Official Name: The People's Republic of Bangladesh                        

Independence: December 16, 1971                                                  

Land area: 1, 47,570 sq km                                                                         

Capital: Dhaka, area: 1416 sq km                                                         

Population: 140 million                                                            

People: Predominantly mixed group of Proto Austroloids / Dravidians, Mongoloids and Aryans                                                                                                     

Religion: Islam (88.3%), Hinduism (10.5%), Buddhism (0.6%) and Christianity (0.3%)                                                                                                        

Form of Government: Parliamentary system of Government with a parliament of 300 directly elected MPs. The tenure of the Parliament is 5 years and the Head of the President, who is the Head of State, is elected by the MPs. Prime Minister is the Head of the Government. However, after the Parliament completes its tenure, a neutral Caretaker Government takes the responsibility to conduct general election within 90 days of dissolution of the Parliament.

Geographical Location: Between 23°.34' and 26°.38' north latitude and between 88°.41' and 92°.41' east longitude.

History in Brief: Recorded history is traceable to 4th century B.C. and shows clear evidence of a flourishing civilization with cities, palaces, temples, forts, seats of learning and monasteries:

• 1200 A.D.: Advent of the Muslims, periods of prosperity under Muslim rule
• 17th century - A time of economic well-being
• 1757: Beginning of British colonial rule
• 1947: Departure of the British from Indian subcontinent
• Bangladesh becomes "East Bengal/East Pakistan"
• 1971: Emergence of the sovereign state of Bangladesh through an armed struggle for freedom.

Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Boundary:

North: India
West: India
East: India and and Mayanmar
South: Bay of Bengal

Unit of Currency: Taka (1 USD = 68.58 Tk)

GDP Growth Rate: 6.1% (2006)

Time: GMT+6

Major Cities: Dhaka, Chittagong. Khulna, Rajshahi, Mymensing, Comilla, Barisal, Sylhet.

Monsoon Rainfall: Lowest 340mm. Highest 964 mm.

Humidity: Highest 99% Lowest 36 %

Main Seasons: Winter (November – February), Summer (May –June), Monsoon (July – October)
Language: Bengali but English is widely spoken.  

Food: Rice, vegetables, pulses, fish and meat

Principal River: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Bhahmaputra, Teesta, Surma and Karnaphuli in all 700 rivers including tributaries and branches.

Principal Minerals: Natural Gas, Lignite Coal, Lime stones, Ceramic, Clay and Glass Sand.

National Days: National & Independence Day 26 March; Victory Day 16 December, International Mother Language & Shaheed Dibash: 21 February

Popular Sports: Football, cricket, hockey, kabaddi, swimming and chess

Export Items: Ready-made garments, raw jute, jute goods, shrimp, fish, finished leather and leather goods, medicine, flowers and vegetables, ceramic ware, handicrafts, newsprint and IT software etc.

Import Items: Raw cotton, textiles and accessories, cotton yarn, Petroleum products, capital machinery, automobiles, industrial chemicals and dyes, pharmaceutical raw materials, edible oil, coal, ferrous and nonferrous metals, etc.

Principal Crops: Rice, Jute, Tobacco, Sugarcane, Pulses, Oilseeds, Spices, Potatoes, Vegetables, Bananas, Mangoes, Coconut, Tea and Wheat.

Principal Industries: Ready-made Garments, Jute, Cotton, Textile, Tea, Paper, Newsprint, Cement, Fertilizer, Sugar, Engineering, Electric cables, Leather, Fish.

Sea Ports: Chittagong and Mongla.

Airports: Dhaka, Chittagong , Jessore, Rajshahi, Iswardi, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar,
Syedpur and Barisal .

Radio Station: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, Comilla,Jessore,Bogra, Cox's Bazar, Barisal,Rangamati and Thakurgaon .

Satellite Station: Betbunia ( Chittagong) and Talibabad (Dhaka) for international telecommunication.

Educational Institutes: Universities: 32; Medical Collage: 24; Bangladesh Institute of Technology: 4; Colleges 2288; Polytechnic Institutes 21; Secondary School 14069; Primary School 65610

Electricity: 220 Volts A.C. in all cities and towns.

Tourist Season: October to March

Land: Fertile alluvial flood plain with subtropical monsoon climate has mangrove forest in the Sundarbans and hill terrain in the North East and South East.

Culture: The socio-cultural heritage of Bangladesh is a unique blend of traditional customs and modern influences. Some customs are rooted in prehistory. Most traditions have evolved from the agrarian rural society. Anniversaries, fairs and festivals form a vital part of social life.

Arts: Bangladesh has a rich tradition of arts. Specimens if ancient terracotta and pottery show remarkable artistry. Modern-day painting, sculpture and engravings are acclaimed at home and abroad. The dance and music of Bangladesh are of three distinct categories: classical, folk and modern. Open-air rural opera known as “Jatra” is the root of the modern-day Bangladeshi theatres.