Bangladesh is situated in the north-eastern part of south Asia. It lies between 20' 34' and 2e 36' north latitude and 88' I' and 92' 41' east longitude. The heary and great Himalayas stand as the northen ramparts, while the southern frontier is guarded by the Bay of Bengal. On the west lies the expansive gangetic plains (West Bengal) of India and on the eastern frontier lies the almost impassable forest of Myanmar (Arakan Province) and India (Tripura and Assam hills).

These picturesque geographical boundaries delineate out a low lying plain of about 144,000 sq.km. (55,598 sq. miles) criss -crossed by innumerable brooks, rivers, rivulets and streams. Mighty rivers the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, Karnaphuli and others flow through Bangladesh. The unscalable blue is stretched high above, and the green and silvery landscape below runs far and beyond. This is Bangladesh, a fertile land where nature is bounteous.

Bangladesh is a deltaic region. Much of the country's land area has been built up from alluvial deposits brought down by the major rivers. The land is mostly flat except for a range of hills in the south-east. Wooded marshylands and jungles mainly characterize it with forest regions in Sylhet, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban Hill Tracts, Sundarbans, Mymensingh and Tangail.

HISTORY

The history of Bangladesh has been one of extremes, of turmoil and peace, prosperity and destitution. It has thrived under the glow of cultural spiendour and suffered under the ravages of war. The earliest mention of Bangladesh is found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata (the story of Great Battle-9th century B.C). Evidence also suggests that there was a strong Mongoloid presence as well. Soon after, in the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. came the Aryans from Central Asia and the Dravidians from Western India. Then came the Guptas, Palas, Senas, who were Buddhist and Hindus.

From the 13th century A.D. the flood of Muslim invaders and the tide of Islam swamped the Buddhist and Hindus untold 8th century. Sometimes there were independent rulers like the Hussain Shahi and Ilyas Shahi dynasties while at other times they ruled on behalf of the imperial seat of Delhi. From 15th century the Europeans, namely; Portuguese, Dutch, French and British traders exerted an economic influence over the region. British political rule over the region began in 1757 A.D. when the last Muslim ruler of Ben. gal was defeated at Palassey. In 1947 the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Present Bangladesh becomes the Eastern Wing of the then Pakistan. But the movement for autonomy for East

Pakistan started within a couple of years because of language and cultural difference and economic disparity between the two wings. The seeds of independence were sown through the Language Movement of 1952 to recognize Bangla as a state language. Ultimately the then East Pakistan emerged as a sovereign and independent state of Bangladesh in 1971 after nine month - long war of Liberation (starting on 26 March 1971) in which 3 million people courted martyrdom.

At a Glance

Official Name: The People's Republic of Bangladesh

Government: Parliamentary form of government, headed by the Prime Minister

Location & Borders: South Asia bordered by India on the east,west & north and by Bay of Bengal on the south and small border strip with Myanmar on the southeast.

Area/Land: 147,570 square km-mostly alluvial fertile plain. Territorial Waters 22.22 km. Economic Zone up to 370.40 km. in the high seas, measured from the base line.

Climate/Seasons: Average winter temp (Max 29 deg. C and Min 11 deg. C) . Average Summer temp ( Max 40 deg. C and Min 21 deg C) . Seasons: Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Late Autumn, Winter & Spring .

Annual rainfall:Varies from 160 cm to 400 cm at different areas.

Humidity: Highest 99 % during peak summer in July, Lowest 36% during winter in Dec-Jan

Standard Time: GMT+6 hours

Population/Literacy: 130.03 million /62.66%

Official Language: Bangla, English is generally understood and widely spoken.

Capital: Dhaka, Area 1416 sq. km.

Administrative Units: Division:6; Zila:64; Thana:507; Union:4484; Village:87319

Major cities: Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Mymensing & Comilla

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

International Airport: Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong

Sea Port: Chittagong and Mongla

Places of tourist interest: Colorful tribal life of Hill Tracts, World's largest and longest sea beach at Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Parky sea beach, Foy's Lake , Dulahajra safari park, Sitakund echo park at Chittagong, century old historical sites at Dhaka, Pharpur, Moinamati, Mohastangar, Sundarban the home of Royal Bengal Tiger and world's largest mangrove ferest, lash green tea gargens of Sylhet, riverine life etc.

Tourist season: October to March

Banking hour: Sunday- Thursday (9:00 am-3:00 pm)

Exchange rate: Taka (T.) / Floating exchange rate hovers round US$ 1.00= Tk. 69.00, Euro 1.00=Tk 86.00

Religion: 4 Major religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity

Sectoral share of GDP: 21.77% agriculture, 29.01% industry, 49.22% service (2005-06).

GDP/rate of growth: US$ 63.4 billion /6.71% (2005-06)

Per Capita GDP/GNI: US$456 / US$482 (2005-06)

Annual Export/Import: US$ 10.5 billion (2005-06) / US$ 13.10 billion (2004-2005)

Major exports: Readymade garments, frozen foods (shrimps), leather, leather products, jute, jute products, tea, ceramic, textile fabrics, home textile, chemical product, light engineering products including bi-cycle.

Major imports: Oil, edible oil, petroleum product, wheat, seeds, fertilizer, yarn, capital goods, machinery, power generating machinery, scientific & medical equipment, iron & steel, motor vehicles, raw cotton, chemicals.

Major trading partners: USA, EU countries, China, India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and UAE