1996 Edition

Description

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Location

24 00 N, 90 00 E -- Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

land area

133,910 sq km

total area

144,000 sq km

Climate

tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Coastline

580 km

Environment

current issues

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season

Geographic coordinates

24 00 N, 90 00 E

International disputes

a portion of the boundary with India in dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges

Irrigated land

27,380 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

total

4,246 km

Land use

arable land

67%

forest and woodland

16%

meadows and pastures

4%

other

11%

permanent crops

2%

Location

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

up to the outer limits of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

natural gas, arable land, timber

Terrain

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

highest point

Reng Tlang 957 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359) 15-64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628) 65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

30.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

11.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million

Infant mortality rate

102.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Bangla (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.69 years (1996 est.)

male

56.02 years

total population

55.86 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

26.1%

male

49.4%

total population

38.1%

Nationality

adjective

Bangladesh

noun

Bangladeshi(s)

Net migration rate

-0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.85% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other

Sex ratio

all ages

1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi

note

there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet

Capital

Dhaka

Constitution

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Data code

BG

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Humayun KABIR

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles and New York

telephone

[1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376

Executive branch

cabinet

Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April 1996

chief of state

President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991) was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote

head of government

Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN (since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under Legislative branch entry)

FAX

[880] (2) 883-744

Flag

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Independence

16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other judges are appointed by the president

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form

Bangladesh

former

East Pakistan

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)

elections last held 15 February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but, under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime Minister ZIAur RAHMAN

Political parties and leaders

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN; Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR; Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador David N. MERRILL

embassy

Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka

mailing address

G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000; Dhaka 1212

telephone

[880] (2) 884700 through 884722

Agriculture

jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; beef, milk, poultry

Budget

expenditures

$4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY92/93)

revenues

$2.8 billion

Currency

1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $1.099 billion (1993)

Economic overview

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in recent years from a low base. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power supplies, and, most recently, political disturbances. In 1995, progress on Bangladesh's development agenda has been slowed by frequent political unrest before and after national elections in early 1996. Opposition parties have challenged the government's authority by resigning from Parliament and sponsoring numerous countrywide strikes that have crippled transport, hindered business activity, and threatened to slow economic growth in 1996.

Electricity

capacity

2,740,000 kW

consumption per capita

70 kWh (1993)

production

9.2 billion kWh

Exchange rates

taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.933 (January 19965), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991)

Exports

$2.7 billion (1995 est.)

commodities

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp

partners

US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%) (FY91/92 est.)

External debt

$15.7 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $144.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$1,130 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.6% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Imports

$4.7 billion (1995 est.)

commodities

capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles

partners

Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1% (FY91/92 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (1995 est.)

Industries

jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel, fertilizer

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force

50.1 million

by occupation

agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining 14% (1989)

note

extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $481 million, 1.7% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

31,795,848

males fit for military service

18,814,818 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

poor domestic telephone service

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries

Telephones

249,800 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

11

Televisions

350,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

15

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

4

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

2

with paved runways under 914 m

6 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

8,546 km

total

13,627 km

unpaved

5,081 km (1992)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1995 est.)

total

37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWT

Pipelines

natural gas 1,220 km

Ports

Chittagong, Dhaka, Chalna Port (Mongla)

Railways

broad gauge

978 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge

1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)

total

2,892 km

Waterways

5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)