Bangladesh — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Bangladesh Post Office (বাংলাদেশ ডাক বিভাগ) is Bangladesh’s national postal operator. Bangladesh’s creation in 1971 through a liberation war against Pakistan — one of the 20th century’s most brutal conflicts, with an estimated 300,000 to 3 million killed — produced some of philately’s most historically powerful stamps. Bangladesh’s first stamps, issued from Calcutta during the liberation struggle, are genuine documents of a nation’s birth under fire. Post-liberation Bangladesh has produced stamps reflecting the nation’s culture, the Royal Bengal tiger, and the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

Notable Stamp Issues

Bangladesh’s first stamps, issued 29 July 1971 while the liberation war was ongoing, were produced in India (Calcutta) for the Bangladesh government in exile — among history’s few genuine wartime stamps of a government fighting for existence. These are among the most historically significant first issues of any nation. The 1972 first stamps of the independent republic depicted the liberation struggle. Post-war stamps feature the Bangla language (spoken by the most speakers of any non-colonial language), the Royal Bengal Tiger, Shat Gombuj Mosque (UNESCO heritage), and Bangladesh’s river delta landscape.

Collecting Tips

Scott Asia catalogue covers Bangladeshi stamps. The 1971 liberation stamps from Calcutta are the premier collector items — authenticity should be verified. Bangladesh’s 1972–1980 stamps document post-war recovery. The Royal Bengal Tiger appears frequently — popular with wildlife collectors. Sundarbans mangrove forest stamps attract environmental thematic collectors. Bangladesh rickshaw art stamps are unique to Bangladeshi philately. Liberation war anniversary stamps are important historical commemoratives issued regularly.

Part of the Asia Postal Directory.