Unlike Bahrain, yesterday’s river free country, Bangladesh has over 700 rivers. In fact, Bangladesh’s entire geography is defined by water.

Bangladesh is home to the Ganges Delta which is the largest river delta in the world. This brings fertile farming soils, but also makes Bangladesh incredibly vulnerable to flooding and climate change.

Bangladesh is home to the world’s longest uninterrupted natural beach, Cox’s Bazar which is 120 km long. I actually know of Cox’s Bazar. It’s one of those places that sticks out on the moving maps of long haul flights perhaps due to its spine-tinglingly colonial sounding name. Sadly the beach is increasingly at risk due to unplanned, unregulated development along Cox’s Bazaar.

Bangladesh was created in 1947 with the partition of India becoming East Pakistan until 1971 when it split to form modern-day Bangladesh following the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Bangladesh is one of the most ethnically homogenous countries in the world with Bengalis accounting for 98% of the population.