Bangladesh

Bangladesh,officially thePeople's Republic of Bangladesh,is a country inSouth Asia. It is theeighth-most populous countryin the world and among themost densely populatedwith a population exceeding 170 million within an area of 147,570 square kilometres (56,980 sq mi). Bangladesh shares land borders withIndiato the north, west, and east, andMyanmarto the southeast. To the south, it has a coastline along theBay of Bengal. To the north, it is separated fromBhutanandNepalby theSiliguri Corridor, and fromChinaby the mountainous Indian state ofSikkim.Dhaka, the capital andlargest city, is the nation's political, financial, and cultural centre.Chittagongis the second-largest city and the busiest port of the country. The official language isBengali.Islamis the official andlargest religionandBengali Muslimsform the largestethnoreligious groupin the country.
Bangladesh is part of the historic andethnolinguisticregion ofBengal, which was divided during thePartitionofBritish Indiain 1947 as theeastern exclaveof theDominion of Pakistan. Ancient Bengal was known asGangaridaiand was a stronghold of pre-Islamic kingdoms. TheMuslim conquestafter 1204 led to the sultanate andMughalperiods, during which an independentBengal Sultanateand wealthyMughal Bengaltransformed the region into an important centre of regional affairs, trade, and diplomacy. TheBattle of Plasseyin 1757 marked the beginning of British rule for next 200 years. ThecreationofEastern Bengal and Assamin 1905 set a precedent for the emergence of Bangladesh. TheAll-India Muslim League, which was founded inDhakain 1906,fought for a separate Bengali Muslim homeland in the Eastern Bengal, which was proposed in theLahore Resolutionin 1940 byA. K. Fazlul Huq, the firstPrime Minister of Bengal. The present-day territorial boundary was established with the announcement of theRadcliffe Line.
In 1947,East Bengalbecame the most populous province in the Dominion ofPakistanand was renamedEast Pakistan, with Dhaka as the legislative capital. TheBengali Language Movementin 1952, the1958 Pakistani coup d'état, and the1970 Pakistani general electionspurredBengali nationalismandpro-democracymovements. The refusal of the Pakistanimilitary juntato transfer power to theAwami League, led bySheikh Mujibur Rahman, triggered theBangladesh Liberation Warin 1971. TheMukti Bahiniwaged a successfularmed revolution; the conflict saw theBangladeshi genocide. The country came into existence on 16 December 1971 after thesurrender of Pakistan, ending the 9-month longLiberation War.
After the war,Sheikh Mujibbecame the leader of the country.Mujib's assassinationin 1975 led to the rise ofZiaur Rahman, who himself wasassassinatedin 1981. The 1980s was dominated by the presidency ofHussain Muhammad Ershad, who was overthrown in amass uprisingin 1990. After 1990, the "Battle of theBegums" betweenKhaleda ZiaandSheikh Hasinadefined Bangladesh's politics and history for next three decades. Following the overthrow of Hasina in astudent–led mass uprisingin August 2024, aninterim governmentled by Nobel Peace laureateMuhammad Yunustook power.
Bangladesh is aunitaryparliamentary republicbased on theWestminster system. It is amiddle powerwith thesecond-largest economyinSouth Asia. Bangladesh is home to thethird-largest Muslim-majority populationand thefifth-most spoken native language. It maintains thethird-largest militaryin South Asia and is the largest contributor toUN peacekeepingoperations. It consists ofeight divisions,64 districts, and495 sub districts, and includes thelargest mangrove forestin the world. However, Bangladesh has one of the largestrefugee populationsin the world and continues to face challenges such ascorruption,political instability,overpopulation, and theeffects of climate change. It has twice chaired theClimate Vulnerable Forumand hosts the headquarters of theBIMSTEC. Bangladesh is also a founding member ofSAARCand a member of theOICand theCommonwealth of Nations.
The etymology ofBangladesh("Bengali country") can be traced to the early 20th century, when Bengali patriotic songs, such asAaji Bangladesher HridoybyRabindranath TagoreandNamo Namo Namo Bangladesh MomobyKazi Nazrul Islam, used the term in 1905 and 1932 respectively.Starting in the 1950s, Bengali nationalists used the term in political rallies inEast Pakistan.
The termBanglais a major name for both theBengalregion and theBengali language. The origins of the termBanglaare unclear, with theories pointing to aBronze Ageproto-Dravidiantribe,and the Iron AgeVanga Kingdom.The earliest known usage of the term is theNesari platein 805 AD. The termVangala Desais found in 11th-century South Indian records.The term gained official status during theSultanate of Bengalin the 14th century.Shamsuddin Ilyas Shahproclaimed himself as the first "Shahof Bangala" in 1342.The wordBangālbecame the most common name for the region during the Islamic period.16th-century historianAbu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarakmentions in hisAin-i-Akbarithat the addition of the suffix"al"came from the fact that the ancient rajahs of the land raised mounds of earth in lowlands at the foot of the hills which were called "al".This is also mentioned inGhulam Husain Salim'sRiyaz-us-Salatin.
The Indo-Aryan suffixDeshis derived from the Sanskrit worddeśha, which means "land" or "country". Hence, the nameBangladeshmeans "Land of Bengal" or "Country of Bengal".
The history of Bangladesh dates back over four millennia to theChalcolithicperiod. The region's early history was characterized by a succession ofHinduandBuddhistkingdoms and empires that fought for control over theBengal region.Islamarrived in the 8th century and gradually became dominant from the early 13th century with the conquests led byBakhtiyar Khaljiin 1204 and the activities ofSunnimissionaries likeShah Jalal. Muslim rulers promoted the spread of Islam by building mosques across the region. In 1338Fakhruddin Mubarak Shahestablished independentsultanatein Bengal, establishing the capital atSonargaonand founded an individual currency. The Bengal Sultanate expanded under rulers likeShamsuddin Ilyas Shah, leading to economic prosperity and military dominance, with Bengal being referred to by Europeans as the richest country to trade with. The region later became a part of theMughal Empire. By the 18th century,Mughal Bengalemerged as the wealthiest province of the empire.
Following the decline of the Mughal Empire in the early 1700s,Bengalbecame a semi-independent state under theNawabs of Bengal, founded byMurshid Quli Khanin 1717. In 1757 the state led bySiraj-ud-Daulahwas defeated by the BritishEast India Companyin theBattle of Plassey. The British abolished local rule in Bengal in 1793 following their victories at the Battle of Plassey (1757) and theBattle of Buxar(1764), effectively taking complete control of the region; this event is considered the end of the Nawab's power in Bengal and the start of direct British rule in Bengal. Bengal played a crucial role in theIndustrial Revolutionin Britain at the expense of flight of Bengal's capital, and also faced significantdeindustrialization. TheGreat Bengal famine of 1770resulted in millions of deaths. TheBengal Presidencywas established during British rule.
The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with thepartition of Bengalbetween India and Pakistan during thePartition of Indiain August 1947, when the region becameEast Pakistanas part of the newly formedDominion of Pakistanfollowing the end of theBritish rule in the region.TheProclamation of Bangladeshi Independenceon 26 March 1971 bySheikh Mujibur Rahmanled to the nine-month-longBangladesh Liberation War, which culminated in the emergence of the independent People's Republic of Bangladesh after victory was achieved on 16 December 1971.Dhakabecame the capital of independent Bangladesh.
TheConstitution of Bangladesh, enacted in 1972, established a democratic state with fundamental rights, an independent judiciary, and an elected parliament called theJatiya Sangsad.Since gaining independence, Bangladesh has faced issues of political instability, economic reconstruction, and social transformation. The country experiencedone party socialismunder Sheikh Mujib in 1975, followed by military coups and military rule, notably underGeneral Ziaur RahmanandGeneral Hussain Muhammad Ershad. During the 1970s and the 1980s gradual economic liberalization and free market reforms were promoted, whileIslamwas declared thestate religionin 1988. The country however experienced severe population boom despite its small land.After the restoration ofparliamentary democracyin 1991, the country saw power alternate betweenKhaleda Ziaof theBangladesh Nationalist PartyandSheikh Hasinaof the Awami League, an era dubbed the "Battle of theBegums"; which defined Bangladesh's politics and history for next 34 years.For most of the 21st Century, Bangladesh has achieved significant economic growth, emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, driven by itsgarment industry, remittances, and infrastructure development. However, it continues to grapple with political instability, human rights issues, and the impact of climate change. The return of the Awami League to power on 6 January 2009 underSheikh Hasina's leadership saw economic progress but criticisms ofauthoritarianism. Bangladesh has played a critical role in addressing regional issues, including theRohingya refugee crisis, which has strained its resources and highlighted its humanitarian commitments.
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable feats in reducing itspoverty rate, which has gone down from 80% in 1971,to 44.2% in 1991,all the way down to 18.7% in 2022.It has emerged as the second-largest economy in South Asia,surpassing the per capita income levels of both India and Pakistan.As part of thegreen transition, Bangladesh's industrial sector emerged as a leader in building green factories, with the country having the largest number of certified green factories in the world in 2023.In January 2024, Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth straight term in Bangladesh's controversialgeneral election. Followinga mass uprisingagainst the Awami League government, on 5 August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wasforced to resign and fleeto India.Aninterim governmentwas formed on 8 August 2024, with Nobel laureateMuhammad Yunusas theChief Advisor.
Bangladesh is in South Asia on theBay of Bengal. It is surrounded almost entirely by neighbouring India, and shares a small border withMyanmarto its southeast, though it lies very close toNepal,Bhutan, and China. The country is divided into three regions. Most of the country is dominated by the fertileGanges Delta, the largest river delta in the world.The northwest and central parts of the country are formed by theMadhupurand theBarindplateaus. The northeast and southeast are home toevergreenhill ranges.
The Ganges delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local namePadmaorPôdda),Brahmaputra(JamunaorJomuna), andMeghnarivers and their tributaries. The Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna, finally flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is called the "Land of Rivers",as it is home to over 57trans-boundary rivers, the most of any nation-state. Water issues are politically complicated since Bangladesh is downstream of India.
Bangladesh is predominantly rich fertile flat land. Most of it is less than 12 m (39 ft) above sea level, and it is estimated that about 10% of its land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by 1 m (3.3 ft).12% of the country is covered by hill systems. The country'shaorwetlands are of significance to global environmental science. Thehighest point in Bangladeshis theSaka Haphong, located near the border with Myanmar, with an elevation of 1,064 m (3,491 ft).Previously, eitherKeokradongorTazing Dongwere considered the highest.
In Bangladeshforest coveris around 14% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,883,400 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 1,920,330 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 1,725,330 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 158,070 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to beprimary forest(consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 33% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be underpublic ownership.
Straddling theTropic of Cancer, Bangladesh's climate is tropical, with a mild winter from October to March and a hot, humid summer from March to June. The country has never recorded an air temperature below 0 °C (32 °F), with a record low of 1.1 °C (34.0 °F) in the northwest city ofDinajpuron 3 February 1905.A warm and humidmonsoonseason lasts from June to October and supplies most of the country's rainfall. Natural calamities, such asfloods,tropical cyclones,tornadoes, andtidal boresoccur almost every year,combined with the effects ofdeforestation,soil degradationanderosion. Thecyclonesof 1970 and 1991 were particularly devastating, thelatterkilling approximately 140,000 people.
In September 1998, Bangladesh saw themost severe floodingin modern history, after which two-thirds of the country went underwater, along with a death toll of 1,000.As a result of various international and national level initiatives in disaster risk reduction, the human toll and economic damage from floods and cyclones have come down over the years.The2007 South Asian floodsravaged areas across the country, leaving five million people displaced, with a death toll around 500.
Bangladesh is recognised to be one of the countries mostvulnerable to climate change.Over the course of a century, 508 cyclones have affected the Bay of Bengal region, 17 percent of which are believed to have made landfall in Bangladesh.Natural hazardsthat come from increased rainfall, rising sea levels, and tropical cyclones are expected to increase as the climate changes, each seriously affecting agriculture, water and food security, human health, and shelter.It is estimated that by 2050, a three-foot rise in sea levels will inundate some 20 percent of the land and displace more than 30 million people.To address thesea level risethreat in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 has been launched.
Bangladesh is located in theIndomalayan realm, and lies within four terrestrial ecoregions:Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests,Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests,Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests, andSundarbans mangroves.Its ecology includes a long sea coastline, numerousrivers and tributaries, lakes,wetlands, evergreen forests, semi evergreen forests, hill forests, moistdeciduous forests, freshwater swamp forests and flat land with tall grass. The Bangladesh Plain is famous for its fertilealluvialsoil which supports extensive cultivation. The country is dominated by lush vegetation, with villages often buried in groves ofmango,jackfruit,bamboo,betel nut,coconut, anddate palm.The country has up to 6000 species of plant life, including 5000 flowering plants.Water bodies and wetland systems provide a habitat for many aquatic plants.Water liliesandlotusesgrow vividly during the monsoon season. The country has50 wildlife sanctuaries.
Bangladesh is home to most of theSundarbans, the world's largestmangrove forest, covering an area of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi) in the southwest littoral region. It is divided into three protected sanctuaries: theSouth,East, andWestzones. The forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The northeastern Sylhet region is home to haor wetlands, a unique ecosystem. It also includestropical and subtropical coniferous forests, afreshwater swamp forest, and mixed deciduous forests. The southeastern Chittagong region covers evergreen and semi-evergreen hilly jungles. Central Bangladesh includes the plainland Sal forest running along with the districts of Gazipur,Tangail, andMymensingh.St. Martin's Islandis the onlycoral reefin the country.
Bangladesh has an abundance ofwildlifein its forests, marshes, woodlands, and hills.The vast majority of animals dwell within a habitat of 150,000 square kilometres (58,000 sq mi).TheBengal tiger,clouded leopard,saltwater crocodile,black pantherandfishing catare among the chief predators in the Sundarbans.Northern and eastern Bangladesh is home to theAsian elephant,hoolock gibbon,Asian black bearandoriental pied hornbill.Thechitaldeer are widely seen in southwestern woodlands. Other animals include theblack giant squirrel,capped langur,Bengal fox,sambar deer,jungle cat,king cobra,wild boar,mongooses,pangolins,pythonsandwater monitors. Bangladesh has one of the largest populations ofIrrawaddyandGanges dolphins.The country has numerous species ofamphibians(53), reptiles (139),marine reptiles(19) andmarine mammals(5). It also has628 species of birds.
Several animals became extinct in Bangladesh during the last century, including the one-horned and two-hornedrhinocerosand commonpeafowl. The human population is concentrated in urban areas, limiting deforestation to a certain extent. Rapid urban growth has threatened natural habitats. The country has widespread environmental issues; pollution of theDhaleshwari Riverby the textile industry and shrimp cultivation in Chakaria Sundarbans have both been described by academics asecocides.Although many areas are protected under law, some Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by this growth. TheBangladesh Environment Conservation Actwas enacted in 1995. The government has designated several regions asEcologically Critical Areas, including wetlands, forests, and rivers. TheSundarbans tiger projectand the Bangladesh Bear Project are among the key initiatives to strengthen conservation.It ratified the RioConvention on Biological Diversityon 3 May 1994.As of 2014, the country was set to revise itsNational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Bangladesh, byconstitution, is aunitary stateand ade jurerepresentative democracywith aWestminster-styleparliamentary systemthat hasuniversal suffrage.Thegovernmentcan be divided into three pillars: the executive, the legislative and thejudiciary—all function harmoniously to ensure accountability, transparency and checks and balances of the government.Since its independence, theAwami League(AL) and theBangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) have remained two of the most powerfulpolitical parties in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is divided into eight administrative divisions,each named after their respective divisional headquarters:Barisal(officiallyBarishal),Chittagong(officiallyChattogram),Dhaka,Khulna,Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
Divisions are subdivided into districts (zila). There are 64 districts in Bangladesh, each further subdivided intoupazila(subdistricts) orthana. The area within each police station, except for those in metropolitan areas, is divided into severalunions, with each union consisting of multiple villages. In the metropolitan areas, police stations are divided into wards, further divided intomahallas.
There are no elected officials at the divisional or district levels, and the administration is composed only of government officials. Direct elections are held in each union (or ward) for a chairperson and several members. In 1997, a parliamentary act was passed to reserve three seats (out of 12) in every union for female candidates.
Bangladesh is considered amiddle poweringlobal politics.It plays an important role in the geopolitical affairs of theIndo-Pacific,due to its strategic location between South and Southeast Asia.Bangladesh joined theCommonwealth of Nationsin 1972 and the United Nations in 1974.It relies on multilateral diplomacy on issues like climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, trade policy and non-traditional security issues.Bangladesh pioneered the creation ofSAARC, which has been the preeminent forum for regional diplomacy among the countries of theIndian subcontinent.It joined theOICin 1974,and is a founding member of theDeveloping-8.In recent years, Bangladesh has focused on promoting regional trade and transport links with support from theWorld Bank.Dhaka hosts the headquarters ofBIMSTEC, an organisation that brings togethercountries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
Relationswith neighbouring Myanmar have been severely strained since 2016–2017, after over 700,000Rohingya refugeesillegally entered Bangladesh.The parliament, government, and civil society of Bangladesh have been at the forefront ofinternational criticismagainst Myanmar for military operations against the Rohingya, and have demanded theirright of returntoArakan.
Bangladesh shares an importantbilateral and economic relationshipwith its largest neighbour India,which is often strained bywater politicsof theGangesand theTeesta,and theborder killings of Bangladeshi civilians.Post-independent Bangladesh has continued to have a problematic relationship with Pakistan, mainly due to its denial of the 1971 Bangladesh genocide.It maintains awarm relationshipwith China, which is its largest trading partner, and the largest arms supplier.Japan is Bangladesh's largest economic aid provider, and the two maintain astrategic and economic partnership.Political relations with Middle Eastern countries are robust.Bangladesh receives 59% of its remittances from the Middle East,despite poor working conditions affecting over four millionBangladeshi workers.Bangladesh plays a major role inglobal climatediplomacy as a leader of theClimate Vulnerable Forum.
TheBangladesh Armed Forceshave inherited the institutional framework of theBritish militaryand theBritish Indian Army.In 2022, the active personnel strength of theBangladesh Armywas around 250,000,excluding the Air Force and the Navy (24,000).In addition to traditional defence roles, the military has supported civil authorities in disaster relief and provided internal security during periods of political unrest. For many years, Bangladesh has been the world's largest contributor toUN peacekeeping forces.Themilitary budget of Bangladeshaccounts for 1.3% of GDP, amounting to US$4.3 billion in 2021.
TheBangladesh Navy, one of the largest in the Bay of Bengal, includes afleetof frigates, submarines, corvettes, and other vessels. TheBangladesh Air Forcehas asmall fleetof multi-role combat aircraft. Most of Bangladesh's military equipment comes from China.In recent years, Bangladesh and India have increased joint military exercises, high-level visits of military leaders,counter-terrorismcooperation and intelligence sharing. Bangladesh is vital to ensuring stability and security innortheast India.
Bangladesh's strategic importance in the eastern subcontinent hinges on its proximity to China, its frontier with Burma, the separation of mainland and northeast India, and its maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal.In 2002, Bangladesh and China signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement.The United States has pursued negotiations with Bangladesh on aStatus of Forces Agreement, anAcquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreementand a General Security of Military Information Agreement.In 2019, Bangladesh ratified the UNTreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Since the colonial period, Bangladesh has had a prominentcivil society. There are various special interest groups, includingnon-governmental organisations, human rights organisations, professional associations,chambers of commerce, employers' associations, and trade unions.TheNational Human Rights Commission of Bangladeshwas set up in 2007. Notable human rights organisations and initiatives include theCentre for Law and Mediation,Odhikar, theAlliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, theBangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, theBangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Counciland theWar Crimes Fact Finding Committee. The world's largest international NGOBRACis based in Bangladesh. There have been concerns regarding the shrinking space for independent civil society in recent years.
Tortureis banned by theConstitution of Bangladesh,but is rampantly used by Bangladesh's security forces. Bangladesh joined theConvention against Torturein 1998 and it enacted its first anti-torture law, theTorture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, in 2013. The first conviction under this law was announced in 2020.Amnesty InternationalPrisoners of Consciencefrom Bangladesh have includedSaber Hossain ChowdhuryandShahidul Alam.The widely criticizedDigital Security Actwas repealed and replaced by the Cyber Security Act in 2023.The repeal was welcomed by theInternational Press Institute.
OnInternational Human Rights Dayin December 2021, theUnited States Department of the Treasuryannouncedsanctionson commanders of theRapid Action Battalionfor extrajudicial killings, torture, and other human rights abuses.Freedom Househas criticised the government for human rights abuses, the crackdown on the opposition, mass media, and civil society through politicized enforcement.Bangladesh is ranked "partly free" in Freedom House'sFreedom in the Worldreport,but itspress freedomhas deteriorated from "free" to "not free" in recent years due to increasing pressure from the government.According to the BritishEconomist Intelligence Unit, the country has ahybrid regime: the third of four rankings in itsDemocracy Index.Bangladesh was ranked 96th among 163 countries in the 2022Global Peace Index.According to National Human Rights Commission, 70% of alleged human-rights violations are committed by law-enforcement agencies.
LGBT rightsare frowned upon among social conservatives.Homosexuality is affected bySection 377of thePenal Code of Bangladesh, which was originally enacted by the British colonial government.The government only recognises thetransgenderandintersexcommunity known as theHijra.According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 1.2 million people were enslaved in Bangladesh as of 2021, which is among the highest in the world.
Like many developing countries,institutional corruptionis an issue of concern for Bangladesh. Bangladesh was ranked 146th among 180 countries onTransparency International's 2018Corruption Perceptions Index.Land administration was the sector with the most bribery in 2015,followed by education,policeand water supply.TheAnti Corruption Commissionwas formed in 2004, and it was active during the2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis, indicting many leading politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen forgraft.
Bangladesh'slower-middle incomemixed-market economyis among thefastest growing economiesin the world.A rapidlydeveloping country, it has the world's36th-largest economyby nominal terms, and the24th-largestbyPPP. Bangladesh has alabor forceof 71.4 million,which is the world'sseventh-largest; with an unemployment rate of 5.1% as of 2023.Itsforeign exchange reserves, although depleting,remain thesecond-highest in South Asia, after India. Bangladesh'slarge diasporacontributed roughly $27 billion inremittancesin 2024.TheBangladeshi takais the national currency.
As of 2023, the large service sector accounts for about 51.5% of total GDP, followed by the industrial sector (34.6%), while theagriculture sectoris by far the smallest, making up only 11% of total GDP;despite being the largest employment sector, providing roughly half of the total workforce.Over 84% of the export earnings come from thetextile industry.Bangladesh is the second-leading garments exporter in the world, and plays a crucial role in the globalfast fashionindustry, exporting to various Western fashion brands.It is also a major producer ofjute,rice,fish,tea,and flowers.Other major industries includeshipbuilding,pharmaceuticals,steel,electronicsandleather goods.Chinais thelargest trading partnerof Bangladesh, accounting for 15% of the total trade, followed by India; which accounts for 8% of the total trade.
The private sector accounts for 80% of GDP compared to the dwindling role of state-owned companies.Bangladesh's economy is dominated by family-ownedconglomeratesand small and medium-sized businesses. Some of the largest publicly traded companies in Bangladesh includeBEXIMCO,BRAC Bank,BSRM,GPH Ispat,Grameenphone,Summit Group, andSquare Pharmaceuticals.TheDhakaandChittagong Stock Exchangesare the country's twincapital markets.Itstelecommunications industryis one of the world's fastest growing, with 188.78 million cellphone subscribers at the end of November 2024.Political instability,high inflation,endemic corruption,insufficient power supplies,and slow implementation of reforms are major challenges to economic growth.
Thetourism industryis expanding, contributing some 3.02% of total GDP.Bangladesh's international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $391 million.The country hasthree UNESCO World Heritage Sites(the Mosque City,the Buddhist Viharaand theSundarbans) and sevententative-listsites.TheWorld Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC) reported in 2019 that the travel and tourism industry in Bangladesh directly generated 1,180,500 jobs in 2018 or 1.9% of the country's total employment.According to the same report, Bangladesh experiences around 125,000 international tourist arrivals per year.Domestic spending generated 97.7 percent of direct travel and tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.
Bangladesh, a country experiencing daily blackouts several times a day in 2009, achieved 100% electrification by 2022.It is gradually transitioning to agreen economyand has the largest off-grid solar power programme in the world, benefiting 20 million people.Anelectric carcalled thePalkiis being developed for production in the country.Biogasis being used to produce organic fertilizer.The under-constructionRooppur Nuclear Power Plant, under-construction with assistance from the Russian companyRosatom, will be the first operationalnuclear power plantin the country. Its first unit, out of the two total units, is expected to go into operation in 2025.
Bangladesh continues to have huge untapped reserves of natural gas, particularly in its maritime territory.A lack of exploration and decreasing proven reserves have forced Bangladesh to importLNGfrom abroad.Gas shortages were further exacerbated by theRussian invasion of Ukraine.Bangladesh stopped buyingspot priceLNG temporarily in July 2022, despite constant load-shedding, due to a steep price hike in the global market.It restarted buying spot price LNG once again in February 2023 as prices eased.
Whilegovernment-owned companies in Bangladeshgenerate nearly half of Bangladesh's electricity, privately owned companies like the Summit Group andOrion Groupare playing an increasingly important role in both generating electricity, and supplying machinery, reactors, and equipment.Bangladesh increased electricity production from 5 gigawatts in 2009 to 25.5 gigawatts in 2022. It plans to produce 50gigawattsby 2041. U.S. companies likeChevronandGeneral Electricsupply around 55% of Bangladesh's domestic natural gas production and are among the largest investors in power projects. 80% of Bangladesh's installed gas-fired power generation capacity comes from turbines manufactured in the United States.
According to the2022 Census, Bangladesh has a population of 165.1 million,and is theeighth-most-populous countryin the world, thefifth-most populous countryin Asia, and themost densely populated large countryin the world, with a headline population density of 1,265 people/kmas of 2020.Itstotal fertility rate(TFR), once among the highest in the world, has experienced a dramatic decline, from 5.5 in 1985 to 3.7 in 1995, down to 1.9 in 2022,which is below thesub-replacement fertilityof 2.1.The majority of Bangladeshis live in rural areas, with 40% of the population living in urban areas as of 2023.It has amedian ageof roughly 28 years, with 26% of the total population aged 14 or younger,and merely 6% aged 65 and above as of 2023.
Bangladesh is anethnically and culturally homogeneous society, asBengalisform 99% of the population.TheAdivasipopulation includes theChakmas,Marmas,Santhals,Mros,Tanchangyas,Bawms,Tripuris,Khasis,Khumis,Kukis,Garos, andBisnupriya Manipuris. The Chittagong Hill Tracts region experienced unrest and aninsurgencyfrom 1975 to 1997 in an autonomy movement by its indigenous people. Although a peace accord was signed in 1997, the region remains militarised.Urdu-speakingstranded Pakistaniswere given citizenship by the Supreme Court in 2008.Bangladesh also hosts over 700,000 Rohingya refugees since 2017, giving it one of the largest refugee populations in the world.
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and the largest city and is overseen by two city corporations that manage between them the northern and southern parts of the city. There are 12city corporationswhich hold mayoral elections: Dhaka South, Dhaka North,Chittagong,Comilla,Khulna,Mymensingh,Sylhet,Rajshahi,Barisal,Rangpur,GazipurandNarayanganj. There are, however, eight divisions in total. They are:Dhaka,Chittagong,Sylhet,Rangpur,Rajshahi,Khulna,MymensinghandBarishal. Mayors are elected for five-year terms. Altogether there are 506 urban centres in Bangladesh which 43 cities have a population of more than 100,000.
The official and predominant language of Bangladesh isBengali, which is spoken by more than 99% of the population as theirnative language.Bengali is described as adialect continuumwhere there are variousdialectsspoken throughout the country. There is adiglossiain which much of the population can understand or speak in Standard Colloquial Bengali, and in their regional dialect or language.These includeChittagonianwhich is spoken in the southeastern region of Chittagong,Noakhalispoken in the southern district ofNoakhaliandSylhetispoken in the northeastern region ofSylhet.
English plays an important role in Bangladesh's judicial and educational affairs, due to the country's history as part of the British Empire. It is widely spoken and commonly understood, and is taught as a compulsory subject in allschools,collegesanduniversities, while the English-medium educational system is widely attended.
Tribal languages, although increasingly endangered, include theChakma language, another native Eastern Indo-Aryan language, spoken by the Chakma people.Others areGaro,Meitei,KokborokandRakhine. Among theAustroasiatic languages, the most spoken is theSantali language, native to theSantal people.Thestranded Pakistanisand some sections of theOld Dhakaitesoften useUrduas their native tongue. Still, the usage of the latter remains highly reproached.
Islamis thestate religionof Bangladesh.However, theconstitutionalso upholds secularism and ensures equal rights for all religions.Every citizen has the freedom to practice any religion.
Islamthe largest religion across the country, being followed by about 91.1% of the population.The vast majority of Bangladeshi citizens areBengali Muslims, adhering toSunni Islam.The country is the third-most populous Muslim-majority state in the world and has the fourth-largest overall Muslim population.
Bengali Hindusform the country'ssecond-largest religious minorityand thethird-largest Hindu communityin the world. According to the2022 censusHindus form 7.95% of the total population.In the2011 census, Hindus formed 8.54% of the population.
Buddhismis the third-most followed religion, adhered to by merely 0.6% of the population.Bangladeshi Buddhists are concentrated among the tribal ethnic groups in theChittagong Hill Tractsand by theBengali Buddhistminority across coastal Chittagong, who mostly follow theTheravadaschool.
Christianityis the fourth-largest religion at 0.3%, followed mainly by a smallBengali Christianminority.0.1% of the population practices other religions such asAnimismor isirreligious.
The constitution states that all children shall receive free and compulsory education.Education in Bangladesh is overseen by theMinistry of Education. TheMinistry of Primary and Mass Educationis responsible for implementing policy for primary education and state-funded schools at a local level. Primary and secondary education iscompulsory, and is financed by the state and free of charge in public schools. Bangladesh has aliteracy rateof 76% as of 2021: 79% for males and 71.9% for females.Its educational system is three-tiered and heavily subsidised, with the government operating many schools at the primary, secondary and higher secondary levels and subsidising many private schools. However, government expenditure in education remains among the lowest in the world, at only 1.8% of the total GDP.
The education system is divided into five levels: primary (first to fifth grade), junior secondary (sixth to eighth grade), secondary (ninth and tenth grade), higher secondary (11th and 12th grade), and tertiary which is university level.Primary level students have to pass thePrimary Education Completion(PEC) exam to proceed to junior secondary. The junior secondary students then give theJunior School Certificate(JSC) exam to get enrolled in ninth grade, while tenth-grade students have to pass theSecondary School Certificate(SSC) exam to proceed to eleventh grade. Lastly, students have to pass theHigher Secondary Certificate(HSC) exam at grade twelve to apply for higher education or universities.
Universitiesare three general types: public (government-owned and funded by theUniversity Grants Commission), private (privately owned universities) and international (operated and funded by international organisations). The country has 55 public,115 privateand 2 international universities.National Universityis thethird-largest university in the world by enrolment.TheUniversity of Dhaka, established in 1921, is the oldest public university.BUETis the premiere university forengineering education. TheUniversity of Chittagong, established in 1966, has the largest campus.BUPis the largest public university affiliated with the armed forces.Dhaka College, established in 1841, is among the oldest educational institutes in the Indian subcontinent.Medical education is provided by 39 government, 6 armed force and 68 privatemedical colleges. All medical colleges are affiliated with theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare.
Bangladesh, by the constitution, guarantees healthcare services as a fundamental right to all of its citizens.TheMinistry of Health and Family Welfareis the largest institutional healthcare provider in Bangladesh,and contains two divisions:Health Service DivisionandMedical Education And Family Welfare Division.However, healthcare facilities in Bangladesh are considered less than adequate, although they have improved as the economy has grown and poverty levels have decreased significantly.Bangladesh faces a severe health workforce crisis, as formally trained providers make up a small percentage of the total health workforce.Significant deficiencies in the treatment practices of village doctors persist, with widespread harmful and inappropriate drug prescribing.
Bangladesh's poor healthcare system suffers from severe underfunding from the government.As of 2021, some 2.36% of total GDP was attributed to healthcare,and domestic general government spending on healthcare was 16.88% of the total budget,while out-of-pocket expenditures made up the vast majority of the total budget, totalling roughly 73%.Domestic private health expenditure was about 75.48% of the total healthcare expenditure.There were only 5.3 doctors per 10,000 people, and about six physiciansand six nurses per 1,000 people,while the number of hospital beds is 9 per 1,000.The specialist surgical workforce was only 3 per 100,000 people,and there were about 5 community health workers per 1,000 people.
Roughly 60% of the population had access todrinking waterin 2022.In 2002, it was estimated that half of the drinking water was polluted witharsenic, exceeding levels of 10 micrograms per litre.Bangladesh is crippled with one of the worst air qualities in the world, mostly concentrated in the densely populated urban areas, especially the capitalDhakaand itsmetropolitan area.The World Bank estimated that roughly 80,000-90,000 deaths occurred in Bangladesh due to the drastic effects of air pollution in 2019. It was second-leading cause of death and disability, costing the country roughly 4-4.4% percent of its total GDP.
As of 2022, the overall life expectancy in Bangladesh at birth was 74 years (72 years for males and 76 years for females).It has a comparably highinfant mortalityrate (24 per 1,000 live births) andchild mortalityrate (29 per 1,000 live births).As of 2020,maternal mortalityremains high, clocking at 123 per 100,000 live births.Bangladesh is a key source market formedical tourismfor various countries, mainlyIndia,due to its citizens dissatisfaction and distrust over their own healthcare system.
The main causes of death arecoronary artery disease,stroke, and chronicrespiratory disease; comprising 62% and 60% of all adult male and female deaths, respectively.Malnutritionis a major and persistent problem in Bangladesh, mainly affecting the rural regions, more than half of the population suffers from it. Severe acute malnutrition affects 450,000 children, while nearly 2 million children have moderate acute malnutrition. For children under the age of five, 52% are affected byanaemia, 41% arestunted, 16% arewasted, and 36% areunderweight. A quarter of women are underweight and around 15% have short stature, while over half also suffer from anaemia.Bangladesh was ranked 84th out of the 127 countries listed in the 2024Global Hunger Index.
Traditional festivals includePahela Baishakh(BengaliNew Year), which is the major festival of Bengali culture; with widespread festivities.Pohela Falguncoincides withValentine's Day, and is celebrated with a display of music, dance and other cultural activities.Other festivals includeNabonnoand Poush Parbon, which celebrate new harvests of crops.Shakrainis an annual celebration, observed by flyingkites, occurring at the end ofPoush, the ninth month of theBengali calendar. The festival coincides withMakar Sankranticelebrated in India and Nepal.
Among religious festivals, the two biggest festivals of the Muslim majority areEid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month ofRamadan—andEid al-Adha, which is the festival ofsacrifice.Both Eids are celebrated with the longest streak ofnational holidays.Other Muslim festivals includeMawlid(Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi),Ashuraon the tenth day ofMuharram,Chaand Raat,andShab-e-Barat.The most celebrated Hindu festival isDurga Puja.Other major Hindu festivals includeKrishna JanmashtamiandRatha Yatra.The biggest festival of the Buddhists across the country isBuddha Purnima, which marks the birth ofGautama Buddha.Among Christians,Christmasis the most widely celebrated.
Patriotic national festivals include theLanguage Movement Day, which is celebrated on 21 February in remembrance of the martyrs of the 1952Bengali language movement.It was declared asInternational Mother Language DaybyUNESCOin 1999.Independence Dayis celebrated on 26 March to commemorate theproclamation of independencefrom Pakistan.Victory Dayis celebrated on 16 December to celebrate the victory in theBangladesh Liberation War.Public gatherings are observed at theShaheed MinarandNational Martyrs' Memorialduring the three latter festivals to pay homage to the fallen martyrs.
Bengali literature forms an important part of Bengali culture. TheCharyapadapoems dating back to the 10th to 12th centuries are the oldest extant examples of the Bengali language.During theBengal Sultanate, medieval Bengali writers were influenced byArabicandPersian literature.Milestones of the medieval age include theMangal-Kāvyas.TheVaishnava Padavalimovement was led by writers such asVidyapati,Chandidas,GovindadasandBalarama Dasa.Shreekrishna Kirtanawritten by Chandidas marked a particular height of poetic achievement since the Charyapadas.Other important works includeKrittibas Ojha's translation of theRamayana,Kashiram Das' translation of theMahabharata, andMaladhar Basu's translation of theBhagavata.Writers such asBipradas Pipilai,Vijay Gupta,Shah Muhammad Sagir,ZainuddinandAbdul Hakimwere important figures.Alaol, considered abard, is a prolific poet of medieval period.
TheBengal Renaissancefrom the late 18th century to the early 20th century had a profound effect on modern Bengali literature.Michael Madhusudan Duttinvented theblank versein Bengali literature.Mir Mosharraf Hossainwas the first prominent Bengali Muslim writer.Lalon, afakirpractisingSufismandsādhanāinfluenced thebauls.Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaywrote about the characteristics of the Bengali society.
Rabindranath Tagorewas the first Asian and non-European laureate of theNobel Prize in Literature.Kazi Nazrul Islamwas a revolutionary poet who espoused political rebellion against colonialism and fascism.Jibanananda Daswas the most recognized Bengali poet after Tagore and Nazrul.Begum Rokeyais regarded as the pioneer feminist writer of Bangladesh.Syed Mujtaba Aliis noted for hiscosmopolitanviews.Jasimuddinwas a renowned pastoral poet, popularly calledPalli Kabi(folk poet).Farrukh Ahmadis considered the poet of the "Islamic Renaissance".Syed Waliullahwas a notable novelist.
Shamsur RahmanandAl Mahmudare considered two of the greatest Bangladeshi poets to have emerged in the late 20th century.Ahmed Sofais regarded as the most important intellectual in the post-independence era.Sufia Kamalwas a major feminist writer.Humayun Ahmedwas the most popular author in post-Independence Bangladesh.Shahidul Zahirwas widely acclaimed for his usage ofmagical realism.Other major writers includeAkhteruzzaman Elias,Shawkat OsmanandSyed Shamsul Haq.Selina Hossainis a prolific female author in the modern era.Muhammad Zafar Iqbalis a pioneerscience fictionwriter.Anisul Hoqueis a popular contemporary literary figure.The annualEkushey Book FairandDhaka Lit Fest, organised by theBangla Academy, are among the largest literary festivals in South Asia.
The architecture of Bangladesh is intertwined with that of theBengal regionand the broaderIndian subcontinent. It is influenced by the country'sculture,religionandhistory.Hindu and Buddhist architectural remnants have been found inMahasthangarh, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE.NandipadaandSwastikasymbols have been found on stone querns in theWari-Bateshwar ruins, which indicate the presence ofHinduismin the area during theIron Age—from 400 to 100 BCE.TheSomapura Mahaviharabuilt under the rule of the BuddhistPala Empirein the 8th century is an outstanding example of the pre-Islamic era.Other BuddhistvihārasincludeShalban BiharinMainamatiandBikrampur ViharainBikrampur.Recent excavations have also uncovered new evidence of pre-Islamic smaller temples which served the Hindu, Buddhist andJainpopulations of the area.Indo-Islamic architecturecan be seen from the 13th century, especially in the unique mosque architecture of theBengal Sultanate, an example being theSixty Dome Mosqueamong others in theMosque City of Bagerhat—which is aUNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mughal Bengalsaw the spread ofMughal architecturein the region. Examples in Dhaka include theBara KatraandChoto Katrain Old Dhaka, theSat Gambuj MosqueinMohammadpurand theMusa Khan MosqueinCurzon Hall.Notable Mughal-era forts include theLalbagh FortinOld Dhaka, theIdrakpur FortinMunshiganj—and theHajiganj Fortand theSonakanda FortinNarayanganj, respectively.TheKantajew TempleandDhakeshwari Templeare excellent examples of late medievalHindu temple architecture.
Bengalivernacular architectureis noted for pioneering thebungalow.Panam NagarinSonargaonexhibits architectural influence from the Sultanate, Mughal, British and hybrid colonial traditions.Indo-Saracenic architectureflourished during theBritish Raj,examples include theCurzon Hallof theUniversity of Dhaka, theChittagong Court Building,Rangpur Town HallandRajshahi College. Thezamindargentry built many palaces in the latter style, including theAhsan Manzil, theBaliati Zamnidar Bari, theTajhat Palace, theRose Garden Palace, theDighapatia Palace, thePuthia Rajbari,Natore Rajbariand theMohera Zamindar Bari.Muzharul Islamis considered to be a pioneer ofmodernist movementin Bangladesh and South Asia.Louis Kahnis a notable foreign architect who designed theNational Parliament BuildinginSher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The recorded history of art in Bangladesh can be traced to the 3rd century BCE, whenterracottasculptures were made in the region. In classical antiquity, notable sculpturalHindu,Jain, andBuddhist artdeveloped in thePala Empireand theSena dynasty. TheBengal SultanatesawIslamic artevolve since the 14th century. During the Mughal rule,Jamdani, a unique design on finemuslin; was woven on Persianmotifsin Dhaka.It was classified by UNESCO as anIntangible cultural heritagein 2013.Bangladesh also produces theRajshahi silk, a fine silk renowned for its softness and ability to create sophisticated designs.Ivory,brassandpotteryhas deep roots in Bangladeshi culture.TheNakshi Kantha, a centuries-oldembroiderytradition forquiltsin Bengal, is made throughout Bangladesh.
Themodern artmovement in Bangladesh took shape in post-independenceEast Bengal, especially with the pioneering works ofZainul Abedin.Other leading painters includeSM Sultan,Mohammad Kibria,Safiuddin Ahmed,Shahabuddin Ahmed,Kanak Chanpa Chakma,Qayyum Chowdhury,Rashid Choudhury,Quamrul Hassan,Rafiqun NabiandSyed Jahangir.
Novera Ahmedis the pioneer of modernist sculpture in Bangladesh.Other eminent sculptors includeNitun Kundu,Syed Abdullah Khalid,Hamiduzzaman Khan,Shamim Sikder,Ferdousi PriyabhashiniandAbdur Razzaque.The annualMangal Shobhajatra(Bengali New Year parade) organized by theFaculty of Fine Artsof the University of Dhaka onPohela Boishakhwas enlisted as an Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2016.Photographyas a form of art has seen exponential growth in the 21st century.Chobi Mela, held biennially, is considered the largest photography festival in Asia.
Lungiis the most common informal clothing for men,whilekurta(panjabi) andpajamaare worn by men on festivals and holidays.Domesticallytailoredsuits,necktiesandpantsare customarily worn by men at formal events, and the traditionalsherwaniandchuridarare worn along with theturbanin weddings.Women commonly wear theshalwar kameezaccompanied byorna; whilesariis worn on more formal events.Some women followIslamic clothing.
Theatre in Bangladeshincludes various forms with a history dating back to the 4th century CE.It includes narrative forms, song and dance forms, supra-personae forms, performances with scroll paintings, puppet theatre and processional forms.TheJatrais the most popular form of Bengali folk theatre.Apart from the various forms ofIndian classical dances, including theKathakali,Bharatanatyam,OdissiandManipuri dances–native dance traditions have formed across the country.
Music of Bangladeshcan be classed intoclassical, light-classical,devotional, andpopular. Classical music in Bangladesh is represented by the common forms of devotional music across the Indian subcontinent; such as theHindustani classical musicgenredhrupadandkhayal. Other major forms includeqawwaliandkirtan.Rabindra SangeetandNazrul Sangeetretain their popularity.Nativefolk musicfeatures thebaulmysticaltradition, which was popularised byLalonin the 18th century, and is listed by UNESCO as aMasterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage.Other native lyric-based forms of folk music includebhatiali,bhawaiya,dhamail,kavigan,jarigan,sari gan, marfati, andgombhira.
Folk music is accompanied by instruments such as theektara,dotara,dhol,bansuri(a type offlute), mandira,khanjani,sarinda,khamak,dugdugi,juri, jhunjhuni andmajira(a type ofcymbal).Bangladesh has a rich tradition ofIndian classical music, which uses instruments like thesitar, tabla,sarod, andsantoor.Musical organisations and schools such as theBangladesh Shilpakala AcademyandChhayanauthave played significant roles in preserving the traditions of Bengali folk music.
Sabina YasminandRuna Lailaare considered two of the greatest female playback singers in the country.Andrew Kishore, another leading playback singer, is considered the "King of Playback".Azam Khan, nicknamed the "Pop Samrat" and the "Rock Guru", is a founding figure ofBangladeshi rock.Musicians such asAyub BachchuandJameshave also gained nationwide popularity.Shayan Chowdhury Arnobhas been an influential figure inindie rock.Popular pop singers in the 21st century includeHabib WahidandTahsan Rahman Khan.Influentialheavy metalincludeArtcellandWarfaze.
The history of press in Bangladesh dates back to 1860, when the first printing press was established in Dhaka.The media in Bangladesh is diverse, competitive, commercial and profitable.Prominent news agencies in Bangladesh includeBangladesh Sangbad Sangstha(BSS) andBdnews24.com.Televisionis the most popular form of media consumption.Bangladesh Television(BTV) is the sole state-owned television network with nationwide coverage.Private television networks includeATN Bangla,Channel I,NTV,RTV,Ekushey TV,Ekattor TV,Jamuna TVandSomoy TV.Print media is the second-most widely consumed, and newspapers are privately owned and outspoken, includingThe Daily Star,Dhaka Tribune,The Financial Express,Bangladesh Pratidin,Kaler Kantho,Prothom Alo,The Daily IttefaqandJugantor.
Bangladesh Betaris the lone state-run radio service.Radio Foorti,Radio Today,Radio Aamarand ABC Radio were popular privately-owned radio stations; popularity of radio has declined significantly.Popular foreign media includeBBC News(BBC Bangla),CNN,VOAandAl Jazeera.Indian television dramain particular has established a "cultural hegemony" over Bangladeshi satellite television.Freedom of the pressremains a major concern due to government attempts at censorship and the harassment of journalists. Bangladesh ranked 165th out of the 180 countries listed in the 2024World Press Freedom Index, among the lowest rankings in the world.
Thecinema of Bangladeshdates back to a screening of abioscopein 1898.TheNawabs of Dhakapatronised the production of severalsilent filmsfrom the 1900s.Picture House, the first permanent cinema in Dhaka, began its operation during the year between 1913-1914.Sukumari(The Good Girl), released in 1929, was the first film produced in Bangladesh.Last Kiss, the first full-length feature film, was released in 1931.By 1947, a total of 80 cinemas were listed.The first Bengali-language film in East Pakistan,Mukh O Mukhosh(Face and Mask), was released in 1956.Akash ar Mati(Sky and Earth), released in 1959, was the second film as such.
TheBangladesh Film Development Corporationwas founded in Dhaka as the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation in 1957-1958, as the full-service film production studio.Zahir Raihanmade various influential films throughout the period, notablyKokhono Asheniin 1961,Shangamin 1964 (the firstcolor filmin Pakistan), andJibon Theke Neowain 1970.The film industry in Dhaka positioned itself as the base for a Bengali Muslim cinema from the 1960s and onwards.The first movie post-Independence,Ora Egaro Jon, was directed byChashi Nazrul Islamand released in 1972.At the industry's peak, about 80 movies were produced each year between 1996-2003, a number which has constantly declined thereafter.Prominent directors includeKhan Ataur Rahman,Alamgir Kabir,Amjad Hossain,Humayun Ahmed,Morshedul Islam,Tanvir Mokammel,Tareque Masud,Salahuddin LavluandEnamul Karim Nirjhar.Tareque Masud was honoured byFIPRESCIat the 2002Cannes Film Festivalfor his filmMatir Moina(The Clay Bird).Film societeshave played a crucial role in the development of cinema in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi cuisine, formed by its geographic location and climate, is rich and diverse; sharing its culinary heritage with the neighbouring Indian state ofWest Bengal.The staple dish iswhite rice, which along with fish, forms the culinary base. Varieties ofleaf vegetables, potatoes,gourdsandlentils(dal) also play an important role.Curriesof beef,mutton, chicken and duck are commonly consumed,along with multiple types ofbhortas(mashed vegetables),bhajis(stir friedvegetables) andtarkaris(curriedvegetables).Mughal-influenced dishes includekormas, kalias,biryanis,pulaos,teharisandkhichuris.
Among the various used spices,turmeric,fenugreek,nigella,coriander,anise,cardamomandchili powderare widely used; a famous spice mix is thepanch phoron. Condiments and herbs used includered onions,green chillies, garlic,ginger,cilantro, andmint.Coconut milk,mustard paste,mustard seeds,mustard oil,ghee,acharsandchutneysare also widely used in the cuisine.
Fish is the main source of protein, owing to the country's riverine geography, and it is often enjoyed with itsroe. Thehilsais the national fish and is immensely popular; a famous dish isshorshe ilish. Other highly consumed fishes includerohu,pangas, andtilapia.Lobsters,shrimpsanddried fish(shutki) also play an important role, with thechingri malai currybeing a famous shrimp dish.In Chittagong, famous dishes includekala bhunaandmezban, the latter being a traditionally popular feast, featuring the serving ofmezbani gosht, a hot and spicy beef curry.In Sylhet, theshatkoralemons are used to marinate dishes, a notable one isbeef hatkora.Among the tribal communities in theChittagong Hill Tracts, cooking withbamboo shootsis popular.Khulna is renowned for usingchui jhal(piper chaba) in its meat-based dishes.
Bangladesh has a vast spread of desserts, including distinctivesweetssuch as therôshogolla,roshmalai,chomchom,sondesh,mishti doiandkalojaam, andjilapi.Pithasare traditional boiled desserts made with rice or fruits.Halwa,shemaiandfalooda, the latter two being a variation ofvermicelli; are popular desserts during religious festivities.Ruti,naan,paratha,luchiandbakarkhaniare the main local breads.Hotmilk teais the most commonly consumed beverage in the country, being at the centre ofgroup conversations.Borhani,matthaandlassiare popular traditionally consumed beverages.Kebabsare widely popular, particularlyseekh kebab,chapli kebab,shami kebab,chicken tikkaandshashlik, along with various types ofchaaps.Popular street foods includechotpoti,jhal muri,shingara,samosaandfuchka.
In rural Bangladesh, severaltraditional indigenous sportssuch asKabaddi,Boli Khela,Lathi KhelaandNouka Baichremain fairly popular. While Kabaddi is the national sport,Cricketis the most popular sport in the country. Thenational cricket teamparticipated in their firstCricket World Cupin 1999 and the following year was grantedTest cricketstatus. Bangladesh reached the quarter-final of the2015 Cricket World Cup, the semi-final of the2017 ICC Champions Trophyand they reached the final of theAsia Cup3 times – in 2012, 2016, and 2018.Shakib Al Hasanis widely regarded as one of the greatestall-roundersin the history of the sport.On 9 February 2020, theBangladesh national under-19 cricket teamwon the men'sUnder-19 Cricket World Cup, which was the country's first World Cup victory.TheBangladesh national under-19 cricket teamalso won theU-19 Asia cupin 2023 and 2024 consecutively.In 2018, theBangladesh women's national cricket teamwon the2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia CupdefeatingIndia women's national cricket teamin the final.
Footballis the second-most popular sport in Bangladesh, following cricket.The first instance of a national football team was the emergence of theShadhin Bangla football teamduring the liberation war of 1971.On 25 July 1971, the team's captain,Zakaria Pintoo, became the first person to hoist the Bangladesh flag on foreign land before their match in neighboring India.Following independence, thenational football teammade its debut in 1973 and eventually achieved the feat of participating in theAFC Asian Cup(1980), becoming only the second South Asian team to do so.Bangladesh's most notable achievements in football include the2003 SAFF Gold Cupand1999 South Asian Games. TheBangladesh women's national football teamwon theSAFF Women's Championshipconsecutively in 2022 and 2024.
Bangladesh archers Ety Khatun and Roman Sana won several gold medals winning all the 10archeryevents (both individual and team events) in the2019 South Asian Games.TheNational Sports Councilregulates 42 sporting federations.Chessis very popular in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has five grandmasters in chess. Among them,Niaz Murshedwas the first grandmaster in South Asia.In 2010, mountain climberMusa Ibrahimbecame the first Bangladeshi climber to conquerMount Everest.Wasfia Nazreenis the first Bangladeshi climber to climb theSeven Summitsand theK2.
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