FACTS

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Area (only Total) total: 144,000 sq km

Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Population: 153,546,896 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Dhaka

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+6

Independence: 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh