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 Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001)

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

Elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

Election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%

Legislative Branch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms

Elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006)

Election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 46%, AL 42%; seats by party - BNP 191, AL 62, JI 18, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Naziur)

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 ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]

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 Syed Hasan AHMAD
  • Consulate(s) General
    Los Angeles and New York
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 244-5366
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 244-0183
  • Chancery
    3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS
  • Embassy
    Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
  • Mailing Address
    G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
  • Telephone
    [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722
  • FAX
    [880] (2) 8823744

International Organization Participation

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