Country Profile

Official Name

:

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Capital

:

Dhaka

Head of State

:

H.E. Mr Md Abdul Hamid, Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Head of Government

:

H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Independence

:

Emergence of the sovereign state of Bangladesh from eastern part of the then Pakistan through a protracted struggle for freedom of nine months in 1971.

26 March – Impendence Day (National Day)

16 December – Victory Day

Location

:

Bangladesh is situated in the eastern part of the South Asian sub-continent. It lies latitude 2034` and 26’38” North, and longitudes 88 01` and 9241` East.

Boundary

:  

The Country is bordered by India on the east, west and north, and by the Bay of Bengal in the south and having a small border strip with Myanmar in the south-east.

Area

: 

Total : 1,47,570 sq km.

Climate

:

Main seasons; Winter (Nov-Feb), Summer (March-June), Monsoon (July-Oct), Temp: max. 34C, min 8C, Rainfall: Highest 136cm and Lowest 47cm, Annual average humidity 78%.

Administrative Units

:

8 Divisions, 64 Districts, 492 Upazilas and 4,554 Unions

Legislature

The constitution provide for a Parliament known as the House of the Nation in which legislative power of the Republic is vested. It consists of 300 members directly elected by adult franchise. The Members of the Parliament elect another 50 female members. Thus, the total number of members of the House is 350.

Major Cities

Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Cumilla.

Demographics

Population       

: 

162.7 million (2018 est.)

Male-Female ratio

: 

100.3:100

Population growth rate                 

:

1.34%

Language            

: 

Bangla, English is also widely used

Religion

:

Muslim-88.3%, Hindu-10.5%, Buddist-0.6%, Christian-0.3%, others-0.3%

Ethnic groups            

:

Bengali 98%, Ethnic minorities 1.1%, Uncertain 0.9%

Labour force          

:

109.1 million, Male- 73%, Female- 27% (2017 est.)

Unemployment

4.2% (Overall), Male 3.1%, Female 6.7% (2017 est.)

Sector Distribution of labor force

:

Agriculture-40.6%, Industry- 20.4%, others- 39.0%

Resources

Food

:

Rice, vegetables, pulses, fish and meat

Principal Crops

: 

Paddy, wheat, jute, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, spices, potato, vegetables, banana, mango, coconut and jackfruit

Principal rivers

:

Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Bhahmaputra, Teesta, Surma, Karnaphuli etc.

Total 230 rivers including tributaries and branches

Natural  resources

:

Natural gas, lime stone, hard rock,coal, lignite, silica, sand, white clay etc.

Economy

Currency

:

Taka

Exchange Rate

1 US$ = Tk. 83.85

GDP per capita         

USD 1,752  (2018 est.)

Per Capita GNI at Current Price       

:

USD 4,040 (2017 est.)

Inflation (CPI)

-5.78% (FY2018)

Unemployment Rate

4.37%% (2017 est.)

GDP Growth rate

:

7.86%% (2017-18)

Projected Economic Growth

:

8.25% (2018 est.)

Investment Rate

31.23%% (2016-17)

National Savings Rate

27.4% (June 2018)

Investment Rate

31.23% (1016-17)

Population below Poverty Line

21.8% (2018 est.)

Total FDI

USD 2.84 billion (2018 est.)

Export Commodities

Gas, Crude Petroleum, Acyclic products, Aircraft parts, Industrial Fatty Acids

Export volume

USD 41 billion (2018 est.)

Top Export Destinations

European Union (58.2%), United States (16.3%), Japan (3.1%), Canada (3.0%), India (2.4%), Australia (1.9%), China (1.9%), Southeast Asia (1.6%), Others (11.6%)

Import Commodities

Textiles, Garments (2^nd largest exporter in the world), Leather & Leather goods, Pharmaceuticals and other Chemical products, Bicycles, Jute and Jute Goods, IT, Agricultural Products, Frozen Food (Fish & Seafood).

Import volume

USD 43.49 billion (2017 est.)

Top Import origin

China (21.5%), India (12.2%), Singapore (9.2%), European Union (6.2%), Hong Kong (5.5%), Others (45.3%)

Foreign Exchange Reserve

USD 33.00 billion ( June 2018 est.)

Main Industries

Textile, Pharmaceutical, Electronics, Shipbuilding, Automotive (bicycle), Leather, Jute, Glass, Paper, Plastic, Food & Beverages, Cement, Natural Gas and Crude Petroleum, Iron and Steel, IT, Frozen Food (Fish and Seafood).