Flag of Bangladesh
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox flag The national flag of Bangladesh, nicknamed Lal–Sobuj (Template:Langx), was adopted officially on 17 January 1972. It consists of a red circle on top of a dark green banner. The red circle is offset slightly toward the hoist so that it appears centred when the flag is flying. The civil ensign and naval ensign place it in the canton of a red or white field, respectively.
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 removed from the flag. One reason given was the difficulty for rendering the map correctly on both sides of the flag.<ref name="fotw" />
While there are numerous interpretations, the most widely accepted interpretation says that the green of the flag symbolises the lush landscape of Bangladesh, and the red circle, reminiscent of the rising sun, represents the sacrifice made by the people during the Liberation War of 1971.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Origin
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The first version of the flag was designed and made by a section of student leaders and activists of Swadheen Bangla Nucleus on 6 June 1970, at room 108 of Iqbal Hall (now Sergeant Zahurul Haq hall), Dhaka University; students involved with the design were namely Kazi Aref Ahmed, ASM Abdur Rab, Shahjahan Siraj, Manirul Islam (Marshal Moni), Swapan Kumar Choudhury, Quamrul Alam Khan Khasru, Hasanul Haq Inu, and Yousuf Salahuddin Ahmed.Template:Citation needed The flag was made from clothes donated by Bazlur Rahman Lasker, the owner of Apollo Tailors, Dhaka New Market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A map of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was first traced on a tracing paper from an atlas by Hasanul Haq Inu, Yousuf Salahuddin Ahmed and Enamul Haq, at Enamul's room (312) in Quaid-I Azam Hall (now Titumir Hall), EPUET (now BUET).<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Later, the map was painted in the red circle by Shib Narayan Das.<ref>'আমাদের জাতীয় পতাকার ইতিহাস', আমাদের সময়, ডিসেম্বর ৩, ২০০৯</ref> On 2 March 1971, this initial version of the flag was hoisted in Bangladesh for the first time at Dhaka University, by student leader A. S. M. Abdur Rab, the then Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU).<ref>Glassie, Henry and Mahmud, Feroz. 2008. Living Traditions. Cultural Survey of Bangladesh Series-II. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Dhaka. p. 580</ref> The flag was conceived so as to exclude the star and crescent considered as symbols of West Pakistan (now Pakistan).
Another source states the first flag hoisted at Dhaka University on 2 March 1971 was stitched by Mini Quadir on 1 March 1971 upon requests from her cousin Monirul Haque, the president of Dhaka metropolitan Awami League. Using materials bought from Dhaka Sadarghat. On the next day upon another request by Monirul Haque a white cutout of the East Pakistan map was stitched onto the flag and later coloured golden using afsaan (mehendi) upon reconsideration. The flag was hoisted at Dhaka University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
On 23 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially hoisted the flag for the first time at his house in 32 Dhanmondi. According to his pre-announced instructions, a general holiday is observed across the country on this day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In April 1971, the flag was hoisted for the first time in foreign mission, when Deputy High Commissioner Hosen Ali along with other officials declared their alliance with the newly formed Mujibnagar Government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 25 July 1971, Zakaria Pintoo, captain of the Shadhin Bangla Football Team became the first person to hoist the Bangladesh flag on foreign soil, before a match in Nadia district of the Indian state of West Bengal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 13 January 1972, the flag was modified. The map from the centre was removed, and the red disk moved towards the hoist so as to be visually centred when the flag is in flight on a mast.Template:Citation needed
Symbolism
According to CIA World Factbook<ref name="fotw">Flag of Bangladesh Template:Webarchive, Flags of the World.</ref><ref name="lonelyplanet">"Lonely Planet: Bangladesh", 4th Edition, Lonely Planet Publications, (December 2000), Template:ISBN.</ref> and official descriptions, the green used in the flag represents the lushness of the green landscape of the country<ref name=CIAfactbook-1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> and the red disk of the flag represents the blood the Bengalis shed during the Bangladesh Liberation War and the blood of those who died for the independence of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0" /> An alternative description says that the green background represents the youth power and progress, while the red disk represents the revolution and renaissance. The circularity of the red design indicates the rising sun, similar to the Japanese flag.
Design
Template:Multiple image According to Bangladeshi government specifications,<ref name="flagrule">Template:Cite web</ref> following is the specification of the national flag:
- The flag will be in bottle green and rectangular in size in the proportion of length to width of 10:6, with a red circle in near middle.
- The red circle will have a radius of one-fifth of the length of the flag. Its centre will be placed on the intersecting point of the perpendicular drawn from the nine-twentieth part of the length of the flag, and the horizontal line drawn through the middle of its width.
- The green base of the flag will be of Procion Brilliant Green H-2RS 50 parts per 1000. The red circular part will be of Procion Brilliant Orange H-2RS 60 parts per 1000.
- Depending on the size of the building the flag sizes will be Template:Convert; Template:Convert; Template:Convert. The size of the flag for cars is Template:Convert, and the size of the table flag for bilateral conferences is Template:Convert.
| Colour model | Green | Red |
|---|---|---|
| Procion (official specification)<ref name="flagrule"/> | Brilliant Green H-2RS 50 parts per 1000 | Brilliant Orange H-2RS 60 parts per 1000 |
| Pantone<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 342 C | 485 C |
| RGB Template:Ref | 0,103,71 | 218,41,28 |
| CMYK Template:Ref | 100-0-31-60 | 0-81-87-15 |
| Hex Template:Ref | #006747 | #DA291C |
- Template:Note Converted from Pantone color model per Template:Url
- Template:Note Converted from RGB based on Inkscape colours value.
Protocol
The national flag of Bangladesh is flown on all working days on important government buildings and offices, e.g., the president house, legislative assembly buildings, etc. All ministries and the secretariat buildings of Bangladesh, offices of the high court, courts of district and session judges, offices of the commissioners of divisions, deputy commissioner/collectors, chairman, upazila parishad, central and district jails, police stations, primary, secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions and other buildings notified by the government from time to time. Ministers of state and persons accorded the status of a minister of state, deputy ministers and persons accorded the status of a deputy minister while on tour outside the capital within the country or abroad are entitled to fly the flag on their motor vehicles and vessels.<ref name="flagrule"/>
Official residences
The following persons must fly the flag on their official residence:<ref name="flagrule"/>
- The President of Bangladesh
- The Prime Minister of Bangladesh
- The Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh
- The Chief Justice of Bangladesh
- All Cabinet Ministers
- Chief Whip of Bangladesh
- Deputy Speaker of the Parliament
- The leader of the Opposition in Parliament
- Ministers of States
- Deputy Ministers
- Heads of Bangladeshi Diplomatic or Consular Missions in foreign countries
- Chairmen of Chittagong hill tracts (district offices of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban)
Motor vehicles and vessels
The following persons are entitled to fly the flag on their motor vehicles and vessels:<ref name="flagrule"/>
- The President of Bangladesh
- The Prime Minister of Bangladesh
- The Speaker of the Parliament
- The Chief of Justice of Bangladesh
- All Cabinet Ministers
- Chief Whip
- Deputy Speaker of the Parliament
- The leader of the Opposition in Parliament
- Heads of Bangladeshi Diplomatic or Consular Missions in foreign countries
Display
The national flag of Bangladesh is flown on public and private buildings throughout Bangladesh and the office premises of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions and consular posts on the following days and occasions:<ref name="flagrule"/>
- Independence Day on 26 March.
- Victory Day on 16 December.
- Any other day notified by the Government of Bangladesh.
Half-mast
The national flag of Bangladesh is flown at half-mast on the National Martyrs Day on 21 February, and all other days notified by the Government of Bangladesh.<ref name="flagrule"/>
World record
On 16 December 2013, the 42nd Victory Day of Bangladesh, 27,117 people gathered at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and created a "human flag" which was recorded in Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest human national flag.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This feat was short, however, as India topped the record on 7 December 2014 with 43,830 people participating to achieve the new world record for largest human national flag.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2021, Saimon Imran Hayder used 16,000 envelopes to create a 240m2 Bangladesh flag at the InterContinental Dhaka which was also a Guinness World Record attempt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee, Ashik Chowdhury jumped from 41,795 feet with a flag of Bangladesh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was awarded the "Greatest Distance Freefall with a Banner or Flag" record by Guinness World Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Historical flags
Pre-colonial states
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:ListFlag | 1206–1352 | Flag of the Delhi Sultanate according to the Catalan Atlas (1375) | A dark grey flag with a black strip left of centre. |
| Template:ListFlag | 1576–1717 | Flag of the Mughals (Bengal Subah) | Mughal Empire Alam flag that was primarily moss green.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Failed verification |
| Template:ListFlag | 1717–1757 | Flag of the Bengal Nawab | A white flag with three red barrels and a red sword.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
British India and independence
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:ListFlag | 1858–1947 | The official state flag of the British Empire for use in India | The Flag of the United Kingdom. |
| Template:ListFlag | 1885–1947 | Flag of the Viceroy of India | The Union Jack with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India beneath the Imperial Crown of India. |
| Template:ListFlag | 1880–1947 | Flag of the British Raj: A civilian flag used to represent British India internationally. | A Red Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly. |
| Template:ListFlag | −1947 | Flag of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal Presidency, later Bengal Province) | A Blue Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Bengal Presidency Emblem displayed in the fly. |
| Template:ListFlag | 1947–1971 | Flag of Pakistan | Green flag with a white crescent and star on it, and a white strip to its left. See List of Pakistani flags for more. |
| Template:ListFlag | March – December 1971 | Flag of Mukti Bahini (Liberation Forces) | A flag with a red background, a white disk and a hand holding a rifle- bayonet in the middle. |
| Template:ListFlag | 1971–1972 | Flag of Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, used after independence too. In recent years often used during protests as a legacy symbol of the original vision of the country during the liberation war. | A flag with a green background, a red disk and a yellow map of the country in the middle<ref name="fotw" /> |
| Template:ListFlag | 1971–1972 | Reverse of flag of Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, used after independence too. | A flag with a green background, a red disk and a yellow map of the country in the middle<ref name="fotw" /> |
| Template:ListFlag | 1972–present | National flag of Bangladesh | A red disc on top of a green field, offset slightly toward the hoist.<ref name="CIAfactbook-1" /> |
See also
References
External links
Template:Asia topic Template:Symbols of Bangladesh Template:Bangladesh topics