Population in Bangladesh. Bangladesh population. Fishing and forestry

The national composition of the state, which is one of the ten largest in the world in terms of population and population density, but occupies a small territory, is diverse. What is interesting: despite the fact that the majority of the population of the republic is the indigenous population, the state as a whole is represented by many small tribal peoples and is of interest in the ratio of the occupied territory to the density and number of Bangladesh residents. The density of the area of \u200b\u200bthe territory - these and other indicators affecting the demographic situation are considered in this material and analyzed taking into account the situation of other countries.

Briefly about Bangladesh

The Republic of Bangladesh is a unitary state: all parts of the country are in an equal position and do not have special status or rights. The small state is surrounded by India, with the exception of the 271 km section of the border with Myanmar and the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Today Bangladesh is an agrarian-industrial country with a developing economy, is distinguished by significant ethnocultural education, but remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. Periodically, the population suffers from serious natural disasters and social problems: floods that destroy agricultural land, prolonged droughts or terrorist attacks.

The state of Bangladesh is distinguished by its rich culture. The population density, by the way, in this case, is one of the forming factors in matters of cultural heritage, religion and peculiar traditions of the region. Such a people, different in ethnic composition and religious affiliation, who are forced to live in a small territory, surprisingly merges into a unique whole.

Territory of Bangladesh

The territory of the state is almost 150 thousand square kilometers. An insignificant share is occupied by the area of \u200b\u200bthe water surface - only 6.4 km 2 within the international borders. In terms of territory, Bangladesh ranks 92nd in the world and 27th in Asia. Compared to the cities of the Russian Federation: the territory of the state corresponds to the area of \u200b\u200bsuch cities as Belgorod, Tver or Murmansk, and half the size of Togliatti or Penza.

At the same time, the population size does not allow the residents of the Republic of Bangladesh to feel fully free. The population density of Russian cities, comparable in area, is 20, 76 and even 230 times less, respectively. Of course, this is not surprising at all, because the Asian state is the seventh largest population per square kilometer in the world.

The number of inhabitants of the republic

According to the country's census, the population of Bangladesh in 2010 was just over 140 million. According to the estimate, as of 2016, the figure increased by 30 million inhabitants. The data are proportional to the natural annual population growth, but slightly exceed the demographic projection.

Bangladesh's population is amazing. The republic is incomparable in size with the Russian Federation, but in terms of the number of inhabitants it surpasses Russia by 25 million people. Thus, both Bangladesh and Russia are home to 2% of the world's population.

Population distribution by regions

Bangladesh is a unitary state (all regions are in an equal position in relation to each other and the capital and do not have any exclusive rights) and is divided into eight administrative regions - divisions. Each region is named after the largest city in its composition.

Oblasts, in turn, are divided into counties, subdistricts, and police departments. Further, the division depends on the size of the settlement: in large cities several districts are subordinate to the police department, each of which consists of quarters, in small settlements - several communes.

Most of the population of Bangladesh is employed in agriculture (63%). Therefore, residents who live in large cities (administrative centers of regions and suburbs) are in the minority - only 27% of the total number of citizens. Moreover, 7% of the population is concentrated in the capital. In Russia, the ratio of residents of the capital to the total number of citizens is not much higher: 8.4%, while residents of large cities are more than 40%.

Comparison of Russia and Bangladesh in terms of population density in the capitals provides the following data: almost 5 thousand people per 1 km 2 in Moscow versus slightly more than 23 thousand inhabitants in Dhaka. The difference is almost five times not as great as the general indicator for countries, because the total population density in Russia is 134 times less than the corresponding size of the Asian state.

Demographic changes

The dynamics of change in the population of Bangladesh has a positive trend. The number of inhabitants is steadily increasing, which is typical for most developing countries. So, even at the beginning of the 20th century, almost 30 million citizens lived in the republic, by the beginning of World War II the population exceeded 40 million, and in 1960 the official census recorded 50 million inhabitants.

Since the Cold War, there has been a dramatic increase in population: over the past forty years of the twentieth century, the population has increased slightly more than doubled. At the same time, the republic is in 73rd place in the general list.

Average population density in Bangladesh

The population density of Bangladesh in 2016 is 1,165 people per square kilometer. The indicator is calculated as follows: the total population is divided by the territory of the state. As already mentioned, the republic ranks seventh in the world in terms of population density. Outpaced by Bangladesh Maldives, Malta, Bahrain, Vatican, Singapore and Monaco

For some reason, it is precisely questions about the population density of Bangladesh (in comparison with other countries) that are often found in school textbooks on geography for Russian eighth-graders:

1. "Where is the highest population density: in the UK, China, Bangladesh?" The answer can be found by referring to the reference books. So, the density is only 380 people per square kilometer, while China's - 143. Answer: Bangladesh.
2. "Compare Russia and Bangladesh in terms of population density." You can answer as follows: “The population density in Russia is very low and amounts to about 8 people / km 2. The population density of Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world - 1145 people / km 2, i.e. 143 times more. The low population density of the Russian Federation is explained by the vast unpopulated territories, the high rate in Bangladesh (population density) is typical for most developing countries ”.

Basic statistics

Other indicators in the field of demography are the distribution of the population by age, sex, literacy rate, fertility and mortality, as well as socially significant values: retirement and demographic load, replacement rate, life expectancy.

Today, most of the population (61%) are people of working age, the ratio of men to women is approximately 1: 1 (50.6% and 49.4%, respectively). The average life expectancy for both sexes is 69 years, which is only 2 years less than the global average.

The birth rate in Bangladesh is higher than the death rate, natural population growth is positive and amounts to 16 ‰ (or + 1.6%). Despite social, economic and food problems, demographic security (protection of the size and composition of the population from external and internal threats) in Bangladesh remains at a sufficient level.

Social burden on society

Bangladesh is experiencing a fairly significant social burden on society: each employed person must ensure the production of one and a half times more goods and services than is required for himself. The child load factor, that is, the ratio of the population below the working age to adults, is 56%. Aged dependency ratio (the ratio of people of retirement age to the working-age population) corresponds to most developing countries and is at the level of 7.6%.

National composition and languages

The population density in Bangladesh per 1 km2 is quite high (1145 people), which contributes to the mixing and dense interaction of cultures, religions and ethnocultural formations. The absolute majority are Bengalis (98%), the remaining percentage of the population are from North India.

Almost all residents of the country are fluent in Bengali, which is the official language. People from the Indian state of Bihar use Urdu in their daily lives. Part of the population (especially young people and citizens holding high-ranking officials) speaks fluent English.

The group of small peoples living in Bangladesh includes 13 main tribes and several other tribal peoples. They are classified by language:

1. Indo-European language family: Bengalis and Biharians, which make up the majority of the ethnic composition of Bangladesh, belong to it.
2. Sino-Tibetan language family: the peoples of the Tibeto-Burmese language family are widely represented (the Garo, Marma, Burmese, Mizo, Chakma and others). In total, they make up almost a million people in Bangladesh, to which are added 300,000 refugees from neighboring Myanmar (Burmese).
3. Austro-Asian language family: Munda (santalas, munda, ho) and khasi are distinguished. The tribes live in small groups in the western part of Bangladesh.
4. Dravidian language family: the northeastern group of the language family is represented by only one ethnic group - the Oraons or Kurukh (self-name). In terms of cultural and everyday features, the kurukh are close to the peoples of the Munda.

Thus, the ethnic and cultural diversity of the republic is significant. However, Bangladesh's society has not lost its collective character.

Religiousness of the population of the republic

The diversity of nationalities is the basis for the differences in the religious affiliation of the inhabitants. The republic is developing along the path of a secular state (at least, the government is making every effort to this), but Bangladesh de facto remains a religious country. In 1972, the process of forming a religious state was stopped by the High Court, which returned the development of the republic to the mainstream of the Constitution.

State religion - Islam - is practiced by almost ninety percent of the population. The Islamic community of Bangladesh has about 130 million people, making it the fourth largest in the world after Indonesia, India and Pakistan.

Adherents of Hinduism are 9.2% of the population, Buddhism - 0.7%, Christianity - 0.3%. Other religions and tribal cults make up only 0.1%, but boast an unprecedented diversity due to the large number of disunited tribes.

Republic problems

Bangladesh suffers from natural disasters and terrorism. In 2005-2013, terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 418 residents of the republic, terrorists and intelligence officers. But the situation is much worse with poverty, hunger, droughts, floods and other natural disasters. Thus, the cyclone in 1970 caused the death of half a million people, the famine of 1974-1975 and the catastrophic flood of 1974 claimed the lives of two thousand people, left millions of people homeless and destroyed 80% of the annual harvest.

Comparison of Bangladesh with developed countries

Bangladesh is a typical developing country. This fact confirms not only the historical past, but also the present socio-demographic and economic state of the republic.

Signs of a developing state	Bangladesh
Colonial past	Independence from Pakistan was proclaimed in 1971, until 1947 Bangladesh was a British colony
High social tension	The tension is confirmed by the high level of social and child load, social problems
The heterogeneity of the structure of society	The population of Bangladesh is represented by many nationalities that have differences in cultural and everyday characteristics.
High population growth	Developing countries have an average rate of natural growth of 2% per year, in Bangladesh the value is 1.6%
The predominance of the agricultural sector over the industrial	Bangladesh is an agricultural state, 63% of the population is employed in agriculture
Low per capita income	In Bangladesh, the figure is $ 1058 (2013), while the global national income per capita is $ 10,553, in Russia - $ 14,680
The prevalence of interest over pensioners	The aging of the nation is uncharacteristic for Bangladesh: people of retirement age are only 4% of the total population, while in developed countries the indicator is 20-30%
High population density	The republic ranks seventh in the world in terms of population density, the population density of Russia and Bangladesh differs by 143 times

Thus, Bangladesh is a typical developing country. Moreover, it is the poorest state among the overpopulated. The population density of Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world, and the number is higher than in Russia. At the same time, the territory of states cannot be compared.

Most foreigners believe that Bangladesh is a poor country with frequent cyclones and floods. However, in fact, you can vacation in Bangladesh all year round, but the best time to visit is winter, when there is no rain, and the ocean is still very warm. In this country, tourists will see a unique wildlife with beautiful waterfalls, nature reserves, botanical gardens, exotic animals and birds, Buddhist temples and monasteries, mosques, ancient palaces, and can also relax on the beautiful white beaches of the Bay of Bengal.

Geography of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is located in South Asia. Bangladesh borders India to the north, west and east, and Myanmar to the southeast. The total area of \u200b\u200bthis country is 144,000 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,246 km. In the south, the shores of Bangladesh are washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean.

The whole of Bangladesh is occupied by the lowland of the Ganges delta, at its confluence with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. In the southeast of the country, there is the highest peak - Mount Movdok, whose height reaches 1,052 m.

Capital

The capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka, which is now home to over 10 million people. Historians claim that the settlement of people in the territory of modern Dhaka existed already in the 7th century AD.

Official language

The official language of the population of Bangladesh is Bengali, which belongs to the Indo-European language family.

Religion

More than 90% of Bangladesh residents are Muslims (its Sunni branch), and about 8.7% are Buddhists.

State structure of Bangladesh

According to the current Constitution, Bangladesh is a parliamentary republic headed by a President. The unicameral parliament in Bangladesh is called Jatiya Sangsad and has 350 members.

Climate and weather

The climate in Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical monsoon with hot and rainy summers and dry winters. The coldest month is January (the average annual air temperature is + 26C), and the hottest is April (+ 33-36C). The average annual precipitation is 1,525 mm (in the foothills and mountains - 5,080 mm).

It rains during the monsoon (June-September) and a little during the winter (November-February).

From April to May and September to November, devastating cyclones hit Bangladesh.

The best time to visit Bangladesh is in winter, when it is dry and the sea is still very warm.

Sea in Bangladesh

In the south, the shores of Bangladesh are washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. The coastline is 580 km long.

Rivers and lakes

The river system in Bangladesh is considered one of the largest in the world. During the rainy season, rivers overflow their banks, which often leads to flooding. Therefore, houses in Bangladesh are built to avoid flooding. About 45 km northeast of Dhaka is the Madhabkunda river system, where tourists can see more than 30 beautiful waterfalls.

Culture

Bangladeshi culture was influenced by Islam and Buddhism. Of course, Islam is crucial.

Bangladeshians celebrate a huge number of Islamic and Buddhist holidays. Among them, first of all, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Pôhela Boishakh (New Year), "Buddha's Day", "Durga Puja" should be named.

During these and other holidays, tourists can see folk processions, religious processions, theatrical and religious performances, dance competitions, and musical performances.

Kitchen

Cuisine in Bangladesh ranges from very sweet and bland to very spicy. Even tourists from Southeast Asia and India, where spices are very fond of, Bangladeshi cuisine seems very spicy.

In general, Bangladeshi dishes are reminiscent of the culinary traditions of northeastern India. The people of Bangladesh use garlic, ginger, coriander, caraway seeds, turmeric (curry), and chili when cooking. Cardamom and cinnamon are commonly added to sweet dishes.

Fish dishes are very popular in Bangladesh - this country not only has access to the sea, but also has a large number of rivers and lakes. At least once a day, Bangladeshis eat fish.

As for meat, Bangladeshi residents prefer poultry and lamb. In recent years, beef dishes have become more common. But the most important product in Bangladesh is, of course, rice, which is steamed, fried and boiled.

Traditional soft drinks in Bangladesh are sweet milk tea, lassi (yoghurt), Misti Dhohi (sweetened yoghurt) and coconut water.

Bangladesh landmarks

In ancient Bangladesh, a large number of religious, architectural and historical monuments have survived to this day. The Top 10 best attractions in Bangladesh, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Mosque "Holy House" in Dhaka
2. Fort Lalbach in Dhaka
3. Ahsan-Manzil palace in Dhaka
4. Mainimachi ruins
5. Shahi Masjid Mosque in Chittagong
6. Ruins of the city of Goud
7. Mosque of the Stars in Dhaka
8. Ruins of the Buddhist monastery Vasu-Bihara
9. Chawk Mosque in Dhaka
10. Paharpur monastery near Jaipur

Cities and resorts

The largest Bangladeshi cities are Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna, Rangpur, and the capital is Dhaka.

Cox's Bazar beach resort is located in the southeast of the country, with a total length of 220 kilometers of beaches. The most popular beaches in Cox's Bazar are Inani Beach and Pateng. The snow-white Inani Beach with small boulders is considered one of the longest and widest in the world.

In the south of Bangladesh, tourists will find “Coconut Island” (St. Martin's Island), whose beaches are also considered one of the best in this country. The infrastructure is not developed here, and untouched nature and snow-white sand await tourists.

The resort area of \u200b\u200bKuakata is located 320 km south of Dhaka. The length of the beach in this area is 30 kilometers. The infrastructure is well developed here - with shops, restaurants and bars.

Souvenirs / shopping

Tourists from Bangladesh usually bring handicrafts, wood and leather goods, silver and gold jewelry, pink pearls (best bought in Dhaka), vases, silk fabrics, saris, coconut masks, shells, folk dolls.

Opening hours of institutions

The content of the article

BANGLADESH,People's Republic of Bangladesh, a state in South Asia, formed on the site of the former Pakistani province of East Pakistan. Its political leaders on March 26, 1971 announced the creation of an independent state called Bangladesh, which means "Bengali people". The actual founding date is December 16, 1971, when Pakistani troops surrendered to the combined command of the East Bengal and the Indian armed forces supporting them. The country is located mainly within the delta plains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra and the mountainous region at the junction with Myanmar and northeastern India. Bangladesh borders with India and on a very short stretch with Myanmar, in the south it is washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. Area 144 thousand sq. km. The population is 156 million people. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The capital and largest city is Dhaka.

Terrain relief.

The relief of the country was formed under the influence of the activities of the waters of the Ganges, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Meghna and their tributaries. Along the banks of the rivers, which form a multi-arm delta, there are riverbed ridges, the outer sides of which gently descend to swampy and moisture-saturated floodplain lowlands. Although hollow water leaves the banks only at the peak of floods, it can be kept in depressions throughout the year. The Ganges crosses the country from the western border in a southeast direction. After merging with Jamuna, their combined Padma flow also follows to the southeast, before merging with Meghna. Already under this name, the river flows into the Bay of Bengal, as well as the Ganges - Padma channels flowing directly to the south: Sibsa, Bhadra, Pusur, Garay - Madhumati, Kacha, Arialkhan, Burishwar.

Spills on large rivers last for several weeks. Hollow waters overcome the barrier of river-side ramparts and flood vast areas with muddy streams. Large areas of Dhaka and Faridpur districts in central Bangladesh are regularly flooded during floods, where alluvial soils, enriched with silt during floods, are characterized by high natural fertility. During floods, the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Jamuna and other rivers often change their channels. This often leads to erosion of agricultural land and the formation of new sandy islands in the wide channels of migratory streams.

In the north-east of the country, the spills of the Meghna tributaries are more stable. Along the base of the Shillong Plateau in India, there is a trough that extends further south into Bangladesh, where it is called the Meghna Basin. In places, the depression, even 320 km from the coast, is raised no more than 3 m above sea level. Hollow waters fill the depressions, forming lakes that exist from May to October.

Although the northwestern regions of Bangladesh, which are the interfluves of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, occupy a higher position, the maximum surface elevations barely exceed 90 m. Here, in the conditions of a gentle slope of the terrain to the south, erosion-accumulative relief forms prevail. The thickness of the sedimentary cover reaches several hundred meters. Catastrophic floods occur on the Tista River, and the channel often changes its position.

In the southeast of Bangladesh, the deeply dissected western ridges of the Lushai Mountains and Chittagong Mountains stretch from northwest to southeast. In the Chittagong mountains, individual peaks reach heights of approx. 900 m, and the highest point of the country is Mount Reng Tlang - 957 m. The first hydroelectric power station in the country was built in the middle reaches of the main river of this region, Karnaphuli.

Climate.

Bangladesh has a typically monsoon climate. Winters are mild, dry and sunny. Average daily January temperatures range from 12 ° to 25 ° C. Summers are hot, rainy, the average temperature of the hottest month - April 23–34 ° C. Average annual precipitation is 2000–3000 mm. In the dry season, from November to February or March, the eastern regions of the country usually receive less than 180 mm of atmospheric precipitation; in the northwest, less than 75 mm. From April to May is the season of "light rains", so necessary for the peasants preparing for plowing for the early sowing of autumn aus rice. In this hottest season, the amount of precipitation in eastern Bangladesh exceeds 380 mm, average daily minimum temperatures are 21-26 ° C, maximum - 32 ° C. The rainy period itself lasts from June to October, when the monsoon air flow invades from the Bay of Bengal and brings more than 1270 mm. The thermal regime is very stable: the air, as a rule, does not warm up above 31 ° C. At night, there can be noticeable cold snaps up to 6 ° C. Precipitation in April and September-October is of decisive importance for agriculture. Without the April rains to soften the earth, the sowing of aus rice and the main market crop, jute, has to be postponed. "Small rains" are unstable in terms of the amount of moisture they bring, which affects the sustainability of agricultural production. With light and delayed monsoon rains, severe crop failure of winter Amon rice is possible, which usually dominates crops and gives a higher yield than autumn Aus rice and summer boro rice combined. The coastal districts of Bangladesh, especially those adjacent to the Meghna estuary, are severely affected by tropical cyclones, leading to massive loss of life and severe material loss. For example, several hundred people became victims of the tide during the passage of one of these cyclones in November 1970. Floods cause major damage. A particularly severe flood occurred in 1998, when a third of the country's territory was flooded (which also led to an outbreak of epidemics). Less damage is caused by hail storms, which occur most often in March-April, and hurricanes.

Soils.

In the east of the country, at the foothills of steep mountains, colluvial soils have formed on coarse-gravel deposits and fine earth. The rest of Bangladesh has a variety of alluvial soils. Within the Barind and Madhupur Uplands, on the ancient Pleistocene alluvium, clayey lateritic soils dominate, the so-called. red khyar, which are strongly compacted in the dry season. Saline clayey heavy soils are widespread in deltaic areas within the range of sea tides. From the side of the Bay of Bengal, they are bordered by a strip of light sandy soils. In comparatively large depressions in the relief, soils of heavy texture prevail. Alluvial soils have a sandy and sandy composition in the valleys of the Brahmaputra, Meghna and Tista rivers and clayey in the Ganges basin.

Vegetable world.

Bangladesh is dominated by cultural landscapes. Natural vegetation has been preserved in only a few areas. For example, mangroves are common in the Sundarbans in the southwest of the country. They are dominated by the sundri tree. The Lushai and Chittagong mountains are home to moist tropical evergreen and monsoon forests that shed their foliage during the dry season. Such valuable species as teak and tallow trees are widespread in the forests. In the lowlands, where shift farming is practiced, indigenous forests are replaced by bamboo jungles. In most of the country's territory, forests have long been cleared, and agricultural lands predominate in their place.

Animal world.

The Bengal, or royal, tiger is sometimes found in the forests. Wild elephants live in the southeast. Rhinos, leopards, civets, jackals, muntjak deer and Indian sambar, wild boars are not uncommon. Crocodiles are common in the coastal waters of the Sundarban. There are many monkeys, bats, otters, mongooses, shrews, rats and common mice in Bangladesh, as well as many species of birds (peacocks, pheasants, partridges, ducks, parrots, Bengal vulture, etc.). Reptiles include snakes, including cobras and krait, as well as lizards, including geckos. Amphibians include salamanders, frogs and toads.

POPULATION

Demography.

According to the 1951 census, 44,957 thousand people lived in Bangladesh (then the province of East Pakistan), and in 1961 - 54,353 thousand people, i.e. annual demographic growth rates were approx. 2%. In the next decade, they rose to 2.7%. Despite the adopted program of "family planning" and the great loss of life due to the catastrophic cyclone in l970 and the civil war in 1971, the population continued to grow rapidly in the 1970s. According to the censuses of 1974 and 1981, the country had 76 398 thousand and 89 940 thousand inhabitants, respectively. the annual population growth was estimated at 2.4%. In 1981-1995, the rate of population growth decreased to 1.6% per year. In July 2004, the population was 141.34 million. Population growth declined slightly to 2.08%. In 2009 the population reached 156 million. The birth rate for 2004 is 30.03 per 1000 people, and the death rate is 8.52 per 1000 people.

The average life expectancy in the country was 61.71 (61.8 for men and 61.61 for women).

Density and distribution of the population.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world (the average population density is 1165 people per 1 sq. Km). The highest density is found in the Dhaka and Chittagong regions. In the suburban areas of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chittagong and Khulna, this figure exceeds 1,550 people per sq. km. The lowest population density is in the mountains (in Mountain Chittagong District 78 people per sq. Km in 1991), as well as in the coastal regions of Khulna and Patuakhali districts (300-350 people per sq. Km). In the districts of Dinajpur in the north-west and Sylhet in the north-east of the country in 1991, there were less than 400 people per sq. km.

National and confessional composition of the population and language.

Bangladesh is dominated by Bengalis. Their ethnic basis was predominantly Indo-Aryan tribes. Mongoloid peoples are concentrated in some eastern districts. The Bengali language, which is part of the Indo-Aryan language group, originated from Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali and was subsequently influenced by Arabic, Persian and English. Bengali replaced English as the official language, although the latter is used in government offices, business and educational institutions.

In 1947, when colonial India was divided into India and Pakistan, the territory of what is now Bangladesh became East Pakistan. Muslims predominated there, and Hindus were approx. 20%. The main language of the members of both denominations was Bengali. After 1947, almost 700,000 Muslims rushed to East Pakistan from the regions that became part of independent India, mainly from West Bengal and Assam (mainly Bengalis) and from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (the Urdu-speaking population). However, all immigrants from the last two provinces were often united under the collective name "bihari". Already at the end of the 19th century. Many non-Muslims, mostly indigenous peoples, came from Orissa and other parts of British India to work on the tea plantations of Sylhet. The 1961 census showed that over 6 million people in Bangladesh were born outside of Bangladesh. Bihari, whose number in 1971 exceeded 600 thousand people, worked primarily in industrial enterprises in cities. During the 1971 civil war, many biharis took a pro-Pakistani stance and provoked ill-will from Bengalis. The war forced several million residents, mostly non-Muslim Bengalis, to leave for India, although many refugees subsequently returned to Bangladesh. Of the national minorities, the ancient population of the country is considered to be the peoples living in the mountains, totaling approx. 500 thousand people. Culturally and in some cases anthropologically, they are associated with those ethnic groups, partially of Mongoloid roots, who live in the neighboring highlands of India and Myanmar. Chief among these minorities are the chakma, mogh, and tipper or tripura, while the rest are mru, kukis, lushei and khyang. Most of them are Buddhist, although some, like the tipper, are Hindu. In western Bangladesh, sandals are settled in small groups.

During the colonial period, the population of the mountainous Chittagong was legally protected from the expansion of inhabitants from the low-lying plains. After 1947, the migration flow to the upland regions increased markedly. As a response, the highlanders put forward a demand to protect their interests and grant them real autonomy. In this regard, unrest often arose, followed by negotiations. In December 1997, a formal agreement was reached on limiting population migration to the mountainous regions of Chittagong and expanding their powers in resolving local problems.

Cities.

Urbanization until the 1960s was slow. In 1961, only 5% of the total population was concentrated in centers with a population of at least 5 thousand people. Only three of them - Dhaka, Chittagong and Narayanganj, who grew more actively than others - surpassed the 100 thousandth milestone. But in the 1960s and 1970s, the process of urbanization accelerated, so that in the mid-1990s, almost 18% of the country's inhabitants were citizens. The population of Dhaka increased in 1951-1961 by 64% (up to 362 thousand people), and in 1961-1991 by another 411% (up to 1850 thousand people). In 1991 it amounted to 3839 thousand people within the official city boundaries. According to estimates for 2006, the population of this city reached 5378 thousand people. The capital city of Dhaka is conveniently located in the most fertile part of the country and at the intersection of waterways of trade.

In the 17th century. Chittagong was a Portuguese trading outpost, the most important on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Now it is the main industrial center of the country. Its population increased in 1961-1991 from 364 thousand to 2348 thousand people (including the suburbs). Previously, the city's well-being depended on the Assamo-Bengal Railway, which connected the port with the capital and the hinterland and northern regions of the country and India.

Among other large developing cities, Narayanganj stands out - the leading center for the production of jute goods, numbering 296 thousand people (1991), Khulna (1002 thousand people together with the suburbs) - also the center of the jute industry, Chalna (731 thousand people) - the second largest importance of the port of the country.

STATE STRUCTURE AND POLITICAL PARTIES

From 1947 to 1971, present-day Bangladesh was one of the provinces of Pakistan, a purely religious country that consisted of two predominantly Muslim regions of British India. They were separated by about 1600 km of Indian territory. Both parts of the new state differed in ethnic composition: Bengalis clearly dominate in the east, and other peoples settled in the west. The eastern province was much poorer than the rest, and the Bengalis felt they were economically exploited by West Pakistan. In addition, despite the large population, the eastern part of the country did not have the corresponding political weight and had only equal representation in parliament. The massive discontent of Bengalis was expressed in the fact that the majority of them voted for the Awami League (People's League) party, founded in 1949 in Dhaka.

In 1970, the Awami Lig, who favored broad East Pakistani autonomy, won the elections to the National Assembly thanks to the introduction of the principle of "one person, one vote." This party won a majority in parliament, winning almost all the seats assigned to the province of East Pakistan. When the March 1971 Assembly session was adjourned, the Bengalis, led by the Awami Leagues, responded with a campaign of defiance. The repressive actions of the Pakistani armed forces began on March 25, and the next day, March 26, the Awami League declared the independence of East Pakistan, renamed Bangladesh. Although the leader of the Awami Leagues, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Mujib), was arrested, other leaders took refuge in India, where they formed a government in exile. India provided material and technical assistance to the Liberation Army (Bukti Mahini) detachments, which launched guerrilla operations against Pakistani forces. On December 3, 1971, India joined the hostilities. Pakistani military units in the province of East Pakistan surrendered on December 16, which predetermined the proclamation of political independence for Bangladesh.

Control system.

The provisional constitution established a parliamentary form of government. The president was entrusted with the nominal functions of the head of state. The prime minister, who was accountable to parliament, became the key figure in the country's government. Thanks to his popularity, the first prime minister, Mujib, gained immense power. A new constitution, adopted in January 1975, declared Bangladesh a presidential republic. The president was elected by parliament. His functions included leadership of the executive branch. The President, unlike the Prime Minister, does not report to the legislature - Jatiya Sangsad. In theory, parliament could remove the president with three-quarters of the parliamentary vote, but the latter received the right to create a one-party political system and release from duties any parliamentarian who refuses to become a member of this only party. After becoming president, Mujib proclaimed a one-party state. Serious economic hardship and the rise of corruption undermined Mujib's position, and on August 15, 1975, he was killed in a military coup. Khondakar Mushtak Ahmad took over the presidential functions, creating a military government, which included mainly high-ranking officials of the previous regime. In November, another coup took place, after which the parliament was dissolved. The new war cabinet is headed by the commander of the armed forces, General Ziaur Rahman (Zia), who took over as president in 1977, won the 1978 presidential election and led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to success in the 1979 parliamentary elections. General Zia was killed in a failed mutiny on 30 May 1981. Vice President Abdus Sattar is succeeded, who won the presidential elections in November. Already on March 24, 1982, Sattar was removed as a result of a bloodless coup. The constitution was suspended and martial law was introduced. General Hussein Muhammad Ershad became the chief military administrator and Ahsanuddin Chowdhury became the nominal president. Ershad retained real power in the country.

In December 1983, Chowdhury resigned, giving way to Ershad. Ershad's regime was not popular, and the population demanded free elections. As a result, parliamentary elections were held in 1986. They were attended by the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina Wazed (daughter of Mujib), who has become the leading opposition force in parliament. However, Ershad soon dissolved parliament. The next elections, scheduled for 1988, were boycotted by the main opposition parties, and in late 1990 Ershad was forced to resign. An interim government came to rule the country, which held elections in February 1991. In accordance with an amendment to the Constitution, the presidential system of government introduced by Mujib in 1975 was replaced by a return to a parliamentary system. Khaleda Zia, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, became Prime Minister. As a result of the general parliamentary elections in 1996, the post of Prime Minister of the country was taken by the leader of the Awami League - Sheikh Hasina Wazed. In the same year, the parliament elected Shahabuddin Ahmed as president of the country.

The Bangladesh National Assembly elections in October 2001 were won by a coalition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Khaleda Zia returned to head of government. Iajuddin Ahmed was elected president in 2002.

Local administrative-territorial structure.

The territory of Bangladesh is divided into 6 administrative regions (bibhag) - Barisal, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Chittagong. The regions are subdivided into 21 districts (anchal), and those, in turn, into 64 districts (zila). Counties are made up of 493 subdistricts (upazilla). Smaller units are “unions” and villages.

As a result of the repeated transformation of the local self-government system, a representative body has been formed that is actively operating at the local level - the Union Committee (Union Parishad), whose members are elected from groups of villages and decide issues related to the condition of roads, the arrangement of bazaars, the operation of medical institutions, etc. In the country's large cities - Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi - there are municipalities with elected mayors and city councils.

The chief local government official is the deputy commissioner who oversees the state of affairs in the district. This position is inherited from the era of British rule in India and is held by professional administrators who report to the Regional Commissioner and the central government.

Political parties and organizations.

Since 2001, a coalition has been in power in Bangladesh, which consists of the Nationalist Party of Bangladesh, the Jammat-e-Islami party and the Jatiya party (Niziura faction). In the bloc with the Islamic Unity Front, the coalition won 47% of the vote.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (NPB) was formed in September 1979 by Ziaur Rahman as a result of the amalgamation of a number of disparate political organizations of the right, center and left. After winning the 1979 parliamentary elections, the NPB formed a one-party government. She was in power until 1982. After the death in 1981 of the founder of the party, Ziaur Rahman, it was headed in 1984 by his widow, Khaled Zia. The party was in opposition to the regime of General Ershad, in 1991 it won the parliamentary elections and remained in power until 1996. After yielding to its rival, the Awami League, it again triumphed in the elections in October 2001, gaining 191 out of 300 elected parliamentary seats (another 30 seats reserved for women).

The NPB is committed to upholding the independence, unity and sovereignty of Bangladesh. The 4 main principles of the party are belief in the omnipotence of Allah, democracy, nationalism and socio-economic justice. The NPB promises to ensure the development of agriculture, industry and medical services for the population, to fight poverty, unemployment and corruption. The party intends to achieve all this by encouraging private entrepreneurship.

Jammat-e-Islami (Islamic Society) - a religious and political organization, formed in August 1941, since 1947 - a general Pakistani movement that acted as a right-wing opposition to all the governments of Pakistan. In 1958-1962 and 1964, Jammat-e-Islami's activities in Pakistan were banned. In 1970-1971, the society strongly opposed the independence of East Bengal from Pakistan and in 1971 it was banned in the new People's Republic of Bangladesh.

In 1979, the Bangladesh authorities again authorized the activities of Jammat-e-Islami. The society came up with a program of the "Islamic revolution", demanded the transformation of the country into an "Islamic republic", the introduction of an "Islamic economic system", the Islamization of all aspects of public life, education and culture, the implementation of Muslim legislation on the role of women, etc. In the 2001 elections, the Jamaat-e-Islami was blocked from the NPB, won 18 seats in parliament and entered the government.

Jatia Party The (National Party) was created in 1986 under the auspices of the military administration of General Ershad as a result of the merger of a number of right-wing and conservative groups. The main principles of the party: "the independence and sovereignty of the country, the establishment of the ideals of Islam, respect for other religions, Bangladeshi nationalism, democracy and social progress." In the field of economics, he advocates a market economy and denationalization. The Jatiya party was led by President Ershad, and until the fall of his regime in 1990 it was the ruling party. The arrest of Ershad in 1991 beheaded the party. Its new leadership opposed the government of Khaleda Zia, and in 1996-2001 the party entered into a coalition with the Awami League. By the 2001 elections, Jatiya split into several factions. The faction led by Naziur blocked the NPB, won 4 seats in parliament and entered the cabinet of Khaleda Zia. The faction, led by former President Ershad, won 7.5% of the vote and won 14 seats. Finally, the Manju group, which was performing independently, won 1st place.

Front of Islamic Unity (Islami Oikya Jote) is a small Islamist organization that acted in 2001 together with the NPB and won 2 seats in parliament.

Bangladesh's leading opposition party is the Awami League (People's League). Created in June 1949 as a Pakistani opposition party. Its main area of \u200b\u200binfluence has traditionally been East Bengal. In 1956 - 1957 the leader of the Awami League Suhrawardi headed the Pakistani government, and its other representative, Ataur Rahman, in 1956–1958, headed the government of East Pakistan (East Bengal). During the military regime of 1958-1962, the party was banned by the Pakistani authorities. In 1963 it was headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In February 1966, he announced a new six-point Awami League program, which provided for broad autonomy for East Pakistan. The League has also pushed for democratic change throughout Pakistan. In December 1970, she won a complete victory in parliamentary elections in East Pakistan and Pakistan in general, but the military government of Yahya Khan did not allow her to come to power, Mujibur Rahman was arrested. Leading the struggle for independence, the Awami League became the ruling party in Bangladesh. She proclaimed the principles of nationalism, secularism, democracy and socialism, promising to build "a democratic society, free from the exploitation of man by man, on the principles of Bengali nationalism." The 1973 manifesto provided for the creation of a "socialist-type economy" in the country.

In an attempt to overcome the economic and social difficulties of the young republic, the government of President Mujibur Rahman announced in February 1975 the introduction of a one-party system. On the basis of the Avami League, a new ruling party was created - the Peasant-Workers Avami League of Bangladesh (BAKSAL), but the coups of 1975 and the death of Mujibur Rahman put an end to these plans. In 1976, the Awami League was re-established as an opposition party. After a series of crises and splits, a new energetic leader, the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, Hasina Wazed, managed to consolidate it. The party fought against the governments of Ziaur Rahman, General Ershad and Khaleda Zia. During this period, it acquired the appearance of a social democratic political organization. After winning the 1996 elections, she was finally able to return to power, but in October 2001 she again ceded to the NPB. With 40% of the vote and 62 out of 300 parliamentary seats, Awami Lig went into opposition.

Along with these major political forces, Bangladesh has many parties of all kinds. The left-wing parties, which enjoyed significant support in society, had almost lost their former influence by 2001. Only the Peasant-Workers' People's League (1st place) managed to get into parliament. The rest of the left-wing groups - the Alliance of 11 parties led by the Communist (created in 1948) and the Socialist Parties, the once popular National Socialist Party (split from the Awami League in 1972), the National People's Party (founded in 1957) and others - gained less than 1% of the vote ...

Judicial and legal system.

Bangladesh's civil law is British based, although a number of issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and wills are governed by the laws of different religious groups. Criminal law is based on UK practice. However, when a state of emergency is declared in the country, the authorities are allowed to detain citizens without the authorization of law enforcement agencies. During this period, no government decree can become the subject of proceedings in court. The Supreme Court accepts critical cases and appeals. The members of the court are appointed by the president.

Foreign policy.

During the first 10 months after the proclamation of independence, Bangladesh was recognized by more than 70 states of the world, including the USA and the USSR. Of the great powers in this list, China was not, which supported Pakistan. Besides Iraq, the Muslim countries of the Middle East and Africa have spoken out in favor of the recognition of the new state. In February 1974 Pakistan recognized Bangladesh. In 1974 Bangladesh was admitted to the UN. Bangladesh is a member of the British-led Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Colombo Plan.

Under Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh took an active part in organizing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, although the final agreement on its creation was signed after the president's death. The new association includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The question of turning the Association into a free trade zone was discussed.

India's assistance was instrumental in the success of Bangladesh's independence struggle. Soon after December 1971, the two countries concluded a 25-year treaty of mutual friendship, a trade agreement, and a number of programs of economic and cultural cooperation. However, the pro-Indian orientation of foreign policy quickly declined, especially after the removal of Mujibur Rahman's cabinet from power in 1975. Relations were also affected by the dispute over the division of the Ganges. India erected a dam on the Ganges River in order to replenish the runoff of the Ganges branch of the Hoogli River, which flows through Calcutta. As a result, during the dry season, the Ganges in the lower reaches became much less full-flowing than before, which negatively affected the irrigation capacity of southwestern Bangladesh and created a threat of soil salinization. In 1997, an agreement was concluded on the division of the Ganges runoff during the low-water season (March - May). Some controversy over the border issue was resolved in 1992.

The position of the Awami League is often described by opponents as pro-Indian, in contrast to that of the NPB. India's proposal to grant it the right to transit traffic to the northeastern states through Bangladesh drew backlash from the party.

The USSR supported the creation of Bangladesh. Relations with the United States were not easy because of their support for Pakistan during the Bengalis' struggle for independence. Later, the United States helped Bangladesh rebuild a shattered economy. The positions of the USSR weakened throughout the 1970s. The Bangladesh government has criticized the decision to send Soviet troops into Afghanistan in 1979.

Military establishment.

Bangladesh maintains a small army. In 1997 it numbered approx. 117 thousand servicemen, and another 80 thousand people were in paramilitary formations.

ECONOMY

Bangladesh is a poor, densely populated country with high population growth rates. In the mid-1990s, two-thirds of the working-age population was employed in agriculture and approx. 30% of gross domestic product (GDP) was created in agriculture, and in 2003 this figure grew to 35% of GDP was 238.2 billion US dollars or per capita 1,800 US dollars. However, the country is chronically suffering from food shortages. Important resources on which the national economy relies are Sylhet tea plantations, deposits of natural gas, oil, coal, peat, limestone and the exploitation of the Karnaphuli river hydropower. The bulk of the factories are concentrated in Chittagong, Dhaka, Narayanganja and Khulna. In 1998, Bangladesh approved a large-scale program to attract foreign capital for the development of gas fields, with which certain hopes are pinned on organizing its export to India.

One of the priority tasks is to achieve self-sufficiency in food. Despite the fact that rice harvest increased from 6 million tons to 18 million tons in 1993-1994, the country's chronic dependence on imports (about 2 million tons of grain per year) remains, the costs of which amounted to 8.5 billion rubles in 2002. US dollars. Another important goal was to expand the production of jute (raw materials or finished products) for export, which in the 1980s gave the country approx. 60% of foreign exchange earnings from foreign trade. In the mid-1990s, 75% of the value of all Bangladesh exports were clothing and textiles. Large amounts of tea and seafood are supplied to foreign markets.

Agriculture.

The Bangladeshi countryside is characterized by subsistence farming in small peasant farmsteads. An orientation towards the cultivation of cash crops is becoming increasingly important. The main one, jute, was cultivated on an area of \u200b\u200b0.5 million hectares in 1993-1994 (in 1985-1986 its crops reached 1 million hectares). The crop is grown primarily in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Padma and Meghna, where the fertility of the alluvial soils is supported by the annual flooding of rivers. In the early 1990s, jute production reached about 900 thousand tons per year. Rice is grown throughout the low-lying plains, but significant surpluses for domestic sale are only available in Sylhet and the western districts. Harvests in the early 1990s averaged 18.3 million tons. Crops are spread over three agro-climatic seasons, and therefore many varieties are cultivated. Aus is grown mainly for their own food needs, since the harvest takes place during the rainy season and the grain is poorly stored. Aus and jute grow in approximately the same agroclimatic conditions. Rice amon (aman) is planted in the field, usually in seedlings. Harvested at the beginning of the dry season to obtain the best quality grain for sale. Boro, also cultivated with seedlings, yields higher yields than Amon, but can only be grown on a small area due to natural limitations. Tea grows successfully on the plantations of Sylhet, its annual production is approx. 50 thousand tons. Other important crops include sugarcane, potatoes, wheat and sweet potatoes.

To better prepare the soil for sowing, the fields are plowed repeatedly with a light wooden plow and harrowed. The pulling power is a team of small oxen, weeding and harvesting are carried out with the use of hand tools. Threshing of rice and other cereals is carried out by driving livestock through the current, or by hand. Jute is cut with a sickle, thoroughly soaked and then, also by hand, the fiber is separated from the stem.

For more intensive use of arable land (including in the dry season) and early sowing before the main rainy season, irrigated agriculture is widely introduced. Irrigation and abundant rainfall make it possible to get two or even three harvests per year from the site, thereby turning 7.6 million hectares of arable land into 13.6 million hectares of gross sown area.

Fishing and forestry.

Fish is an important component of Bengal food and an export item. The most significant are the shell and several types of shrimp.

The main forest resources of the country are concentrated in Mountain Chittagong. The most valuable is the ghajan - the original mahogany of Bangladesh, which has high quality hardwood. The establishment of teak plantations continues successfully. The timber is rafted along the Karnapkhuli river to the timber processing enterprises. Bamboo is used in the paper industry. Fatwood groves with solid wood, confined to the Madhupur Upland, are cut down for fuel and for construction purposes.

Mining industry.

Large-scale production of natural gas is carried out for power plants and mineral fertilizer plants. Its resources in 1994 were estimated at 600 billion cubic meters. m. The main deposits are located in the east of the country - in the Komilla and Sylhet districts. In 1997-1998 Bangladesh showed great interest in attracting foreign direct investment for the exploration and organization of exploitation of new gas-bearing basins. The operation of the first oil field has begun, as well as coal deposits, albeit of low quality. Its reserves in the Bogra district are estimated at 1 billion tons. Limestone is mined in the same district for the needs of the cement industry. There is an acute shortage of building stone and gravel in Bangladesh.

Energy

very poorly developed in Bangladesh. The capacity of the power plants is estimated at approximately 3000 MW. Of these, about 10% is accounted for by the only hydroelectric power plant on the Karnaphuli River, from where the power line runs to Chittagong and further to Dhaka. A gas pipeline and a power line to the western regions of the country will be laid over the bridge across the Jamuna. Most of the electricity is generated by thermal power plants that run on natural gas and oil.

Manufacturing industry

highly dependent on imported raw materials. This applies to the cotton factories that have grown in many cities - Dhaka, Narayanganja, Khulna, Chittagong, Kushtia and Pabna. There are numerous jute, textile, sewing and tanneries in the country. An oil refinery and a steel-making plant operate in Chittagong, which produces round bars, mild steel sheets, and galvanized sheets. In Khulna and Chittagong, ships are being built and repaired.

Only industries related to the processing of jute, sugar cane and tea, as well as the pulp and paper industry and mineral fertilizer plants rely on domestic resources. Jute factories are located near Dhaka and in Khulna, Chittagong, Chandpur and Sirajganj. Sugar factories are located in the northern and eastern districts of the country, as well as in the areas of Maimansingh, Habigandj and Dhaka. Tea factories are located in Sylhet and Chittagong counties. The paper is made by factories in Chandraghon and Pabna, hardboard in Khulna. In Sylhet, the production of paper pulp from bamboo, reed and jute processing waste has been established. Mineral fats based on natural gas are produced in Fenchugandj (Sylhet district), Gorasala and Ashugandj (near Dhaka). The production of ready-made clothes is rapidly developing, which has a positive effect on the employment of the population, the structure of imports and especially exports.

In 1947-1971, many industries in East Pakistan emerged from the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation of Pakistan. The constructed enterprises were sold mainly to businessmen from the western part of the country. In 1972, the Bangladesh government nationalized a number of industries (jute, sugar, cotton), banks, insurance companies, and some firms that owned river and sea fleets. After 1975, Bangladesh's leadership began to encourage the private sector and pursue a policy of attracting foreign investors and privatizing state-owned enterprises, primarily the jute and textile industries.

Transport.

Transport links in Bangladesh are complicated by natural conditions. A single bridge has been erected across the Ganges, above Kushtia. A broad-gauge railway runs along it. In 1998, a combined railway and road bridge across the Jamuna was put into operation. There are no bridges on Padme at all. Therefore, the transportation of people and goods across most rivers is carried out by rail ferries. Additional problems are created by the different track gauges. To the east of Jamuna and Padma, the former Assamo-Bengal Railway and others have a meter gauge. In the west of the country, almost all railways are broad-gauge; they provide a link between the north-western regions of Bangladesh with Kushtia, Jessur and Khulna, and also lead to India. The right-bank rail tracks from one of the crossings through Jamuna to Santakhar, Rangpur and Dinajpur are also meter gauge. The total length of railways in the country is approx. 2900 km.

The road network is thicker in areas where it was easier to build bridges, especially in the western districts, north of Dhaka and in the area between Chittagong and Sylhet. In the lower reaches of rivers, road transport is hampered by the need to frequently resort to ferry services, and many roads become impassable during the rainy season. The length of roads in Bangladesh is approx. 10.5 thousand km River transportation is of paramount economic importance. Passenger flights have been established between the administrative centers of a number of districts. The Bangladesh airline "Beeman", founded in 1972, in addition to serving domestic lines, provides flights to many countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States. The country has two seaports - Chittagong (port of entry) and Charna (port of export).

International trade.

The leading export items are ready-made clothing, jute and jute products, knitwear and seafood, additional items are leather and leather products, tea, plumbing and kitchen equipment, household appliances, computer equipment, communications, perfumery, pharmaceutical products. The main importers are the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France. Imports are dominated by industrial equipment and vehicles, foodstuffs, mainly rice and wheat, ferrous metals, cotton and cotton products, petroleum products, mineral fertilizers and vegetable oil. The largest suppliers are India, Japan, China and the USA. The share of food in value terms is approx. 15% of all imports. In 1997, the foreign trade balance deficit amounted to approx. $ 2.5 billion. The imbalance in foreign trade is compensated by foreign loans and credits and remittances to the country from citizens working abroad. These transfers in 1997 reached $ 1.5 billion. Non-repayable loans from abroad in 1993-1994 amounted to $ 463 million. Foreign capital is directed mainly to the tobacco, pharmaceutical, chemical, leather, electrical and electronic industries. The country's external debt is estimated at $ 17 billion (approx. 50% of GDP). Every year, approx. 18% of GDP.

Money circulation and budget.

The main currency in Bangladesh is the taka, which replaced the Pakistani rupee in 1972. The Bank of Bangladesh, which acts as the central bank, is responsible for issuing the national currency. The budget is formed mainly on the basis of different types of taxation. The main source of foreign exchange ($ 1.5 billion in 1997) is the export of labor. The main items of government spending are defense spending, administrative support, family planning activities, and debt payments. Bangladesh's external debt in 1997 was estimated at $ 17 billion and amounted to 50% of GDP. Annual payments for servicing external debt - approx. 18% of GDP.

SOCIETY

Confessional composition and social structure.

As of 1998, approximately 88.8% of Bangladesh residents were Muslim. Most of them are Sunnis, but some are Shiites. The country does not keep track of the number of Muslims belonging to one or another branch of Islam. Although Islam does not recognize official ecclesiastical institutions, in rural areas, the opinion of the heads of local religious communities - feasts - is usually listened to. Hindus are approx. 10% of the population and belong mainly to the lower castes. Members of high castes generally left for India after the partition of 1947, religious clashes in the early 1950s and the war of 1971. Muslims and Hindus living in Bangladesh have much in common in customs, behavior and way of life. Buddhists (about 0.6%) and Christians (about 0.5%) are also represented in the country.

The main grassroots unit of society is a large family. Its head often shares shelter and daily chores with his married sons and their families, as well as with unmarried children. Support from impoverished close relatives is widespread. If the father goes bankrupt and is left without funds, the eldest son should take care of the education and upbringing of his brothers and sisters. In urban and industrial areas, this traditional family structure is not always maintained. Family members who have received an education and earn money on their own are increasingly leaving their parental home and isolating themselves, even with a living father, continuing to support their parents.

The situation of women and youth.

Most women fulfill the traditional role of housewives. In rural areas, they lead a reclusive lifestyle: in the house they live in the female half, and when they go out, they wear a veil. In cities, women are more emancipated. More and more girls are studying in schools, colleges and universities. The number of women working outside the home is increasing.

In 1972, the National Office for Women's Assistance was founded. Support is provided mainly to families in which all men died during the war. Grameen Bank, founded by Mohammad Yunus in 1976, helps women with small loans for small business purposes.

The educated part of the youth is well organized and involved in politics. Almost all student communities in the country belong to associations affiliated with the leading parties. Students have made significant contributions to the Bangladesh independence movement. The main problem is the disagreement on many social and economic issues, which gives rise to frequent unrest among students and leads to the temporary closure of educational institutions.

Healthcare and Social Security.

Malaria and tuberculosis are common in the country. Improving public health is difficult to achieve due to inadequate nutrition and cyclone-related natural disasters leading to outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease. Unemployment causes additional complications. Government efforts to improve the social security system have had little effect due to lack of funds.

CULTURE

Education.

Adult literacy is estimated at 35%. Primary education is provided with public funds, but is not compulsory. Officially, it is believed that 95% of children go to primary schools, but this figure is exaggerated, since it includes all children who attended school at least occasionally during the school year. Most of the secondary schools are private. Bangladesh has nine public colleges. New developments in higher education have led to the opening of approximately 20 private universities.

Literature and art.

During the period of British colonial rule, modern Bengali literature developed primarily in Calcutta, and mainly by Hindus rather than Muslims. Poetry reached a particularly high level in Bengal, the most prominent representative of which was the Hindu Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). It was his poems that became the national anthems of both Bangladesh and India. The first widely known Muslim Bengali writer was Kazi Nozrul Islam (1899-1976). The popular poet Jasimuddin Abul Fazl (1903–1976) composed colorful folk-style ballads that reflected the life of the local village. Among the major Bengali prose writers, Tagore's contemporaries stand out: Sarat Chatterjee, Bibhutibhushon Bondopaddhai and Prabhat Kumar Mukherjee. After 1947, a group of Bengali writers emerged with a high reputation in East Pakistan. Some of them created historical novels, others focused on romantic prose, and others revealed class conflicts and clashes of personalities, including Shoyed Waliullah, Shokot Oshman, Abdul Ghaffar Chowdhury and Allauddinal Azad. In Bengali literature, plays by Munir Chowdhury and the flamboyant prose of Muhammad Shahidullah, Mufazzal Haydar Chowdhury, Enamul Hook, Sirajal Islam Chowdhury and Badruddin Omar also occupy a prominent place.

Several Bengali artists are well known. Zaynul Abedin represents the modern realistic direction in painting. Other prominent Bengali fine artists include Kamrul Hasan, Rashid Chowdhury, Hashim Khan and Murtaza Bashir.

The country is rich in musical, dance, song and theater traditions. In rural areas, dance and music are associated with folk festivals of sowing and harvesting, the coming New Year, the changing seasons. In the cities, numerous private troupes play plays, arrange evenings of song and dance.

Bengali artisans created the famous Dhaka muslin, Dhaka saris were famous for their fine workmanship. Many organizations and institutions are involved in the promotion and development of various types of arts in Bangladesh, including the Academy. Bulbul ("Nightingale"), named after a famous performer of folklore, the Academy of Music, the Society for the Development of Arts and Literature, and others. The Bangladesh School of Painting and Arts is famous.

Libraries, museums and scientific institutions.

Dhaka University has the largest book fund in the country. Other universities also have rich book collections. The Central Public Library in Dhaka is well represented by publications from recent decades. Government-funded public libraries are available in every district center. The Dhaka Museum has a rich collection of images of Hindu gods and goddesses. Valuable exhibits are housed in government-controlled private museums in Rajshahi and Dhaka. Mahastangarh in Bogra district and Mainamati in Komilla district are known as promising archaeological sites.

Scientific research is carried out primarily in universities and in more than 60 public research institutions. Among them are the Atomic Energy Commission, the Scientific and Technical Research Council, the Agricultural Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the Family Planning Institute, the Forest Laboratory, the Center for Advanced Medical Studies, the Meteorological Office and the National Institute of State Building. The Asian Society of Bangladesh is the largest and oldest private research organization.

Mass media.

Publishing activities are almost entirely in private hands. In 1996 142 daily newspapers were published, mostly in Bengali; major national newspapers are published in English. The control over the activities of radio broadcasting and television is carried out by a special National Administration. Television stations operate in Dhaka and 9 provincial cities. Radio Bangladesh broadcasts from Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur and Sylhet. Now it is possible to receive TV broadcasts via satellites launched by India.

The country has numerous cinemas showing films in Bengali, English, Hindi and Urdu. No film is released on screen without prior censorship approval. The Cinematography Development Corporation was established to encourage commercial filmmaking.

Sports and holidays.

The most popular sports are football, cricket, field hockey, tennis, shooting and swimming. Bangladesh celebrates Independence Day on March 26th. Among other civil holidays: Day of Remembrance of the Victims - February 21 (on this day in 1952, students were killed who came out with a demand to recognize Bengali as the official language in Pakistan); Victory Day - December 16 (surrender of Pakistani troops in 1971) and Boxing Day - December 26. Christians (for example, Christmas), Buddhists (Buddha Purnima), Hindus (Durga Punja) and Muslims celebrate their own religious holidays.

HISTORY

Within British India, the lands of present-day Bangladesh (then East Bengal) became the world's leading jute export region. Its fiber was processed at the factories of Calcutta and its environs and exported to foreign markets through the Calcutta port. The history of the territory of Bangladesh until 1947 is described in the article INDIA When in 1947 British rule in this region ended, there was a division into predominantly Hindu India and predominantly Muslim Pakistan. East Bengal became part of Pakistan, being separated from its western part of 1600 km of Indian territory, where Calcutta remained. This deprived the new province of its former economic center.

Between 1947 and 1961, the economy of East Pakistan was in a state of stagnation. Bengalis were not fully represented in the Pakistani army, parliament and central state apparatus, and the government invested major funds in the economic development of the western provinces. Apart from the construction of jute factories, mostly funded by investors from the western part of the country, other positive developments in the East Pakistani industry were difficult to see. The population of the province grew faster than rice production increased, and food imports had to be increased. Although jute served as the main source of currency for the entire country, the eastern province lagged significantly behind Western Pakistan in terms of living standards.

At the head of the national liberation movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League party, who made a declaration on the creation of an independent state of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971. After the civil war, in which India supported the rebels, on December 16, 1971, Pakistani government forces surrendered, which was a decisive victory on the path of the formation of a new state. In January 1972 Mujibur Rahman returned from exile and took over as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Mujibur Rahman put forward four fundamental principles that a young state should adhere to: nationalism, socialism, secularism and democracy. He set about disarming the militant rebel units and invited foreign economists to work out a program for the country's development along the socialist path. In 1972, many industrial enterprises were nationalized, including jute and cotton factories and sugar factories, as well as banks, insurance companies and tea plantations. Parliament was established at the end of 1972. The March 1973 general election brought victory to the Awami League.

In the summer of 1974, severe floods caused tremendous damage to rice crops and caused widespread famine. The lack of food, coupled with a sharp rise in oil prices, led to a significant increase in inflation. The prestige of the country's leadership fell, which, combined with accusations of nepotism and corruption, undermined the authority of the prime minister. In December 1974, the government declared martial law. In accordance with the constitutional amendments adopted in January 1975, the democratic parliamentary system was replaced by presidential rule and the transition to a one-party system. Mujibur Rahman became president and announced the need for a "second revolution" that would end corruption and terrorism. All independent newspapers were closed in June. The prime minister's desire to establish an authoritarian regime aggravated the discontent of the army, and on August 15, 1975, a group of officers staged a coup, killing Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members (his daughter Khasina, the future prime minister, was outside the country at the time).

After two failed coups in early November 1975, the army's commander, Major General Ziaur Rahman (Zia), became the conduit of the new regime and has been successively chief military administrator since November 1976 and president since April 1977. Zia has made vigorous efforts to increase food production focusing on irrigation, and at the same time introducing a family planning program to the masses. Under the new president, there has been a significant shift in the country's foreign policy. Mujibur Rahman led Bangladesh to independence with strong support from India, and therefore stuck to the pro-Indian line. Zia was more critical of India, especially because of the conflict over the flow of the Ganges, which arose after the construction of the Farakka dam on Indian territory.

Zia won the presidential election in June 1978, and in September founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (NPB), which achieved a major victory in parliamentary elections in February 1979. At the same time, Zia repealed the state of emergency law. On May 30, 1981, Zia was assassinated in a failed insurgency and Vice President Abdus Sattar took over as president. However, he did not enjoy the support of the military, and on March 24, 1982, the commander of the armed forces, Lieutenant General Hussein Muhammad Ershad, staged a bloodless coup. In June, Ershad announced changes in state economic policy and returned to the private sector enterprises in key industries, primarily jute and pulp and paper. In November 1983, Ershad initiated the formation of the Jatiya party and proclaimed himself president the following month. However, his government faced strong opposition from the NPB, led by Ziaur Rahman's widow, Khaled Zia, and the Awami League, led by Majibur Rahman's daughter, Sheikh Hasina Wazed. Strikes and anti-government protests led to the president's dissolution of parliament in 1987. Both the NPB and the Awami leagues opposed Ershad's 1988 new elections. In November 1990, both parties came to a common position on the resignation of Ershad.

On November 20, 1990, the united opposition held a general strike, demanding that Ershad relinquish power. The President responded by declaring a state of emergency, but in the following days, clashes broke out between opposition forces and the police in Dhaka and other cities in the country. On November 30, a 100,000-strong demonstration against Ershad was held in the capital, and on December 6, 1990, he was forced to resign. The opposition has appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Shahabuddin Ahmed as president and head of the interim government.

In February 1991, general parliamentary elections were held in the country. About 70 political parties took part in them. The victory went to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which won 170 of the 330 seats in the National Assembly. The Awami League-led coalition won 84 seats, Ershad's Jatiya party 39, and the Muslim Jamiat-e-Islami 20. In March 1991, Khaleda Zia took over as prime minister and formed a government from her Nationalist Party of Bangladesh (NPB). Khaleda Zia was born in 1945 into a simple family, and until 1981 remained a housewife, turning to a political career only after the death of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman.

The new administration almost immediately had to deal with the dire consequences of destructive natural disasters. In April, a devastating hurricane erupted over the country, as a result of which 130 thousand people died and 10 million were left homeless. Hundreds of casualties were caused by hurricanes in May and June. The government has asked other countries for $ 200 million in aid.

The authorities punished the country's former dictator Ershad: in June 1991 he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of illegal possession of weapons. But the main task of Khaleda Zia's government was constitutional reform. The opposition Awami League sought to restore a parliamentary republic, while the NPB tended to maintain a presidential system, but ultimately yielded. In August 1991, the National Assembly unanimously approved a return to the British-style parliamentary system, the powers of the president were significantly limited. The parliament elected Abdur Rahman Biswas as president.

Under the NPB government, the influence of Islamic fundamentalism increased. Clerical circles launched a campaign of persecution against the famous writer Taslima Nazrin, who advocated for women's equality, Islamist organizations threatened her with death. A case was brought against her on charges of blasphemy. The Awami League and student organizations in Bangladesh held a general strike on July 31, 1994, denouncing the rise of fundamentalism. In August 1994, Taslima Nazrin, who surrendered to the police, was allowed to leave for Sweden.

Relations between the government and opposition parties deteriorated rapidly. In March 1994, the opposition began a boycott of parliament. She accused the government of corruption, incapacity and electoral fraud, demanding the resignation of Khaleda Zia, the creation of a transitional administration, and new free elections. In December 1994, opposition deputies resigned their mandates. The main form of struggle was the holding of numerous general strikes and demonstrations, which completely paralyzed life in the country.

In November 1995, Khaleda Zia agreed to hold early parliamentary elections. They took place in February 1996, but the main opposition parties (Awami League, Jatiya party, Jamaat-e-Islami and others) boycotted them, and only 15% of voters came to the polls. The opposition continued the campaign of mass protests, declaring a general strike in March 1996, and Khaleda Zia was forced to resign. Parliament amended the constitution that paved the way for the formation of an interim government headed by former Supreme Justice Mohammed Habibur Rahman. The interim regime also removed the previous leadership of the armed forces.

In June 1996, the Awami League, with 147 of the 300 elected parliamentary seats, came to power in alliance with the Jatiya Party, which won 31 seats. The NPB was defeated, content with 116 mandates. The new government was headed by Hasina Wazed. The daughter of Mujibur Rahman, who was born in 1947, she studied at the University of Dhaka, and after the murder of her father by the conspirators in 1975, she and her family left for the Federal Republic of Germany, and then lived in India. In 1981 she returned to Bangladesh, reorganized and led the Awami League party.

Hasina Wazed's government released former President Ershad from prison in January 1997, despite protests from opposition and human rights groups. Measures were taken against the persons who organized the murder of Mujibur Rahman in 1975. In November 1998, a court in Dhaka sentenced 15 of the 19 accused to death (12 of them in absentia). In October of the same year, authorities arrested seven more people accused of carrying out the 1975 putsch, including three opposition MPs. All these measures have sparked jubilation among the supporters of the Awami League and violent protests from opposition parties. The latter held a four-day general strike, which was accompanied by violent street clashes in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The Awami League administration sought to improve relations with India, which soured after the assassination of the country's first pro-Indian leader, Mujibur Rahman, and the construction of dams on the Ganges by India. At the end of 1996, the authorities of Bangladesh and India reached an agreement on the division of the Ganges. The Bangladeshi side gained access to Farrak's water reservoirs during the driest months of the year. Countries have abandoned support for rebel movements. In March 1997, the government negotiated a ceasefire with Indian-backed Jana Shangati Samiti rebels in the Chittagong Mountains in the southeast of the country, where the predominantly Buddhist population has resisted industrialization and resettlement projects from elsewhere in the country. The guerrillas agreed not to demand independence and to accept a plan for local autonomy. 50 thousand refugees who found shelter in India were able to return to the area. In turn, Hasina Wazed assured the neighboring country that the rebels operating in the northeastern regions of India would not be able to find refuge in Bangladesh. In June 1999, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee signed an agreement in Dhaka to expand trade and transport links between the two states and to provide Bangladesh with a $ 40 million loan. The preparation of an agreement on granting India the right to transit through Bangladesh has provoked strong opposition from opposition parties. In December 1999, India and Bangladesh signed a new agreement that provided for the final determination of the border line, as well as the adoption of measures to suppress criminal activities across the border, including the trafficking of weapons, drugs, kidnapping, etc.

Bangladesh in the 21st century

Bangladesh developed relations with other countries as well. In March 2000, the US President (Bill Clinton) visited the country for the first time to discuss the expansion of trade ties and cooperation in the exploitation of natural resources. An agreement was signed with an American firm to develop natural gas fields. In April 2000, the Asian Development Bank provided Bangladesh with $ 500 million for health, education and poverty reduction projects.

The situation of the government of the Awami League was complicated by economic difficulties and the consequences of new catastrophic floods (in August - September 1998, 1,500 people died). The opposition, led by the NPB and Islamist parties, tried to turn against Hasina Wazed the same strategy that helped the Awami League in 1996 to get Khaleda Zia out of office. The country saw continuous mass strikes and demonstrations demanding the resignation of the government. There were three general strikes in the country from late January to late February 1999; during the clashes in many cities, at least 15 people were killed, hundreds were injured. In March 1999, unidentified persons (presumably Islamic fundamentalists) detonated bombs at the Communist Party festival in Jessore, 8 people were killed and more than 200 injured. In May 1999, police arrested more than 300 suspects in numerous raids. The opposition accused the authorities of politically motivated repression.

In March 1999, opposition parties (NPB, two Islamic parties and Jatiya) launched a campaign to hold early parliamentary elections. They accused the government of pursuing liberal economic policies, failure to combat corruption, arbitrary arrests, and dependence on India. Since September 1999, devastating general strikes and violent clashes have resumed in Dhaka and three other cities, killing 22 people. In October, an explosion at a mosque in Khulna city killed 8 people. After Hasina Wazed flatly refused to resign before her term expired in 2001, opposition parties began boycotting parliamentary sessions in November 1999. In 2000, the government enacted a special "anti-terrorist law" ( Public Safety Act), which significantly expanded the powers of the security forces and raised concerns from human rights organizations. For its part, the opposition responded with a new general strike in February 2000. In July, the situation escalated further after police arrested dozens of leaders of Islamic student groups; Hasina Vazed accused the opposition of organizing an attempt on her life. Despite ongoing protests, the Awami League government held on to power until 2001. However, the party was defeated in the October 2001 general elections and ceded power to the NPB coalition, Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya party (Naziur faction). The new government was headed by Khaleda Zia. She was sworn in as the Prime Minister on October 10, 2001. Yajuddin Ahmed was elected President and was sworn in on September 6, 2002 with no other rival to the post.

The country experienced severe flooding during the summer of 2004 but weathered the devastating tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean region in December 2004 relatively easily. Bangladesh has recorded fewer than ten deaths.

Awami Lig has consistently demonstrated her opposition to the authorities and has provoked a series of strikes in 2004. In early 2005, at a rally organized by the party, unknown persons detonated a grenade. Among the 5 people killed in the blast is former Finance Minister Shah Mohammad Kibria. About a hundred people were injured. The leader of the Awami League, Hasina Wazed, blamed the attack on the Bangladesh authorities and called on opposition supporters for a nationwide strike.

In the run-up to the January 2007 elections, a state of emergency was declared due to massive political demonstrations and opposition campaigning for electoral reform and equal opportunities for all electoral participants. The country's authorities have postponed the elections.

On January 12, 2007, Bangladesh President Yajuddin Ahmed, backed by the military, announced the formation of an interim government to end corruption and clarify voter lists. Fakhruddin Ahmed, who had previously headed the country's Central Bank, was appointed head of government.

Under a state of emergency imposed by the military ahead of the 2007 elections, Hasina Wazed was charged with corruption and arrested, but left Bangladesh in June 2008 to emigrate to the United States. In November 2008, she returned to the country to lead her party in new parliamentary elections.

In December 2008, the first general parliamentary elections were held since the end of the state of emergency on December 16. The main struggle unfolded between two parties - the People's League and the Nationalist Party of Bangladesh. Both parties are led by the country's former prime ministers, Khaleda Zia (NPB) and Hasina Wazed (People's League). Hasina Wazed won a landslide victory, winning 230 out of 300 parliamentary seats. She took over as prime minister on January 6, 2009.

On February 12, 2009 Zillur Rahman took the oath of office as President of Bangladesh. On the eve he was elected by the parliament as the only candidate. Following the death of Zillur Rahman in March 2013, Speaker of Parliament Abdul Hamid was interim president.

Literature:

People's Republic of Bangladesh. Directory... M., 1974
Trinich F.A. Bangladesh. Economic and geographical outline... M., 1974
V.P. Puchkov Political Development of Bangladesh: 1971-1985... M., 1986



Bangladesh has a population of over 157 million.

The first people who inhabited the Bengal region 4000 years ago were the Tibeto-Burmans, Dravids and Austroasians. Today the overwhelming majority of the country's population are Bengalis.

National composition:

• bengalis (98%)
• other nations (bihari, santal, mogh, chakma).

Bihari, for the most part, concentrated in the regions of Dhaka and Narayangaja, chakma - in the valley of the Karnaphuli river, mogh - in Mountain Chittagong, garo and dalu - in the north of Maimansingh and Sylhet, tipra, mru, tanchaung, kami, bong - within Chittagong districts and Mountain Chittagong.

873 people live per 1 sq. Km, but the highest population density is typical for the suburban areas of Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna (1550 people live per 1 sq. Km), and the mountains are least populated (Mountain Chittagong district) - here by 1 sq. Km 78 people live.

The official language is Bengali, but English is actively used in educational institutions and business environment.

Major cities: Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Narayanganj, Maimansingh.

The people of Bangladesh are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian.

Life span

On average, both the male and female population of the country live up to 68 years.

The relatively low rates are due to the fact that in Bangladesh very little funds are allocated for health care, poverty is widespread, and there is a shortage of doctors and nurses. Despite the fact that over the past 10 years, the country has managed to increase the average life expectancy (previously it reached only 61 years), reduce maternal and child mortality by 70%, there are such problems as constant malnutrition and the spread of tuberculosis (due to poverty, the urban population is relocated to slums, where conditions are favorable for the spread of the disease).

Traditions and customs of the people of Bangladesh

Bengalis, who live mainly in villages, still obey pagan rituals and traditions. For example, to see an empty jug, the corpse of a bird or a willow branch on the road is an unfavorable sign for any undertakings (new business, travel).

If a boy is born, this is good luck for Bengalis, which cannot be said about the birth of a daughter, because she needs to collect a dowry and after the wedding she will become subordinate to her husband and his family, while the son will always help his parents.

Wedding traditions are interesting because young people are looking for a partner on their own, but this choice must be approved by the parents. Girls have the right to get married from 18, and guys from 21 (but if a guy does not work or does not earn enough money, his parents have the right not to give him permission to marry). As for the wedding ceremony, a priest or mufti must be present.

Going to Bangladesh? Since it is bad form to touch a stranger, you should not extend your hand when greeting women or children. Men can shake hands, but only if they know each other well. Thanks to this tradition, you should not worry that local merchants will grab you by the elbow or the hem of your clothes, as they do in some neighboring countries.

If you are going to visit a resident of Bangladesh, take with you a small present in the form of souvenirs, sweets, fruits, tobacco (in no case donate money or alcohol).

The first thing that catches the eye of a tourist interested in life in Bangladesh is that the local population leads it practically on the street. There is a feeling that people only spend the night in their houses, and spend most of the day outside, where they work, eat, wash and relax.

View of the capital of Bangladesh-Dhaka

Despite the great overcrowding of the population and not very attractive, in the opinion of a European, living conditions, it is difficult to find dissatisfied among the local inhabitants: their natural optimism and unpretentiousness help them survive in not the most comfortable conditions.

Bangladesh is a country in Southeast Asia bordering India and Myanmar and washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. In terms of population, the country ranks 8th in the world, with about 170 million people living in it. The indigenous population is Bengal (98%), the main spoken language is Bengali, but many understand and know English - the language of business communication and tourist services. The capital is the city of Dhaka, with a population of over 11 million people. In 1971, the former British colony gained independence and became a unitary republic.

Bangladesh location on map

Bengalis are very religious, most of the residents profess Islam, and Dhaka is even called the capital of mosques: there are more than 700 of them, but even this number is not enough for everyone, and people pray in the streets.

The capital is heavily overpopulated, and the real scourge of city life is the transport problem.

Transport in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, transport is represented by four main types: buses, rail, water transport and taxis. In cities, locals and tourists prefer to use the services of motorbike and cycle rickshaws, since the roads are clogged and it is very difficult to get through traffic jams to the right place on public transport. The country has three main passenger airlines operating domestic and international flights: Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Regent Airways, United Airways.

Historical and cultural attractions

Bangladesh is not well known to foreign tourists, although it is a beautiful country with wonderful nature, rich culture and very friendly people. One of the main attractions of the country is the world famous architectural structures, including the largest Buddhist monastery in Paharpur, Hindu temples of Shiva, Govinda and Jagannath, located near the Indian border. Among the UNESCO-protected sites is the lost city of mosques Bagerhat, located at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.

Watch in the video: Bagerhat, the lost city of mosques.

The palaces and mosques of the capital are its visiting card, the country's national treasure. Of greatest interest is the inspection of such architectural sights as:

• natore Rajbari Palace - the former royal residence;

• Ahsan Manzil Pink Palace - Bangladesh National Museum;

• fort Lalbach - a fortress palace of the Mughal era;

• the Baitul-Mukarram Mosque ("Holy House") - the national mosque of Bangladesh;

• the Hussaini Dalan mosque - the house of the spiritual leader - the imam;

• Star Mosque - Tara Mosque;

• the Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is one of the centers of Islamic culture.

Of no less interest is a visit to national nature reserves, including the largest mangrove forest in the world - Sundarban, Chittagon Hills - the place of residence of ancient Buddhist tribes that have preserved nature in its original form, Lavachara National Park, Lake Kaptai, where divers have a unique the opportunity to swim in the underwater forest of lotuses and lilies.

Chittagon Hills View

A tourist who wants to combine a cultural holiday with a visit to the resort places of the country can be advised to go to the beach area of \u200b\u200bthe southeast of Bangladesh - Cox's Bazar, located near the border with Myanmar. There is one of the longest beaches in the world (120 km) - Inani Beach. Interestingly, the waters of the local resorts are absolutely free of sharks, which is not often found in these places.

Tourist information

It looks like a visa to Bangladesh

80% of annual rainfall in Bangladesh falls from April to November, so the best time to travel is from December to March. Mild warm weather allows Europeans to spend their coldest months in comfortable conditions - at a temperature of + 18 + 25 ° C and no precipitation.