Modern Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in
1971 after achieving independence from Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The country
constitutes with the major portion of the ancient and historic region of Bengal in the eastern part of theIndian subcontinent, where civilization dates back over four millennia, to the Copper Age.
The history of the region is closely intertwined with the history of
Bengal and the history of India.
The
area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a
tussle between Hinduism and Buddhismfor
dominance. Islam made its appearance during the 8th
century when Sufi missionaries arrived. Later, Muslim
rulers reinforced the process of conversion by building mosques, madrassas and Sufi Khanqah.
The
borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in
August 1947, when the region becameEast Pakistan as a part of the newly formed State of Pakistan following the Radcliffe Line.[1] However, it was separated from West Pakistan by 1,600 km (994 mi) of
Indian territory. Due to political exclusion, ethnic and linguistic
discrimination, as well as economic neglect by the politically dominant
westerin-wing, popular agitation and civil disobedience led to the war of
independence in 1971. After independence, the new state endured famine, natural
disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military
coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm
and economic progress.
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