Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan (Bangladesh had to that point been called East Pakistan) in 1971, and soon afterwards issued its first set of stamps. At first Bangladeshi postage stamps used the Pakistani currency (1 rupee = 100 paisa), but from 1972 used its own, new units (1 taka = 100 poisha).
Bangladesh has issued several commemorative stamps in the years since independence, many of which are aimed at the international collectors’ market. However, Bangladesh stamps tend to feature local subjects — people and scenes and events specific to Bangladesh.
There are maximum cards, souvenir sheets, and an array of collectible covers to choose from from Bangladesh, in addition to a range of unhinged Bangladesh stamps, full sheets, et cetera; also, the country used overprinted official stamps (with ‘SERVICE’ in English and in Bengali) at various times, and many collectors hunt for these special stamps as well.
More: Afghanistan unofficial stamps 1996-2001 for philatelists
See the current selection of Bangladeshi stamps for sale in this section. See also nearby stamps of India.
Note that, at various times, the name of the country has been rendered slightly differently on postage stamps — sometimes as one word, Bangladesh, and sometimes as two words, Bangla Desh. Virtually all Bangladeshi postage stamps also feature the Bengali script.
