The Bangladesh we know today was formally known as East Pakistan, and for thousands of years many European traders and regional empires fought for control of this waterlogged land.

In 1971, Bangladesh finally cut ties and separated from its union with West Pakistan. However, the internal struggle continued between the public and Lieutenant General Hossain Mohammed Ershad of the Awami League - their new leader. In 1990, following a major revolt which included not only the public but all political parties, Ershad was forced to resign; and so Bangladesh reverted to a Parliamentary democracy. But still, the Awami League won the 1996 election.

At the start of the new millennium, the Awami League lost against the Bangladesh National party in an election but, to the public’s disbelief, regained control in 2009 after a landslide victory by Sheikh Hasina.

The past few years in Bangladesh have seen crippling strikes, protests and transport blockades, leaving more than 180 people dead. Sheikh Hasina was elected to a third term in the 2014 election. During this election 26 people were killed, making it the bloodiest vote in Bangladesh’s history.

Bangladesh is one of the most crowded countries on earth, with much of the low-lying landscape being subject to the devastation of cyclones and yearly flooding. The nation’s economy and its people have been adversely affected by these natural hazards due to the loss of life. Sadly, a large portion of the people of Bangladesh live in poverty.

Languages of Bangladesh

Both the official and de facto national language of Bangladesh is Bangla, or Modern Standard Bengali. 98% of Bangladesh has Standard Bengali or a Bengali dialect as a first language.

There are a number of Bangla dialects, grouped according to the various regions of Bangladesh. And, because of the British colonisation of Bangladesh, English is not only widely spoken, but is also a commonly understood language in Bangladesh. It’s interesting to note that Bangla is also spoken in several other countries, such as Malawi, India, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom, where numbers of Bangladesh expatriates have taken up residence.

Languages, Dialects and Deaf Institutions

So, in addition to Modern Standard Bengali and the Bangla dialects, there are 38 other languages used in Bangladesh. All of the languages (which are too numerous to mention here) have either religious, geographical or ethnic origins, and are kept alive in their particular geographical areas. Interestingly, there are also 14 deaf institutions where Indian sign language is taught.

All these living and spoken languages contribute to the wonderful variety of the country that is Bangladesh. If you’re planning on visiting Bangladesh, you shouldn’t be too concerned about languages. You’ll be able to get by quite well if you’re able to speak English. Of course a little knowledge of Bangla would certainly be useful, but it’s not entirely necessary. Just remember that making any effort to understand local customs and languages usually opens doors and leads to friendly faces.

The Bengali Language

Did you know that the Bengali language is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world? It originates from Sanskrit and belongs to the Indo Aryan family of languages. At first glance it appears to be quite similar to Hindi because it is written from left to right, top to bottom as per English. Some Bengali words are closely related to Latin; and these interesting similarities just show how all languages are intrinsically linked.

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