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| Bangladesh: Country Profile | | | Official Name: People's Republic of Bangladesh
Father of the Nation: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Head of the State: President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed
Head of the Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Geographical location: Bangladesh is situated in the eastern part of the South Asian sub-continent. It lies between Latitudes 20.34 degree and 26.38 degree north and Longitudes 88.01 degree and 92.41 degree east. It is bordered by India on the east, west and north, and by the Bay of Bengal and a small border strip with Myanmar on the south.
Area: 147,570 sq km
Administrative units: 6 Divisions, 64 Districts, 59,990 Villages.
Capital: Dhaka (population - 9.5 million)
Population: 130.2 million
Population growth rate: 1.5%
Population Density per sq. km: 882
Life expectancy at birth (1999): 60.8 years
Adult literacy rate(15+yrs): 60%
GDP growth rate (1996-2000, at constant prices of 1984-5): 5.5 %
Per capita GDP (1999-2000, at constant prices of 1995-6): US $386
Official language: Bangla
Currency: Taka / Tk (US $ 1 = Tk 54)
Time: GMT+6hours.
Principal rivers: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Teesta, Surma and Karnaphuli.
Principal crops and fruits: Rice, wheat, jute, tobacco, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, spices, potato, vegetables, banana, mango, coconut and jackfruit.
Principal industries: Readymade garments, jute and cotton textiles, tea processing, paper, cement, chemical fertilisers, light engineering, sugar, oil refining, steel, shipbuilding, brick manufacturing, house building, carpet making, assembling motor vehicles and electronic items.
Principal mineral resources: Natural gas, coal, limestone, ceramic clay, glass sand, hard rock.
Principal exports: Readymade garments, raw jute, jute goods, tea, shrimp, fish, finished leather and leather goods and newsprint.
Seaports: Chittagong and Mongla.
International Airports: Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.
Popular sports: Soccer, Cricket, Kabadi, Swimming, Chess.
The Land: The alluvial plains of Bangladesh provide fertile agricultural lands. The land mass is deltaic, comprising mainly the delta 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 low hills in the northeast and the southeast with an average elevation of 244 and 610 metres respectively. Climate: Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate. There are basically four seasons in a year - Winter (December-February), Summer (March-May), Monsoon (June-September) and Autumn (October-November). The temperature across the country ranges between 13.5 degree C and 26.5 degree C in winter months and between 24 degree C and 39 degree C during summer 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.
Flora: The tropical climate has made the country luxuriant in vegetation. The villages are usually buried in groves of mango, banana, jack-fruit, coconut, palm, bamboo, and other useful trees. Forests cover about 17 percent of the land area. Herbs and shrubs grow everywhere. Most of the hilly regions are covered with forests. The largest forest is the Sundarbans which stretches along the south-western seaboard and provides sanctuary to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger.
Fauna: A variety 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 are found in the forests of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Six species of Deer are seen in the Hill Tracts and the Sundarbans. Among the bovine animals, buffalo, ox and bison are commonly seen. There are about 150 species of reptiles and hundreds of species of birds. Fresh water fishes are abundant.
The People: Conservative tradition and communal harmony mark social life in Bangladesh. The population of the country currently stands at around 132 Million. 80 percent of the people live in rural areas. 60 percent depend on Agriculture for their livelihood. Rice and fish are common diet. Lungis and vests are the usual attire for men in the rural areas as opposed to shirts and trousers in the urban areas. Sarees are the common dress for womenfolk. There are about one million tribal people, the majority of whom live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Religion: The four major religions in the country are Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. The Muslims constitute about 88% of the population and the Hindus about 10%. The constitution guarantees religious and cultural freedom to all citizens of Bangladesh.
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