Bangladesh

Bangladesh, officially called the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, is a country located in South Asia. It is the eighth most populous nation in the world and also one of the most densely populated, with more than 171 million people living in an area of about 148,460 square kilometres 57,320 sq mi. The country is bordered by India on the north, west, and east, and by Myanmar (Burma) on the southeast. Its southern boundary touches the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is close to Bhutan and Nepal, separated by the narrow Siliguri Corridor, and China lies beyond India’s state of Sikkim to the north. The capital and largest city is Dhaka, which serves as the center of politics, business, and culture. Chittagong is the second-largest city and the country’s main seaport. The area that is now Bangladesh has a long and rich history. In ancient times, it was home to powerful Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms. After the Muslim conquest of 1204, the region came under Sultanate and later Mughal control. During the Mughal era, especially under Bengal Subah, the region became famous for its economic prosperity, flourishing textile trade, and fertile agriculture, making it one of the wealthiest provinces of the empire. The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the start of British colonial rule, which lasted for about two centuries. When British India was partitioned in 1947, the eastern part of Bengal became East Bengal, the most populous region of Pakistan, and was later renamed East Pakistan. After more than twenty years of political discrimination and systemic inequality under the West Pakistan–dominated government, tensions in East Pakistan escalated into a civil war in 1971, eventually transforming into a war of independence. The Mukti Bahini, with crucial support from India, launched a successful armed struggle. Despite the genocide carried out by Pakistani forces, Bangladesh achieved independence on 16 December 1971.In the years following independence, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the nation’s first leader but was assassinated in 1975. Power later shifted to Ziaur Rahman, who was also killed in 1981. The 1980s were marked by the authoritarian rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, which ended after a mass uprising in 1990. Democracy was restored in 1991, and for the next thirty years, national politics was shaped by the rivalry between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, often referred to as the Battle of the Begums. In August 2024, a student-led mass movement forced Hasina from power, and an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took control.

Etymology

The name Bangladesh, which translates to “Land of Bengal, has its roots in the early 20th century. The word was popularized through Bengali patriotic songs, including Aaji Bangladesher Hridoy by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 and “Namo Namo Namo Bangladesh Momo” by Kazi Nazrul Islam in 1932. In the 1950s, Bengali nationalists began using the term more widely during political movements in what was then East Pakistan. The word Bangla is an ancient and widely used name referring to both the Bengal region and the Bengali language. Its exact origin is uncertain. Some historians believe it comes from a Bronze Age proto-Dravidian tribe, while others trace it back to the Vanga Kingdom of the Iron Age. The earliest recorded use of “Bangla” dates to 805 AD on the Nesari plate. The phrase Vangala Desa (meaning land of Vangala”) also appears in 11th-century South Indian inscriptions.

The term gained official recognition during the Sultanate of Bengal in the 14th century, when Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah declared himself the first “Shah of Bangala in 1342. Over time, Bangāl became the most common name for the area during the Islamic period. According to Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak’s Ain-i-Akbari, the suffix “al” was linked to the ancient practice of local rulers raising mounds of earth (called al) in the lowlands. This explanation is also supported by Ghulam Husain Salim’s Riyaz-us-Salatin. The suffix desh comes from the Sanskrit word deśha, meaning land or country. Combining Bangla with desh gives Bangladesh, which literally means Land of Bengal.

Early History of Bangladesh

The region that is now Bangladesh has a long and layered history, shaped by a series of powerful kingdoms and empires. The earliest major political power to control this territory was the Maurya Empire (c. 320–185 BCE). Under the rule of Emperor Ashoka, the Mauryas extended their influence into Bengal, integrating the region into one of the largest and most centralized empires of ancient India. This era saw the spread of administrative systems, trade networks, and early Buddhist teachings, laying the foundation for the region’s cultural and economic development. After the Maurya Empire declined, Bengal saw the rise of several smaller kingdoms, among which Samatata became particularly significant. Located in what is now southeastern Bangladesh, Samatata emerged as a tributary state of the Gupta Empire (c. 319–540 CE). During the Gupta period, Bengal enjoyed relative stability and cultural growth. Harsha (r. 606–647 CE), a powerful ruler of northern India, later incorporated Samatata into his loosely governed realm. This era was marked by religious tolerance and the flourishing of Buddhism, Hinduism, and early forms of local culture.

One of the most influential periods in the early history of Bengal came with the rise of the Pala Empire in the mid-8th century. The Palas, who ruled from around 750 to 1150 CE, established a Buddhist dynasty that transformed the region into a major center of learning and culture. Their rule is often considered a golden age for Bengal. Great monastic universities like Somapura Mahavihara became renowned across Asia, attracting scholars from distant lands. The Pala rulers maintained extensive diplomatic and trade relations with regions such as Tibet, Southeast Asia, and even China. By the 12th century, however, Pala power declined, paving the way for the Sena dynasty, a Hindu kingdom that ruled much of Bengal. The Senas introduced new administrative systems and promoted Hindu religious traditions, especially Vaishnavism. Their capital was established in Nabadwip, and their rule represented the last major Hindu dynasty in Bengal before the arrival of Muslim conquerors. In 1204 CE, the Sena dynasty fell to the forces of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, a general of the Ghurid dynasty from Central Asia. His swift conquest marked the beginning of Islamic rule in Bengal, ushering in a new era of political, cultural, and religious transformation that would shape the region for centuries to come.

Medieval Period of Bengal

The medieval era of Bengal began with its incorporation into the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE, marking the start of Islamic political rule in the region. Over time, Bengal developed a distinct identity within the Sultanate’s expanding territory. In 1341, Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah declared the independence of Bengal, founding the Bengal Sultanate, which soon became a major power in eastern India. The sultanate experienced rapid territorial expansion, strengthening its political and economic base. Its strategic location, fertile land, and thriving trade turned Bengal into a hub of commercial activity, attracting merchants from China, the Middle East, and Europe. Foreign travelers often described it as one of the richest regions in the world to trade with. Bengal exported fine textiles, including its world-famous muslin, along with silk, spices, and other goods.

In 1576, the Mughal Empire conquered Bengal, transforming it into the Bengal Subah, one of the empire’s most prosperous provinces. By the 18th century, it was recognized as the wealthiest region in the Mughal realm and was famously called the “Paradise of Countries” and the “breadbasket of India.” The area’s agricultural productivity, skilled artisanship, and vibrant trade contributed to a high standard of living for its population. With the decline of Mughal authority in the early 1700s, Bengal evolved into a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal, beginning with Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab. This period was marked by political autonomy, continued economic prosperity, and active international trade. However, internal power struggles and growing European colonial interests set the stage for the British East India Company’s later dominance.