National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad):elections last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February
1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300
elected and 30 seats reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20,
BCP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1,
Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
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), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party
(BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers
Party, leader NA; 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;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; Democratic League,
Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
Member of:
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Abul AHSAN
chancery:
2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342–8372 through 8376
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David MERRILL
embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address:
G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
telephone:
[880] (2) 884700–22
FAX:
[880] (2) 883–744
Flag:
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;
green is the traditional color of Islam
@Bangladesh, Economy
Overview:
Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and
least developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural,
with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the
economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and
floods, government interference with the economy, a rapidly growing
labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, a low level of
industrialization, failure to fully exploit energy resources (natural
gas), and inefficient and inadequate power supplies. Excellent rice
crops and expansion of the export garment industry helped growth in
FY92 and FY93. Policy reforms intended to reduce government regulation
of private industry and promote public-sector efficiency have been
announced but are being implemented only slowly.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $122 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.3% (FY93)
National product per capita:
$1,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (FY93)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.5 billion
expenditures:
$3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
$2.1 billion (FY93)
commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners:
US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%) (FY92 est.)
Imports:
$3.5 billion (FY93)
commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
partners:
Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1% (FY92 est.)
External debt:
$13.5 billion (June 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.9% (FY93 est.); accounts for 9.4% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
2,400,000 kW
production:
