Bangladesh, in full, People's Republic of Bangladesh, republic of southern Asia, in the northeastern portion of the Indian subcontinent, bordered on the west, north, and east by India, on the southeast by Burma (Myanmar), and on the south by the Bay of Bengal. The area of the country is 143,998 sq km (55,598 sq mi). The capital and largest city of Bangladesh is Dhaka. Geographically, historically, and culturally, Bangladesh forms the larger and more populous part of Bengal, the remainder of which constitutes the neighbouring Indian State of West Bengal. From 1947 to 1971 the region of Bangladesh was a province of Pakistan. As such, its official designation was changed from East Bengal to East Pakistan in 1955. On March 26, 1971, leaders of East Pakistan declared the region independent as Bangladesh (Bengali for "Bengal nation"), and its independence was assured on December 16, 1971, when Pakistani troops in the region surrendered to a joint force of Bangladeshi and Indian troops.

General Information

President: Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed

Prime Minister: Begum Khaleda Zia

Speaker of Jatiya Shangshad: Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar

Government: The ruling coalition is led by the BNP with support from the Jamaat-e-Islami and other religious parties.

Judiciary: The Supreme Court is the apex judicial body. The President appoints the Chief Justice and other judges. The Supreme Judicial Council consists of the Chief Justice and the next two senior Judges of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has an Appellate Division and a High Court Division. The Supreme Judicial Council consists of the Chief Justice and the next two senior Judges of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice: Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain

Chief Election Commissioner: M. A. Syed