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Poverty is deep and widespread; almost half of the population live on less than one dollar a day. However, Bangladesh has reduced population growth and improved health and education.
The major employer is agriculture, but it is unable to meet the demand for jobs. Thus many Bangladeshis - in common with citizens from other countries in the region - seek work abroad, sometimes illegally. The country is trying to diversify its economy, with industrial development a priority. Overseas investors have pumped money into manufacturing and the energy sector.
Onshore and offshore gas reserves hold out some chance of future prosperity. There has been a debate about whether the reserves should be reserved for domestic use or exported. Some international energy companies are involved in the gas sector. 
Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being only in 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan split after a bitter civil war which drew in neighbouring India.
Bangladesh spent 15 years under military rule and, although democracy was restored in 1990, the political scene remains volatile.
Analysts say the antagonism between the Awami League, which governed until July 2001, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party reflects personal animosity between their leaders rather than substantial ideological differences.
Political tensions have spilled over into violence; hundreds of people have been killed in recent years. Attacks have targeted opposition rallies and public gatherings. Senior opposition figures have also been targeted.
Concern has grown about religious extremism in the traditionally moderate and tolerant country, which found apparent form in a string of bomb attacks in August 2005. The government, which long denied that it had a problem with militants, has outlawed two fringe Islamic organisations.
Bangladesh has been criticised for its human rights record, with particular concern about assaults on women and allegations that police use torture against those in custody.
The low-lying country is vulnerable to flooding and cyclones and it stands to be badly affected by predicted rises in sea levels.
- Full name: People's Republic of Bangladesh
- Population: 152.6 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Dhaka
- Area: 143,998 sq km (55,598 sq miles)
- Major language: Bengali
- Major religions: Islam, Hinduism
- Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 63 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 taka = 100 paisa
- Main exports: Garments, fish, jute goods, leather products
- GNI per capita: US $470 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .bd
- International dialling code: +880
President: Iajuddin Ahmed
Iajuddin Ahmed has been titular head of state as president since 2002. In October 2006 he assumed leadership of the caretaker authority which will lead the country to elections in January 2007.
The caretaker authority replaced Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the end of her five-year mandate. 
Violent protests over who should lead the three-month administration killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds.
Bangladesh introduced the caretaker system in 1991 after military president Hossain Mohammad Ershad was toppled through a people's uprising led jointly by Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina, who now heads the main opposition party, the Awami League.
The system, designed to prevent ruling parties from rigging polls, is considered to have worked generally well in three elections.
Prime minister (outgoing): Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia's mandate ended on 27 October 2006, when she handed power to a caretaker authority pending elections. 
Khaleda Zia came to power following a landslide election victory in October 2001 of the four-party alliance led by her Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Her government pointed to successes in handling the economy and in tackling environmental issues.
But it struggled to deliver on its key election pledge of containing lawlessness and violence. Ms Zia came under opposition pressure to call early elections, amid a background of general strikes and protests.
Ms Zia was the first female prime minister in Bangladesh, and held office between 1991 and 1996. She is the widow of former president Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in a coup attempt in 1981. Ms Zia became leader of Mr Rahman's Bangladesh National Party in 1984. 
She succeeded Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down at the end of her five-year term. Hers was the first elected government in the history of the country to serve its full five-year term.
The main broadcasters - Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television - are state-owned and favourable to the government. Little coverage is given to the political opposition, except in the run-up to general elections when a caretaker government takes control.
Bangladesh Television is the sole terrestrial TV channel, although private satellite stations have established a presence.
The constitution guarantees press freedom, but journalists are subject to regular harassment from the police and political activists. The media rights organisation Reporters Without Borders says journalists are targeted by Islamist and Maoist groups, as well as officials and politicians.
Bangladeshi newspapers are diverse, outspoken and privately-owned. The country has a strong tradition of owner-editorship. English-language titles appeal mainly to an educated urban readership. The authorities sometimes withdraw foreign publications from circulation over articles or images deemed malicious or offensive.
The BBC World Service is available on FM in Dhaka.
The press Television
Radio
News agencies
1947 - British colonial rule over India ends. A largely Muslim state comprising East and West Pakistan is established, either side of India. The two provinces are separated from each other by more than 1,500 km of Indian territory.
1949 - The Awami League is established to campaign for East Pakistan's autonomy from West Pakistan. 
1970 - The Awami League, under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, wins an overwhelming election victory in East Pakistan. The government in West Pakistan refuses to recognise the results, leading to rioting. Cyclone hits East Pakistan - up to 500,000 people are killed.
Independence
1971 - Sheikh Mujib arrested and taken to West Pakistan. In exile, Awami League leaders proclaim the independence of the province of East Pakistan on 26th March. The new country is called Bangladesh. Just under 10 million Bangladeshis flee to India as troops from West Pakistan are defeated with Indian assistance.
1972 - Sheikh Mujib returns, becomes prime minister. He begins a programme of nationalising key industries in an attempt to improve living standards, but with little success. 
1974 - Severe floods devastate much of the grain crop, leading to an estimated 28,000 deaths. A national state of emergency is declared as political unrest grows.
1975 - Sheikh Mujib becomes president of Bangladesh. The political situation worsens. He is assassinated in a military coup in August. Martial law is imposed.
1976 - The military ban trade unions.
1977 - General Zia Rahman assumes the presidency. Islam is adopted in the constitution.
1979 - Martial law is lifted following elections, which Zia's Bangladesh National Party (BNP) wins.
1981 - Zia is assassinated during abortive military coup. He is succeeded by Abdus Sattar.
The Ershad era
1982 - General Ershad assumes power in army coup. He suspends the constitution and political parties.
1983 - Limited political activity is permitted. Ershad becomes president. 
1986 - Parliamentary and presidential elections. Ershad elected to a five-year term. He lifts martial law and reinstates the constitution.
1987 - State of emergency declared after opposition demonstrations and strikes.
1988 - Islam becomes state religion. Floods cover up to three-quarters of the country. Tens of millions are made homeless.
1990 - Ershad steps down following mass protests.
1991 - Ershad convicted and jailed for corruption and illegal possession of weapons. Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of President Zia Rahman, becomes prime minister. Constitution is changed to render the position of president ceremonial. The prime minister now has primary executive power. Cyclonic tidal wave kills up to 138,000.
Awami League returns
1996 - Two sets of elections eventually see the Awami League win power, with Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, becoming prime minister.
1997 - Ershad is released from prison. The opposition BNP begins campaign of strikes against the government. 
1998 - Two-thirds of the country devastated by the worst floods ever. Fifteen former army officers sentenced to death for involvement in assassination of President Mujib in 1975.
2000 September - Sheikh Hasina criticises military regimes in a UN speech, prompting Pakistani leader General Musharraf to cancel talks with her. Relations strained further by row over leaked Pakistani report on 1971 war of independence.
2000 December - Bangladesh expels Pakistani diplomat for comments on the 1971 war. The diplomat had put the number of dead at 26,000, whereas Bangladesh says nearly three million were killed. Bangladesh wants Pakistan to apologise for alleged genocide it says Pakistani forces were guilty of during the war.
2001 April - Seven killed in bomb blast at a Bengali New Year concert in Dhaka. Sixteen Indian and three Bangladeshi soldiers killed in their worst border clashes. 
2001 April - High Court confirms death sentences on 12 ex-army officers for killing Mujib. Only four are in custody.
2001 June - Bomb kills 10 at Sunday mass at a Roman Catholic church in Baniarchar town. Bomb at Awami league office near Dhaka kills 22. Parliament approves bill providing protection for Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, who feared that the killers of their father Mujib were out to get them too.
2001 July - Hasina steps down, hands power to caretaker authority, becoming the first prime minister in the country's history to complete a five-year term.
Coalition government
2001 September - At least eight people are killed and hundreds injured as two bombs explode at an election rally in south-western Bangladesh.
2001 October - Hasina loses at polls to Khaleda Zia's Nationalist Party and its three coalition partners. 
2001 November - Law repealed which guaranteed lifelong security to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and sister Sheikh Rehana.
2002 March - Government introduces law making acid attacks punishable by death amid public anger over escalating violence against women.
2002 May - Government orders tightening of safety standards after up to 500 people die when a river ferry goes down in a storm.
2002 June - President Chowdhury resigns after ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) accuses him of taking an anti-party line.
2002 July - Pakistani President Musharraf visits; expresses regret over excesses carried out by Pakistan during 1971 war of independence.
2002 September - Iajuddin Ahmed sworn in as president.
2002 December - Simultaneous bomb blasts in cinemas in a town north of Dhaka kill 17 and injure hundreds.
2003 April - More than 100 people killed in two almost-simultaneous ferry disasters.
2004 Opposition calls 21 general strikes over the course of the year as part of a campaign to oust the government.
2004 May - Parliament amends constitution to reserve 45 seats for female MPs.
Bomb attack on Muslim shrine in north-eastern town of Sylhet kills two and injures UK high commissioner and 50 others.
2004 July onwards - Worst flooding in six years leaves nearly 800 people dead, millions homeless or stranded, and an estimated 20m in need of food aid. September's floods in Dhaka are said to be the worst in decades.
2004 August - Grenade attack on opposition Awami League rally in Dhaka kills 22 people. Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina survives the attack.
2005 January - Prominent Awami League politician Shah AMS Kibria is killed in a grenade attack at a political rally. The party calls a general strike in protest.
2005 February - More than 140 people are killed when a ferry capsizes near Dhaka.
2005 May - Some 150 people are killed within a week in three ferry accidents.
Bomb attacks
2005 17 August - Around 350 small bombs go off in towns and cities nationwide. Two people are killed and more than 100 are injured. A banned Islamic group claims responsibility.
2005 November - Spate of bombings, blamed on Islamic militants, hits Chittagong and Gazipur. Twelve people are killed. 
2006 February - Opposition Awami League ends year-long parliamentary boycott.
2006 August - Six people are killed in nation-wide protests against a British firm's plan to develop a coal mine in Phulbari in Dinajpur district. Opponents say the project will displace hundreds of families and damage the environment.
2006 October - Violent protests over government's choice of a caretaker administration to take over when Premier Zia completes her term at the end of the month. President Ahmed steps in and assumes caretaker role for period leading to elections due in January 2007.Cheers !
ANDROMEDA😛
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