LINKS:

Introduction

Early History of the Bengal

Under the British Rule

Bengali Uprising and the Birth of a New Nation

The Declaration of Independence

The Liberation War of 1971

Historic Documents

Picture Gallery

Bangladesh lies between 20' 34' and 23 36' north latitude and 88' 1' and 92' 41' east longitude.  The great Himalayas stand as the northern ramparts, while the southern frontier is shaped by the picturesque Bay of Bengal. On the west lies the expansive plains (West Bengal) of the Ganges of India and on the eastern frontier lies the forest of Myanmar (Arakan Province) and India (Tripura and Assam hills). This collage of geographical precincts delineate a low-lying plain of about 144,000 sq. km. (55,598 sq. miles) criss-crossed by innumerable brooks, rivers, rivulets and streams leading from the Bay of Bengal. Mighty rivers the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, Karnaphuli and their numerous branches flow through the low lying plains of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an evergreen country where the land is fertile and nature is bounteous.

Bangladesh has an illustrious history of that goes back by thousands of years. It has witnessed grandeur, opulence and prosperity as well as destitution, oppression, and the brutality of some ravaging struggles over the centuries.

Bengali culture has been one that has thrived through its splendour that dates back as early as the third century B.C. Evidence 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 Bengal was defeated at the famous battle of Plassey. In 1947, the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan.  Present Bangladesh became the Eastern Wing of the then Pakistan and became known as East Pakistan. But under the oppressive rule of the West Pakistan, the movement for autonomy for East Pakistan began in no time.

In 1971 the Liberation War of Independence began against the Pakistani regime. On 26th of March 1971, Bangladesh was declared independent under the directives of Bangabandhu Shekih Mujibur Rahman. After a nine-month blood bath Bangladesh emerged as a new nation in the world through the signing of the surrender document by the Pakistani forces on the 16th of December 1971.

Since then Bangladesh has sailed through troubled waters of political instability, poverty, over-population, lack of education and basic health care. However, through the diligence and perseverance of its sincere and patriotic citizens, over the years, Bangladesh has been recognized in the international community as a hard-working developing country that has been warmly lauded and appreciated for its role in poverty elevation, sustainable development, improvement of education and health care, empowerment of women and rural development. Bangladesh being one of the most populated Muslim nations in the world has been recognized globally as a moderate Muslim democracy that takes pride in its multi-cultural, religious and ethnic population.

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