Beautiful Bangladesh Trivia Quiz

Answer: Myanmar

Bangladesh is nearly surrounded by India, but for a land border with Myanmar in the south-east. Nepal, Bhutan and China are also located near the country. At a total size of 148,460 square kilometres (or 57321 square miles), Bangladesh is just the 99th largest country by area in the world.

Answer: Pakistan

The area now compromising Bangladesh has been settled and ruled by various world powers throughout history, including by the British during its colonisation and rule of the area as part of the British Raj. When the Raj was split into India and Pakistan, Bangladesh fell into the powers of the latter. Resistance to Pakistani rule gradually grew in East Bengal (as Bangladesh was then known), which fledged into numerous riots and attempted coups.

The catalyst for Bangladeshi independence was the blocking of leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from taking office.

When the Pakistani Army led a brutal attack on the Bengali people in an event known as the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, there was an international push for the allowance of self-determination for the Bengali people.

This included the first ever benefit concert, held in Madison Square Garden organised by George Harrison of The Beatles. Following the Bangladesh Liberation War, Bangladesh was declared an independent nation on 26 March 1971.

Answer: Strawberries

Amazingly, about 71.1% of the land mass of Bangladesh is used for agricultural purposes. Thanks to its highly fertile soil, Bangladesh performs well across the globe for agricultural output, ranking as one of the top countries in rice, jute, fish, tropical fruit and potato production (FAOSTAT).

The nation also has a large portion of natural gas reserves, another source of income for the country's rapidly developing economy. Strawberries, however, are not native to Bangladesh and struggle to grow there (though it's not impossible!).

Answer: Bengal tiger

The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh, a source of pride for the people. At a population of about 2,226 in 2014, however, the tiger is also an endangered species, listed as such by the IUCN in 2010. The Bengal tiger is also the national animal of India.

Bangladesh is a very biodiverse country, housing approximately 6000 species of plant life, 628 species of birds, 53 amphibious species, 158 reptile species and five species of marine mammals. This is largely thanks to the diversity of habitat, which include rainforests and mangrove forests. While much of the country's pristine ecosystems have been protected, the country has also seen a disturbing trend of extinctions since the 20th century, including two species of rhinoceros. Conservation is a high priority for Bangladeshi authorities, having ratified the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 3 May 1994.

The other options can also be found across Bangladesh.

Answer: Tropical

Bangladesh has a tropical climate thanks to its location on both sides of the Tropic of Cancer. The country experiences a humid, warm rainy monsoon season from June to October, a mild winter from October-March and a hot, humid summer from March to June. Bangladesh's climate leaves it prone to natural disasters, and historically cyclones, floods and tornadoes have wreaked havoc on the land, including an infamous cyclone in 1991 that left as many as 10 million individuals homeless, one of the deadliest cyclones on record. Bangladesh has been flagged as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change.

Answer: President

The Bangabhaban can be seen as the White House of Bangladesh, hosting the residency and main office of the President. The gorgeous Bangabhaban Gardens surround the large white building. The Bangabhaban was once the temporary residence for the Indian Viceroy and Governor of Bengal during the British Raj, also holding the Dilkusha Government House.

Dhaka is a densely-populated city in the Dhaka District of Bangladesh, approximately located at the centre of the country. Situated on the banks of the Buriganga River, the city is the political and economic centre of the country. The history of the city dates back for centuries, where it was once an important location for the Bengal Sultanates under Islamic rule. Dhaka is also colloquially known as the "rickshaw capital of the world", referring to the bicycle-like mode of transportation that dominates the city.

Answer: Sundarbans

Located in the southern reaches of Bangladesh, the Sundarbans is the largest continuous halophytic (a water plant) mangrove forest in the world, at about 10,000 square kilometres. As a world biodiversity hotspot, the region is home to a range of unique and often endangered species, including the Bengal tiger and Chital deer. A 1991 survey approximated that the area supported at least 270 bird species, 42 mammal species, 35 reptile species and eight amphibian species. The Sundarbans was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 for its ecological importance.

The Olgas and Bungle Bungles are rock formations in Australia, while Socotra is an archipelago island territory of Yemen.

Answer: Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal, the largest bay in the world, lies south of Bangladesh and receives a large flow of water from the country's extensive river networks. The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, which also flows through India, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal, is the most dominant of these networks, responsible for much of Bangladesh's soil fertility.

The Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and Meghna Rivers and their tributaries also play a large role in shaping the country. While providing sustenance for a significant bulk of the population, these rivers also leave the Bangladeshi population particularly prone to the numerous dangers of flooding and mosquitoes.

Answer: Chittagong

The Chittagong Hill Tracts are situated in south-east Bangladesh, encompassed by the Chittagong District. These hills cover about 13,295 square kilometres of land. The region is the only extensively hilly part of Bangladesh, though the highest peak of Bangladesh is a contentious point of discussion.

Interestingly for a Muslim-dominated country, about 34% of the population in the area reported as Theravada Buddhists in a 2011 census, meaning it hosts most Buddhists in the country. The region also hosts several Buddhist temples and monasteries.

The other options are also administrative divisions of Bangladesh.

Answer: Coral

St. Martin's Island is surrounded by Bangladesh's only coral reef, located in the north-eastern reaches of the Bay of Bengal. This makes it the country's only coral island, and its local name Narikel jinjira means "coconut island" in Bengali. The island houses only a small population, with most working in tourism or fishing, but welcomes a significant number of tourists annually.

At about eight squared kilometres in size, it's certainly not much of a trek to visit the whole island in a day if you so please.

However, tourism also threatens the delicate ecosystem of the island due to erosion and littering. The small island is also visited by nesting turtles.