_{^{Bangladesh has a glorious history and rich heritage. Once it was known as ‘Sonar
Bangla’ or the Golden Bengal. The territory now constituting Bangladesh was under
the Muslim rule for over five and a half centuries from 1201 to 1757 AD. Subsequently, it came under the British rule following the defeat of the sovereign ruler, Nawab Sirajuddaula, at the battle of Palassey on 23 June, 1757. The British ruled over the Indian sub-continent including this territory for nearly 190 years from 1757 to 1947. During that period, Bangladesh was a part of the British Indian provinces of Bengal and Assam. With the termination of British rule in August 1947, the sub-continent was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Bangladesh formed a part of Pakistan and was called “ East Pakistan”. It remained so for about 24 years from August 14, 1947 to March 25, 1971. It appeared on the world map as an independent and sovereign state on 26 March, 1971 and subsequently liberated on December 16, 1971 following the victory of the war of Liberation.}}