3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh

Conventional short form: Bangladesh

Former: East Pakistan

Administrative Divisions

5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet

Independence

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 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, 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

Constitution

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Legal System

based on English common law

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 13 July 1996)

Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president

Elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

Election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%

Legislative Branch

Elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held before 13 October 2001)

Election results: percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 3; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violence

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)

Political Parties and Leaders

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIAur Rahman]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Azizol HAQ]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

NA

Flag Description

Green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy

Capital

    Dhaka

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador-designate A. Tariq KARIM
  • Chancery
    3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 244-0183
  • Consulate(s) General
    Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS
  • Embassy
    Road 27, House 110, Banani, Dhaka
  • Mailing Address
    G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
  • Telephone
    [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722
  • FAX
    [880] (2) 8823744

International Organization Participation

  • AsDB
  • C
  • CCC
  • CP
  • ESCAP
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC
  • ICFTU
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IDB
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • IHO (pending member)
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Inmarsat
  • Intelsat
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • ISO
  • ITU
  • MINURSO
  • MONUC
  • NAM
  • OIC
  • OPCW
  • SAARC
  • UN
  • UN Security Council (temporary)
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • UNIKOM
  • UNMEE
  • UNMIBH
  • UNMIK
  • UNMOP
  • UNMOT
  • UNOMIG
  • UNTAET
  • UNU
  • UPU
  • WCL
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WToO
  • WTrO