It declared itself as independent in 1971 from Pakistan after a liberation war in which over a million people died. After Indian military intervention, the provisional government returned from exile in Calcutta, Bengal (India). After the Instrument of Surrender, the Bengali peoples became a sovereign nation. Its founder was released from political imprisonment in 1972. Present day Bangladesh has an area of 57,320 mi² or (142,576 km²). It is slightly smaller than the Indian state of Orissa. It ranks 92 out of 195 sovereign countries by area.