state. Bangladesh's first president was assassinated, which left the country with years of military rule intersecting with elected governments. In 1991, the constitution was revised again to ensure that the country return to its tradition of parliamentary government.
Major religions practiced are Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
The taka is the basic unit of currency.
Web Sites
Catalog
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