angladesh is an Asian country in the northeastern portion of the Indian subcontinent, bordered on the west, north, and east by India, and on the south by the Bay of Bengal. The country's area is 56,977 sq. mi, and the capital and largest city is Dhaka.

Most of Bangladesh lies on the broad Ganges Brahmaputra -river delta and is exceedingly flat and low-lying. Numerous rivers flow through the country, and annual floods deposit fertile soil. In the dry season, the river deltas may be several kilometers wide as they near the Bay of Bengal, but during the monsoon season, from late May to mid-October, they merge into extremely broad expanses of silt-laden water. Bangladesh has a tropical climate and receives about 80 percent of its annual rainfall during the monsoon season. Average annual precipitation ranges from about 55 in. to more than 200 in. Devastating cyclones that originate over the Bay of Bengal occur primarily at two times of the year: from April to May and from September to November. Often accompanied by surging waves, these storms can cause great damage and loss of life.

The population of Bangladesh is 125,340,261 (1997 estimate). Bengalis make up the largest ethnic group, and minorities include Chakma, Mogh, Santal, and Biharis. Only 19 percent of all Bangladeshis live in urban areas. The national language, Bengali, is spoken by more than 98 percent of the population. Islam is the state religion, although Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and animism are also practiced.

The government of Bangladesh has undergone many changes since its formation in 1971. Under constitutional provisions approved by voters in 1991, Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy, headed by a prime minister. Earlier that year a 300-member parliament was elected, and 30 additional seats were subsequently filled by indirect ballot.

Bangladesh's economy is dominated by agriculture, which employs 65 percent of the labor force and accounts for 30 percent of the gross domestic product. Rice is the leading food crop, and jute (a plant used to make burlap and twine) and tea are the major cash crops. The principal unit of currency is the taka.