Bangladesh

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh, a South Asian country located in the delta of the Padma and Jamuna rivers in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent. Lying along the rivers, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a mainly Muslim population. The area, along with the Indian state of West Bengal, was once part of the Bengal province of British India. Bangladesh became an independent country in 1971, with Dhaka as its capital. The Bangladeshi landscape is characterized by rivers, which have shaped not only the physiography but also the way people live. The countryside of Bangladesh is lush with mango, jackfruit, bamboo, betel nut, coconut and date palm plantations around the villages. But only a small proportion of the country's land is covered by forests. Bangladesh is home to many wildlife species, including more than 100 mammal species. Elephants are found in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the northeastern Sylhet region, living in herds of less than a dozen to nearly 100 individuals. Domestic Water Buffaloes are used for plucking and cart pulling. The best known of the predators is the Royal Bengal tiger. The Common Leopard is indigenous to the region, as is its smaller relative, the rare dark grey Clouded Leopard with oblong-spotted fur. The Wild Leopard cat is about the same body size as the domestic cat, but with longer legs. Bangladeshi bears include the Sloth Bear, the Asiatic Black Bear and the Sun Bear. The eerie howls of jackals at night are a familiar sound in Bangladesh, and various species of mongoose are also abundant. The Bengal Monkey is the most common primate in the country. There are also hundreds of bird species in Bangladesh.