Bangladesh

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Basic Facts

Official Name:  The People's Republic of Bangladesh  
 
Form of Government:

Parliamentary form of government headed by the Prime Minister. The President is the constitutional head of the State. 
 
Boundaries:
 
North: India (West Bengal & Meghalaya); West: India (West Bengal); East: India (Tripura & Assam) and Myanmar; South: Bay of Bengal.
 
Area: 147,570 sq km (Territorial waters - 12 nautical miles)
 
Capital: Dhaka (Metropolitan area 522 sq km) 
 
Standard Time:  GMT + 6 hours 
 
Climate:

Sub-tropical monsoon Winter (December-February) Temperature: average maximum
290C, average minimum 110C Summer (April-June) Temperature: average maximum
320C, average minimum 210C
 
Rainfall:  1194 mm to 3454 mm (average during monsoon season, June-August)
 
Humidity:  Highest: 99% (July); Lowest: 36% (December-January)
 
Vegetation:

Grassland, mixed evergreen and evergreen 
 
Population: 142.32 million 
 
Population Growth Rate :  1.34 %

Adult Literacy Rate :  15 years+: 65%
 
Ethnic Groups :  Mixed group of Proto Austroloids/ Dravidians, Mongoloids and Aryans. 
 
Language:  Bangla: 95 % (English is widely spoken)
 
Religion:  Muslim (88.3%), Hindu (10.5%), Buddhist (0.6%), Christian, Others (0.3%) 
 
Food:  Rice, vegetables, pulses, fish and meat
 
Principal Crops:  Rice, wheat, jute, tea, tobacco and sugarcane
 
Principal Rivers:  Padma, Brahmaputra, Jamuna,Meghna, Karnaphuli, Teesta, etc. Total of 230 rivers, including tributaries 
 
Mineral Resources:  Natural gas, limestone, hard rock, coal, lignite, silica sand, white clay, radioactive sand, etc.
 
Human Resources:
 
A substantial manpower reserve; trained and skilled engineers, technicians, physicians, economists, accountants, administrative and managerial personnel; abundance of low-cost, easily trainable and adaptable, hard-working, intelligent and youthful labour force.
 
Official Language:  Bangla  
 
Standard Time:  GMT plus 6 hours
 
Currency:  Taka/TK(US$1=Tk. 75) approx.
  
GDP at Current Price:  US$100 billion
 
GNI Per Capita:  US$664 
 
GDP Growth Rate:  6% 
 
Sectoral Contribution in GDP:

Agriculture 23.46%

Industry 25.62%

Services 50.92%
 
Exports:  US$16.2 billion
 
Imports:  US$ 23.74 billion  
 
Principal Industries:

Jute, tea, textiles, garments, paper, newsprint, fertilizer, leather and leather gods, sugar, cement, fish processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical industries, etc. 
 
Tradtional Export Items:

Raw jute, jute manufactures (Hessian sacking, carpet backing, carpets), jute
products, tea, leather, leather products etc. 
 
Non-Tradtional Export Items:

Garments, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, ICT products, ocean-going ships, frozen shrimps, other fish products, newsprint, paper, naphtha, furnace oil, urea, etc. 
 
Major Imports:  Wheat, oil, seeds, crude petroleum, raw cotton, edible oil, petroleum products, fertilizer, cement, staple fibers, yarn, iron and steel, capital goods, etc. 
 
Major Trading Partners:
 
USA, EU countries, India, China, Japan. Singapore, South Korea, Australia,
Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudia Arabia, UAE.
  
International Airports:  Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka , Chittagong International Airport, Chittagong and Osmani International Airport, Sylhet.
 
Domestic Airports:  Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Thakurgaon, Syedpur, Rajshahi, Jessore and Barisal.
 
Sea Ports:  Chittagong and Mongla.
 
Inland River Ports:  Dhaka, Chanpur, Barisal, Khulna, Bhariab, Narayangonj, Sirajganj etc
 
Employment & Labour Force:

Civilian labour force: 60.3 million

Male: 37.5 million

female 22.8 million

Distribution of labour force:

Agriculture - 62.3%

Industry - 8.3%

Others - 29.40%
 
Principal Rivers:  Ganges/Padma, Brahmaputra/Jamuna, Meghna, Karnaphuli, Teesta, etc. (total 230 rivers including tributaries) 
 
Seasons:  Winter (November-February), Summer (March-June), Monsoon (July-October). 
 
Mineral Resources:  Natural gas, limestone, hard rock, coal, lignite, silica sand, white clay, etc.

Bangladesh History

Remnants of civilization in the greater Bengal region date back four thousand years, when the region was settled by Austro-Asiatic, Dravidian and Tibeto-Burman peoples. The exact origin of the word "Bangla" or "Bengal" is unknown, though it is believed to be derived from Bang (Sanskrit Vanga), the Dravidian-speaking tribe that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.

The Kingdom of Gangaridai was formed from at least the seventh century BC, which later united with Bihar under the Magadha, Nanda, Mauryan and Sunga Empires. Bengal was later part of the Gupta Empire and Harsha Empire from the third to the sixth centuries CE. Following its collapse, a dynamic Bengali named Shashanka founded an impressive yet short-lived kingdom. Shashanka is considered the first independent king in the history of Bangladesh. After a period of anarchy, the Buddhist Pala dynasty ruled the region for four hundred years commonly referred to as the 'Golden Age of Bengal'. This was followed by
a shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty. Islam was introduced to Bengal in the twelfth century by Arab Muslim merchants and Sufi missionaries, and subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region. Bakhtiar Khilji, a Turkic general, defeated Lakshman Sen of the Sena dynasty and conquered large parts of Bengal in the year 1204. The region was ruled by dynasties of Sultans and land lord Bhuiyans for the next few hundred years. By the 16th century, the Mughal Empire controlled Bengal, and Dhaka became an important provincial centre of the Mughal administration.

European traders arrived late in the 15th century, and their influence grew until the British East India Company gained control of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The bloody rebellion of 1857, known as the Sepoy Mutiny, resulted in transfer of authority to the Crown, with a British viceroy running the administration in British India.

Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal
into two zones, with Dhaka made the capital of the eastern zone. When India was
partitioned in 1947, Bengal was partitioned again along religious lines with the western part going to India and the eastern part joining Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), with its capital in Dhaka. Dissatisfaction with the Centre over economic and cultural issues continued to rise even from the days of partition through the 1950s and 1960s, during which the Awami League emerged as the political voice of the Bengalis under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The 6-points
programme launched by Bangabandhu in 1966 crystallised the demand for autonomy
which led to the electoral victory for the Awami League in the first ever general elections in Pakistan in 1970-1971. In the face of the military rulers in Pakistan putting off the summoning of Parliament and handing of power, Bangabandhu made his historic declaration on 7 March, 1971 about the struggle for freedom and the struggle for independence. In the early hours past midnight of 25th March 1971, as the Pakistan Army unleashed its genocide across Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally declared the independence of Bangladesh and directed everyone to fight till the elimination of the last soldier of the Pakistan Army. Awami League leaders set up a provisional government, which formally took oath at Mujib Nagar in Kushtia district inside Bangladesh on 17 April 1971. The War of Liberation that started with the resistance on 26 March lasted for nine months. The Mukti Bahini was made up of Bengali regulars and guerrillas. The war ended in a decisive victory for Bangladesh when the Pakistan Army surrendered to the joint command of Bangladesh-India forces on 16 December 1971.

In January 1975, an indigenous socialist rule under Presidential system was introduced with the formation of BAKSAL by Bangabandhu. On 15 August 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally murdered along with most of his family members by military adventurists and elements opposed to the guiding ethos of our freedom moment. And the tide of history was turned back. A series of bloody coups and counter-coups in the following three months saw the ascent to power of Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman, who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). General Zia's rule ended when he was assassinated in 1981 by elements of the military. Lt. Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad assumed power in a
bloodless coup in 1982 and ruled until 1990, when he was forced to resign under a popular anti-autocratic movement.

Since then, Bangladesh has reverted to a parliamentary democracy with BNP, Awami League and BNP led 4-Party alliance in office during 1991-2006. In the general election held on 29 December 2008, the grand alliance led by the Awami League won with a landslide victory and formed the government on 6 January 2009.

Bangladesh is situated in the north-eastern part of South Asia. It lies between Latitudes 20⁰34' and 26⁰38' North, and Longitudes 88⁰01' and 92⁰41' East. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and the north, and by the Bay of Bengal in the south and a small border strip with Myanmar on the south-east.

The country has a land area of about 1,47,570 square kilometres (56,977 square miles). Its alluvial plains provide fertile agricultural lands. The land-mass is largely a deltaic formation of three mighty rivers - the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, with a network of numerous rivers and canals. Vast green fields are bounded by sub-Himalayan table land in the north-west, and folds of low hills in the north-east and the south-east, with an average
elevation of 244 and 610 metres respectively. The highest point is located in the south-eastern Chittagong Hill Tracts. The soil of Bangladesh may be divided into three main categories, namely hill soil (Chittagong and Sylhet region), terrace soil (Barind and Madhupur tracts) and alluvial and flood plain soil inother parts.

Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate. Its six calendar seasons are climatically
characterized by roughly four periods in a year: cool (December-February), hot (March-May), Monsoon (June-September) and mild (October-November). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 11⁰ C and 29⁰  C in cold months and between 21⁰ C and 34⁰ C during warmer months. Annual rainfall varies from 160 cm to 200 cm in the west, 200 cm to 400 cm in the south-east and 250 cm to 400 cm in the north-east.

The country is luxuriant in vegetation in view of the tropical climate. There are groves of mango, banana, jackfruit, coconut, palm, bamboo, banyan and other flowering, fruit-bearing, timber or fuel-wood plants and trees in the rural areas. Forests cover about 17 percent of the land, most famous being the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world stretching along the country's south, south-western coast and into India. 

Apart from a variety of livestock - farm animals, fowls and pets -  a range of wild animals are found in the forests. Of the 200 species of mammals, the pride of place goes to the Royal Bengal Tiger found in the Sundarbans. Elephants roam in the forests of Chittagong Hill Tracts. There are six main species of deer and bovine animals include buffalo, ox and bison. There are about 150 species of reptiles, and of the 525 recorded species of birds, 350 are resident. Species of marine and fresh water fish total over 200.

Bangladesh Government

Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. Direct elections in which all citizens, aged 18 or over, can vote are held every five years for the unicameral parliament known as Jatiyo Sangsad (election last held on 29 December 2008). The parliament building, the Jatiyo
Sangsad Bhaban, was designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn. Currently, the parliament has 345 members, of whom 300 are elected directly while 45 seats reserved for women are elected by the MPs themselves.

The Prime Minister, as the head of government, forms the Cabinet and runs the day-to-day affairs of the state. While the Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President, he or she must be an MP who commands the confidence of the majority in parliament. The present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been in office since 06 January 2009. The
President is the head of state, elected by the parliament. The present
President Md. Zillur Rahman assumed office on 12 February 2009.

The state has three basic organs, viz. the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The President is the Head of State and is elected by the members of parliament. The executive power of the republic is exercised by or on the advice of the Prime Minister, who commands
the support of the majority members of Parliament. The Supreme Court sits at
the apex of the country's judiciary and consists of the Appellate and the High
Court Divisions.

Separation of the judiciary and the executive has been effected in accordance with the Constitutional provisions. The Government of Bangladesh is run by elected representatives with the aid of a permanent bureaucracy.

The Constitution of Bangladesh was drafted and adopted in 1972 and has undergone fifteenth amendments. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Judges are appointed by the President.

Elections to the country's 481 Upazila (sub district) councils were held after a gap of over two decades on 22 January 2009 with the goal of decentralisation of administration and bringing the administration under the control of elected representatives of the people.

The Constitution of Bangladesh embodies the basic principles of the country's foreign policy. It states that Bangladesh shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for international laws and principles as enunciated in the United Nations' Charter.

Bangladesh People

People of Bangladesh are historically descendants of various races and nationalities. An Austro-Asian race first inhabited this region. Dravidians and Aryans followed these people. There was a sizeable influx of Mongolians from Tibet in China and Myanmar. The Arab Muslims started coming in the early ninth century. Persians, Armenians, Turks, Afghans
and, lastly, the Mughals came in quick succession. Notwithstanding the diverse
racial mix, Bangladesh people, by and large, are a homogenous nation.

The people of Bangladesh are essentially simple in nature. Since time immemorial, they are noted for their valour and resilience as well as hospitality and friendliness. Generally speaking, fish, rice and lentil constitute the main diet of the masses. Women in increasing numbers are joining the country's workforce, both in the formal and informal sectors. Bangla is the official language. English is also used and understood in the urban areas.

The principal resources of the country are the people of Bangladesh, whose innovative mind, resilience and entrepreneurial capacity have engined the nation's growth and forward march. The population currently stands at around 142 million with density per square kilometer being 964. Bangladesh has a young population, with 70% of the population under the age of 25. Around 75 percent of the population lives in the rural areas and 50 percent depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The literacy rate is about 65% and the life expectancy at birth is 68 years. Rice, fish and lentil constitute the common diet. Lungi (Sarong), vest, shirt, loose trousers (pajama) and panjabi (Kurta) are common-wear for men and sarees are the common dress for womenfolk. Western wear as well as sub continental trends are in vogue as office wear.

There are around 2.5 million people belonging to distinctive ethnic groups, the majority of whom live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They maintain their own languages and cultural
identity.

Social life in Bangladesh is marked by communal peace and harmony. The four major faiths practiced in Bangladesh are Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. Muslims constitute about 89.2% of the population and the Hindus 9.2%. The rest comprise of Buddhists, Christians and animists. The Constitution guarantees religious and cultural freedom for all citizens of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Economy

Per-capita (inflation adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate
has fallen by 20% since the early 1990s. Despite the recent global economic crisis, Bangladesh's undisturbed and consistent growth over the past decade has proved the resilience of its economy. Its favorable investment climate has been lauded by many around the world. Bangladesh has been listed in Goldman Sachs' 'Next 11' and JP Morgan's 'Frontier Five'. Standard and Poor (S&P) as well as Moody's have placed Bangladesh ahead of all countries in South Asia, except India.

Bangladesh has basically an agrarian economy with 21% of GDP coming from agriculture,
forestry and fisheries sectors. More importantly, 48.4% of the country's labour force is employed in this sector. Major agricultural products are rice, jute, wheat, potato, pulses, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, etc. Bangladesh has consistently posted annual GDP growth rates above 6% over more than a decade. The country is the largest exporter of jute and jute goods. Readymade garments occupy the top position among export items. Tea, frozen shrimps, leather goods, fish and vegetables, ceramic-ware, pharmaceuticals, flowers, IT-enabled services, assembled ships and local handicrafts are also major exportable
commodities. Bangladesh occupies a strategic location as a bridge between South
and South-East Asia and beyond.

Although the dominant role for the public sector has been rolled back since the mid-1970s, a major restructuring of the economy with emphasis on private-sector-led economic growth took shape during the 1990s. The International Finance Corporation, an affiliate of the World Bank has ranked Bangladesh as the most active regulatory reformer in South Asia in its latest report on Doing Business. Bangladesh has also improved her ranking by 5 positions in another recent report on global competitiveness published by the World Economic Forum. The national budget for 2011-12 has emphasized the role of public-private partnership for socio-economic growth and development of the country.

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Bangladesh Business

Bangladesh
is a vibrant economy that has, despite the recent global economic meltdown,
maintained a consistent growth rate of around 6%. With a population of close to
150 million people, Bangladesh boasts of an efficient and entrepreneural
workforce that is changing the profile of the economy. Bangladesh's seaports,
historically, had been "ports of call" of ancient traders, and hub of economic
activity connecting the West and the Far East. Today we are witnessing
Bangladesh's resurgence as a regional hub. Bangladesh occupies a strategic
location as a bridge between South and South-East Asia and beyond.

Bangladesh
offers an educated, highly adaptive and industrious workforce with the lowest
wages and salaries in the region. 57.3% of the population is under 25,
providing a youthful group for recruitment. The country has consistently
invested in developing a skilled workforce catering to your needs. English is
widely spoken, making communication easy.

Bangladesh
has proved to be an attractive investment location with its 150 million
population and consistent economic growth leading to strong and growing
domestic demand. It is striving to establish a strong regional connectivity
among the immediate neighbours. Already agreement on connectivity has been
reached between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan, opening opportunities in
the huge next door markets.

Energy
prices in Bangladesh are most competitive in the region. Transportation on
green compressed natural gas is less than 20% of the diesel price. Many
multinational companies have already invested in gas exploration in Bangladesh.
The cost of land is also the lowest in the region.

Bangladesh
enjoys tariff-free access to the European Union, Canada, Australia and
Japan.  It enjoys GSP facilities as an
LDC for export to the USA.

Bangladesh
offers the most liberal FDI regime in South Asia, allowing 100% foreign equity
with unrestricted exit policy, remittance of royalty and repatriation of
profits and income.

Bangladesh
offers export-oriented industrial enclaves with infrastructure facilities and
logistical support for foreign investors. The country is also developing its
core infrastructures, including roads, highways, surface transport and port
facilities for a better business environment. A billion dollar credit has been
inked with India recently for infrastructure development including
communication and transport sectors, and facilities at sea ports.

Bangladesh
has a largely homogenous society
with people living in harmony irrespective of race and religion. Bangladesh is
a democracy enjoying broad bi-partisan political support for private
investment; there is political stability and an effective containment of
extremism. It offers 100% foreign equity or ownership in industrial investment.  Foreign exchange regulations have been
relaxed to the maximum limit and its currency (Taka) has been made free to
convertible. Repatriation of foreign capital alongwith profit/dividends has
been made easy and simplified. There is no restriction on issuing Work Permit
to a foreign national. Board of Investment (BOI) offers one stop service to
investors.

All
the major organizations dealing with investment, such as BOI, BEPZA, etc., have
been kept under direct supervision of the Prime Minister to ensure timely
services, easy process and to address bottlenecks if and when they arise. BOI
offers one-stop service for investment.

An
Act of Parliament passed in 1980 guarantees legal protection against
nationalization and expropriation. Non-commercial risks of investment are also
covered by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). Agreements on
Avoidance of Double Taxation have been signed with many countries including
Japan, U.K., Italy, Canada, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea.
Some more such agreements are being negotiated.

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