2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.1% (male 24,255,300; female 23,007,632) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 44,261,739; female 42,281,331) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,506,606; female 2,135,602) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Airports

18 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total

15

under 914 m

6 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2002) Military Bangladesh

Area

land

133,910 sq km

total

144,000 sq km

water

10,090 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Iowa

Background

Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. Geography Bangladesh

Birth rate

29.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)

revenues

$4.9 billion

Capital

Dhaka

Climate

tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Coastline

580 km

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form

People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form

Bangladesh

former

East Pakistan

Currency

taka (BDT)

Currency code

BDT

Death rate

8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$16.5 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS

embassy

Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212

mailing address

G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

telephone

[880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles and New York

Disputes - international

discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, demarcate and fence the porous land boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade and violence; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty Island in the Bay of Bengal prevents maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.6 (FY 95/96)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.575 billion (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas.

Electricity - consumption

14.25 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

15.33 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

93.7%

hydro

6.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Keokradong 1,230 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)

Exchange rates

taka per US dollar - 57.89 (2002), 55.81 (2001), 52.14 (2000), 49.09 (1999), 46.91 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president

chief of state

President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections

election results

Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%

elections

president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001)

Exports

$6.2 billion (2002)

Exports - commodities

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood (2001)

Exports - partners

US 27.6%, Germany 10.4%, UK 9.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5366

[880] (2) 8823744

chancery

3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 244-0183

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Bangladesh

Flag description

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam Economy Bangladesh

GDP

purchasing power parity - $238.2 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

35%

industry

19%

services

46% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Geography - note

most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing

from the Himalayas

the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal People Bangladesh

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved

19,773 km

total

207,486 km

unpaved

187,713 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

650 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.6% (1995-96 est.)

lowest 10%

3.9%

Illicit drugs

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$8.5 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)

Imports - partners

India 14.6%, China 11.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Japan 7.6%, Hong Kong 5.4%, South Korea 4.3% (2002)

Independence

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2002 est.)

Industries

cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Infant mortality rate

female

64.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

67.21 deaths/1,000 live births

total

66.08 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.bd

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2000)

Internet users

150,000 (2002) Transportation Bangladesh

Irrigated land

38,440 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)

Labor force

64.1 million

note

extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY 95/96)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

total

4,246 km

Land use

arable land

60.7%

other

36.69% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.61%

Languages

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms

election results

percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 46%, AL 42%; seats by party - BNP 191, AL 62, JI 18, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Naziur)

elections

last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

61.2 years (2003 est.)

male

61.46 years

total population

61.33 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

31.8% (2003 est.) Government Bangladesh

male

53.9%

total population

43.1%

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

Median age

female

21.1 years (2002)

male

21.2 years

total

21.2 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 2, cargo 23, container 11, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2002 est.)

total

40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 314,437 GRT/436,465 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$559 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY96) Transnational Issues Bangladesh

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

38,436,912 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

22,807,339 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Nationality

adjective

Bangladeshi

noun

Bangladeshi(s)

Natural gas - consumption

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

150.3 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Net migration rate

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

28.45 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 2,016 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

138,448,210 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

35.6% (FY 95/96 est.)

Population growth rate

2.06% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj

Radio broadcast stations

AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

6.15 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

884 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge

1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

2,706 km

Religions

Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities

general assessment

totally inadequate for a modern country

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)

Telephones - main lines in use

500,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

283,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

15 (1999)

Televisions

770,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Total fertility rate

3.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)

Waterways

up to 8,046 km depending on season

note

includes 3,058 km main cargo routes