Bangladesh

People's Republic of Bangladesh

republicIndependence 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

Bangladesh as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 77 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDhaka

Area144,000 km2

LocationSouth Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded

Populationas each edition published it

122.25 million July 1993 est. · 118.43m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.35% 1993 est. · 0.91% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

54.7 years 1993 est. · 75.2 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.55 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

109.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 136 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$200 $8,500 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

3.8% 4.2% in 2025

Geography

South Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded | by India

13 fields

Land useshare of 144,000 km2

arable land 67%permanent crops 2%meadows and pastures 4%forest and woodland 16%other 11%irrigated 27,380 km2 (1989)

Area

144,000km2

land area: 133,910 km2comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Coastline

580km

contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: up to outer limits of continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

4,246km

total · Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Location

South Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded by India

International disputes

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

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Environment

vulnerable to droughts;
much of country routinely flooded during summer monsoon season;
overpopulation;
deforestation

People

14 fields

Population

122,254,849

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.35% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

35.41Death

11.94Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years54.7

55 · 54.38

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy35%

47% · 22%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force

35.1million

by occupation: agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry and commerce 11% (FY86)note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

Infant mortality rate

109.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective:: Bangladesh

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

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

Government

Republic

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form:: Bangladesh
former:: East Pakistan

64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah, Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur, Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira, Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail, Thakurgaon

Independence

16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

Constitution

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended NA March 1991

Legal system

based on English common law

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

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), Ali KHAN;
Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK;
National Awami Party (Muzaffar);
Workers Party, leader NA;
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;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed;
United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

National Parliament:: last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, BCP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
President:: last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur Rahman (since 20 March 1991)

Member of

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WCL, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Abul AHSAN
chancery:: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: (202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate general:: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador William B. MILAM
embassy:: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address:: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
telephone:: [880] (2) 884700-22
FAX:: [880] (2) 883648

Flag

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

Economy

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least | developed nations.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$200

(FY92)

Real growth rate

3.8%

(FY92)industrial production growth: growth rate 4.0% (FY92 est.); accounts for less than 10% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

5.09%

(FY92)

External debt

$11.8billion

(FY92 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.5 billionExpenditures

$3.7 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)

Overview

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, government interference with the economy, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, a low level of industrialization, failure to fully exploit energy resources (natural gas), and inefficient and inadequate power supplies.

An excellent rice crop and expansion of the export garment industry helped growth in FY91/92. Policy reforms intended to reduce government regulation of private industry and promote public-sector efficiency have been announced but are being implemented only slowly.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $23.8 billion (FY92)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$2.0 billion (FY92)

commodities:: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners:: US 28%, Western Europe 39% (FY91)

Imports

$3.4 billion (FY91/92)

commodities:: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
partners:: Japan 10.0%, Western Europe 17%, US 5.0% (FY91)

Electricity

2,400,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for about 40% of GDP, 60% of employment, and one-fifth of exports;
imports 10% of food grain requirements;
world's largest exporter of jute;
commercial products - jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk, poultry;
shortages include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton;
fish catch 778,000 metric tons in 1986

Illicit drugs

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $11.65 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5 billion