Bangla has commonly been assumed to be an SOV wh -in-situ language. Here it is suggested that both of these characterizations are incorrect and that Bangla actually has obligatory overt wh -movement from a basic SVO word order. This is disguised by a conspiracy of factors but revealed in restrictions on wh -scope and certain apparently optional word order possibilities with complement clauses. Adopting a different perspective on the SOV status of Bangla allows for a simple explanation of the patterns observed and raises the possibility that other “ wh -in-situ” languages may also have (obligatory) overt wh -movement.