16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$36,210,000,000 $
$16,680,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
taka (BDT) per US dollar - 68.554 (2008 est.), 69.893 (2007), 69.031 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
0.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
143,998 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
580 km
3,542 km
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
