Official Name

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Form of Government  

Parliamentary Form of Government

Head of State  

President

Head of Government  

Prime Minister

Geographical Location

In South Asia: between 200 34 and 260 38 North Latitude and between 88001 and  920 41 East Longitude Consists of mostly flat fertile alluvial land.

Boundaries

North: India (West Bengal & Meghalaya), West: India (West Bengal), East:   India,  (Tripura & Assam) and Myanmar, South: Bay of Bengal

Area

147,570 sq km (56,977 sq miles) (Territorial water- 12 nautical miles)

Capital City

Dhaka (Metropolitan Area 522 sq. kms.)

Standard Time

GMT +6 hours

Climate                       

Tropical; Mild Winter (October to March); Hot, Humid Summer (March to June); Humid- Warm Rainy Monsoon (June to October)

Rainfall           

1194 mm to 3454 mm (June- August)

Population      

146.1 million (Provisional estimate in 2009-10)

Life expectancy

65.6 years (men), 70 years (women), 66.8 (Both)

Per Capita GDP

US $684. Literacy Rate : 54.8 %

Internet domain

bd. International dialing code: +880

Land boundaries        

Total: 4,246 km (border countries: Myanmar 193 km, India 4,053 km)

Highest peak   

Keokradong (Bandarban Hill District) 1,230 m

Labor force

by occupation: agriculture: 48.4%, industry: 24.3%, services: 14.2%

Language

95 percent Bengali, 5 percent other dialects. English is widely understood and

spoken.

Religion

Muslim (88.3%), Hindu (10.5%), Buddhist (0.6%), Christian (0.3%) and Animists and believers in tribal faiths (0.3%).

Food

Rice, bread, fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish, meat and potato

Currency

Taka (BDT)

Principal Industries

Jute, Tea, Textiles, Ready Made Garments (RMG), Paper, Newsprint, Fertilizer, Leather and Leather Goods, Sugar, Cement, Fish processing, Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Industries, Plastic and Ceramics.

Major Trading Partners

USA, EU countries, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE etc.

Traditional Export Goods

Raw Jute, Jute Goods, Tea, Leather, and Leather Products etc.

Non-traditional Exports           

Ready-made garments, Knitwear, Frozen Shrimps, Other Fish products, Jute Carpet, Shoes and other leather goods, Newsprint, Paper, Naphtha, Furnace        Oil, Urea, Fruits & Vegetables, Cut Flower, Handicrafts, Jewelries.

Principal Imports

Petroleum products, Food Grains, Oil Seeds, Crude Petroleum, Fertilizer, Cement Clinker, Staple Fibers, Yarn, Fabrics, Iron, & Steel, Capital Machineries,  Automobiles etc.

International Airports

Dhaka International Airport, Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong and Osmani International Airport, Sylhet.

Domestic Airports

Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Thakurgaon, Syedpur, Rajshahi, Jessore, Barisal and Ishwardi.

Domestic Airlines

Public Sector: Bangladesh Biman, Private Sector: GMG Airlines, Best Air, Royal Bengal and United Airways (BD.) Ltd.

Sea Ports

Chittagong (Principal Sea Port) and Mongla (Secondary Sea Port)

Inland River Ports

Dhaka, Chandpur, Barisal, Khulna, Bhairab, Naryanganj, Sirajganj.

Land Ports      

Benapol, Teknaf, Banglabandha, Sonamasjid, Hili, Darshana, Birol, Burimari, Tamabil, Haluaghat, Akhaura, Bibirbazar and Bhomra.

Radio Broadcast Station  

Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Comilla, Rangamati and  Thakurgaon.

TV Broadcast  

Dhaka, Natore, Chittagong, Brahmanbaria, Patuakhali, Noakhali Bangladesh  Television, Chanel I, ATN Bangla, NTV etc.

Press

The Daily Star, The Financial Express, New Age, Prothom alo, Jugantor, Ittefaq, Inquilab etc are some prominent dailies.

News Agency

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), UNB, Bdnews24.com etc.

Satellite Station

Betbunia and Talibabad

Tourist Season           

October to March

Exports – partners

USA 24.4%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.3%, France 6.3%, Netherlands 6.3%, Italy 3.8%

Imports – partners

China 17.7%, India 15%, Singapore 7.3%, Japan 4.9%, Malaysia 4.9%, Australia  2.6%, USA 2.2%, Taiwan 2.5%, Germany 2.2%

Communications

Railways: 2,768 km, Roadways: total: 239,226 km, Waterways: 8,370 km