With an area of about 144,000 sq km, Bangladesh is situated between latitudes 20~34' and 26~38' north and latitudes 88~01' and 92~41' east. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and north and by the Bay of Bengal on the south. There is also a small strip of frontier with Burma on the southeastern edge. The land is a deltaic plain with a network of numerous rivers and canals.
Brief Facts:
Official Name
The People's Republic Of Bangladesh
Location
Latitude between 20 degree 34' and 26 degree 39' north. Longitude between 88 degree 00' and 92 degree 41' east.
Area
144,000 sq. km.
Boundary
Bounded by India from the north, east and west and by the Bay of Bengal and Burma from the south.
Climate
Main seasons : Winter (Nov - Feb), Summer (Mar - Jun), Monsoon (Jul - Oct). Temp : Max 34 degree Celsius, Min 8 degree Celsius.
Rainfall
Lowest 47" and highest 136"
Capital
Dhaka (Present area 414 sq. km. Master plan 777 sq.km.)
Population
Total estimated population 130 million.
State Language
Bangla. English is also widely spoken and understood
National Days
National Martyrs Day - February 21 Independence Day - March 26 Victory Day - December 16
Principal Rivers
Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Surma and Kushiara
Principal Crops
Jute, rice, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, vegetables, potato, pulses, etc.
Important Fruits
Mango, banana, pineapple, jack-fruit, water-melon, green coconut, guava, licis, etc.
Major Industries
Jute, sugar, paper, textiles, fertilizers, cigeratte, cement, steel, natural gas, oil-refinery, newsprint, power generation, rayon, matches, fishing and food processing, leather, soap, carpet, timber, ship-building, telephone, etc.
Sea Ports
Chittagong and Mongla
Airports
Zia international airport, Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, domestic airports at Chittagong, Jessore, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi and Saidpur
Electricity
220 Volts A.C. in all cities and towns
Tourist Seasons
October to March
Main Tourist Attractions
Colorful tribal life, longest sea beach, centuries' old archeological sites, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger, largest tea gardens, interesting riverine life, etc.
Wearing Apparel
Tropical in summer, and light-woolen in winter
Currency
The unit of currency is the Taka. Notes are in denominations of 1,2,5,10,20,50,100 and 500 Taka. Coins are 1,5,10,25,50 and 100 Paisa (100 Paisa = 1 Taka)
Anthem:
My Bengal of gold, I love you Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune as if it were a flute, In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from your mango-groves makes me wild with joy- Ah, what a thrill!In Autumn, Oh mother mine, in the full-blossomed paddy fields, I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles! Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection and what a tenderness! What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees and along the banks of rivers! Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like Nectar to my ears! Ah, what a thrill! If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face, my eyes are filled with tears!
Geography:
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and IndiaGeographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 EArea:
Total: 144,000 sq km
Land: 133,910 sq km
Water: 10,090 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than WisconsinLand boundaries:
Total: 4,246 km
Border countries:Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 kmMaritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeastElevation extremes:
Lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timberLand use:
Arable land: 73%
Permanent crops: 2%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 15%
Other: 5%
Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 est.)Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
Media:
The main broadcasters - Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television (BTV) - are state-owned and favourable to the government. Little coverage is given to the political opposition, except in the run-up to general elections when a caretaker government takes control.
TV dominates media usage, especially in the cities. BTV is the sole terrestrial TV channel. Popular satellite and cable channels include ATN, Channel i, NTV, RTV, Channel One, BanglaVision and Boishakhi. The advent of these private broadcasters has had little impact in rural areas.
Foreign, especially Indian, TV stations have gained large audiences in Dhaka and other cities.
State-run radio covers almost the entire country.
Bangladeshi newspapers are diverse, outspoken and privately-owned. The print media are privately owned and there is a strong tradition of owner-editorship. English-language titles appeal mainly to an educated urban readership.
The constitution guarantees press freedom, but journalists are subject to regular harassment from the police and political activists. The government exercises a degree of control through the placement of official advertising.
Media rights organisation Reporters Without Borders says journalists are targeted by Islamist and Maoist groups, as well as officials and politicians.
The BBC World Service is available on FM in Dhaka.
The press
The Daily Star - English-language
The Bangladesh Observer - English-language daily
New Age - English-language daily
The New Nation - English-language daily
Holiday - English-language weekly
Daily Prothom Alo - Bengali daily
Dainik Ittefaq - Bengali daily
Dainik Jugantor - Bengali daily
Television
Bangladesh Television (BTV) - government-run
ATN Bangla - private, via satellite and cable
Channel i - private, via satellite and cable
NTV - private, via satellite and cable
RTV - private, via satellite
Ekushey TV - private, via satellite
Radio
Betar-Radio Bangladesh - government-run, operates networks A, B and C from Dhaka and local services
Radio Today FM - in Dhaka and surrounding area
Radio Furti FM - in Dhaka and surrounding area
Radio Metrowave - Dhaka, music and news aimed at younger listeners
News agencies
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) - official, English-language pages
bdnews24 - private