Shahid Minar

On 21 February 1952, corresponding to 8 Falgun 1359 in the Bangla calendar, a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan were killed when Pakistani police fired upon them. At a public meeting on 21 March 1948, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Governor General of Pakistan, declared that Urdu will be the only language for both West and East Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh), whose main language is Bengali, started to protest against this. A student meeting on 21 February called for a province-wide strike. But the government invoked Section 144 on 20 February. The student community at a meeting on the morning of 21 February agreed to continue with their protest but not to break the law of Section 144. Even then the Pakistani police opened fire and killed the students. On 17 November 1999, 21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

Bangladesh

Geographical Location: Between 20°34' and 26°38' north latitude 88°01' and 92°41' east longitude. Boundary North: India, West: India, South: Bay of Bengal, East: India and Myanmar.
Area: 56977 SQ. Miles or 147570 SQ. KM
Territorial water boundary: 12 Nautical Miles
Official Name: Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
President: Jillur Rahman
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
Capital City: Dhaka
Major Administrative Units: Dhaka, Chittagong,
Khulna, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Comilla, Barisal,
Sylhet.
Standard Time: GMT+6.00 Hours.
Language State language: Bangla. Second language
English.
Demography Population: 141.34 million, Annual
Growth rate: 1.48%, Density: 928 per sq. km,
Religion: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, Buddhist
0.6%, Christian 0.3%. Secularism is ensured
Constitutionally.
Climate Sub-tropical: Three main seasons: Winter
(November-February), summer (March- June),
Monsoon (July – October). Climatic variations:
Winter temperature average maximum 29°C, winter
Temperature average minimum 11°C, summer
Temperature average maximum 34°C, summer
Temperature average minimum 21°C, Monsoon
Average rainfall 1194 mm to 3454 mm.
Topography: Over 85% of the country is flat,
Alluvial and plain.
Principal rivers: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra,
Teesta, Surma and Karnaphuli (Total 230 rivers including
Tributaries).
Currency: Taka
Economy: Agriculture Based.
Principal Industries: Jute & cotton textiles,
Garment making, tea processing, paper,
Newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizers, light
Engineering, sugar.
Principal Minerals: Natural gas, lignite coal,
Limestone, ceramic clay and glass sand.
Principal Exports: Ready made garments, raw jute,
Jute manufacturers, tea, fish, hides and skins,
Newsprint.
Infrastructure: Road Transportation Road transportation facility
With quality transport and reasonable fare.
Bridges on almost all of the major rivers. The
Bridge over Jamuna Bangabondhu Jamuna Shatu (4.8 km) is the 8th longest
Bridge of the world.
Waterway: Sea Chittagong and Mongla. Inland River Dhaka, Chandpur, Barisal, Khulna,
Baghabari, Sirajganj, Sharishabari, Narayanganj, Bhairab Bazar, Ashuganj.
Airway: InternationalDhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. Domestic Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore,

Ishwardi, Sylhet, Comilla, Cox’s Bazar, Thakurgaon, Syedpur, Rajshahi and Barisal.
General Information: Bangladesh is a unitary, independent And sovereign Republic known

as the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. The country emerged as an Independent state on March 26,

1971. The war of Liberation ended on December 16, 1971 in victory of Bangladeshi forces and

surrender of the Occupying army. This area was under Muslim rule for five and a half centuries and

passed into British rule in 1757 AD. In August 1947, it gained independence from the British rule

along with the rest of India and formed a part of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan. The national

anthem of Bangladesh comprises the first ten lines of ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ of Rabindra Nath Tagore.

The national flag of the republic consists of a circle colored red throughout its area, resting on a

green rectangular background. National emblem is the flower “Shapla” (Nymphaea nouchali). The

Citizens of Bangladesh are known as Bangladeshis.

National Flag of Bangladesh

Fore Ground: Green. Length: 20 units. Wide: 12 units. Red circle: The middle point of the red circle is 9 unit from the left hand side & 11 unit from the right hand side (Length wise) & 6 unit: 6 unit (cross wise) Circumference: The boundary line of the circle 2 unit below from the upper edge & 2 unit above from the lower edge.

Paharpur Shompur Bouddho Bihar

This 7th century AD Sompur Mohabihar built by Dhormopala at Nouga, Bangladesh is the greatest Buddhist Bihar in the sub-continent. It is located at Paharpur of Badolgachi upazila under Nouga District. It is 5 km west of Jamalgonj railway station & 14 km of Joipurhat District. During the Pala rule in Bengal, the region enjoyed peace that led to a great development of art & culture. Many Buddhist temples, monasteries& stupas were built under the royal patronage & “Bengal” becomes the center of Buddhist religion & culture. This archaeological site covers an area of 11 hectare. Through the excavation works by the archaeologist, it is a proven matter that the most spectacular Buddhist monument is the biggest Bihar in south of the Himalayas. This vast quadrangular monastery with 177 cells enclosing the elaborate gateway & numerous votive stupas, minor chapels & extensive ancillary buildings within 22 acre courtyard, dominated by a lofty pyramidal temple in the center.

National Poet Of Bangladesh

Kazi Nazrul Islam (25 May 1899–29 August 1976) was a Bengali poet, musician, revolutionary, and philosopher who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against orthodoxy & oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi. Accomplishing a large body of acclaimed works through his life, Nazrul is officially recognized as the national poet of Bangladesh & commemorated in India. Born into a poor Muslim family, Nazrul received religious education and worked as a muezzin at a local mosque. He learned of poetry, drama, and literature while working with theatrical groups. After serving in the British Indian Army, Nazrul established himself as a journalist in Kolkata. He assailed the British Raj in India and preached revolution through his poetic works, such as "Bidrohi" and "Bhangar Gaan", as well as his publication "Dhumketu". His impassioned activism in the Indian independence movement often led to his imprisonment by British authorities. While in prison, Nazrul wrote the "Rajbandir Jabanbandi". Exploring the life and conditions of the downtrodden masses of India, Nazrul worked for their emancipation. Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best-known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms such as Bengali ghazals. Nazrul wrote and composed music for his nearly 4,000 songs, collectively known as Nazrul geeti, which are widely popular today. At the age of 43 he began suffering from an unknown disease, losing his voice and memory. What was later diagnosed as Pick's Disease, caused Nazrul's health to decline steadily and forced him to live in isolation for many years. Invited by the Government of Bangladesh, Nazrul and his family moved to Dhaka in 1972, where he died four years later.