General Knowledge (Write only the correct answer. Do not write the whole sentence)

Southeastern Bengal (primarily Comilla and Noakhali districts in modern Bangladesh)

Samatatia (or Samatata) was one of the most prominent ancient Janapadas (kingdoms or administrative divisions) of Bengal. It was geographically located in the southeastern part of ancient Bengal.

Its territory encompassed regions that today correspond mainly to the Comilla and Noakhali districts of Bangladesh, extending towards the Meghna River in the west and the sea in the south. The region was known for its maritime trade and agricultural prosperity.

Historically, Samatatia emerged as an independent kingdom after the decline of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century AD. Its capital was often identified with Devaparvata, which many historians associate with the archaeological site of Mainamati in Comilla. Various dynasties, including the Khadgas, Devas, and Chandras, ruled over Samatatia, contributing significantly to its distinct cultural and political identity until the Sena dynasty period.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has been amended 17 times since its adoption in 1972. The 17th amendment was passed in 2018. This amendment extended the provision for reserving 50 seats for women in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) for another 25 years. Other notable amendments include the First Amendment (which provided for the trial of war criminals), the Fifth Amendment (which legitimized all martial law proclamations and actions from 1975 onwards, later declared illegal), and the Twelfth Amendment (which reverted the country to a parliamentary form of government from a presidential one).

Somalia has faced severe humanitarian crises, including widespread famine, multiple times due to prolonged droughts, conflict, and economic instability. While famine declarations are technically made based on specific mortality, malnutrition, and food insecurity thresholds, Somalia has frequently been identified as a country experiencing extreme food insecurity conditions in recent years, often teetering on the brink of or experiencing famine in specific regions.

Other African nations like South Sudan, Ethiopia, and parts of the Sahel region (including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali) also face critical levels of food insecurity and humanitarian emergencies, exacerbated by climate change, internal displacement, and ongoing conflicts. International organizations continuously monitor these situations and provide aid to the affected populations.

BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is an intergovernmental organization of five major emerging economies. During its 15th summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023, the bloc announced a historic expansion. Initially, six countries were invited to join, but Argentina later withdrew its acceptance.

Consequently, five new countries officially became full members of BRICS on January 1, 2024: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, and Ethiopia. This expansion is significant as it nearly doubles the group's membership and aims to enhance the bloc's economic and geopolitical influence, especially in the context of global south cooperation and de-dollarization efforts.

The Bangladesh cricket team achieved their historic first Test series victory against Pakistan in 2015. The two-match series was played in Bangladesh. After drawing the first Test in Khulna, Bangladesh secured a comprehensive 355-run victory in the second Test match held in Dhaka, thereby clinching the series 1-0. This landmark achievement was part of a highly successful home series for Bangladesh, where they also won the ODI series 3-0 and the lone T20I match against Pakistan.