Now belatedly benefiting from their independence won in 1971, Bangladesh was exploited for centuries, and became the source of anti-British movements, including the Mutiny of 1857. Urch presents its basic history in 11 chapters arranged chronologically from 2000 BC to 2008 AD, covering the rise and fall of early kingdoms; the British arrival in Bengal; the Raj; Partition; revolt; independence; corruption; more revolt; and the present situation. He elucidates the country's complexities vis-a-vis language, religion, administration, politics, and education, including the politics of skin color, and explains how the western concept of democracy does not necessarily comport with Bangladeshi ideas of democracy, particularly in light of Bengal's long-time affair with communism. There are 16 pages of black-and-white photographs, and multiple maps of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in various time periods, as well as appendixes, and bibliography. Distributed by International Publishers Marketing, Inc. Previously unavailable in the U.S. Annotation ©2014 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)