National Emblem of Bangladesh

The National Emblem of Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশের জাতীয় প্রতীক Bangladesher Jatiyô Pratik) is a national emblem of the People's Republic of Bangladesh which is used by the Government of Bangladesh and its agencies. The emblem appears on official government documents and currency.

The emblem was adopted shortly after independence in 1971. In the centre is a water lily, that is bordered on two sides by rice sheaves. Above the water lily are four stars and three connected jute leaves. The water lily is the country's national flower, and is representative of the many rivers that run through Bangladesh. Rice represents its presence as the staple food of Bangladesh, and for the agriculture of that nation. The four stars symbolise the four founding principles of the Republic that were enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh: nationalism, socialism, democracy, secularism.

The details of the emblem are inscribed in the constitution:

"প্রজাতন্ত্রের জাতীয় প্রতীক হইতেছে উভয় পার্শ্বে ধান্যশীর্ষবেষ্টিত, পানিতে ভাসমান জাতীয় পুষ্প শাপলা, তাহার শীর্ষদেশে পাটগাছের তিনটি পরস্পর-সংযুক্ত পত্র, তাহার উভয় পার্শ্বে দুইটি করিয়া তারকা৷"

"The national emblem of the Republic is the national flower Shapla (Nymphaea nouchali) resting on water, having on each side an ear of paddy and being surmounted by three connected leaves of jute with two stars on each side of the leaves."