2006 Edition

Administrative divisions

6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894) 15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

16 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

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

total

15

under 914 m

5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Area

land

133,910 sq km

total

144,000 sq km

water

10,090 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Iowa

Background

Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. Geography Bangladesh

Bangladesh Defense Force

Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2006)

Birth rate

29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$8.598 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

revenues

$5.993 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

23 43 N, 90 25 E

name

Dhaka

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Bengal, East Pakistan

local long form

Gana Prajatantri Banladesh

local short form

Banladesh

Currency (code)

taka (BDT)

Currency code

BDT

Current account balance

$37 million (2005 est.)

Death rate

8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$20.63 billion (2005 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS

embassy

Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212

mailing address

G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

telephone

[880] (2) 885-5500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Shamsher Mobin CHOWDHURY

telephone

[1] (202) 244-0183

Disputes - international

discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh resists India's attempts to fence or wall off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint Bangladesh-India boundary inspection in 2005 revealed 92 pillars are missing; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.8 (2000)

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 inefficiently-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. 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. One

encouraging note

growth has been a steady 5% for the past several years.

Electricity - consumption

16.2 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

17.42 billion kWh (2003)

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, 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 - 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.807 (2001)

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 (eligible for a second 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 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

$9.372 billion (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 23.6%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.4%, France 6.4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5366

[880] (2) 882-3744

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Bangladesh

Flag description

green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh Economy Bangladesh

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

19.9%

industry

19.8%

services

60.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$63.56 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$305.9 billion (2005 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

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%

IDPs

61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2005)

Illicit drugs

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Imports

$12.97 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 14.1%, China 13.5%, Kuwait 8.5%, Singapore 6.2%, Japan 4.1%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2005)

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

6.7% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

59.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

61.87 deaths/1,000 live births

total

60.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ARF, AsDB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.bd

Internet hosts

469 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2000)

Internet users

300,000 (2005) Transportation Bangladesh

Investment (gross fixed)

24.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Irrigated land

47,250 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

66.6 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 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

63%

industry

11%

services

26% (FY95/96)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

total

4,246 km

Land use

arable land

55.39%

other

41.53% (2005)

permanent crops

3.08%

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 41%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)

elections

last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held no later than January 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

62.45 years (2006 est.)

male

62.47 years

total population

62.46 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

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2005)

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

leptospirosis

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

35,170,019 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

26,841,255 (2005 est.)

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

22.2 years (2006 est.)

male

22.2 years

total

22.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, cargo 29, container 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3

foreign-owned

1 (China 1)

registered in other countries

10 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Comoros 1, Malta 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 1) (2006)

total

42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 341,733 GRT/485,840 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.01 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Bangladesh

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2005)

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

11.9 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.9 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

300.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

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

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

84,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

6,825 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves

28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 2,604 km (2006)

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]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

147,365,352 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

45% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.09% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Chittagong, Mongla Port Military Bangladesh

Public debt

44.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios

6.15 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

946 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge

1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

total

2,768 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

20,402 (Burma)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.825 billion (2005 est.)

Roadways

paved

22,726 km

total

239,226 km

unpaved

216,500 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.16 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

country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.07 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

15 (1999)

Televisions

770,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Total fertility rate

3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.5% (includes underemployment) (2005 est.)

Waterways

8,372 km

note

includes 5,635 km main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in dry season (2005)