Bangladesh

Asia
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.

24 00 N, 90 00 E

President Zillur Rahman	Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed

Capital
Dhaka

Government
Unitary state and parliamentary democracy

Religion
Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9%.

Population
156,118,464

Ethnic group
Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims)

National Language                   
Bangla
          
National Day
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)

Anthem
Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bangla)

Currency
Taka (BDT)

Attractions
Chittagong,  Mahasthangarh,  Kuakata,  Sundarbans, Patenga Beach 

Website

Art &Cultural

The ICON

Mahasthangarh               Mahasthangarh  is the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana. A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in Brahmi script, discovered in 1931, dates Mahasthangarh to at least the 3rd century BC. The fortified area was in use till the 18th century AD. Together with the ancient and mediaeval ruins, the mazhar (holy tomb) of Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahisawar built at site of a Hindu temple is located at Mahasthangarh. He was a dervish (holy person devoted to Islam) of royal lineage who came to the Mahasthangarh area, with the objective of spreading Islam among non-Muslims. He converted the people of the area to Islam and settled there.

Jatiyo Smriti Soudho