Bangladesh sits on the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent. It shares borders with India on most sides and Myanmar to the southeast. Its 580 km coastline opens onto the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated sovereign states relative to its land size. The population is approximately 170,000,000 (2025) with nearly 25 million people living in the capital city, Dhaka.  

The Constitution of Bangladesh (1972) laid the foundation for a parliamentary democracy, although it has undergone many amendments. The President is the ceremonial head of state while the Prime Minister is head of government and exercises executive authority. Bangladesh has transformed from one of the poorest, aid-dependent countries in the region, into a lower-middle-income, rapidly growing urban economy. Its economic success is driven largely by ready-made garments (RMG) exports.

Bangladesh is ranked 35th out of 145 countries (2025) according to the Global Firepower Index, up five positions in only two years. It has roughly 160,000 active military personnel with approximately 65,000 reserves. Paramilitary forces like the Bangladesh Rifles (formerly Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)) and Special Intervention Force (formerly Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)), and the militia force of the Ansar and Village Defence Party add further capacity of approximately an additional 800,000.