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Overview
The Bengal delta was home to ancient Buddhist Pala, Sena Hindu, Bengal Sultanate and Mughal Bengal, then British colonial and Pakistani rule until independence in 1971.
Basic Information
CapitalDhaka
Population173 million
Area148,460 km²
CurrencyBangladeshi taka (BDT)
LanguagesBengali
RegionSouth Asia
History Timeline
- c. 750 – 1174Pala Empire
- 1204Islamic conquest of Bengal
- 1576Mughal annexation
- 1757Battle of Plassey; British Bengal
- 1971Liberation War from Pakistan
Ancient Peoples
- Vangas
- Bengalis
Ancient Kingdoms
- Pala Empire
- Sena Dynasty
- Bengal Sultanate
Empires
- Mughal Empire
- British Raj
Religions
- Sunni Islam
- Hinduism
Culture
Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel 1913), Baul mystic music, jute craft.
Language
Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 300 million people.
Important Battles
- Battle of Plassey1757
British ascendancy
- Liberation War1971
Independence from Pakistan
Historical Figures
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
1920 – 1975
Founding leader
Archaeological Sites
- Mahasthangarh
- Paharpur
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Somapura Mahavihara (Paharpur)
- Sundarbans
- Bagerhat Mosque City
Dynasties
- Pala
- Sena
Colonial Period
British Bengal 1757 – 1947; East Pakistan 1947 – 1971.
Modern History
Parliamentary republic; one of the world's largest garment exporters.