continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India in dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land: 67%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 11%
Irrigated land: 27,380 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water;
water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of
fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides;
intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the
northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation;
deforestation; severe overpopulation
natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
flooded during the summer monsoon season
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
People———
Population: 123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359)
15–64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.85% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 30.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: −0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 102.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.86 years male: 56.02 years female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1%
Government—————
Name of country:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Type of government: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi
note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);
results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN
(since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under
Legislative branch entry)
cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April
1996
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15
February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the
fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime
Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,
under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an
annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that
established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a
date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved
Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime
Minister ZIAur RAHMAN
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid
Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;