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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

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

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 31,795,848 males fit for military service: 18,814,818 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

249,800 (1994 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

350,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.8 billion expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY92/93)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $1.099 billion (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

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 [time series]

capacity: 2,740,000 kW production: 9.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

$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.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$15.7 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$1,130 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

4.6% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Imports [time series]

$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 [time series]

8.5% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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 [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 144,000 sq km land area: 133,910 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

580 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

27,380 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 67% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 16% other: 11%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

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 [time series]

natural gas, arable land, timber

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet

Capital [time series]

Dhaka

Constitution [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[880] (2) 883-744

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Bangla (official), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.86 years male: 56.02 years female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 38.1% male: 49.4% female: 26.1%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.85% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 15 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 13,627 km paved: 8,546 km unpaved: 5,081 km (1992)

Merchant marine [time series]

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.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 1,220 km

Ports [time series]

Chittagong, Dhaka, Chalna Port (Mongla)

Railways [time series]

total: 2,892 km broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)

Waterways [time series]

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