*Bangladesh, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded
  by India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  144,000 km2
 land area:
  133,910 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
  total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
  580 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:
  up to outer limits of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
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
Natural resources:
  natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  67%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  16%
 other:
  11%
Irrigated land:
  27,380 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely flooded during summer
  monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation

*Bangladesh, People

Population:
  122,254,849 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.41 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  109.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.7 years
 male:
  55 years
 female:
  54.38 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.55 children born/woman (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
Languages:
  Bangla (official), English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  35%
 male:
  47%
 female:
  22%
Labor force:
  35.1 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry and commerce 11% (FY86)
 note:
  extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

*Bangladesh, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  People's Republic of Bangladesh
 conventional short form:
  Bangladesh
 former:
  East Pakistan
Digraph:
  BG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Dhaka
Administrative divisions:
  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)

*Bangladesh, Government

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

*Bangladesh, Economy

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)
National product real growth rate:
  3.8% (FY92)
National product per capita:
  $200 (FY92)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.09% (FY92)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY92)
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)
External debt:
  $11.8 billion (FY92 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.0% (FY92 est.); accounts for less than 10% of GDP
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
Currency:
  1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise

*Bangladesh, Economy

Exchange rates:
  taka (Tk) per US$1 - 39.000 (January 1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991),
  34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989), 31.733 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Bangladesh, Communications

Railroads:
  2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km 1.676 meter broad
  gauge
Highways:
  7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved
Inland waterways:
  5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo
  routes)
Pipelines:
  natural gas 1,220 km
Ports:
  Chittagong, Chalna
Merchant marine:
  42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 314,228 GRT/461,607 DWT; includes 34
  cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  16
 usable:
  12
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:   6
Telecommunications:
  adequate international radio communications and landline service; fair
  domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast service; 241,250
  telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
  satellite earth stations

*Bangladesh, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
 paramilitary forces:
  Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Defense Parties,
  National Cadet Corps
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 30,909,597; fit for military service 18,348,702 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $355 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY92/93)