THE NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag is in bottle green and rectangular in size in the proportion of length to width 10:6 bearing a red circle on the body of the green. The red circle has a radius of one fifth of the length of the flag. Its centre is placed on the intersecting point of the perpendicular drawn from the nine twentieth part of the length of the flag and the horizontal line drawn through the middle of its width.

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 your 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 sandness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
my eyes are filled with tears !

Aerial view of the landscape dotted with serpentine rivers
amidst patches of green paddy fields

Bangladesh was famed in ancient times as a land of bounty and affluence. When Alexander the Great started his expedition for the subcontinent, he headed for Bengal attracted by its legendary plenty. For centuries followed many others - travelers, merchants and invaders. Because of its strategic location Bangladesh served as a flourishing entry-port and intermediary in trade and commerce between South Asia and the Far East.

Etymologically the word Bangladesh is derived from the cognate Vanga which was first mentioned in the Hindu scripture composed between 5000 BC and 500 AD.

Literally it means a wetland. In fact, Bangladesh is the largest wetland in the world formed by the interaction of innumerable rivers and streams, its configuration was determined and is being continuously changed by them. Geological evidence indicates that much of Bangladesh was formed 1 to 65 million years ago during the tertiary era. Human habitation in this region is believed to be very old with its roots in the Paleolithic civilisation dating back to about one hundred thousand years.

The mighty Gangaridai and Prasioi empires were located in the Bengal region. These were succeeded by the Mauryas (4^th to 2^nd century BC), the Guptas (4^th-5^th century AD), the empire of Sasanka (7^th century AD), the Pala empire (750-1162 AD) and the Senas (1162 to 1223 AD). Then followed a long chain of Muslim rule (till 1757 AD) when Bengal reached the zenith of economic affluence and glory.

From the 15^th century the Europeans namely, Portuguese, Dutch, French and British traders started arriving attracted by the riches of Bengal. The British succeeded in establishing their suzerainty when they defeated the then Muslim ruler of Bengal at the battle of Plassey in 1757 AD. The British rule was subsequently extended to the whole of the subcontinent and continued till mid-August 1947. When the British left, the subcontinent was partitioned into two countries - India and Pakistan, Bangladesh formed the eastern wing of Pakistan. Though numerically in the majority, the Bangalees were treated unjustly and very soon the movement for the autonomy of Bangladesh started because of cultural, linguistic and ethnic differences and economic disparity and deprivation.

The Country

The history of Bangladesh is as old as it is eventful. The country was inhabited in prehistoric times by Proto-Australoids and Proto-Mongoloids Later came the Dravidians, Aryans and Mongolians.

Islam spread in the eleventh century through the missionary activities of Muslim Sufis and Arab traders and through Muslim conquests. For about five hundred years this region was under the rule of Muslims who came to this place at the beginning of the 13th century. The Turko-Afghans and the Mughals continued their rule till the advent of the British in the 13th century. The Europeans in fact started coming here from the end of the 16th century and the British rule continued till 1947 when the subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Bangladesh formed the eastern wing of Pakistan until it became independent on December 16, 1971.

Modern Bangladesh has largely been a story of struggle in defence of national sovereignty and democracy to make available to the people of the country all the opportunities necessary for them to realize their full potential as a nation. Having been part of the British colonial dispensation for close to two centuries, the people of Bangladesh, or the eastern region of what then was the province of Bengal, decided in 1947 to be part of the newly created state of Pakistan. The decision was one taken in the interest of the political, intellectual and social well-being of the people.

The obstacles to the attainment of those objectives began to come early on, the earliest move in this respect being the decision of the central authorities in Pakistan to opt for Urdu as the only state language of the country. The move militated against the emotions of the majority of Pakistan's population, who were the Bengali-speaking people of the country. The result was therefore only predictable: East Pakistan rose in protest in defence of its linguistic rights, first in 1948 and then, in a more concerted form, in 1952 when the Pakistan authorities sought to crack down on Bengali aspirations through resort to brute force. The death of a number of young men in Dhaka on 21 February 1952 proved to be the catalyst for what eventually came to be known as the nationalist struggle of the Bengali-speaking people of Pakistan. Ekushey February, as the struggle of 1952 has come to be known, was the first pointer that the people of what would in time be Bangladesh were quite willing to go all the way to assert their rights within a democratic political structure.

The general elections held throughout Pakistan in 1970 were a remarkable opportunity for the people of Bangladesh to claim their rightful place in national politics. But all expectations were aborted when the military establishment refused to transfer power to the majority political party, and instead embarked on a systematic policy of repression in March 1971.

The liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan after nine months of a sustained war of liberation on 16 December 1971 ushered in a new period of hope for the people of the country.

Once more, the people of Bangladesh had triumphed.

Location and Climate

Bangladesh lies between 20°34' and 26°38' north latitude and 88°01' and 92°41' east Longitude with an area of 147570 square kilometers. The climate of Bangladesh is characterised by high temperature ranges and high humidity, heavy rainfall and marked seasonal variation. Daily temperature ranges from 10°C to 12°C in winter months (December-January) and in the summer months from April to September it varies between 28°C to 40°C.The soil of Bangladesh may be divided into three main categories, namely hill soil (Chittagong and Sylhet region), terrace soil (Barind and Madhupur tracts) and alluvial and flood plain soil in other parts. Bangladesh contains greater bio-diversity than many other countries taken together.

The People

Bangladeshis are historically descendants of various races and nationalities. An Austro-Asian race first inhabited this region followed by Dravidians and Aryans. There was a sizeable influx of Mongolians from Tibet in China and Myanmar. The Arab Muslims started coming in the early ninth century. Persians, Armenians, Turks, Afghans and lastly, the Mughals came in quick succession. Notwithstanding the diverse racial mix, Bangladeshis, by and large, are a homogenous nation. From the demographic point of view, Bangladesh is the ninth largest and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. According to an official estimate, the country's population stood at 128.1 million in January 1999. Over 88% of the population are Muslims. Hindus are the largest minority group (nearly 10%) followed by Buddhists, Christians and a few other sects. Bangladesh is viewed as a model of religious tolerance and harmony. The birth rate in 1999 was 2.67%; percentage of adult literacy rate is approximately 59 and urban population constitutes over 20% of the population; life expectancy at birth is 59.5 years.

The people of Bangladesh are essentially simple in nature. Since time immemorial they are noted for their valour and resilience as well as hospitality and friendliness. Generally speaking, fish, rice and lentil constitute the main diet of the masses. More than sixty-three (63.2%) percent of the labour force is employed in agriculture and the rest in the industrial and service sectors. Women in increasing numbers are joining the country's workforce, both in the formal and informal sectors. Bangla is the official language. English is also used and understood in the urban areas. Bangladeshis are traditionally hard working. The country has also a sizeable number of tribal people, mostly of Mongoloid origin. The majority of them live in the Chittagong Hill Districts.

The International Mother Language Day

The central Martyrs' Monument in Dhaka was erected in memory of those who laid down their lives for establishing the dignity and rightful place of Bangla on February 21,1952. The monument, designed by noted artist Hamidur Rahman assisted by the well-known sculptor Novera Ahmed, symbolises the mother protecting her children.
Language has been visualised as the mother who provides nourishment to the people, her offsprings. On this day every year, the people pay homage to the language martyrs and throng the monument in thousands in bare foot. The observance starts from zero hour and continues for the whole day. The monument is bedecked with flowers and wreaths.

People and students marching towards the government secretariat building in Dhaka on 11th March, 1948 demanding that Bangla be made one of the state languages of Pakistan, Slogan written on the placard "Vasha o kristir gorai kuthar aghat" (striking at the root of education and culture), protesting the Pakistan government's decision to make Urdu the only state language of the country.

UNESCO has proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day to be observed globally in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for establishing the rightful place of Bangla. The proclamation came in the form of a resolution unanimously adopted at the plenary of the UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris in November 1999.

The resolution was tabled by Bangladesh and is a great tribute by the international community to the language martyrs of Bangladesh. The genesis of the historic Language Movement which ensued since September 1947 with the students in the vanguard backed by intellectuals, cultural activists and patriotic elements was the first spurt of Bengali nationalistic upsurge culminating in the events of 1971.

UNESCO in its resolution said the recognition was given bearing in mind that all moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue. Henceforth in the new millennium 188 countries around the world will observe 21^st February as the International Mother Language Day. The historic 21^st February has, thus, assumed new dimensions. The sacrifices of Rafiq, Salam, Jabbar, Barkat and other martyrs as well as of those tortured and repressed by the then authoritarian government of Pakistan for championing the cause of their mother tongue received glorious and new recognition in the November 1999 resolution of UNESCO.

Foreign policy

Bangladesh pursues a forward-looking foreign policy based on friendship with all and malice towards none. As an active member of the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIC, the Commonwealth and numerous international organizations, Bangladesh actively promotes global peace, stability, co-operation and development.

The foreign policy of Bangladesh forms an integral part of its overall national policy. A fundamental objective is revitalizing friendly relations with all countries and the consolidation of our image abroad as a responsible, politically stable, moderate, democratic and contributing member of the world community.

Its unwavering policy is to maintain close and friendly relations with the neighbours on the basis of equality, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and the settlement of outstanding bilateral issues through dialogue and negotiation. ln the region a priority objective is to revive the momentum and credibility of SAARC. The guiding motivation for SAARC was to tangibly improve the quality of life of the common people of the region in an environment of peace. Bangladesh firmly believes in the future of SAARC and its South Asian identity. The economic reforms and market liberalisation in the country as well as in the rest of South Asia have brought greater possibilities for closer interaction with the world. Its huge emerging market, its large capable middle class with good entrepreneurial, technological and scientific skills have opened the way for extensive economic and commercial opportunities. SAARC continues to retain very positive potentials for economic cooperation and as a basic harmonising force for security and confidence building in the region.

In the international arena also Bangladesh believes in a proactive role for maintaining peace and stability. Bangladesh greatly values its cooperation with other countries in international affairs. It has the distinction of having provided the largest number of peace-keepers working under the UN. Bangladesh feels that the importance of economic diplomacy cannot be overemphasised. The essential thrust of the country's economic diplomacy must be to project the image of the country which offers excellent investment opportunities and that the overall investment climate is conducive to foreign investment. For developing countries such as Bangladesh, economic diplomacy also means playing an active, sometimes leadership role in multilateral agencies and conferences.

Investment

The Bangladesh government welcomes foreign direct investment and foreign participation in joint ventures with the approval of the government.