Bangladesh

Discover Bangladesh

Fun Foods

Panta bhat, Roshogolla, sandesh, and Mishti doi

Bangladesh didn't exist until nine months of brutal war created it in 1971. The country was born from genocide, liberation, and one of the shortest independence wars in history that killed hundreds of thousands.

In 1947, Britain split India and created Pakistan out of two Muslim-majority areas separated by 1,600 kilometers. East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan were the same country but totally different people.

The Bengalis in the East spoke a different language, had different culture, and made up most of Pakistan's population.

West Pakistan treated East Pakistan like a colony. They took resources, banned Bengali language, and refused to share power even though East Pakistanis were the majority.

In 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, called Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal), won Pakistan's first free election in a landslide. West Pakistan refused to hand over power.

Instead, they arrested Mujib on March 25, 1971, and launched a military campaign.

Bangladesh declared independence on March 26, 1971. The nine-month Liberation War that followed saw Pakistani forces commit genocide with massacres, torture, rape, and forced displacement.

India supported Bangladesh with troops and supplies.

On December 16, 1971, Pakistan surrendered to joint India-Bangladesh forces. Victory Day celebrates this date every year.

Independence Day on March 26 marks when Bangladesh declared freedom.

The Santals are one of Bangladesh's oldest indigenous communities, possibly the earliest settlers in Bengal. About 45 different indigenous groups, including Chakma, Marma, Tripura, and Garo, make up roughly 1.8% of the population.

They face discrimination and land rights violations despite being there first.

Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year on April 14, was started by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century to align taxes with harvest seasons. The Mangal Shobhajatra procession sees thousands carrying giant colorful animal sculptures through Dhaka's streets at dawn.

Cox's Bazar has the world's longest natural beach at 120 kilometers of golden sand. The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage mangrove forest, is where Royal Bengal Tigers swim through tidal waterways hunting spotted deer and saltwater crocodiles.

Try panta bhat, fermented rice soaked in water overnight and eaten with fried hilsa fish for breakfast on Pohela Boishakh. It's simple food that connects Bangladeshis to their farming roots.

Roshogolla, sandesh, and mishti doi (sweet yogurt) are Bengali sweets that nobody can resist.