About Bangladesh

What comes to your mind when you think of Bangladesh? Enormous population density and poverty? Floods? Rohingya refugees? Is it the „Made in Bangladesh“ label on your favorite t-shirt or jeans? Yes, all of this is Bangladesh, a country of extremely hardworking people. Anyone who has visited Bangladesh remembers people with warm-hearted nature and glowing smiles. Let's learn more about their country!

History

Bangladesh is a very young country, with only 50 years of independent existence. It was formed in 1971 by secession from Pakistan. Along with Pakistan, India has also played a key role in Bangladesh's past. In early history, Buddhism and Hinduism were mixed in Bengal, and Islam spread to the country from the 13th century. In 1760, Bengal, along with India, became a British colony ruled by Hindu rulers. In 1947, the British left the former colony to their fate. Bengal was divided according to religion. The Hindu West became part of India, and the Muslim East became, under the name East Pakistan, part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

In 1970, the elections were won by Awami League, which was supporting the independence of Bengal. However, the Pakistani government did not establish autonomy and instead sent its army to East Bengal. A civil war broke out, which East Bengal won with the help of India and the USSR, and in December 1971, the independent state of Bangladesh was declared. The next period had a character of a civil war, there was a large number of coups that did not go without violence. The state of emergency was not lifted until 1991. Today, the area is relatively quiet. West Bengal has been mostly spared violence and is still part of India.

The Somapura Mahavihara Buddhist monastery, one of Bangladeshi UNESCO monuments

Geography

Bangladesh lies on the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. It has a very dense river network. Rivers are used as a traffic artery. Because of the low altitude, rivers are also the cause of annual floods. Many people in the countryside lose their homes and migrate to the capital. From May to October comes the rainy season and Bangladesh is slammed by monsoons, great heat, and humidity. Temperatures reach up to 38 degrees Celsius. 

Population

Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world with a population density (1240 inhabitants per square kilometer). Bangladesh is an ethnically homogeneous state, with 98% of the population Bengali. The predominant religion is Islam (90%), there is also a significant Hindu minority. Bangladesh has come a long way in literacy over the last few years, reaching 70% today. However, literacy is lower among poor people in rural areas and women.

Economy

Bangladesh's economy is based on the textile industry, which accounts for up to 80% of exports. More than half of the population, however, also works in agriculture. Until 2020, Bangladesh experienced strong economic growth. However, the coronavirus crisis brought it down due to production restrictions in factories.