Overview

Bangladesh was originally the eastern part of the Indian province of Bengal, while India was part of the British Empire. It became East Pakistan in 1947 and then became independent in 1971 after a bitter civil war. Since that time, Bangladesh has been, in theory at least, a multiparty democracy. Throughout much of Bangladesh's history, however, the country has been ruled by military dictatorships under martial law. Since achieving independence, Bangladesh has suffered through 18...