The ancient history of Bangladesh is fragmentary in nature mainly due to a lack of records and adequate research. Between 321 BC and 750 AD it was pan of three Buddhist Empires: Maurya (321 BC-185 BC), Gupta (320-499 AD) and Harsha (606-647 AD).

The Pala dynasty directly ruled Bengal during 750-1150 AD under the Buddhist King Gopala until he was subjugated by the Hindu Sen dynasty. The rule of the Sen dynasty witnessed large scale persecution of the Buddhists and as a result Buddhism was largely replaced by the Brahmanic Hinduism in Bengal.

It was about this time that Muslim traders from the Arabian peninsula used to visit its ports and a process of preaching Islam ensued. The first Muslim invasion from the west took place in 1204 AD making way for the founding of a semi-independent Sultanate in this part.

Today, Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim country in the world with 88 percent of its 126 million people being Muslims, The Hindus constitute about 10 percent and the rest are mostly Buddhists, Christians and tribals. Over 98 percent of the people speak Bangla.

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