CAPITAL DHAKA - POPULATION 153.5 MILLION - AREA 144,000 SQ KM - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE BENGALI
Though the country frequently suffers from one or more of a host of woes, including floods, political instability, cyclones and extreme poverty, more and more visitors are slowly beginning to discover the Bangladesh behind the often tragic headlines. Safaris through the mangrove-filled Sundarbans, with its elusive tiger population and gypsy fisher folk, are becoming popular with travelers. There are also archaeological sites aplenty, as well as some mellow getaways, such as the little and laid-back St Martin's coral island. Since the country is predominantly Muslim, you might want to avoid travelling during the fasting month of Ramadan, which falls in 2009 between 21 August and 19 September (approximately); opening hours become irregular and food is difficult to find during daylight hours.
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