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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bd

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

243,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities international: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

740,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.365 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

15 (1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.352 billion expenditures: $7.55 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

taka (BDT)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

BDT

Current account balance [time series]

$393 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$18.06 billion (2003)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

33.6 (FY95/96)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$1.575 billion (2000 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the past several years.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

14.25 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

15.33 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

taka per US dollar - 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.8067 (2001), 52.1417 (2000), 49.0854 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$6.713 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 23.9%, Germany 13.6%, UK 9.7%, France 5.9% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $258.8 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 21.7% industry: 26.6% services: 51.7% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)

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

5.3% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)

Imports [time series]

$9.459 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

India 15.4%, China 11.3%, Singapore 10.8%, Japan 5.9%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.9% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

23.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

64.02 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 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

150.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

35.6% (FY95/96 est.)

Public debt [time series]

43.3% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$2.624 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 144,000 sq km land: 133,910 sq km water: 10,090 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Iowa

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

580 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

38,440 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 62.11% permanent crops: 3.07% other: 34.82% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS, Jr. embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500 FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

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 head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president 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 election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, 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, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 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 elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, 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 (Manzur)

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$606.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 39,523,128 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 23,441,482 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33.5% (male 24,359,149; female 23,013,811) 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 45,557,963; female 43,626,950) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,575,519; female 2,207,084) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.03 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

650 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

13,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 64.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 65.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 61.71 years male: 61.8 years female: 61.61 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 43.1% male: 53.9% female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.5 years male: 21.5 years female: 21.5 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladeshi

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

141,340,476 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.08% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.15 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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, 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/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

16 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 15 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 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 207,486 km paved: 19,773 km unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWT by type: bulk 2, cargo 24, container 10, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: China 1, Singapore 9 registered in other countries: 10 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 2,012 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj

Railways [time series]

total: 2,706 km broad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

8,372 km note: includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004)