Bangladesh
People's Republic of Bangladesh
republicIndependence 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
Bangladesh as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between | Burma and India
14 fieldsLand useshare of 144,000 sq km
International disputes
a portion of the boundary with India 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
- lowest point:
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- Reng Tlang 957 m
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
- natural hazards:
- droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
- 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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
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.)
Sex ratio
- 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
- all ages:
- 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Republic; President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991) was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN (since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under Legislative branch entry)
20 fieldsName of country
- conventional long form:
- People's Republic of Bangladesh
- conventional short form:
- Bangladesh
- former:
- East Pakistan
Administrative divisions
4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet
Constitution
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Executive branch
- 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)
- cabinet:
- Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April 1996
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
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
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Humayun KABIR
- chancery:
- 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376
- consulate(s) general:
- Los Angeles and New York
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
Flag
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
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.
21 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 2,740,000 kW
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.
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.)
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.)
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)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 15 in all
Networkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes | Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village | Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
9 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- poor domestic telephone service
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 31,795,848
- males fit for military service:
- 18,814,818 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bangladesh.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bangladesh/1996.