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South Asia :: Bangladesh

- ## Introduction :: BANGLADESH

- Background:
  Muslim conversions and settlement in the region now referred to as Bangladesh began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans began to set up 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 independence for Bangladesh in a brief war in 1971, during which at least 300,000 civilians died.
  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). That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections 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 made great progress in food security since independence, and the economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% over the last two decades.

- ## Geography :: BANGLADESH

- Location:
  Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
  Geographic coordinates:
  24 00 N, 90 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 148,460 sq km
  land: 130,170 sq km
  water: 18,290 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Iowa
  Land boundaries:
  total: 4,413 km
  border countries (2): Burma 271 km, India 4,142 km
  Coastline:
  580 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
  Natural resources:
  natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 70.1%
  arable land 59%; permanent crops 6.5%; permanent pasture 4.6%
  forest: 11.1%
  other: 18.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  50,500 sq km (2008)
  Total renewable water resources:
  1,227 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 35.87 cu km/yr (10%/2%/88%)
  per capita: 238.3 cu m/yr (2008)
  Natural hazards:
  droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
  Environment - current issues:
  many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne 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
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  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

- ## People and Society :: BANGLADESH

- Nationality:
  noun: Bangladeshi(s)
  adjective: Bangladeshi
  Ethnic groups:
  Bengali at least 98%, ethnic groups 1.1%
  note: Bangladesh's goverment recognizes 27 ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups; critics of the 2011 census claim that it underestimates the size of Bangladesh's ethnic population (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist .5%, Christian .3%) (2004 est.)
  Population:
  168,957,745 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 31.62% (male 27,115,731/female 26,311,130)
  15-24 years: 18.86% (male 14,976,910/female 16,880,807)
  25-54 years: 38.27% (male 30,608,224/female 34,053,744)
  55-64 years: 6.12% (male 5,196,932/female 5,150,199)
  65 years and over: 5.13% (male 4,258,664/female 4,405,404) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 52.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 44.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7.6%
  potential support ratio: 13.2% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 24.7 years
  male: 24.2 years
  female: 25.1 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.6% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Birth rate:
  21.14 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Death rate:
  5.61 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Net migration rate:
  0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 34.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.55% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  DHAKA (capital) 17.598 million; Chittagong 4.539 million; Khulna 1.022 million; Rajshahi 844,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 46.56 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 41.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 70.94 years
  male: 69.02 years
  female: 72.94 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Total fertility rate:
  2.4 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  61.2% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  3.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Physicians density:
  0.36 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
  Hospital bed density:
  0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 86.5% of population
  rural: 87% of population
  total: 86.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13.5% of population
  rural: 13% of population
  total: 13.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 57.7% of population
  rural: 62.1% of population
  total: 60.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 42.3% of population
  rural: 37.9% of population
  total: 39.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.01% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  8,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
  water contact disease: leptospirosis
  animal contact disease: rabies
  note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  3.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  35.1% (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Education expenditures:
  2.2% of GDP (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 61.5%
  male: 64.6%
  female: 58.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 10 years
  male: 10 years
  female: 10 years (2011)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 4,485,497
  percentage: 13% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 9.3%
  male: 8%
  female: 13.6% (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105

- ## Government :: BANGLADESH

- Country name:
  conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
  conventional short form: Bangladesh
  local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
  local short form: Bangladesh
  former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
  note: the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means Country of Bengal
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  name: Dhaka
  geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
  time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  7 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
  Independence:
  16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December, known as Victory Day, memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
  Constitution:
  previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986; amended many times, last in 2011 (2011)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Abdul HAMID (since 24 April 2013); note - Abdul HAMID served as acting president following the death of Zillur RAHMAN in March 2013; HAMID was subsequently indirectly elected by the National Parliament and sworn in 24 April 2013
  head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 6 January 2009; reappointed 5 January 2014)
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April 2013 (next must be held by 2018); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
  election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) elected by the National Parliament unopposed; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (300 seats including 45 reserved for women; members directly elected in single territorial constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 5 January 2014 (next to be held by January 2019); note - the 5 January 2014 poll was marred by widespread violence, boycotts, general strikes, and low voter turnout
  election results: percent of vote by party - AL-led Alliance 79%, JP 34%; seats by party - AL 234, JP 34, other 32
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)
  judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
  subordinate courts: civil courts include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; special courts/tribunals; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court
  Political parties and leaders:
  Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
  Communist Party of Bangladesh or CPB [Manjurul A. KHAN]
  Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [Abdul Kalam AZADI]
  Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]
  Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh or BDB [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY]
  Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [multiple leaders]
  Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]
  Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
  National Socialist Party or JSD [KHALEQUZZAMAN]
  Tarikat Foundation [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
  Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Ain o Salish Kendro (Centre for Law and Mediation) or ASK (legal aid and civil rights)
  Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity
  Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC
  Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry
  Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs or MoWCA (advocacy group to end gender-based violence)
  Odikhar (human rights group)
  other: associations of madrassa teachers; business associations, including those intended to promote international trade; development and advocacy NGOs associated with the Grameen Bank; environmentalists; Islamist groups; labor rights advocacy groups; NGOs focused on poverty, alleviation, and socioeconomic international trade; religious leaders; tribal groups and advocacy organizations; union leaders
  International organization participation:
  ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Mohammad ZIAUDDIN (since 18 September 2014)
  chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
  FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia BERNICAT (since 12 January 2015)
  embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
  mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
  telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000
  FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2915
  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
  National symbol(s):
  Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
  lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
  note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem

- ## Economy :: BANGLADESH

- Economy - overview:
  Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 1996 despite political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, and the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports, the backbone of Bangladesh’s industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports and surpassed $18 billion in 2014. The sector has remained resilient in recent years amidst a series of factory accidents that have killed over 1,000 workers and crippling strikes that shut down virtually all economic activity. Steady garment export growth combined with remittances from overseas Bangladeshis - which totaled $14 billion and 8% of GDP in 2014 - are the largest contributors to Bangladesh’s current account surplus and rising foreign exchange holdings.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $533.7 billion (2014 est.)
  $503 billion (2013 est.)
  $474.2 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 36
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $185.4 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6.1% (2014 est.)
  6.1% (2013 est.)
  6.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $3,400 (2014 est.)
  $3,200 (2013 est.)
  $3,000 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Gross national saving:
  30% of GDP (2014 est.)
  30.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  30.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 74.1%
  government consumption: 5.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 26.3%
  investment in inventories: 0.4%
  exports of goods and services: 22.6%
  imports of goods and services: -28.9%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 15.1%
  industry: 26.5%
  services: 58.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
  Industries:
  jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas
  Industrial production growth rate:
  8.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Labor force:
  80.27 million
  note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances were $10.9 billion in FY09/10 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 47%
  industry: 13%
  services: 40% (2010 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5% (2014 est.)
  5% (2013 est.)
  note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Population below poverty line:
  31.5% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 4%
  highest 10%: 27% (2010 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  32.1 (2010)
  33.6 (1996)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Budget:
  revenues: $18.09 billion
  expenditures: $24.33 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  9.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Public debt:
  28.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  30.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (2014 est.)
  7.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Central bank discount rate:
  5% (31 December 2010)
  5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  13% (31 December 2014 est.)
  13% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Stock of narrow money:
  $19.69 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $16.54 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Stock of broad money:
  $98.43 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $84.11 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $99.59 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $89.32 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $41.73 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $17.48 billion (31 December 2012)
  $23.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Current account balance:
  -$132 million (2014 est.)
  $2.366 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Exports:
  $31.2 billion (2014 est.)
  $28.62 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Exports - commodities:
  garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather
  Exports - partners:
  US 14.3%, Germany 13.6%, UK 7.9%, France 5.2%, Spain 4.3%, Italy 4.1% (2014)
  Imports:
  $38.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $35 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Imports - commodities:
  cotton, machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  China 18.8%, India 14.8%, Singapore 5.8%, Malaysia 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $21.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $18.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Debt - external:
  $33.2 billion (30 June 2014 est.)
  $28.26 billion (30 June 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $8.625 billion (30 June 2014 est.)
  $8.593 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $166.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $162.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Exchange rates:
  taka (BDT) per US dollar -
  77.57 (2014 est.)
  78.103 (2013 est.)
  81.86 (2012 est.)
  74.152 (2011 est.)
  69.649 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: BANGLADESH

- Electricity - production:
  42.41 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Electricity - consumption:
  37.88 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  10.26 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  97.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  2.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Crude oil - production:
  4,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Crude oil - imports:
  23,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  28 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  22,710 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  118,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  3,288 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  84,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Natural gas - production:
  21.86 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Natural gas - consumption:
  21.86 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  264.6 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  63.5 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54

- ## Communications :: BANGLADESH

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.09 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 120.4 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 72 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: inadequate for a modern country; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 67 telephones per 100 persons
  international: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV station, 3 radio networks, and about 10 local stations; 8 private satellite TV stations and 3 private radio stations also broadcasting; foreign satellite TV stations are gaining audience share in the large cities; several international radio broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 17, FM 19, shortwave 2 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  17 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .bd
  Internet users:
  total: 11.4 million
  percent of population: 6.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42

- ## Transportation :: BANGLADESH

- Airports:
  18 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 16
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 5 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Heliports:
  3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 2,950 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,460 km
  broad gauge: 659 km 1.676-m gauge
  narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Roadways:
  total: 21,269 km
  paved: 1,063 km
  unpaved: 20,206 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Waterways:
  8,370 km (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Merchant marine:
  total: 62
  by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 28, chemical tanker 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 3
  foreign-owned: 8 (China 1, Singapore 7)
  registered in other countries: 10 (Comoros 1, Hong Kong 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Chittagong
  river port(s): Mongla Port (Sela River)
  container port(s): Chittagong (1,392,104) (2011)
  Transportation - note:
  the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; attacks against vessels have decreased over the last few years in response to improved local security

- ## Military :: BANGLADESH

- Military branches:
  Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army (Sena Bahini), Bangladesh Navy (Noh Bahini, BN), Bangladesh Air Force (Biman Bahini, BAF) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  16-19 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi birth and 10th grade education required; initial obligation 15 years (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 36,520,491 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 30,486,086
  females age 16-49: 35,616,093 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 1,606,963
  female: 1,689,442 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.15% of GDP (2013)
  1.35% of GDP (2012)
  1.44% of GDP (2011)
  1.35% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 86

- ## Transnational Issues :: BANGLADESH

- Disputes - international:
  Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 29,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 232,462 (Burma) (2014)
  IDPs: at least 431,000 (violence, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2015)
  Illicit drugs:
  transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

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