From flying foxes to blind dolphins, and much more.
Facts About Bangladesh that Deserve Your Curiosity
When most people think of Bangladesh, your mind might jump to floods, overcrowded cities, and cricket.
But look closer at Bangladesh and you’ll find a country bursting with unique culture, natural wonders, and stories that don’t make the headlines.
Here are 27 fascinating facts about Bangladesh that will completely change the way you see this incredible South Asian nation.
Bangladesh is a country with a beach that never ends, rivers that shape everything, and people whose resilience has inspired the world. Whether you’re exploring Dhaka’s rickshaw-clogged streets, sailing through the Sundarbans, or sharing a plate of hilsa with locals, Bangladesh is full of surprises at every turn.
Which is why we think you should visit Bangladesh.
Don't take our word for it, though - take a look below.
It only skims the surface of interesting facts about Bangladesh!
Geography Facts about Bangladesh
Wildlife Facts About Bangladesh
Culture and Daily Life Facts of Bangladesh
Landmarks and Record Facts about Bangladesh
Food Facts about Bangladesh
Bangladesh Modern Innovations
Facts about Bangladesh People
Geography Facts about Bangladesh
Unique geography of Bangladesh.
✅ 700+ rivers
✅ World's largest river delta
✅ World's largest river delta
1. The Country of Rivers
Bangladesh is often called the “Land of Rivers".
There are around 700 rivers flowing through it. Together, they form the world’s largest river delta, making waterways central to daily life, transport, and trade.
2. The World’s Largest Mangrove Forest
✅ World’s biggest mangrove forest
✅ Home to Bengal Tiger
✅ Home to Bengal Tiger
The Sundarbans stretch across Bangladesh and India.
This creates the world’s biggest mangrove forest and home to the legendary Bengal tiger.
3. A Land That’s Sinking
✅ Threatened by climate change
Bangladesh is one of the countries most threatened by climate change, with parts of the land slowly sinking due to subsidence and rising seas.
4. The World’s Largest Delta
✅ Most fertile delta in the world
The Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta is the most fertile in the world, supporting millions of farmers while also creating dramatic floods.
Wildlife Facts About Bangladesh
5. Otters That Help Fishermen
✅ Otter fishers
In southern Bangladesh, some fishermen use trained otters to herd fish into their nets.
This is a centuries-old practice unique to this country.
6. Blind but Brilliant Dolphins
✅ Dolphins that navigate not with their eyes
The Ganges river dolphin, nicknamed the “blind dolphin,” navigates with echolocation instead of sight and is one of the country’s rarest treasures.
7. Tigers That Fear No Man
✅ Man-eating tigers
The Sundarbans tigers are infamous man-eaters.
Locals sometimes wear masks on the back of their heads to fool them, since tigers often attack from behind.
On our trips we heard of the story of a local villager who experienced a tiger attack once in his life.
8. Flying Foxes Rule the Night
✅ Flying fox fruit bats
Giant fruit bats, known as flying foxes, with wingspans over a metre, are common in Bangladeshi villages.
They’re both eerie and awe-inspiring.
Culture and Daily Life Facts of Bangladesh
9. A Language People Died For
✅ The Bangla language
In 1952, students were killed while demanding recognition for Bangla as a state language. This sparked the independence movement. Today, **21 February is International Mother Language Day** worldwide.
10. The Book Fair Bigger Than a Festival
✅ One of the world's largest book fairs
The Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka lasts a whole month and is a highlight of the cultural calendar. For writers, publishing during this time is a must.
11. Rickshaw Capital of the World
✅ Over half a million rickshaws
Dhaka boasts over half a million rickshaws, each hand-painted with dazzling artwork. From movie stars to tigers!
12. Football Fans of Brazil and Argentina
✅ Argentina vs Brazil football culture
During the FIFA World Cup, villages split into two camps: Argentina fans and Brazil fans.
Whole towns get painted in their team’s colours.
13. Cricket, the National Religion
✅ National sport cricket
Though football is popular, cricket is the true passion.
Victories for the Bangladesh national team bring cities to a standstill with fireworks and dancing.
14. Rice Three Times a Day
✅ Rice for breakfast
Rice is eaten at almost every meal in Bangladesh. Even breakfast. It’s often paired with mashed potatoes, lentils, or spicy vegetables.
15. Spicy Breakfasts Are Normal
✅ Spice for breakfast
Forget toast and jam. Bangladesh, it’s perfectly normal to start your day with curries, dal, and chillies.
Landmarks and Record Facts about Bangladesh
16. The Longest Natural Sea Beach in the World
✅ World's longest beach
At 120 km long, Cox’s Bazar is the longest uninterrupted natural sea beach on Earth.
17. Villages Built on Stilts
✅ Homes floating on water
On Moheshkhali Island, homes stand on stilts over the water, creating a coastal community that feels like a floating village.
18. A Human Chain That Stretched 1,000 km
✅ Demands for democracy
In 2004, millions of Bangladeshis formed a 1,000 km long human chain demanding democracy.
At the time, the longest in history.
We saw these demands for democracy once again in 2024 as students rose up against the government and protests happened throughout Dhaka, overthrowing the previous government.
19. The World’s Most Complicated Borders
✅ Bangladesh - India borders
Before 2015, Bangladesh and India shared bizarre enclaves-within-enclaves.
Some farmers had to cross four borders just to reach their own land.
Food Facts about Bangladesh
20. Hilsa, the National Fish
The hilsa fish is a national symbol and beloved dish, prepared with mustard and rice.
Its importance even reaches politics and poetry.
21. Floating Vegetable Gardens
✅ Floating gardens and markets
Flood-prone farmers create floating gardens on rafts of water hyacinths to keep growing crops despite the rising waters.
Bangladesh Modern Innovations
22. Cyclone Shelters That Double as Schools
✅ Multipurpose shelters
In rural areas, many schools are built as multi-purpose cyclone shelters, serving as classrooms by day and life-saving safe havens during storms.
23. Dhaka’s Electric Funeral Pyres
✅ Electric funeral pyres
From tradition to sustainability. To save forests, some crematoriums in Dhaka use electric pyres instead of wood, a sustainable twist on ancient tradition.
24. Bangladesh the Shipbuilder
✅ Shipbuilding superpower
Bangladesh is a quiet shipbuilding superpower, exporting vessels across Europe thanks to centuries-old craftsmanship.
Facts about Bangladesh People
25. Music That Moves Millions
✅ Music - UNESCO intangible cultural heritage
Baul music, a spiritual folk tradition blending song and philosophy, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
26. The World’s Most Densely Populated Large Country
✅ 170 million people
Bangladesh is home to 170 million people in a space the size of England and Wales, making it the most densely populated large nation in the world.
27. Resilience Is in the DNA
From language protests to climate challenges, Bangladeshis have shown remarkable strength.
The country’s story is one of resilience, identity, and pride. And one of the best things about visiting Bangladesh is the people.
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Bangladesh Tours
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Zoe Stephens
Zoe is the marketing manager and a tour leader at Koryo Tours.
Her love of meeting new people and exploring new cultures has led her to study several languages including German, Japanese, and Chinese. Having lived in several different countries across 4 continents, she often writes about languages and culture in her blogs and is very active on social media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was 'stuck' in Tonga for 1.5 years after a weekend away. Ask her for some stories!
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