South Asia
 
The landscape of Asia -- the largest continent and home to the world’s more than half of the entire population – includes the tallest mountains, the broadest grasslands, the most desolate wilderness, and the highest density of population. The mountain ranges clearly divide Asia into its southern and northern parts. Three peninsula subcontinents stretch from the southern part of Asia. Arabian peninsula in southwest Asia, Malay archipelago in southeast Asia, and in the center lies the peninsula mainly shared by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Himalayas form the northern border of  Nepal, Bhutan and India. 
 
Country Profile: Bangladesh
 

Name: People’s Republic of Bangladesh or 

            Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh 

            (formerly East Pakistan)

Area: 55,585 sq mi/144,000 sq km

Capital:  Dhaka (formerly Dacca)

Major Cities: Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi

Physical Features: The largest estuarine delta in the world; annual rainfall of 100 in/2,540 mm; some 75% of the land is less than 10 ft/3 m above sea level and vulnerable to flooding and cyclone; hilly in southeast and northeast regions

Environment: Deforestation on the slops of the Himalayas increases the onslaught of flooding in the coastal low-lying areas of Bangladesh, which are also hit by devastating monsoon storms every year.The construction of Farakka Barrage in the West Bengal state of India has cut down the flow of the Ganges in Bangladesh and allowed salt water to intrude further inland. Increased salinity hasdestroyed fisheries, damaged forests, and contaminated drinking water.

Head of State: Shahabuddin Ahmed from 1996

Head of Government: Sheikh Hasina from 1996

Political System: Emerging Democracy

Political Parties: Awami League, secular; Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), centrist; Jatiya Party, centrist; Jamaat-e- Islami, Islamic

Exports: Garments, jute, fish products, tea

Population: 107,992,100 (1991 cen); growth rate 2.17%

Life Expectancy: Men 50, women 52

Language: Bangla (Bengali)

Religion: Sunni Muslim 85%, Hindu 14%, others 1%

Literacy: Men 43%, women 22% (1985 est)

GDP: 17.6 bn (1987); $172 per capita

 

Chronology

 

1947--Formed as eastern province of Pakistan on partition of British India.

1970--More than half a million killed in a massive cyclonic storm.

1971--Bangladesh became an independent nation following a civil war.

1975--Independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassinated and Martial law imposed.

1976-77-- Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman took over power.

1978-79-- Elections held and the nation came back to civilian rule.

1981-- Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman assassinated.

1982-- Lt  Gen Ershad assumed power in a military coup. Martial law reimposed.

1986-- Elections held. Martial law came to an end.

1987-- State of emergency declared to stave off opposition demonstrations.

1988-- State of emergency lifted. Parliamentary elections boycotted by main opposition parties. Floods left thousands dead, 30 million homeless.

1989-- Chittagong Hill Tracts empowered to end a 14-year-old tribal conflict.

1990-- President Ershad resigned following massive anti-government demonstrations. Shahabuddin Ahmed became interim president.

1991-- BNP won the first free and fair elections. Tornado killed about 140,000 and left upto 10 million homeless. Parliamentary government formed; Abdur Rahman Biswas elected president.

1996-- BNP government resigned slightly ahead of schedule following anti-government demonstrations. Awami League returned to power through a fair election after 21 years.

Accord signed ending a long-standing dispute with India over water sharing. Peace returned to Chittagong Hill Tracts after two decades following an agreement with tribal leaders. (Source: Webster’s New World Encyclopedia, College Edition, 1993) (incomplete)