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In 2007, on 6th October, the World Palliative Care Day, the Palliative Care Service was formally acknowledged by the only Medical University of the country based on an concept paper submitted and approved earlier. The service was initiated by a group of interested and committed doctors and nurses. This group had completed their Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Medicine & Nursing in the Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kerala, India during the period 2005 to 2007.

Bangladesh
A sovereign country located in the northeastern part of South Asia. Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, it is surrounded almost entirely by India on three sides with a small corridor to Myanmar to the South-east. The expanse of the Bay of Bengal lies due south.

Background :
The Moguls ruled the country from the 13th century until the 18th century, when the British took over and administered the subcontinent until 1947. During the British rule, Bangladesh was a part of India. In 1947, the independent states of Pakistan and India were created. The present territory was part of Pakistan. The country emerged on the world map as a sovereign state on march 26, 1971 after fighting a nine month war of liberation.

Demography:
A country with an area of 1, 47,570sq.km, (roughly the size of England) with a total population of 150 million it is now Asia’s 5th and worlds 8th populous country & the most densely populated (952/km2) one in the world. One third of the population is under 15 years of age, 63 percent are aged 15 -64 years and 4% are aged 65 or older. By geography rural population is

76.6% of the total population. Urbanization has, however, been rapid in last few decades.

Economy :
The wealth, whatever it has, is very in homogenously distributed. Approximately half of the population live below national poverty line (41.3% < I US $ a day & 84 % < 2 $ a day) Life expectancy at birth is 63 years. 30 % of the population remains undernourished. Region, occupation, shelter, land , education , health and clothing. The average literacy rate is 54 per cent. Average life expectancy is 63 years. The crude death rate is 5.6 . The national language of Bangladesh is bangle which is spoken and understood by all.

For administrative purpose the country is divided into 6 divisions, 64 districts, and 496 upozillas ( subdistricts).