"Government of Bangladesh [Quick Look]"

Country Name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh.
conventional short form: Bangladesh.


Data code: BG.
Government type: Republic.
Capital: Dhaka.

Administrative divisions: 6 divisions; Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet & Barisal.

Independence: 26 March 1971 (from Pakistan).

National holiday: Independence Day - 26 March (1971), Victory Day - 16 December (1971), International Mother's Language Day - 21st February (1952), National Mourning Day - 15 August (1975), May Day - 01 May, Bengali New Year - 14 April and more.

Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, amended many times.

Legal system: based on English common law.


Executive branch:
Chief of state: President;  note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections.

Head of government: Prime Minister.

Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president.

President Elections: President elected by National Parliament for a five-year term.

Legislative branch: Unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women); members serve five-year terms.

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other judges are appointed by the president.

Political parties: Awami League or AL; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP; Jatiyo Party or JP; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP.

International organization participation: ADB, FAO, ICC, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, WHO and many more.

Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside.