Bangladesh

American  

[bahng-gluh-desh, bang-] / ˌbɑŋ gləˈdɛʃ, ˌbæŋ- /

noun

1. republic in South Asia, north of the Bay of Bengal: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations; a former province of Pakistan. 54,501 sq. mi. (141,158 sq. km). Dhaka.

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Bangladesh British  

/ ˌbɑːŋɡləˈdɛʃ, ˌbæŋ- /

noun

1. a republic in S Asia: formerly the Eastern Province of Pakistan; became independent in 1971 after civil war and the defeat of Pakistan by India; consists of the plains and vast deltas of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers; prone to flooding: economy based on jute and jute products (over 70 per cent of world production); a member of the Commonwealth. Language: Bengali. Religion: Muslim. Currency: taka. Capital: Dhaka. Pop: 163 654 860 (2013 est). Area: 142 797 sq km (55 126 sq miles)

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Bangladesh Cultural  

1. Republic in southern Asia, bordered by India to the north, west, and east; the Bay of Bengal to the south; and Burma to the southeast. Its capital and largest city is Dacca.

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Created as East Pakistan in 1947, when India gained its independence from Britain and Muslim leaders demanded a Muslim state. Separated by cultural differences and one thousand miles of Indian territory from a neglectful central government in West Pakistan (now Pakistan), Bangladesh achieved its independence in 1971 after a bloody revolt and Indian intervention. It has been struck frequently by devastating typhoons.

Example Sentences

BSC managing director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said initially Bangladesh agreed to pay the toll Iran demanded.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

When local media in Bangladesh followed up, the U.S. embassy issued a denial.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

Bengal was divided along religious lines into predominantly Hindu West Bengal, which became part of India, and Muslim-majority East Pakistan, later becoming Bangladesh.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign at the start of April, assisted by international aid agencies.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

She knew this because she’d once seen a snippet of a documentary on television, and when they showed images of Bangladesh, they really looked familiar to her and she couldn’t explain why.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly