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Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladeshflag
Country
Continent: Asia
Capital: Dhaka
National Language: Bengali
Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
Status in OTL: Active

The People's Republic of Bangladesh (গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gaṇaprajātantrī Bāṃlādēśa) is a country in South Asia. It shares land borders with India and Myanmar. Nepal, Bhutan and China are located near Bangladesh but do not share a border with it. The country's maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal is roughly equal to the size of its land area. Bangladesh is the world's eighth most populous country. Dhaka is its capital and largest city, followed by Chittagong, which has the country's largest port. Bangladesh forms the largest and easternmost part of the Bengal region. Bangladeshis include people from a range of ethnic groups and religions. Bengalis, who speak the official Bengali language, make up 98% of the population. The politically dominant Bengali Muslims make the nation the world's third largest Muslim-majority country.

As part of British India, the region was influenced by the Bengali renaissance and played an important role in anti-colonial movements. The Partition of British India made East Bengal a part of the Dominion of Pakistan; and renamed it as East Pakistan. The region witnessed the Bengali Language Movement in 1952 and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. After independence was achieved, a parliamentary republic was established. A presidential government was in place between 1975 and 1990, followed by a return to parliamentary democracy. The country continues to face challenges in the areas of poverty, education, healthcare and corruption. Bangladesh is regarded as a middle power and a developing nation.

Literary comment[]

As most Harry Turtledove timelines place the relevant Point of Divergence before 1947, Bangladesh is usually still part of India in his writings. A few works are set or have a POD in the 1947-1971 time frame, in which case Bangladesh is still East Pakistan.

Bangladesh in Crosstime Traffic[]

By 2096, Bangladesh was still a major producer of clothing distributed the world over. Much of American teenager Annette Klein's wardrobe was labeled Made in Bangladesh.[1]

Bangladesh in "Notes from the General Secretariat"[]

In his response to Minister Karamat, "Beals Becker" claimed he'd consulted with the Secretary-General and confirmed that the Secretary-General had received Karamat's requests for food and other relief for his country from the past three weeks. The Secretary-General delegated the response to Becker, who reminded Karamat that his country was slightly smaller than Wisconsin, had nearly 100 million people, and was still growing. Becker suggested that the country import parcheesi sets, backgammon gear, and Doris Day movies as alternatives to the people's preferred source of amusement. Beck reminded Karamat that the country had recently spent money on MiGs.

Becker's valediction was "Hungrily, Beals Becker".[2]

References[]

  1. In High Places, p. 153.
  2. Analog: The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fact, Vol CV, No 8, August, 1985, pg. 174.
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