Name of country
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Win Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form:
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Dhaka name
geographical coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC +6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions, Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence:
December 16, 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - the March 26, 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
National holiday:
Independence Day on 26 March (1971) note - the March 26, 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
Constitution:
November 4, 1972, effective December 16, 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system:
varied legal system of customary law especially English and Islamic law
Participation in organization of international law:
has not filed a ICJ jurisdiction, consent to the jurisdiction ICCT
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal
Executive:
chief of state: Zillur Rahman President (since 12 February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed (since 6 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and appointed by the President
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elections: the president decided by the National Parliament for a five year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 11 February 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Zillur RAHMAN declared president-elect by the Election Commission on 11 February 2009 (sworn in on February 12), he ran unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA
Legislature:
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats (45 reserved for women) decided by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, the members serve five-year terms
elections: last held on 29 December 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - AL-49%, BNP 33.2%, JP 7%, GALLOWS 4.6%, other 6.2%; seats by party - AL 230, BNP 30, JP 27 , GALLOWS 2, another 11
Judicial branch:
The Supreme Court (the presidents of the Supreme Court and other judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Awami League or AL [Sheikh Hasina has, Bangladesh Communist Party or CPB [Manjurul A. Account KHAN, Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA account; Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh or BDB [Badrudozza Chowdhury account, Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [count multiple leaders, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and GALLOWS [Matiur Rahman account Nizami, Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad Ershad account, Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED account
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Advocacy to End Gender Based Violence by the MOWCA (Ministry of Women and Children)
other: environmentalists; Islamist groups, religious leaders, teachers, union leaders
Participation of international organization:
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CICA (observer), CP, d-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, International Labor Organization, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in U.S.:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akramul Qader
Chancery: 3510 International Walk NW, Washington, DC 20008
Phone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7830 / 2771
General Consulate (s): Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the U.S.:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
Shipping Address: G. P. O. Put in a Box 323, Dhaka 1000
phone: [880] (2) 885-5500
FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744
Description of flag:
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the side of crane center, the red disc represents the rising sun and sacrifice to achieve independence, the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National anthem:
name "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
lyric / music: Rabindranath Tagore
Note: 1971 adopted, the Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel Laureate, also wrote the national anthem of India