Bangladesh’s flag (adopted 17 January 1972) is a dark‑green field with a red disc slightly offset toward the hoist. Green signifies the land’s fertility, youth, and hope; the red disc the rising sun and the blood of martyrs in the Liberation War. The original 1971 resistance flag included a yellow map inside the disc; this was removed for reproducibility and clarity. Proportions are 3:5 with strict placement and diameter rules. Protocol covers precedence, half‑masting, and dignified retirement, and the flag is central to observances on Independence Day (26 March) and Victory Day (16 December).
Bangladesh’s national flag emerged out of the country’s struggle for independence in 1971, translating a hard‑won sovereignty into a clear and compelling geometry: a red disc for the sun and sacrifice, set on a dark‑green field for the vitality of the land.
Origins in the Independence Movement In late March 1971, student leaders and activists in Dhaka crafted a resistance emblem: a green field charged with a red disc, within which a yellow silhouette of the territory was sewn. The design was hoisted ahead of formal declarations, functioning as the standard of the burgeoning liberation movement. Portable and distinctive, it served on banners, arm patches, and improvised cloth in the hands of the Mukti Bahini and civilian supporters throughout the war.
War, Victory, and Institutionalization Following months of armed and civil resistance, Bangladesh achieved victory in December 1971. Very quickly, officials turned to standardizing the national symbols for diplomatic and domestic administration. On 17 January 1972, the government promulgated a refined flag: the yellow map was removed from the red disc to resolve issues of accuracy and reproducibility across scales and materials. The simplified composition—green field and red disc—was retained; green, for the land’s fecundity and the optimism of a youthful nation; red, for the rising sun and for the blood shed in the struggle for independence.
Design
Specifications Statutes fix the aspect ratio at 3:5 and specify the red disc’s size and offset. The disc’s diameter equals one‑fifth of the flag’s length; its center is set slightly toward the hoist to compensate optically when the flag flies. Prescribed color references ensure consistent production for official use. These technical details enable a uniform emblem at embassies, schools, ministries, and military installations.
Symbolism
and Public Meaning The flag’s green field evokes the alluvial plains, forests, and agricultural richness that underpin the country’s life and culture, as well as hope for the future. The red disc symbolizes the morning sun—renewal and a new beginning—and memorializes the lives lost in the Liberation War. The composition’s clarity makes it legible at distance and memorable in form.
Protocol
and Etiquette Government guidance prescribes respectful handling, sunrise‑to‑sunset display, and precedence among flags. Half‑masting is ordered during national mourning; worn flags are to be retired with dignity. The banner is ubiquitous on Independence Day (26 March) and Victory Day (16 December), at public ceremonies, state funerals, and civic parades, and it figures prominently in education about the nation’s founding.
Continuity
Since 1972 The 1972 refinement is the only significant design change; the flag’s core symbolism and construction have remained constant. The mapless disc established a bold, timeless image that works across print, fabric, and digital contexts, strengthening recognition at home and abroad. As Bangladesh grows and modernizes, the flag endures as a succinct emblem of sacrifice, natural vitality, and forward‑looking resolve.