The Secret History Behind Bangladesh's Flag
Bangladesh's red disc is off-center on purpose.
The flag is based on the one used during the Liberation War of 1971, designed by Quamrul Hassan. That flag had a yellow map of the country inside the red disc. The map was removed when the flag was officially adopted on January 17, 1972.
The disc sits slightly toward the hoist so that it looks centered when the flag flies in the wind. The red represents the sun rising over Bengal and the blood of those who died for independence, and the dark green represents the lush vegetation of the land.
The date printed on every Bangladesh design in our catalog, March 26, 1971, is Independence Day.
A disc placed for the wind, and a map that was kept in memory.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.