Bangladesh

Information about the Bangladesh Flag: Colors and Meaning of the Flag of Bangladesh

Originally the design of the national flag of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh contains a map of the country inside the red orb. However, some sources say that it was eventually removed because it was quite difficult to render the map in the same way on the reverse side of the flag.

Currently the national flag has dark green background with a red-colored disk in the center and slightly to the left of the flag, closer to the hoist side. The placement of the disk was intentionally done so that it will look to be perfectly centered in the middle of the flag when it is flown. The design was conceptualized by Bangladeshi painter, Quamrul Hassan. The red disc was used to veer way from the crescent and star that are part of the flag of Pakistan. It was first hoisted at the Dhaka University campus on March 3, 1971 by the Vice President of the Dhaka University Students’ Union, A. S. M. Adbur Rab. It was also flown at the residence of Sheik Mujibur Rahman on March 26, 1971 when he gave his historic speech during the declaration of independence.

:: Meaning of the National Flag of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh ::

Contrary to what others believed, the green background of the national flag of Bangladesh does not symbolize Islam. It is meant to represent the lush and verdant countryside of Bangladesh, while the red orb symbolizes the rising sun over the Bay of Bengal and the blood shed by the thousands of Bangladeshi patriots who fought with their lives for their country to be independent from Pakistan.

Adoption of the Flag

The current flag, with a ratio of 10:6 was adopted as the official flag of the nation on January 17, 1972. Bangladesh finally became a member of the United Nations and first flew its flag at its headquarters in September 1974.