National Identities of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is situated next to India on the north edge of the Bay of Bengal. It also shares a short boundary with Myanmar in the south. National symbols in Bangladesh represent Bangladeshi cultures and ideals, as well as many components of the country’s cultural life and history. The political conquest and the struggle for freedom also play an iconic role in a nation’s identity. For instance, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II allowed the Diwani rights of the colonies of Bengal to the Company. Diwani permitted it to use the extensive revenue resources of Bengal.

National Identities of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s national symbols shows Bangladeshi traditions and different ideals and reflect various aspects of the country’s cultural life and history. The national flag, national animal, national bird, national emblem, national flower, and historical events all are part of it. 

National Flag

• Bangladesh’s national flag, known as the Red-Green, was officially adopted on January 17, 1972
• It is composed of a red disc on top of a green field that is slightly biassed toward the hoist so that it is in the centre when the flag is flying

National Anthem

The first ten lyrics of Amar Sonar Bangla, a song written and performed by Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, were adopted as Bangladesh’s national anthem in 1972.

National Flower

• Bangladesh’s national flower is the water lily (Nymphaea nouchali)
• Nymphaea nouchali, also known as ambal in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, is a medicinal herb that was formerly used to relieve indigestion

National Animal

• Bangladesh’s national animal is the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) 
• Tigers in Bangladesh have now been restricted to the Sundarbans and the Chittagong Hill Tracts ecosystems

National Bird

The magpie robin (Copsychus saularis), sometimes known as the doyel or doel, is the national bird of Bangladesh. 

National Fruit

Bangladesh’s national fruit is the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), found in Bangladesh’s tropical regions. 

Diwani Rights

• The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and Robert Clive of East India. Based on this treaty, the British got the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha
• Under the terms of the concurrence, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II permitted the Diwani rights, or the right to collect taxes in the name of the Emperor from the eastern sector of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa 
• They granted the Company the right to collect revenue personally from the people of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. Diwani permitted it to use the extensive revenue resources of Bengal

Political Identity

There are around 50 political parties in Bangladesh, and these extend from the national level to the village. The leaders at the local level are wealthy individuals with a defined party structure. The local leaders garner the support of citizens, especially at the time of election. 

• The two crucial political parties, the Bangladesh Awami League and the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), express the two distinct statements of nationalism and national identity in Bangladesh
• The Awami League is a traditionally socialist-leaning non-religious political party. It is not aggressively anti-India, is tolerant of traditional and religious minorities, and supports a free-market economy
• The BNP, under former Leader Khaleda Zia, is anti-India and has an Islamic emphasis.
• The BNP report comes critically close to Jinnah’s two-nation theory story

War of Independence

The Bangladesh Liberation War or the War of Independence denotes the armed dispute between West Pakistan and East Pakistan. It lasted for approximately nine months in 1971. 

• On December 3 1971, the Indian military forces united with Bangladeshi guerrilla forces to battle against the West-Pakistani military when West Pakistan started attacks opposing India
• Then, they did not receive any reinforcement during this critical period of the war. They were expecting military equipment from the United States and China
• The West-Pakistani military forces were rushed and lost power over their formerly arrested territories 
• Therefore, they had to agree on defeat and give in to the joint forces. In the end, on December 16 1971, General Niazi of West Pakistan gave the concurrence of surrender

Effects of the Liberation War 

• There is a continuous debate in Bangladesh regarding whether the national identity is Bengali or Bangladeshi
• In 1975, ‘Bengali Nationalism’ was changed to ‘Bangladeshi Nationalism’ after the extermination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 
• There is a specific difference in Bangladesh politics in pre-1975 and post-1975 years

Conclusion

The national identity of Bangladesh, such as the national flag, animal, flower, anthem, and emblem, represents the individuality of the nation among other countries. 

Bangladesh was exhibited as a split nation. It was formerly known as East Pakistan, and its native language is Bangla. The Islamic population can mingle freely with people from other religions without judgement or persecution. In 1975, the ‘Bengali Nationalism’ was changed to ‘Bangladeshi Nationalism’.