Bangladesh Population

Bangladesh has a population of 131 million -- about 1,007 persons per square kilometer. Almost 26 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) comes from agriculture, including fisheries, which also accounts for more than 13 percent of its export earnings. Over 70 percent of the population is directly engaged in farming or related activities. ...

The introduction of this rice was aided by the decision of the Bangladesh government not to intervene in the market. Prices reflected market forces, and the private sector imported pumps to irrigate dry-seasons crops. The fertilizer system was privatized, resulting in a tripling in the use of fertilizer in 10 years. Bangladesh farmers took the challenge by planting and irrigating the new high-yield seed. The entire rural population has benefited: peasant farmers now get two or even three crops per year, and landless peasants find that their income-earning possibilities have expanded. It was through publicly supported agricultural research working in tandem with private investment for irrigation that made the jump in rice production possible. ... [Read More]

Background Notes: Bangladesh

Background Notes: BangladeshPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Oct 15, 199010/15/90Category: Country DataRegion: South AsiaCountry: BangladeshSubject: Cultural Exchange, Resource Management, Military Affairs, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics[TEXT]Official Name: People's Republic of BangladeshPROFILEGeographyArea: 143,998 sq. km. (55,813 sq. mi., about the size of Wisconsin).Cities: Capital-Dhaka (pop. 5 million). Other cities-Chittagong (1.8million), Khulna (1.2 million), Rajshahi (700,000). Terrain: Mainlyflat a ... [Read More]

Bangladesh

Prison conditions were extremely poor and were a contributing factor in some custodial deaths. During the year, 90 persons died in custody (see Section 1.a.). All prisons were overcrowded and lacked adequate facilities. Government figures indicated that the existing prison population of approximately 67,354 was nearly 300 percent of the official prison capacity of approximately 25,000. Prison population figures included 1,910 women. There were 276 persons in prison under 18 years of age. Of the entire prison population, 45,173 were awaiting trial, and 21,251 had been convicted. In most cases, cells were so crowded that prisoners slept in shifts. A new prison facility in Kashimpur, north of Dhaka, opened in 2001, although the first phase of construction had not been completed at year's end. There also were reports of rampant corruption and irregularities in the prisons. According to a 2002 newspaper report, a deputy inspector general (DIG) of prisons fled from Chittagong af ... [Read More]

Bangladesh

Prison conditions were extremely poor and were a contributing factor to some custodial deaths. During the year, 103 persons died in prison while 240 others died in the custody of police and other security forces, either in an encounter or in security forces' or police custody (see Section 1.a.). All prisons were overcrowded and lacked adequate facilities. Government figures indicated that the existing prison population of 76,148 was nearly 300 percent of the official prison capacity of 25,823. Of the entire prison population, 52,137 were awaiting trial, 23,536 had been convicted, and 36 were detained without any charges, according to figures received by a human rights organization. In most cases, cells were so crowded that prisoners slept in shifts. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: U.N. Press Release on New Global Population Projections

In more developed regions, the population aged 60 or over currently constitutes about 20 per cent of the population; by 2050, it will account for 33 per cent of the population. The elderly population has already surpassed the child population (persons aged 0-14) and by 2050, there will be two elderly persons for every child. In the less developed regions, the proportion of the population aged 60 or over will rise from 8 per cent in 2000 to close to 20 per cent in 2050. ... [Read More]

Bangladesh

The country has a total area of approximately 53,000 square miles, and it has a population of nearly 140 million. Sunni Muslims constitute 88 percent of the population. Approximately 10 percent of the population is Hindu. The remainder of the population is mainly Christian (mostly Catholic) and Buddhist. Members of these faiths are found predominantly in the tribal (non-Bengali) populations of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, although many other indigenous groups in various parts of the country are Christian. There also are small populations of Shi'a Muslims, Sikhs, Baha'is, animists, and Ahmadis. Estimates of their populations vary from a few hundred to 100,000 adherents for each faith. Religion is an important part of community identity for citizens, including those who do not participate actively in religious prayers or services. ... [Read More]

Background Notes Archive - South Asia

U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Bangladesh, July 1996Released by the Bureau of Public AffairsOfficial Name: People's Republic of BangladeshPROFILEGeographyArea: 143,998 sq. km. (55,813 sq. mi., about the size of Wisconsin).Cities: Capital--Dhaka (pop. 7 million). Other cities--Chittagong (2.8 million), Khulna (1.8 million), Rajshahi (1 million).Terrain: Mainly flat alluvial plain, with hills in the northeast and southeast.Climate: Semitropical, monsoonal.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Bangladeshi(s).Population: 120 million.Annual growth rate: 2.1%.Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims.Religions: Muslim 83%; Hindu 16%; Christian, Buddhist, others 1%.Languages: Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English.Education: Attendance--73% (primary school), 17% (secondary school). Literacy--47% for males; 22% for females.Health: Infant mortality rate--118/1,000. Life expectancy--55 years (male), 54 years (female).Work force: 50 milli ... [Read More]

Working for Women, Worldwide: The U.S. Commitment

Bangladesh's population is heavily dependent on freshwater fish, which represent 50 percent of all the animal protein consumed in that country. This precious wetlands resource, however, is believed to have declined by 40 percent or more in the past two decades. The decline in this source of food is adversely affecting the nutrition of all Bangladeshis, as well as the income and employment of 13 million or more rural poor. ...

The Water for the Poor Initiative, announced by the Bush administration at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, calls for a U.S. investment of $970 million over three years, from 2003 to 2005, to increase access to clean water and sanitation services, improve water management, and increase the productivity of water for millions around the globe. One project under this initiative already has made a big difference for hundreds of women in Bangladesh, where the needs of an expanding population have placed severe stress on the country's natural resources. ... [Read More]

Background Note: Bangladesh

Title: Background Note: BangladeshPASource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDescription: Historical, Political and Economic Overviews of the Countries of the WorldDate: Dec, 15 199212/15/92Category: Country DataRegion: South AsiaCountry: BangladeshSubject: Travel, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics, Military Affairs, Cultural Exchange, State Department[TEXT]Official Name: People's Republic of BangladeshPROFILEGeographyArea: 143,998 sq. km. (55,813 sq. mi., abou ... [Read More]

Bangladesh (06/05)

Although one of the world's poorest and most densely populated countries, Bangladesh has made major strides to meet the food needs of its increasing population, through increased domestic production augmented by imports. The land is devoted mainly to rice and jute cultivation, although wheat production has increased in recent years; the country is largely self-sufficient in rice production. Nonetheless, an estimated 10% to 15% of the population faces serious nutritional risk. Bangladesh's predominantly agricultural economy depends heavily on an erratic monsoonal cycle, with periodic flooding and drought. Although improving, infrastructure to support transportation, communications, and power supply is poorly developed. Bangladesh is limited in its reserves of coal and oil, and its industrial base is weak. However, the country's main endowments include its vast human resource base, rich agricultural land, relatively abundant water, and substantial reserves of natural gas. ... [Read More]