Bangladesh, officially known as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, is a country located in South Asia. Covering an area of 147,570 square kilometers (56,980 square miles), it ranks as the 92nd-largest country by land area. Despite its size, it is the world’s 8th-most populous nation, with an estimated population of approximately 163 million, making it one of the most densely populated countries on Earth.

Bangladesh shares land borders with India to the west, north, and east, and Myanmar to the southeast, while the Bay of Bengal lies to its south. Dhaka, the capital and largest city, serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Chittagong, the largest seaport, is the second-largest city. The country’s landscape is largely shaped by the Ganges Delta, where the combined waters of several river systems, including the Brahmaputra and Ganges, converge into the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh’s terrain is crisscrossed by a vast network of rivers and inland waterways. The northeastern and southeastern regions are characterized by highlands and evergreen forests, while the country is home to the longest natural sea beach and the world’s largest mangrove forest. Its rich biodiversity includes a wide variety of plants and wildlife, including the endangered Bengal tiger, the national animal.

Geographically, Bangladesh forms the eastern and largest part of the Bengal region. Historically, it was home to several significant kingdoms, including the Vanga Kingdom, which was known for its naval strength. The region was also part of the ancient Mauryan Empire under King Ashoka. The principalities of the area were known for their overseas trade, their connections to the Roman Empire, the export of fine muslin and silk to the Middle East, and the spread of art and philosophy to Southeast Asia. The Pala Empire, Chandra dynasty, and Sena dynasty were the last notable pre-Islamic Bengali kingdoms.

Islam was introduced to the region through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate during the Pala Empire and spread throughout the area following the conquest of Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate. This expansion was further aided by the preaching of Shah Jalal in East Bengal. In 1576, the region was incorporated into the Mughal Empire, though parts were later controlled by the Suri Empire. Following the decline of the Mughal Empire in the early 18th century, Bengal became semi-independent under the Nawabs of Bengal, with the region ultimately falling under British control after the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

The modern borders of Bangladesh were established in August 1947 when Bengal was divided and the region became East Pakistan as part of the newly formed state of Pakistan. The subsequent rise of the Bengali nationalist movement led to the Liberation War and the establishment of Bangladesh as an independent sovereign state in 1971.

Bengalis, who predominantly speak the official Bengali language, make up 98% of the population. The country has the fourth-largest Muslim population in the world, with Bengali Muslims being the dominant religious group. Although Islam is the state religion, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion to non-Muslim citizens.

Bangladesh operates as a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional republic in the Westminster tradition, with eight administrative divisions and 64 districts. Classified as an emerging economy, Bangladesh is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and is listed among the “Next Eleven” countries. The country’s GDP ranks 39th globally in market exchange rates and 29th in purchasing power parity.

While Bangladesh has made significant strides in areas such as poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, the export of ready-made garments, population control, reducing child mortality, and combating natural disasters, it continues to face challenges such as the Rohingya refugee crisis, terrorism, corruption, and the impacts of climate change.