Bangladesh

Government Parliamentary democracy. 

Geography
Bangladesh, on the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal, is surrounded by India, with a small common border with Myanmar in the southeast. The country is low-lying riverine land traversed by the many branches and tributaries of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers.

Historical Background
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal separated from India and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a twopart country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. Bangladesh went ahead with its general election in December 2008. It was the first general election since the army-backed caretaker government took power in January 2007. The Awami League, headed by Sheikh Hasina, won in a landslide, taking 262 of 299 seats in Parliament. The vote was considered fair and largely free of scandal. Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as prime minister in January 2009.

Capital

Dhaka

Government

Unitary state and parliamentary democracy[1]
 -  President Zillur Rahman
 -  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed
 -  Speaker Ad.Abdul Hamid

Language

Bangla

Religion

Islamic

Area

147,570 km2 (94th) 56,977 sq mi

Population

164.4 million[2] (8th)

Density

1,099.3/km2 (9th) 2,917.6/sq mi

Currency

Taka (BDT)

GDP: 2010 estimate Total $257.545 billion Per capita $1,566