The Economy Of Bangladesh
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]
Bangladesh
The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, in practice, a longstanding temporary provision of the Constitution places the lower courts under the executive, and the courts were subject to the executive's influence. The higher levels of the judiciary displayed some degree of independence and often ruled against the Government in criminal, civil, and politically controversial cases. Corruption, judicial inefficiency, and a large backlog were serious problems. The court system has two levels: the lower courts and the Supreme Court. Both hear civil and criminal cases. The lower courts consist of magistrates, who are part of the executive branch of the Government, and session and district judges, who belong to the judicial branch. The Supreme Court is divided into two sections: the High Court and the Appellate Court. The High Court hears original cases and reviews cases from the lower courts. The Appellate Court has jurisdiction to hear appeals of judgments, decrees, or ... [Read More]
The Future of Bangladesh: Promise and Possibility
For three years in a row, Transparency International has ranked Bangladesh as the world’s most corrupt country. This dubious distinction for Bangladesh has already taken a toll as foreign direct investment has declined. This should be a clarion call to action for the Government of Bangladesh, which must immediately take steps to root out official corruption. The United States welcomes the planned creation of an official Anti-Corruption Commission and we hope that this body will soon be assembled and that it will function effectively. Similarly, the government should immediately implement the 1999 decision of its Supreme Court to free the lower judiciary from executive control, a move that will further strengthen the ability of its courts to effectively try corruption cases. ... [Read More]
Bangladesh
In a similar incident on the evening of October 23, police arrested Shumon in the Khilgaon section of Dhaka city. He was taken into police custody after allegedly attempting to commit a robbery. No charge was filed against him, and the owner of the house where the robbery supposedly took place later said he was forced by police to implicate Shumon. When Shumon's family went to the jail, the second officer in charge demanded $500 (taka 30,000) for their son's release. Shumon's family was unable to raise the entire amount on such short notice. When they went to the jail the next morning, Shuman's parents found him lying on the floor so severely beaten he could not stand. When Shumon's father contacted the officer in charge, the officer demanded an additional $1,700 (taka 100,000) to release Shumon on bail. The officer became angry when Shumon's father could not give him the money, and began to beat Shumon in plain view of his parents. Eventually Shumon fell unconscious and w ... [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]
Gordon West, "Food and Agriculture in Bangladesh: A Success Story" - U.S. State Department - May 2002
One of the keys to this success has been the decision by the government to liberalize the import of food. Over the last 10 years, private traders have stepped in to import food grains during times of domestic shortfall, often driven by floods. These actions by private traders have provided both supply and price stabilization and have removed a major financial burden from the government. During fiscal year 1999, private sector food imports to address needs arising from the 1998 flood reached 2.26 million metric tons, mainly from India. Had the government of Bangladesh imported this grain itself, the total fiscal cost would have been about $185 million. The private sector's share in food imports climbed from zero in 1991 to 50 percent in 1996 and 100 percent in 2000. ... [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
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. ... [Read More]
Bangladesh (06/05)
Bengal was absorbed into the Mughul Empire in the 16th century, and Dhaka, the seat of a nawab (the representative of the emperor), gained some importance as a provincial center. But it remained remote and thus a difficult to govern region--especially the section east of the Brahmaputra River--outside the mainstream of Mughul politics. Portuguese traders and missionaries were the first Europeans to reach Bengal in the latter part of the 15th century. They were followed by representatives of the Dutch, the French, and the British East India Companies. By the end of the 17th century, the British presence on the Indian subcontinent was centered in Calcutta. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the British gradually extended their commercial contacts and administrative control beyond Calcutta to Bengal. In 1859, the British Crown replaced the East India Company, extending British dominion from Bengal, which became a region of India, in the east to the Indus River in the west. ... [Read More]
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