The red disk, slightly off center, represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence, over a field of green symbolizing the lush vegetation of the country.
As early as 1000 BC, there was a kingdom of Vanga or Banga, which by the time of Sidhartha Gautama 500 years later, became Buddist. However, by the 10th century AD, Hindu prevailed. This region known as Bengal became part of the Mogul Empire in 1576 and, interestingly enough, switched to Islam.
When the British withdrew in 1947, the two Muslim territories separated by Hindu India, became Pakistan. In 1971, this geographical accident resulted in East Pakistan seceding. With help from India, about a million were killed in the transition, leading to recognition from Pakistan as Bangladesh in 1974. It is speculated that Cyclone Bhola (which itself formed from the remnants of Tropical Storm Nora from the Pacific) in 1970 triggered the secession, for 500,000 were killed, and the criticism West Pakistan received galvanized a landslide victory for the opposition party, leading to the liberation war.
Muslims account for 83% and Hindus 16%. Their president is Zillur Rahman and prime minister is Sheikh Hasina Wajed.
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy surrounded by India and the Bay of Bengal, plus a small border with Myanmar (formerly know as Burma, a name which is still sort of in use). The lands were formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, with monsoons and cyclones regularly devastating the delta. It has a land area in the range of Iowa or New York, but with a population of 156 million, making it the eighth largest nation. Life expectancy is 60 and GDP/capita is $1500. The capital city Dhaka has a metropolitan population of close to 13 million.
There are no royal Bengal tigers in the Dhaka Zoo, but their only natural habitat is the mangrove swamp next to the Bay of Bengal, where the tigers and the local inhabitants live in conflict. The fewer than 400 animals kill an average of 34 people each year. It’s not known what the casualty rate is for the tigers, for their skins can be sold for $3,000 and various parts used for Chinese medicine.
What to do in Bangladesh? Go to the World Travel Guide or the Virtual Tourist.
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The Dow Jones Industrials edged up 28 to 8359, while world markets all increased. Gold went up $6/toz to $926 and crude oil slipped below $60/barrel.
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Hurricane Carlos is now approaching 100 MPH and is scheduled to move West, but more North than South over the next few days. Consider buying some necessary supplies before everyone else beats you to it. That second disturbance behind Carlos is now a 30 MPH storm.
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