Geography—Bangladesh has an area of 55,126 square miles and a population of 75 million that is overwhelmingly Bengali and Moslem. It has 10 million Hindus, 400,000 Buddhists and a few Christians. The largest cities are Dacca, the capital, with a million people, and Chittagong, with 500.000.

The land is mostly a low plain cut by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and is bounded by India, Burma and the Bay of Bengal. It is subject to heavy monsoon rains. In November, 1970, a cyclone killed at least 300,000 people in coastal areas.

History—Wars between Moslems and Hindus on the Indian subcontinent have erupted sporadically for centuries. In the 12th century Moslem invaders brought Islam to Bengal, part of which is now Bangladesh. Moslem rulers remained until the advent of the British in the 18th century. In 1947 predominantly Hindu India achieved independence from Britain, and a separate Moslem state, Pakistan, was created in two parts separated by 1,000 miles of Indian territory. Pakistan's governmental power was centered in West Pakistan, and East Pakistan, with somewhat over half the population, demanded greater economic benefits and political reforms. Rioting broke out in 1968–69. In December, 1970, the Awami League, a Bengali nationalist party concentrated in East Pakistan and led by Sheik Mujibur Rahman, won a majority of seats in the Pakistani National Assembly.

That unexpectedly strong showing in the first national elections in Pakistan since independence emphasized the fissure between the Bengalis in East Pakistan and their rulers in Islamabad. The Awami League demanded Bengali autonomy. In March, 1971, the President of Pakistan, Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, announced that the convening the National Assembly would be postponed. Widespread rioting in the Bengali province followed. President Yahya ordered the army into the province to crush the separatist movement and arrest Sheik Mujib as a traitor. Before his arrest, however, Sheik Mujib declared the independence of Bangladesh and was elected president of the new republic. There was fierce fighting in which the Bangladesh forces were subdued. Fighting followed between Indian and Pakistani troops, and the Pakistanis surrendered in Bangladesh in December, 1971. Sheik Mujib, freed from jail in Pakistan, returned to Bangladesh early in 1972 and was named Prime Minister.

India recognized the independence of Bangladesh on Dec. 6, 1971, and the United States, which earlier had indicated sympathy with Pakistan, recognized Bangladesh April, 1972. The People's Republic of Bangladesh was admitted to the United Nations last Sept. 17.

Economy—About 85 per cent of the people are employed in agriculture, and 64 per cent of the land is cultivated. Rice is the most important food crop. Bangladesh produces about half of the world production of raw jute. Other products include sugar cane, wheat, grain and tea. The country has virtually no industry. With a population density that is among the world's highest, most of the people live at a bare subsistence level.