Country name
Conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
Conventional short form: Bangladesh
Former: East Pakistan

Data code
BG

Government type
Republic

Capital
Dhaka

Administrative divisions
6 Divisions: Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet 

Independence / Victory
26 March (1971) / 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

Public Holidays

**21 February (1952)- International Mother Language Day.
**26 March (1971) - Independence Day

**14 April - Bangali New Year

**1 May - May Day

**16 December (1971)

**25 December - Christmas Day.

***Also Other Holidays for Religious Festivals and Occasions. (Depends on Appearance of the Moon)   

Constitution
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Legal system
Based on English common law

Suffrage
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed , 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.

Note: Currently the parliament has dissolved and at present there is no elected government in the country. Now the Caretaker government has taken over  the power  and will continue for next three months. As per the constitution the caretaker government will be responsible for conducting a free fair, neutral and acceptable parliamentarian election. This government is trying to insure a free fair election by January 2007.

Care Taker Chief :  Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed

Member of caretaker Government:  10 Cabinet Member has been selected by the Care taker Chief and appointed by the president 

Elections: President elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the previous president. 

Legislative branch
Unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 01 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2007)

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda Zia];Awami League or AL [Sheikh Hasina Wajed]; Jatiyo Party or JP [Hussain Mohammad Ershad];Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman Nizami]; Communist Party of Bangladesh or CPB [Saifuddin Ahmed Manik]