Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country located in South Asia . The country contains the confluence of the Ganges (Padma), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and Meghna Rivers and their tributaries which empty into the Bay of Bengal . Bangladesh is bordered by India to the east, north, and west and shares a short border with Myanmar ( Burma ) in the southeast. The country is mainly flat, with 90% of its landmass less than 10 meters above sea level. With a population of approximately 140 million, Bangladesh is the most densely populated agricultural country in the world.
Bangladesh , officially the People’s Republic of Bangladesh , is a country in South Asia . It is surrounded by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar to the far southeast and the Bay of Bengal to the south. Together with the Indian state of West Bengal , it makes up the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal . The name Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal"
Bangladesh is located in the low-lying Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta. This delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganges (local name Padma or Pôdda), Brahmaputra (Jamuna or Jomuna), and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The alluvial soil deposited by these rivers has created some of the most highly fertile plains of the world.
Most parts of Bangladesh are within 10 meters above the sea level, and it is believed that about 10% of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by 1 meter. The highest point in Bangladesh is in Mowdok range at 1,052 m (3,451 ft) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to the southeast of the country. A major part of the coastline comprises a marshy jungle, the Sundarbans(partial, major part of Sundarbans situated in the West Bangal , India ), one of the largest mangrove forests in the world and home to diverse flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger. In 1997, this region was declared endangered.
The main language, as in West Bengal , is Bangla (Bengali), an Indo-Aryan language of Sanskrit origin and has its own script. Bangla is the official language of Bangladesh . English is used as second language among the middle and upper classes and in higher education. Since a President Order in 1987, Bangla is used for all official correspondence except foreign ones.
Two major religions practised in Bangladesh are Islam (88% US State Department est. 2005) and Hinduism (11% US State Dept. 2005). Ethnic Biharis are predominantly Shia Muslims. Other religious groups include Buddhists, Christians, and Animists.
