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| Conventional Long Form: | People's Republic of Bangladesh |
| Conventional Short Form: | Bangladesh |
| Location: | Southern Asia |
| Capital City: | Dhaka |
| Government Type: | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Population: | 131,269,860 (July 2001 est.) |
| Area [sq.km]: | 144,000 (slightly smaller than Wisconsin) |
| Currency: | Taka (BDT) |
| Languages: | Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English |
| National Holiday: | Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh |
| Background: | Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country annually floods during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. |
