Množina: Bangladeshes

Country in southern Asia, bounded N, W, and E by India, SE by Myanmar, and S by the Bay of Bengal.
government
The 1972 constitution, which provided for a parliamentary system of government, was suspended 1982 and replaced by a presidentialist constitution 1986. It was restored 1991. It provides for a single-chamber legislature, the Jatiya Sangsad, which consists of 330 members directly elected for five-year terms and 30 women elected by the legislature itself. A prime minister and cabinet is drawn from the grouping which commands a majority within the parliament. The president, who now has a largely ceremonial role, is elected by the parliament.
history
For history before 1947 see India; for history 1947–71 see Pakistan. Present-day Bangladesh formerly comprised East Bengal province and the Sylhet district of Assam in British India. Predominantly Muslim, it was formed into the eastern province of Pakistan when India was partitioned 1947. Substantially different in culture, language, and geography from the western provinces of Pakistan 1,600 km/1,000 mi away, and with a larger population, it resented the political and military dominance exerted by West Pakistan during the 1950s and 1960s. A movement for political autonomy grew after 1954, under the Awami League headed by Sheik Mujibur Rahman. This gained strength as a result of West Pakistan's indifference 1970, when flooding killed 500,000 in East Pakistan.
republic proclaimed
In Pakistan’s first general elections, in 1970, the Awami League gained an overwhelming victory in East Pakistan and an overall majority in the all-Pakistan National Assembly. Talks on redrawing the constitution broke down, leading to East Pakistan’s secession and the establishment of a Bangladesh (“Bengal nation”) government in exile in Calcutta, India, 1971. Civil war resulted in the flight of 10 million East Pakistani refugees to India, administrative breakdown, famine, and cholera. The West Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered 1971 after India intervened on the secessionists’ side. A republic of Bangladesh was proclaimed and rapidly gained international recognition 1972.
first leader assassinated
Sheik Mujibur Rahman became prime minister 1972 under a secular, parliamentary constitution. He introduced a socialist economic program of nationalization but became intolerant of opposition, establishing a one-party presidential system Jan 1975. Rahman, his wife, and close relatives were assassinated in a military coup Aug 1975.
martial law under Zia
Maj Gen Zia ur-Rahman (1936–1981) became chief martial-law administrator 1976. President from 1977, he adopted an Islamic constitution and, after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a parliamentary majority, martial law and the state of emergency were lifted 1979. The administration was undermined, however, by charges of corruption and by a guerrilla movement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts 1980, and on 30 May 1981 Zia was assassinated.
coup led by Ershad
With disorder increasing, the civilian administration was overthrown March 1982 by Lt Gen Mohammad Hussain Ershad. Martial law was reimposed and political activity banned. Under Ershad, the economy improved but a broad opposition coalition, the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, developed.
contentious elections
The ban on political activity was removed Jan 1986. In parliamentary elections held in May, Ershad's Jatiya Dal party gained a two-thirds majority after a substantial opposition boycott. Ershad was reelected president in a direct election Oct 1986, and martial law was lifted Nov 1986.
opposition to government
During 1987 the Awami League, led by Sheika Hasina Wazed (the daughter of Sheik Mujibur Rahman), and the BNP, led by Begum Khaleda Zia (the widow of Maj Gen Zia ur-Rahman), stepped up their campaign against the Ershad government, demanding the president's resignation and free elections. In the wake of a wave of violent strikes and demonstrations, Ershad proclaimed a state of emergency Nov 1987. In fresh elections March 1988, as a result of both ballot rigging and an opposition boycott, the ruling Jatiya Dal gained a sweeping victory. The state of emergency was lifted April 1988, and a bill was passed by parliament June 1988 making Islam the state religion.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) approved legislation 1989 devolving power to directly elected, substantially autonomous councils in three Chittagong Hill Tract districts in SE Bangladesh, where the indigenous people had fought a 14-year resistance struggle led by the Shanti Bahini (“peace force”) organization against settlers protected by the army.
Ershad resigns
On 4 Dec 1990, after a protracted campaign for the government's removal, Ershad resigned and the state of emergency was lifted, parliament dissolved, and Shahabuddin Ahmad, the country's chief justice, became interim executive president. Police raids on Ershad's residence revealed large-scale corruption.
free elections
When multiparty elections were held Feb 1991, the BNP emerged as the dominant force, capturing 140 of the 300 seats. Begum Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP, formed a coalition government, becoming the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh.
parliamentary government restored
In late July 1991, the new government, rocked by a cyclone disaster, introduced a deregulationary New Industrial Policy to boost private enterprise and encourage foreign investment. A nationwide referendum Sept 1991 restored a parliamentary system of government, and in the same month by-elections secured an absolute majority in parliament for the BNP. Begum Khaleda Zia became prime minister. In Oct 1991 parliament elected its speaker Abdur Rahman Biswas to succeed Shahabuddin Ahmad as state president.
government bows to opposition pressure
From March 1994, following accusations of government vote-rigging in recent by-elections, the opposition Awami League boycotted parliament and organized street protests. Further demonstrations and a nationwide general strike followed a radio interview in which author Taslima Nasreen called for a thorough revision of the Koranic texts to meet contemporary needs. Islamic fundamentalist groups filed suit against the author who was later granted bail and fled the country in the face of a death threat. Fundamentalists were also exerting pressure on the government to impose Islamic law (shari'a) and to expel Western aid workers. In Dec 1994 Prime Minister Zia bowed to opposition pressure and agreed to resign a week prior to the 1996 elections.
foreign relations
Bangladesh has remained a member of the Commonwealth since 1972. It has been heavily dependent on foreign economic aid but has pursued a broader policy of the nonaligned movement. Relations with India have deteriorated since 1975 as a result of disputes over the sharing of Ganges water and the annual influx of 200,000 Bangladeshi refugees in Assam and West Bengal, which has prompted India to threaten to construct a frontier fence. In Jan 1992 Bangladesh became a refuge for around 60,000 Muslims fleeing military crackdowns in Myanmar. The influx caused a further drain on the country's already scanty resources.
living standards
Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world, with more than 2,255 people per sq mi. Only 15% of the people live in urban areas; 46.6% of the population is under 15, and 75% of women have their first child by the age of 17. There is an estimated one doctor for every 9,000 people and one nurse for every 20,000.
A Moslem Republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971; Also called: East Pakistan.

Množina: Bangladeshis

A native or inhabitant of Bangladesh.