1. ENV 203: Geography of Bangladesh 2.1 Locational Characteristics and Its Importance (coordinates/absolute location, location of the tropic of Cancer, Neighbours of Bangladesh) Importance- Geophysical importance (location of the Himalayas, global radiation, maritime connection) Geopolitical Importance- strategic location in the south Asia, maritime connection) Economic Importance- maritime connection, land fertility, man-power etc.)

2. 1. Introduction 2.1 Locational Characteristics & Its Importance Absolute Location/Geographical Location -is located between 20º34' & 26º38' north latitudes and 88º01' & 92º41' east longitudes -Bangladesh is located in the northeastern part of the South Asian Sub-continent -Total area is 147,570 sq. km. with abundance of freshwater wetlands including all freshwater sources Land boundaries- 4,246 km (Burma 193 km & India 4,053 km)

5. 2. Introduction Geographic Coordinate System

6. LOCATION OF BANGLADESH

9. Locational Importance of Bangladesh Geophysical Importance- -location of the Himalayas (maintains favourable condition to support enough rainfall & also supplies huge amount of sediments through the GBM rivers) -global radiation (the tropic of Cancer passes through BD; the country being located on the subtropical region receives very satisfactory amount of GHI & 2,800 hrs of sunshine) -maritime connection (the Bay of Bengal being located on the South of the country provides very important access to the sea and therefore extremely helps the national economy.

10. Locational Importance of Bangladesh Geopolitical Importance- -Strategic location in the south Asia: BD divides the main part of India and its seven sister states; is also located between the Bay of Bengal and Nepal, Bhutan. Therefore, the country owns very strategic importance specially to India, Nepal, Bhutan etc.) Maritime connection: Maritime connectivity has given extra importance from the viewpoint of geopolitics. Economic Importance -due to the maritime connection, BD receives enormous advantages in exports & imports of goods and therefore can immensely benefit the national economy

11. -Land fertility: the country being located in the Indo- Gangetic plain offers high level of land fertility and thus high productivity in agriculture -Man-power: BD also offers very large scale man-power that ultimately plays role in the national economy Total Population- 148.3 (Pop Census 2011) Population Growth Rate- 1.6% (2011 est.) -Major Cities: DHAKA (capital) 14.3 million; Chittagong 4.8 million; Khulna 1.6 million; Rajshahi 853,000 (2009) Landuse arable land: 55.39% permanent crops: 3.08%, other: 41.53% (2005)

12. 2.2 Evolution of Boundary -the evolution of the Boundary of Bengal (Eastern/BD & West Bengal) can be divided into the following phases -Bengal before the British Rule (approx. 1700 BC-1757 AD) -Bengal during British Period (1757-1947) --first partition of Bengal in 1905 & re-unification in 1911 -Partition of Bengal (during Pakistan Period) (1947-1971) -Independent Bangladesh (since 16 December 1971)

13. Bengal before the British Rule (approx. 1700 BC-1757 AD) Bangla was known as Magadha and ruled by a number of dynasties -Brihadratha Dynasty (c. 1700-799 BC) -Pradyota Dynasty (799-684 BC) -Shishunaga Dynasty (684-424 BC) -Nanda Dynasty (424-321 BC) -Maurya Dynasty (324-184 BC) -Shunga Dynasty (185-73 BC) -Kanva Dynasty (73-43 BC) -Gupta Empire (c. 240-550 CE) -Gauda kingdom (590-525) -Khadga kingdom (625-705) -Pala Empire (750-1161)

14. -Chandra Dynasty (900-1050) -Sena Dynasty (1070-1230) Muslim Rule (starting from 1204 endured till the defeat of Palasia in 30 June 1757) -Khilji Dynasty (1204-1227) -Governors of Bengal under Mameluk Dynasty (1227-1281) -Independent Balban Dynasty (1281-1324) -Governors of Sonargaon (1324-1338) -Ilyas Shahi Dynasty (1st period) (1342-1414) & Nawabs under Mughals & under British periods

15. Bengal during British Period (1757-1947) Bengal was undivided under British period but Calcutta was made the then-capital of India instead of Delhi through the fall of the Mughals. First Partition of Bengal - the first Partition of Bengal was made effect on 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. Due to the high level of political unrest generated by the partition, the eastern and western parts of Bengal were never united because of Muslim pressure.Viceroy of IndiaLord Curzonpartition -Muslims in the east Bengal expected more opportunities and education after the partition; contrarily, people in the west Bengal didn’t like it. - -Huge number of literatures against partition was made during that time - -In 1906 Rabidranath Tagore wrote Amar Sonar Bangla---

16. -due to the political protests, the two Bengals were re-united in 1911. Partition of Bengal (during Pakistan Period) (1947-1971) -in 1947 Bengal was divided for the second time solely on religious grounds as a partition of the Indian sub-continent following the creation of India & Pakistan. -East Bengal became East Pakistan & West Bengal as an Indian state. Independent Bangladesh (since 16 December 1971) -due to the then West Pakistan’s oppression (economic, language, etc.), through a war, East Pakistan got separated and became an Independent state--- BANGLADESH– since 1971.

17. 1.3 Evolution of Boundary -the evolution of the Boundary of Bangla (Eastern/BD & West Bengal)

18. REFERENCES -Banglapedia, Asian Society of Bangladesh -Bangladesh by James J. Novak; UPL -Can Bangladesh be protected from floods by H. Brammer, UPL -CIA data sheet (internet)