:National symbols of Bangladesh
{{short description|Overview of the national symbols of Bangladesh}}
The national symbols of Bangladesh consist of symbols to represent Bangladeshi traditions and ideals that reflect the different aspects of the cultural life and history. Bangladesh has several official national symbols, including a historic document, a flag, an emblem, an anthem, memorial towers, as well as several national heroes. There are also several other symbols, including the national animal, bird, flower, instrument and tree.
Flag
{{main|Flag of Bangladesh}}
The national flag of Bangladesh ({{lang|bn|বাংলাদেশের জাতীয় পতাকা}}), known as Red-Green, was officially adopted on 17 January 1972. It consists of a red disc on top of a green field, offset slightly toward the hoist so that it appears centred when the flag is flying. The red disc represents the sun rising over Bengal and also the blood of those who died for the independence of Bangladesh. The green field stands for the lushness of the land of Bangladesh.{{cite web |title=Flag description |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2081.html |work=The world fact book |publisher=CIA USA |access-date=2013-09-11 |archive-date=2017-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701210145/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2081.html |url-status=dead}} The flag is based on a similar flag used during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which had a yellow map of the country inside the red disc. In 1972 this map was deleted from the flag. One reason given was the difficulty of rendering the map correctly on both sides of the flag. The civil ensign and naval ensign place the national flag in the canton of a red or white field, respectively.
Emblem
File:National emblem of Bangladesh.svg
{{main|National Emblem of Bangladesh}}
The National Emblem of Bangladesh ({{lang|bn|বাংলাদেশের জাতীয় প্রতীক}}) was adopted shortly after independence in 1971. Located on the emblem is a water lily that is bordered on two sides by rice sheaves. Above the water lilly are four stars and three connected jute leaves. The water lily is the country's national flower and is representative of the many rivers that run through Bangladesh. Rice represents its presence as the staple food of Bangladesh, and for the agriculture of that nation. The four stars represent the four founding principles in the constitution of Bangladesh: nationalism, secularism, socialism, and democracy.{{cite journal |title=Cytological studies of Nymphaea species available in Bangladesh |author1=A Hossain |author2=G Kabir |author3=M M Ud-deen |author4=A M S Alam |name-list-style=amp |journal=Journal of Bio-Science |volume=15 |pages=7–13 |year=2007 |doi=10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2197 |url=http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JBS/article/view/2197 |access-date=2013-12-11 |archive-date=2019-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403190508/https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JBS/article/view/2197 |url-status=live |doi-access=free}}{{cite web |url=http://www.supremecourt.gov.bd/scweb/constitution/pdf/04_part1-4.pdf |title=Constitution |access-date=2013-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922151255/http://supremecourt.gov.bd/scweb/constitution/pdf/04_part1-4.pdf |archive-date=2013-09-22}}
Government seal
File:Government Seal of Bangladesh.svg
{{main|Government Seal of Bangladesh}}
The Government Seal of Bangladesh ({{lang|bn|বাংলাদেশ সরকার সীলমোহর}}) is used by the Ministries of Bangladesh{{Cite web |url=http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_weblinks&task=ministry&Itemid=152 |script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশ (Bangladesh) জাতীয় তথ্য বাতায়ন | গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার | People's Republic of Bangladesh |website=bangladesh.gov.bd |access-date=2013-12-14 |archive-date=2018-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914174902/http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_weblinks&task=ministry&Itemid=152 |url-status=live}} and the Government of Bangladesh{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/state.html |title=The State |website=Virtual Bangladesh |access-date=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324101441/http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/state.html |archive-date=2013-03-24}} on official documents. One version is used on the cover page of Bangladesh passports.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dip.gov.bd/ |script-title=bn:ইমিগ্রেশন ও পাসপোর্ট অধিদপ্তর |website=dip.gov.bd |access-date=2021-10-08 |archive-date=2019-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231213704/http://www.dip.gov.bd/ |url-status=live}}
The seal features the same design elements as the first flag of Bangladesh in a circular setting. The outer white ring is shown with the caption of the official name of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Bengali: {{lang|bn|গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার}} with 4 red 5-pointed stars. In the centre of the seal is the map of the country on a red disc.
Musical nationalism
=National anthem=
{{main|Amar Sonar Bangla}}
Amar Sonar Bangla ({{lang|bn|আমার সোনার বাংলা}}, "My dear Bengal") is a song written and composed by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, the first ten lines of which were adopted in 1972 as the national anthem of Bangladesh.{{cite web |url=http://nationalanthems.me/bangladesh-amar-shonar-bangla |title=Bangladesh: Amar Sonar Bangla |publisher=NationalAnthems.me |access-date=2011-08-09 |archive-date=2021-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411044806/http://nationalanthems.me/bangladesh-amar-shonar-bangla/ |url-status=live}}
The song was written in 1905 during the period of {{lang|bn|বঙ্গভঙ্গ}} Bônggôbhônggô (Partition of Bengal (1905)) – when the ruling British Empire had the province of Bengal split into two parts. This song, along with a host of others, was written by Tagore, a pioneer of the cultural and political movement against this partition. These songs were meant to rekindle the unified spirit of Bengal and to raise public consciousness against the communal political divide. The lyrics first appeared in the September issues of "Bongodorshon" and "Baul" simultaneously, in 1905. It is said that the music of this song was inspired by the Baul singer Gagan Harkara's song {{lang|bn|আমি কোথায় পাবো তারে}} "Ami Kothay Pabo Tare".Folk singer, [http://www.swapanbasu.com/ Swapan Basu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105172754/http://swapanbasu.com/ |date=2014-01-05 }}, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZvc73nQCk demonstrates] the similarity in a live recitation (0:43/8:46 to 1:21/8:46) The instrumental orchestra rendition was composed by Samar Das.{{cite book |last=Komol |first=Khalid Hasan |year=2012 |chapter=Das, Samar |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Das,_Samar |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |access-date=2016-01-29 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205944/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Das,_Samar |url-status=live}} The English translation was done by Syed Ali Ahsan.
=National march=
{{main|Notuner Gaan}}
Notuner Gaan ({{langx|bn|নতুনের গান}}, Natunēra gāna) is the national march ({{langx|bn|রণ-সঙ্গীত}}) of Bangladesh.{{cite web |url=http://www.pmo.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=813&Itemid=353 |title=India-Bangladesh Joint Celebration, 113th birth anniversary of Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and 90th year of his poem 'Rebel' |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-date=2018-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226133725/https://pmo.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=813&Itemid=353 |url-status=live}} This song was written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh (also known as 'rebel poet'), in 1929. It belongs to his famous book The Evening (Sôndhya: {{lang|bn|সন্ধ্যা}}). The music for this song was composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam. On 13 January 1972, the ministry of Bangladesh adopted this song as a national marching song at its first meeting after the country's independence. The first 21 lines of the song are typically played at all military ceremonies or functions in the country; it is also known as the national military song of Bangladesh.{{cite news |title=The rebel poet |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-38139 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=2013-09-23}}
=Honour song=
{{main|Ekusher Gaan}}
Ekusher Gaan ({{langx|bn|একুশের গান}} "The Song of Twenty-first"), more popularly known (after its first line) as Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano ({{langx|bn|আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙানো}} "My Brothers' Blood Spattered"), is a Bengali song written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury to mark the Bengali language movement in East Pakistan in 1952. It was first published anonymously on the last page of a newspaper with the headline Ekusher Gaan, but was later published in Ekushey{{'s}} February edition. The song is often recognized as the most influential song of the language movement, reminding numerous Bangladeshis about the conflicts of 1952. Every 21 February, people from all parts of Bangladesh head to the Shaheed Minar in the probhat feri, a barefoot march to the monument, to pay homage to those killed in the language movement demonstrations by singing this song. It is regarded by listeners of the BBC Bangla radio service as the third-best song in Bengali.{{Bengalis}}
{{Culture of Bangladesh}}
Flora and fauna
National monuments and memorials
=Shaheed Minar=
{{main|Shaheed Minar, Dhaka}}
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| The Shaheed Minar ({{lang|bn|শহীদ মিনার}} Shôhid Minar lit. "Martyr Monument") is a national monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established to commemorate those killed during the Bengali language movement demonstrations of 1952. The enormous design includes half-circular columns to symbolize the mother, with her fallen sons, standing on the monument's central dais, and the red sun shining behind. The Central Shaheed Minar of Dhaka goes up to a height of {{convert|14|m|ft|0}} and was made with marble stones. The stairs and barrier are highlighted in white to create a divine look. The fence on both sides is painted with lines from poems of legendary poets in iron letters. As visitors enter the monument, they will find two statues of the patriots who sacrificed their lives in the demonstrations. There is also a 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) mural representing the movement's history.{{cite book |last=Islam |first=Rafiqul |date=2000 |title=Amar Ekushey O Shaheed Minar |location=Dhaka |publisher=Poroma |language=bn |pages=58 |isbn=984-8245-39-1}} The language movement is one of the most significant movements in the history of Bangladesh. Thus, the Central Shaheed Minar epitomizes efforts to represent the spirit of Bengali nationalism and also highlight the importance of the Bengali language in the social and cultural progress of the country. It has a very significant place in the social and cultural mechanism of Bangladesh; all national, mourning, cultural and other activities held each year on 21 February have been centered around this monument. |
=National Martyrs' Memorial=
{{main|National Martyrs' Memorial}}
=Martyred Intellectuals Memorial=
{{main|Martyred Intellectuals Memorial}}
=Independence Monument=
{{main|Swadhinata Stambha}}
