Bangladesh
Country Guide

Explore Bangladesh

Bangladesh with its capital Dhaka is located in Asia (Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal). It covers some 148,461 square kilometers (slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined) with a population of 157,827,000. Bengali and English are some of the languages spoken by the majority in Bangladesh. Did you know that is sharing borders with India and Myanmar.

Bangladesh is in South Asia sometimes converging with Southeast Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal to the south, mostly surrounded by India. Bangladesh has a sub tropical monsoon climate. The country is primarily a low-lying plain of about 144,000 km2, situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas. Local Bangladeshi buses are generally crowded, often to the extent of people riding on the bus steps (entrance) and sometimes even the roof. The state run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation [32] (BRTC) buses usually fall into this category. Avoid all of the low cost buses - they are easy to spot by their poor condition. There are daily fatal accidents involving them. Driving in Bangladesh is not for the faint hearted - the road network is fairly good, but dodging irrational bus drivers and weaving in and out of rickshaws isn't easy on the nerves. Bangladesh as a vacation land has many facets. Her tourist attractions include archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forest and wildlife. Bangladesh is a fish lover's paradise. Traditionally most of the country lives off of the once-bountiful fresh-water river fish, especially the officially designated national fish hilsa. Nightlife in Bangladesh is nearly non-existent. Being a Muslim country, alcohol is frowned upon and found mostly in the international clubs and pricier restaurants in Dhaka and in some restaurants in tourist centers like Cox's Bazar.

Popular Destinations in Bangladesh

Administrative regions of Bangladesh

• Barisal Division
• Chittagong
• Dhaka Division
• Khulna Division
• Mymensingh Division
• Rajshahi Division
• Rangpur Division
• Sylhet Division

About the country

The terrain is mostly flat alluvial plain having hilly in southeast. The average density of population is about 1,063 per km². The climate in Bangladesh can be described as tropicalmild winter (October to March), hot, humid summer (March to June), humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October). Possible natural disasters include cyclones, droughts and much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season.

To reach someone Bangladesh dial +880 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".bd". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: A, C, D, G, K). The sign for the locally used currency Taka is BDT.

Green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh.

The huge delta region formed at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems - now referred to as Bangladesh - was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires centered on the Gangetic plain for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power between 1991 and 2013, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted, extending HASINA's term as prime minister. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% over the last two decades and the country reached World Bank lower-middle income status in 2015.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 95)	148,460	sq km
Land (World Rank: 96)	130,170	sq km
Water (World Rank: 31)	18,290	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 161)	4.60	%
Comparative	slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Coastline
580
Landborder
4413
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 155)	1,230	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 26)	70.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 2)	59.00	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 50)	6.50	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 161)	4.60	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 10)	53,000	sq km
Map reference
Asia
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - especially of fishing areas - ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic - intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country - many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land - results from the use of commercial pesticides - severe overpopulation - soil degradation and erosion - water pollution - waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands
Hazzards	- cyclones - droughts - much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 8)	157,827,000
Deathrate (World Rank: 178)	0.54	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 88)	1.88	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 108)	1.04	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 140)	-0.31	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 100)	2.17	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 145)	26.00
Female (World Rank: 141)	27.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 9)	22,283,800
0 14 female (World Rank: 9)	21,522,000
15 24 male (World Rank: 8)	15,309,500
15 24 female (World Rank: 8)	15,242,000
25 54 male (World Rank: 8)	30,094,000
25 54 female (World Rank: 7)	32,614,300
55 64 male (World Rank: 10)	5,405,900
55 64 female (World Rank: 10)	5,527,330
65 x male (World Rank: 12)	4,666,030
65 x female (World Rank: 12)	5,161,740
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 61)	3.17	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 134)	73	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 138)	76	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 126)	71	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 134)	0.39
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 169)	0.60
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 151)	60.60	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 191)	3.60	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 149)	86.90	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 50)	55,500,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 49)	48,980,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 47)	96.60	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 138)	2.00	%
Source renew (World Rank: 125)	1.60	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 82)	4,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 78)	313	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 62)	26,160	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 83)	28,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 88)	25,720	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 78)	107,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 104)	1,802	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 60)	85,990	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 27)	26,860,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 30)	39,880,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
66000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 159)	2	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 79)	1	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 183)	3	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 148)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
water lily
National colours
red
Adjective
Bangladeshi
Noun
Bangladeshi(s)
Background
The huge delta region formed at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems - now referred to as Bangladesh - was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires centered on the Gangetic plain for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power between 1991 and 2013, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted, extending HASINA's term as prime minister. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% over the last two decades and the country reached World Bank lower-middle income status in 2015.
Flag description
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 34)	629,700,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 8)	7.20	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 174)	3,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 64)	14.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 86)	28.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 144)	56.50	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 7)	72,050,000
In poverty (World Rank: 55)	31.50	%
Products
Industries	- cement - ceramics - cotton - detergent - edible oils - electricity - fabricated metal products - fertilizer - garments - iron - jute - leather - natural gas - paper - petroleum products - pharmaceuticals - salt - soap - steel - sugar - tea - tobacco
Agriculture	- beef - fruit - jute - milk - oilseeds - potatoes - poultry - pulses - rice - spices - sugarcane - tea - tobacco - wheat
Exports	- agricultural products - frozen food (fish - garments - jute - jute goods - knitwear - leather - seafood)
Imports	- chemicals - cotton - equipment - foodstuffs - iron - machinery - steel

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 86)	772,369
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 183)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 163)	81.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 26)	28,499,300
Population (World Rank: 191)	18.20	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 90)	16.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 167)	2.00
Heliports (World Rank: 47)	3.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 68)	2,460
Road
Total length (World Rank: 107)	21,269
Paved length (World Rank: 127)	2,021
Unpaved length (World Rank: 63)	19,248
Water
Total length (World Rank: 17)	8,370

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