The Bangladeshi constitution set up the nation's government as a parliamentary democracy.

The People and the Land

When Bangladesh split from the rest of Pakistan in 1971, it wrote a new constitution. Completed in 1972, this document instituted a parliamentary democracy similar to the system of government used in Britain and India. In the three decades since Bangladesh became independent, however, the government has been replaced by one military coup after another. During the last decade or so, the government has managed to remain relatively stable.

Bangladesh's neighbors are India and Myanmar.

Bangladesh is almost completely surrounded by India, apart from a small stretch of border it shares with the Southeast Asian country Myanmar and a coastline along the Indian Ocean. Within Bangladesh's borders, the great Ganges River merges with the Jamuna River and spills into the Indian Ocean. North of the broad river delta at the mouth of this river, Bangladesh is mostly very flat.

Disease is a major problem in Bangladesh. One of the most problematic epidemics is dengue, a deadly fever caused by bites from infected mosquitoes.

The landscape never stays stable for very long. In addition to the many massive rivers that flow continually through the country, terrible and destructive monsoons return to batter the land every year. These monsoons have been directly responsible for over a million deaths in the past two centuries. Because of the havoc monsoons wreak on agriculture, buildings, roads, and other structures, the country must constantly struggle to keep its economy afloat.

The economy of Bangladesh is predominantly agricultural. Depending on the sale of tea and jute to other countries, the people of Bangladesh make almost all their money by farming. Because of the country's almost complete dependence on agriculture, it has had a very difficult time surviving in the modern world.

A Brief History

Bangladesh's proclamation of independence from Pakistan inaugurated brutal nine-month war for freedom.

Muslims arrived in great numbers in the area in the 13th century C.E. and quickly overthrew the dynasties that existed in the area. Since then, Hindus and Muslims have struggled with one another in much the same way as they have throughout South Asia. Despite the persistence of Hinduism and other religions in Bangladesh, though, the Islamic religion of the new invaders found enormous appeal among the people who lived there. It has since become the dominant religion — and remains the one endorsed by the government.

From the mid-18th century to the mid-20th century, the British ruled the region. They proved to be rather bad at it. They left most of the ruling to native magnates — mostly Hindu — who were expected to collect taxes for their British masters.

The British did not trust the Hindus, who were leading protests against British rule throughout South Asia, so in 1905 they split what was then the Indian province of Bengal into two smaller provinces. They hoped that, by doing so, they would break the power held by the Hindus and increase Muslim power.

Almost nobody was happy about the split. Apart from the loyal upper-class Muslims, nearly everyone joined in the protests that were sweeping the South Asian subcontinent. The ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi found willing adherents in Bangladesh.

In the United States, George Harrison brought Bangladesh's fight for independence to the attention of the American people. The Concert for Bangladesh featured Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and others.

When the British finally left, they left in a hurry. They split South Asia into India and Pakistan — and Bangladesh (then called East Pakistan) was actually part of Pakistan, separated entirely from the rest of Pakistan by the nation of India.

The Bengali people in East Pakistan soon realized they had no real power in their new country. Geographically distant from the seat of their government, they had to struggle even to get representation. Over the next two decades, they managed to achieve some political power, and they intended to use it to separate from Pakistan.

Unfortunately, the effort at separation ended in bloodshed. The Pakistani army attacked the protesting Bengali natives on March 25, 1971. The Indian army soon invaded the region and put Mujibur Rahman in power. He had long been the champion of Bengali independence, and the people welcomed him.

Alas, he did not live long enough to see Bangladesh established as a stable independent country. Angry Pakistani loyalists assassinated him on August 15, 1975. They did not stop killing until almost his entire family was dead.

Bangladesh Today

Bangladesh is located in a prime tropical storm area.

Although Bangladesh may be able to defend its borders against India and other foreign powers, it is almost defenseless against the annual onslaught of storms in the monsoon season. Many people, sometimes numbering in the thousands, are killed each year as a direct result of the storms. And the important crops — tea and jute — suffer greatly.

The country continues to try to establish its industrial base. Bangladesh became an independent country only in 1971, but it has roots as deep and ancient as the rest of South Asia. Despite its long history, though, Bangladesh continues to face challenges in its struggle to establish itself economically and politically in the world today.

Bangladesh Instructions: Answer the questions. For each correct answer you give, your car moves ahead one space. Each wrong answer advances your opponent's car one space. Do you know enough to win the race? Happy racing! Click Here!

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