The three main cities are Dhaka -- the capital, with around seven million people -- and the much smaller cities of Chittagong and Khulna, both of which are sea ports.
The main religion in Bangladesh is Islam, and most people are Muslim.
Other beliefs include Hinduism, animism, Christianity, and Buddhism.
Arts and crafts
Bangladeshi artists are skilled in weaving, pottery, and modelling with terracotta. In villages, folk theatre is popular, especially during the harvest season or at fairs (known as melas).
Food and drink
A typical meal might be lamb with vegetables, cooked in a spicy sauce with yellow lentils and rice.