Gerneral Information for Visitors to Bangladesh

The People's Republic of Bangladesh, a land of about 130 million people, is located in South East Asia. It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the Gangetic plains of India, and the forests of Myanmar. The country is primarily a low-lying plain of about 144,000 square kilometers, criss- crossed by innumerable brooks, streams, and rivers, including the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, and Karnaphuli. It is a fertile, deltaic land, mostly flat except for a range of hills in the southeast. Much of the land is characterized by wooded marshland and jungle.
Although Bangladesh emerged as an independent country in 1971, its history stretches back thousands of years, and it has long been known as a crossroads of history and culture. Hindus, Mongolians, Buddhists, Muslims, and Europeans have, at various times, all exerted considerable influence over the land. Today Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country, but one in which people of different religions and cultural backgrounds live in harmony. Agriculture predominates the Bangladesh economy. Major products include rice, jute, wheat, potato, pulse, sugarcane, tea, and tobacco. Jute, tea, seafood, and handicrafts are among the country's primary exports. The industrial sector is growing rapidly, and Bangladesh is gaining an international reputation for products such as garments and leather goods.
Bangladesh's climate is subtropical, with temperatures ranging from daytime lows of 8 degrees celsius in the cool season to 40 degrees celsius in the summer. Annual rainfall ranges from 160 cm in the west to 400 cm in the northeast, with heaviest rains during the monsoon (June- September). Autumn (October- November), winter (December-February), and summer (March-May) make up the country's other seasons.

The Offical Website of People's Republic of Bangladesh:
www.bangladesh.gov.bd