The
history of Bangladesh as a nation state began in 1971, when it seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh was part of ancient, classical, medieval and colonial India.
The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Islam
made its first appearance between the 8th-10th centuries when Muslim
missionaries arrived. Later, Muslim rulers reinforced the process of
conversion by building mosques, madrassas and Sufi Khanqah.
The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became East Pakistan, part of the newly formed Islamic State of Pakistan. However, it was separated from the western wing
by 1,600 km (994 mi) of Indian territory. Due to political exclusion,
ethnic and linguistic discrimination, as well as economic neglect by the
politically dominant West Pakistan, popular agitation led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman grew against West Pakistan, resulting in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, which the Bengali people won with the support of India. After independence, the new state endured famine, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm and economic progress.
Cox's Bazar is a town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is known for its wide and long sandy beach which is considered by many as the world's longest natural sandy sea beach,
The beach in Cox' Bazar is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a
gentle slope. It is located 150 km south of the industrial port Chittagong.
Cox’s Bazar is also known by the name "Panowa", whose literal
translation means "yellow flower." Its other old name was "Palongkee".
The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox (died 1799), an officer serving in British India. An officer of the British East India Company, Captain Cox was appointed Superintendent of Palongkee outpost after Warren Hastings became Governor of Bengal.
Captain Cox was specially mobilised to deal with a century-long
conflict between Arakan refugees and local Rakhains. He embarked upon
the mammoth task of rehabilitating refugees in the area and made
significant progress. A premature death took Captain Cox in 1799 before
he could finish his work. To commemorate his role in rehabilitation work
a market was established and named after him Cox's Bazar ("Cox's
Market").
